Cardiff is a ‘must-see’ for travellers

Dec 6 2007 by Sally Williams, Western Mail

THE Welsh capital has been chosen as one of the world’s top “must-see” destinations for 2008 – ahead of the usual tourist hotspots of London, Paris and Rome.

Cardiff is described as “a city transformed” and is the only Western European destination to be highlighted in The Frommer’s Guide.

The American-based guide – written with American tourists in mind – said Cardiff has “reinvented itself and is now a thriving cosmopolitan centre with an ancient Welsh heart”.

And the guidebook rates Cardiff as one of its 13 must-see global destinations for 2008.

Listed alongside the Welsh city are the Caribbean paradise island of St Lucia, described as “perfect for low-key vacationers”; Romania, seen as having “reasonable prices (and) good hiking country” and New Orleans, which the writers claim has “almost recovered from Hurricane Katrina”.

Cardiff’s Senedd building is highlighted as “sleek and ecologically friendly” in the guide, while the Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve and the Wales Millennium Centre are also praised.

The guide reads, “The former industrial city of Cardiff went into decline as its coal industry, factories and rail yards died out.

“Now, it’s successfully reinvented itself as a cosmopolitan centre that still retains its ancient Welsh heart.

“Anchoring the city is Cardiff Castle, built upon Roman ruins turned Norman stronghold transitioned into Victorian fancy.

“The astounding performing arts space, the Wales Millennium Centre, holds court in the revitalised waterfront, breathing life into the culture and cafe scene.

“It also serves as the hidden entrance to a secret Government agency on BBC’s sci-fi hit Torchwood.”

The guide recommends the Welsh capital, which attracts more than 11 million visitors a year, as the “perfect base” for exploring other parts of Wales.

It adds, “Head east to see the famous ruins of Tintern Abbey, which inspired Wordsworth to write about ‘a sense sublime of something far more deeply interfused’, or head west to St David’s, the birthplace of Wales’ patron saint.”

A spokesman for The Frommer’s Guide said, “Each year, members of Frommer’s editorial staff put our heads together to suss out those places around the world that are worthy of a traveller’s attention.

“Each is selected for what it has to offer – big city fun, rural relaxation, the opportunity to test your mental and physical mettle, or simply the fact that it often falls under the radar and deserves a little attention.

“This year, we’ve selected 13 places, in no particular order.”

A Visit Wales spokeswoman said recognition on the list is “fantastic news” for Cardiff.

She said, “This bears out what more and more travellers are finding out for themselves, that the Welsh capital is full of character and has a great deal to offer the visitor, whether on a shopping trip or a longer break.

“With a population of some 300,000, no skyscrapers and acres of parkland, it is airy and open but with a compact commercial centre.

“This new guide will hopefully entice those that haven’t been before – or will inspire others to visit again to see recent developments for themselves.

“Cardiff is a city with its sights firmly set on the future but is also very proud of its history and culture.”

Simon Calder, a travel writer for the Independent, said Cardiff’s recognition is now “spiralling”, thanks largely to the prominence of the Millennium Stadium as a world-class sports venue, most recently in the Rugby World Cup.

He said, “Cardiff has been transforming itself over the past 10 to 15 years.

“With the Millennium Stadium and the Millennium Centre, it is attracting more and more people, in a similar way to Bilbao in Spain with its Guggenheim Museum.

“There are now fantastic places to stay in Cardiff for visitors, which shows that the city is getting a sense of its own importance.

“And scenes of Cardiff in Doctor Who and Torchwood are helping people living elsewhere in Britain to take Cardiff more seriously.

“And the more people who visit, the better a city becomes and the more it can offer.

“If you were to ask 100 people at random for their top13 cities in the world, I’m not sure how many of them would choose Cardiff above New York, Sydney or Paris.

“But recognition in this guide is a start.”

The Frommer’s Guide has been in publication since 1957, when Arthur Frommer’s revolutionary guidebook Europe on $5 a Day was produced.

The 13 top destinations for 2008 - page 2