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Travelling from Cardiff Airport

Cardiff Airport Destinations

Heading off somewhere special soon from Cardiff?

And you need to know if you can fly there from Cardiff Airport (CWL)?

But getting the info you need in one place feels like a headache?

If you just nodded three times (or even twice), you’re in the right place. Because this great guide to Cardiff Airport destinations is easy to read and also contains great tips on ace things to do in the most popular spots for a break – as well as a few you might not have heard of.

We’ll get into your CWL destinations shortly. But first, if you’re just passing through Cardiff, you could do much worse than bookend your break with a couple of days in the delightful Welsh capital.

There’s lots to see and do. For instance, history fans can explore the City Hall clock tower. Take a guided tour and (provided you’re reasonably fit), you can climb the spiral stairs and discover the secret chambers behind the famous clock face. The city views are amazing from this high up and look even better framed by the elegant engineering of the clock’s intricate workings.

And if you’re a fan of interdimensional TV timelords, don’t miss the excellent Doctor Who Exhibition. You’ll learn all about the iconic show’s history and backroom secrets, and even get a chance to step inside the TARDIS.

And you can relive your misspent youth even more at the National Videogame Arcade. Here, you’ll find over 200 classic arcade games, including Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and many more. Wind the clock right back and challenge your mates to a competition.

Cardiff is also a city full of charming nooks and crannies. So it’s worth taking time to explore magical hidden lanes like Womanby Street and Church Street, which are packed with cool independent shops and creative street art.

If you’re made of stern stuff meanwhile, why not take a ghost tour and discover chilling spots like Cardiff Castle (reputedly haunted). And you can also dip your toes into more mysterious shenanigans at the Old Market Theatre, a famous magic venue where you can see mind-bending mentalism, close-quarters magic and inspirational illusions. Meanwhile, if you want to make some money magically disappear from your bank balance, stroll round the hip shops at Cardiff Indoor Market and fill your basket with delicious local produce, international foods and unique antiques.

And don’t leave Cardiff without taking a River Taff cruise. You’ll sail past Cardiff Castle, sidle up to herons and swans, and see the city from a whole new angle.

After all that exploring and discovering, you’ll probably want drink or three. In which case, Cardiff offers lots of interesting bar and pub choices.

For instance, The Dead Canary is a gorgeous Victorian-era gin palace with a cool, contemporary edge. You can sample artisan gin cocktails, nibble on delicious small dishes and drink in the delectable ambience.

And for something a little different, The Crafty Cow serves quirky treats like Korean fried chicken burgers and Welsh rarebit mac and cheese – you’re sure to find something to tempt your taste buds. Alternatively, head along to Tiny Rebel Brewery for some delicious craft beer, with pretty decent pizzas available to soak up all the alcohol too.

Speaking of which, the speakeasy-style Bar 44 and exotic tiki bar Porco Lounge are two hotspots (amongst many) where you can catch a late drink and lively company.

For comfy hotel choices meanwhile, try the arty Hotel Indigo to hang with the local creative set, The historic Coal Exchange Hotel for a blast from the past, and Tiny Houses Cardiff for an eco-friendly vibe.

Cardiff Airport destinations list

Check out the latest and greatest Cardiff Airport destinations below – there are some absolute beauties!

Cardiff Airport UK destinations

Need to fly elsewhere in the UK to catch up with friends, family, or business connections? Cardiff Airport has you covered.

Short-haul British destinations include Belfast (BHD), Bristol (BRS), East Midlands (EMA), Edinburgh (EDI), Exeter (EXT), Glasgow (GLA), Inverness (INV), and Leeds Bradford (LBA). As well as Liverpool (LPL), London Gatwick (LGW), Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Luton (LTN), Manchester (MAN), and Southampton (SOU).

When it comes to medium hauls, you’ve got great locations like Aberdeen (ABZ), Belfast City (BHD), Dublin (DUB), Jersey (JER), Newcastle (NCL), Newquay (NQY), Plymouth (PLH), and Teesside (MME).

And longer haul British destinations include Isle of Man (IOM), Kirkwall (KOY), Stornoway (SYY), and Shetland Islands (SXT).

Cardiff Airport Europe destinations

CWL is also a great launchpad for trips to the continent too, as it happens.

For instance, you can jet off to fab French destinations like Dinard (DNR), Biarritz (BIQ), Bordeaux (BOD), Lyon (LYS), and Paris (CDG, ORY), as well as Spanish tourist magnets like Alicante (ALC), Barcelona (BCN), Málaga (AGP), Palma de Mallorca (PMI), and Tenerife (TFS).

What’s more, you can fly from Cardiff to Amsterdam (AMS), Geneva (GVA) and Dublin (DUB), as well as Munich (MUC), Salzburg (SZG), Milan (MXP), and Prague (PRG).

Fancy some cosy Scandi ambience? You can also fly from Cardiff Airport to Copenhagen (CPH), Stockholm (ARN), and Oslo (OSL).

What are the best places to fly to from Cardiff Airport?

Choose Amsterdam for a quirky, liberal city packed with history and culture. Leftfield highlights include edgy ‘sinful history’ tours of the red light district, taking in the fantastic floating flower market and finding secret hofjes courtyards.
Choose Tenerife for heritage festivals and stunning scenery. This volcanic Canary Island offers the rich culture of traditional romeria festivals, natural lago martianez pools, and the towering Mount Teide. When you want to catch some rays and soak up unusual scenery, this is a good choice.
Choose Munich for famously fresh beer and friendly locals. Pieterskirsche church affords some of the best city views, and the Hofbräuhaus beer hall has a fine selection of brews as well as an in-house Oompah band. Other attractions include Marienplatz, Nymphenburg Palace, Alte Pinakothek and Neue Pinakothek art galleries.

From Cardiff to the world

Choose Salzburg for musical pub crawls and historic tunnels. That’s right – this tuneful city offers a magnificent Mozart Pub Crawl which takes you to the great man’s favourite drinking holes as you learn loads about his life and hear lovely local music along the way. You’ll definitely be singing by the end of the evening – although there’s no guarantee it’ll be tuneful! And how about those tunnels? The Mönchsberg tunnels are a secret labyrinthine network built during World War II, so exploring them reveals a side of Salzburg’ history which usually remains obscured. But don’t leave without trying a Sound of Music bike tour – pedalling through the beautiful Salzburger Landschaft while you pass locations from the iconic movie (and belt out the soundtrack) is an experience you won’t forget in a hurry.
Choose Prague for breath-taking architecture and alternative culture. This is one of the few major European cities whose architecture escaped WWI largely unscathed, and from the epic castle to the romantic Charles Bridge, it’s a real treat for the eye (and creative imagination). You can also fast forward your history a little by visiting the John Lennon Wall, where locals and visitors alike have left colourful graffiti messages of hope and freedom since the Cold War. And if you like live stage action, the Black Light Theatre hosts stunning shows featuring surreal illusions – all presented under eerie black light.
Choose Oslo for rugged Scandinavian hospitality and wild history. At the Viking Ship Museum, you can see the stunning remains of 1,000 year old Viking ships and learn more about the seafaring smarts and worldview of these intrepid warriors and explorers. If you love the great outdoors meanwhile, hike in Frognerparken, a lovely landscaped park filled with sculptures by Gustav Vigeland (including the famous Monolitten sculpture). And you can also take a spooky ghost tour of Akershus Fortress (if you dare).

Which airlines fly out of Cardiff Airport?

When it comes to Cardiff Airport carrier partners, there’s a long list of legends at your service. For instance, Aer Lingus flies direct to Dublin, Cork, and Shannon in Ireland, KLM connects you to Amsterdam in the Netherlands (and onwards to the world).

Then there’s Loganair, connecting to domestic destinations within the UK, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Manchester. And you’ll know Ryanair, the budget-friendly option for hotspots like Alicante, Barcelona, Faro, and Malaga in Spain, as well as Dublin, Krakow, and Lanzarote. Then there’s TUI Airways, focused on package holiday destinations like Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Palma de Mallorca.

How can I hire a car at Cardiff Airport?

Hiring a car at Cardiff Airport with Enjoy Travel is easy. Simply stay on this website and pop your details into the handy online search engine. You’ll soon be served up several car hire choices from various trusted local and international car hire partners.