Dog-Friendly Cardiff: Visiting Cardiff with a Dog

Cardiff is the capital and the largest city in Wales. Although just a small city, it’s compact size makes it perfect to explore on foot, or on four paws! Find out more about visiting Cardiff with your dog, from sightseeing ideas to where to dine and stay.

Dog-Friendly Sightseeing in Cardiff

There’s plenty of dog-friendly things to do during your time in Cardiff, no matter if you’re interested in history, nature or shopping.

#1 Check Out Cardiff Castle

One of the most popular attractions in Cardiff is Cardiff Castle. This Norman keep surrounded by walls is located at the northern end of the city centre. Although during my first visit to Cardiff I mistook the larger Victorian Gothic revival mansion containing a museum for the actual castle!

Not surprisingly, dogs aren’t allowed to join you on a visit inside the actual castle and the museum. However, they are welcome in the public square, occupying about half of the land inside the castle walls, with free entry for all. Just make sure you keep your dog on a leash.

A great option is to walk through the public square then exit through the imposing North Gate, straight into the adjacent Bute Park…

#2 Stroll Through Bute Park

Next door to Cardiff Castle is the delightful Bute Park. Once a private park, luckily these parks are now publicly accessible, and a great spot for a walk with your dog.

Dogs are welcome off-leash throughout much of the park, although there are a few signposted areas where dogs are requested to be leashed, such as near the ornamental garden beds. And of course make sure you clean up after your dog.

Take a walk along the many paved paths or across the wide open expanses of grass, spotting some of the whimsical features of the park along the way. The Animal Wall dating back to the 1890s on the southern wall of the park is unmissable. As it’s on the exterior of the wall, you can view it day or night.

Also check out the standing stones erected to commemorate Cardiff hosting the National Eisteddfod in 1978, the carved wooden animals next to the Balance Trail and Pumba, a warthog created from ornamental grasses.

#3 Go Browsing in the Arcades

Cardiff is home to multiple glass-covered shopping arcades, just the thing for when the weather is not co-operating, like on my most recent visit. And unlike the large St David’s Dewi Sant shopping centre, there’s no prohibition on dogs in the arcades, at least in the ones I visited.

Take a stroll through the Royal Arcade, Morgan Arcade and Castle Arcade and browse the shop windows. Cardiff is home to more Victorian and Edwardian arcades than any other UK city.

Some shops will also be happy for well-behaved dogs to join you inside. Greeting card retailer Scribbler welcomes dogs inside, plus there’s plenty of dog cards to buy!

#4 Enjoy Lunch at Cardiff Market

Also in the heart of Cardiff is the fully enclosed Cardiff Market. As well as a variety of shops and fresh food stalls, there’s also some great lunch spots, whether you’re after takeaway sandwiches, hot pork rolls or a curry.

Since the markets re-opened followed Covid, leashed dogs are now allowed inside, so it’s a great spot to enjoy lunch when sightseeing with your pup. Note that the markets are only open during the day, plus are closed on Sundays.

If it’s raining outside, head upstairs to the balcony after you’ve bought your lunch, where there’s plenty of seats to enjoy your lunch with a view over the rest of the market below.

#5 Step Back in History at St Fagan’s

Just outside of Cardiff is an excellent open-air history museum, St Fagan’s National Museum of History. The highlight of the museum is its collection of historic buildings, that have been re-erected onsite from various locations all around Wales.

It’s a great place to find out more about what life was previously like in Wales – in particular I enjoyed the redecorated homes showing what they were like in different decades. Other buildings onsite include a former post office, shops, a tannery and a mill. The museum is also home to St Fagan’s Castle, an Elizabethan manor surrounded by charming gardens.

Dogs are welcome to join you at St Fagan’s, as long as they are kept on a short lead, outside of the buildings and cafes, plus you clean up after them. Entry to the museum is free, although there is a charge for the car park. Alternatively, you can catch a bus from the centre of Cardiff.

#6 Explore Cardiff Bay

Just a couple of miles south of the city centre of Cardiff is the Cardiff Bay precinct. Once home to the Cardiff Docks, the largest coal-exporting port in the world, since the Cardiff Bay Barrage was built and turned the Severn Estuary into a controlled lake, a new precinct has been developed.

The Cardiff Bay precinct is home to a number of attractions (with more being built). Two of the most eye catching attractions are the distinctive Wales Millenium Centre and the Senedd building, home to the Wales National Assembly.

Close by is the dog-friendly Mermaid Quays complex, home to many restaurants welcoming pups, including Demiro’s, The Dock and Bill’s. Outside of Demiro’s is a fabulous dog treat station and water fountain. There’s also another water fountain outside of Zia Boutique.

I also recommend stopping by Fabulous Welshcakes, who sell speical Woof Cafes for dogs. These Welshcakes are made without raisins and less sugar (and they’re also fine for human consumption!)

Afterwards, I walked along the shore to the Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve. It’s a great walk with your dog, although keep them on a leash. I spotted plenty of birdlife including some majestic Mute White Swans.

You can also head the opposite way along the Cardiff Bay Trail, a 4.5 mile shared path along the waterfront. It’s about a mile walk to the popular Enormous Crocodile sculpture, a creation of locally born Road Dahl. Also nearby is the Scott of the Antarctic Exhibit.

#7 Take a Boat Trip on Cardiff Bay

There are a number of boat tours that operate on Cardiff Bay, although most weren’t operating on the rainy weekday that I visited. I’m sure it’s a popular option on weekends when the weather is nice!

Many of the boat operators allow dogs to join you on the boats. One dog-friendly option is The Open Boat, who operate 20 minute trips. Alternatively, enquire with Cardiff Boat Tours – dogs are welcome, but the total number is up to the discretion of the boat master.

Another option is to take the Aquabus between Bute Park and Cardiff Bay. Operating hourly, dogs on a leash are welcome to join you for the 25 minute trip, a more interesting alternative than taking the bus.

Check out more dog-friendly things to do in Wales

Pets on Public Transport in Cardiff

Although Cardiff is compact, if you’re don’t have a car the network of buses are handy for getting to Cardiff Bay or to St Fagan’s. Multiple bus companies operate in Cardiff, but the main operator is Cardiff Bus.

Cardiff Bus allows one well-behaved dog or other small animal onboard its buses, at the sole discretion of the bus driver. The dog cannot be a danger or nuisance to other passengers or employees, with dangerous dogs required to be muzzled.

Dog-Friendly Cafes in Cardiff

For some of the best coffee in Cardiff, head to UncommonGround Coffee Roastery in the Royal Arcade. As well as coffee, they have a food menu of sandwiches, flatbreads and brunch options. Dogs are welcome to join you inside as long as they stay leashed and off the furniture, or take a seat outside in the arcade.

Dog-Friendly Pubs in Cardiff

During my most recent visit to Cardiff I headed to the Tiny Rebel bar on Westgate Street, which was surprisingly busy despite being a rainy Tuesday night. Serving up the full range of Tiny Rebel craft brews, I recommend ordering half pints to sample a variety – their Strawberry IPA is quite distinctive!

The bar’s kitchen is open daily from 12pm (until 9pm except on Sundays). Choose from a range of burgers, wings, loaded fries and Mexican most days of the week. Their Sunday Roasts in particular are highly recommended.

On my previous visit to Cardiff, I dined inside at BrewDog Cardiff with my dog, also located on Westgate Street, with 25 taps of beer.

Dog-Friendly Accommodation in Cardiff

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commission if you make a purchase using the links. See my full disclaimer.

A great dog-friendly hotel in Cardiff is The Angel Hotel. Dating to the late 19th-century, this hotel is fairly posh, but in an old-fashioned way, with plenty of character – their entry hall is particularly impressive!

One of the great features of the hotel is that it is conveniently located directly opposite Bute Park – perfect for dog walks in the morning or evening during the park’s opening hours (from 7:30am to 30 minutes before sunset).

An additional fee of £15 applies per dog staying with you at the hotel, or else book a Pawsome Package, starting from £99 per room. A dog bed and bowl are included, plus breakfast for the humans.

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