FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you are looking for information to help plan your visit to Cardiff Castle, here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions that we hear:
CASTLE VISITORS
- Yes, Cardiff Castle is operated as an historic visitor attraction and is open all year round (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day).
- No, Cardiff Castle is a paid visitor attraction. Further ticket information can be found on our page about opening hours and prices.
- However, as the Castle was given as a gift to the city by the Bute family in 1947, anyone who lives or works in Cardiff is eligible to apply for a Castle Key, with free entry for a minimum of 3 years.
- The site at Cardiff Castle has been used and reused for almost 2000 years, leaving a fascinating legacy. Today, visitors can see elements dating from Roman, medieval and Victorian periods of occupation, not to mention the World War 2 air raid shelters.
- Try our See & Do page for more information on what’s inside Cardiff Castle.
- We recommend that you should allow around an hour and a half for a typical visit to the Castle, giving time to see all the visitor attractions included with your ticket. Some may take slightly less time and some may wish to stay longer, your ticket is for the full day so the choice is yours.
- If you would like to join a guided tour of the Castle Apartments, these typically last around 50 mins so please allow for an additional hour to your visit time.
- Visitors are welcome to walk around the Castle grounds, contained within the Public Square, free of charge. See Public Square FAQs below.
- If you would like to walk around the Castle house, battlements or other visitor attractions, either at your own pace or by joining a guided tour, then an admission ticket or Castle Key is required.
- Cardiff Castle is located in the heart of the city centre, a short walk from the main public transport hubs and with ample pay and display car parking nearby.
Photography for personal and non-commercial use is welcome within the Castle buildings and grounds. Please share your pictures with us @cardiffcastle on Instagram.
To protect the historic building and to respect the overall visitor experience, we kindly ask visitors to refrain from using flash photography, tripods and selfie sticks within the Castle buildings.
Cardiff Castle provides an excellent venue for commercial filming and photography, find out about location hire here.
- No, Cardiff Castle is owned and managed by Cardiff Council.
- No, Cardiff Castle is owned and managed by Cardiff Council.
- No, Cardiff Castle is owned and managed by Cardiff Council.
- Considerate owners and their dogs (on leads) are very welcome within the Public Square area of the Castle’s outer green. Due to the historic nature of the site no dogs, other than trained Assistance Dogs, are permitted within any of the Castle’s buildings or the Inner Green.
PUBLIC SQUARE USERS
- The Public Square is open daily, during Cardiff Castle’s visiting hours.
- Yes, there will be open toilet facilities with hand washing and hand sanitiser available.
- Yes, you can sign-up for a Castle Key or renew an existing one at the ticket office.
- Yes, the Keep Dining Experience will be serving food & drink to both Castle visitors and Public Square users.
- Pets (including Emotional Support Animals) are welcome within the Castle’s Public Square but, due to the historic nature of the site, are not permitted within any of the Castle’s buildings or the Inner Green.
- Bikes are allowed within the Castle’s Public Square but cannot be taken in to the ticketed areas.
