Day 1
Start at the white-stoned Civic Centre. Its impressive buildings are set in leafy parkland and wide avenues and include the National Museum Cardiff, which houses a remarkable collection of European paintings and sculptures. The Evolution of Wales exhibition takes you on a 4,600 million-year journey to find out how life has changed in Wales. Look out for the various exhibitions, lunchtime talks and family activities that are on offer throughout the year.
Two choices are open to you now. If you have the slightest interest in sport you have to head to the Millennium Stadium and take a tour of the 74,500 seater stadium. If not then you can indulge in some retail therapy instead. All the big high street names are here. But Cardiff knows how to stand out from the UK city crowd. You'll see how if you explore the Victorian Arcades. There are six in total, stuffed full of the quirky and unusual. Snug coffee shops sit next to esoteric club clothing boutiques and chic high end fashion stores. There's a shop that sells nothing but violins. And they’re next to a surf shop and a Welsh cheese shop.
In the evening, take in a show at St David's Hall, the New Theatre or the Wales Millennium Centre. Explore the restaurants, bars, clubs and bistros.
Day 2
It's just a short journey to St Fagans on the outskirts of Cardiff. Here, you’ll travel back centuries when you visit the National History Museum with its reconstructed cottages, farmhouses, rural workshops, mill, chapel, village store and so on.
There's plenty of options here for lunch – the Vale Restaurant, Café Bardi and the Gwalia Tea Rooms, a traditional 1930s tea room serving light lunches and afternoon teas. Alternatively, you'll find The Old Post Office and the Plymouth Arms within easy reach.
After lunch, visit Castell Coch, a fairytale castle peeping out of the trees north of the city. Part of the Marquis of Bute's legacy to the city, Castell Coch is the whimsical brainchild of architect William Burges. Take a look at Lady Bute's tower bedroom. It comes with a fabulously painted double dome featuring twenty eight frolicking monkeys – quite risqué in its day.
Day 3
Start your day at Cardiff Castle. It's like a big calm cube right in the city centre.
Originally a Roman fort, it's now a mixture of buildings from all eras. Ultimately, it was the Marquis of Bute again, one of the richest men on the globe, who transformed Cardiff Castle into the mock gothic extravaganza we have now. Take the tour. Then climb up to the top of the 12th century Norman keep for great views over the city.
Continue to Cardiff Bay and take a boat tour from Mermaid Quay, enjoy the shops and restaurants, take a tour of the Senedd - the Welsh Assembly Government's eco-friendly debating chamber, or just have a Cadwalader’s ice cream. Techniquest, the UK's leading hands-on science discovery centre, is also located in the Bay.
Tip: If you're visiting Cardiff in the summer then don't forget that the Cardiff Summer Festival takes place in July and August, including the UK's biggest free outdoor live music event. There's always something going on in the capital so visit www.visitcardiff.com to see what's happening when you're in town.