Cardiff always appears top 10 UK stag destination lists, and it’s easy to see why. With amazing attractions, nightlife and activities, Cardiff has everything a stag group could want. Today Anthony Page of Welsh Games shares his guide to a stag weekend in Cardiff…
Seeing off the stag before his big day has certainly changed over the years. At one time just a few drinks down the local would precede tying the poor drunken soul to a lamp post. This would have been enough to see him off in style. Today the options for a stag do are limitless, with many destinations and activities to provide great content for that all-important best man’s speech.
Stag weekends have certainly become adventurous and action-packed affairs, and can take a lot of planning. The first job for the best man is to choose a destination. It’s become very popular to head over to a European city like Prague, Barcelona or Krakow, and for sure these are great places to send the stag off in style.
But how about a little closer to home? A city such as Cardiff, the Welsh capital, has pretty much everything that any other European destination has to offer. If you have a Cardiff stag weekend you won’t have the headache of organising flights, ensuring everyone has their passport and arrives at the airport on time. All you need is a few quid to pop over the bridge and you’ll be warmly welcomed to one of the UK’s friendliest and most dynamic cities.
Cardiff being an important centre is easily accessible from anywhere in the UK and has an extensive range of accommodation, places to eat and, most importantly, lots and lots of bars!
Activity Ideas and Itinerary
Here are one or two activity ideas, and a potential itinerary for a memorable (or not!) stag weekend in Cardiff…
Friday Night — Enjoy the Cardiff Nightlife
Hit up the city’s nightlife, which is one of the most diverse in the UK with everything from designer bars to Irish pubs.
Saturday Day — Wacky Welsh Games
Have a break from the city and head out into the wonderful surrounding Welsh countryside for some fun group activities. One such idea is to take part in the hilarious group activity, Welsh Games, which has quickly become Cardiff’s most popular group activity.
A day out here includes nine wacky activities using large inflatable, catapults and fat suits. You won’t stop laughing as you take part in games such as Sheep Shenanigans, Drunk Dragons, Welsh Celebrity Knockout and the Rugby Run.
Saturday Night — Dine, Drink and Party!
Hit the bars again and dine at one of Cardiff’s many eateries. One idea is to start off around the Mill Street area, which has lots of different places to line the stomach before the madness starts.
Cardiff’s liveliest pubs and clubs are centred on St Mary Street. It’s closed off to traffic on Saturday nights and provides boundless opportunities to send the stag off in style. If the stag is still going strong as the evening wears on then head to the Castle Quarter, home to nightclubs and trendy bars.
Your party won’t want for late night food options to soak up all that Brains. The city is awash with kebab and fast food joints.
Sunday Day — Cardiff Tours
Time to shake off the hangovers and go see a bit of the Welsh capital. There are many options for tours around the city, and here are a few ideas…
Buy a ‘hop on, hop off’ bus pass and see all the city has to offer. These generally leave Cardiff Castle on the hour and are a great way to get around and blow away the cobwebs. Of course, many stops are near great pubs!
Perhaps a better way to tackle those cobwebs is to head to the iconic Millennium Stadium and experience one of their tours. They run daily from 9am until 5pm and last around 40 minutes.
If your group is still feeling it from the night before then why not head out into Cardiff Bay? There are heaps of boat operators that are more than happy to take your party out fishing, or perhaps sail to Flat Holm island for the day.
Whatever you choose to do for your stag weekend in Cardiff, you really can’t go wrong with the Welsh capital. It’s compact enough to get around but important enough to have everything. The Welsh countryside is a stone’s throw away too if you want a change of landscape. Oh, and not forgetting the friendly Welsh lasses!
Cardiff really is a knockout destination.
Cardiff Stag Weekend Essentials
How to get to Cardiff…
M4 motorway. Rail Connections from London, Bristol and the rest of the UK. Cardiff Airport serves other UK destinations.
When to go…
Cardiff is a year-round destination, but ideally try and plan from April to October when outdoor activities such as Welsh Games and Bay Boat Trips run.
A stag weekend in Cardiff is good for…
Bar crawls, outdoor group activities, city sightseeing, sporting events, water sports.
Guest post by Anthony Page of Welsh Games
