Cardiff Stag Do's

Getting around

Croeso i Gymru!

Cardiff, on the south coast of Wales, is two-and-a-half hours by train from London, and about four hours away by car. So it’s very easy to get there without the need to fly, and both journeys take you through some truly beautiful scenery. If you are flying though, expect to pay £40 or so for a taxi from the airport, or £5 for a single on the T9 bus that whisks you into the city centre in approximately 40 minutes. A train takes around the same time as the bus, but will have a bigger impact on your pocket. 

If you’re driving in, you won’t have any difficulty finding secure public car parks. The Westgate Street NCP in the city centre, for instance, has more than 300 spaces and costs around £30 for 24-hour parking. We can also book Cardiff stag accommodation with parking for you - just let us know your needs. 

When it comes to your stag activities in Cardiff, if they’re out in the countryside then you can either make your own way, or we can arrange convenient door-to-door transfers for you. Remember that major events like Six Nations rugby matches (February - March) and Pride Cymru (August) take over the city and can make parking more difficult.

As Cardiff is not a large city, you’ll find that it’s extremely easy to navigate, and most of the city can be explored by foot. There are several fully pedestrianised areas. Having said that, there are plenty of buses available which cover multiple routes to get you to your destination a little quicker. It’s worth noting that most city centre buses operate in an anti-clockwise direction and only accept exact change, so pay by card where you can, and check out the Cardiff Bus and Stagecoach website for times and routes. 

You can also get around Cardiff by train, with around 20 stops in the city. The main stops you need are Cardiff Central, and Queen Street. The latter station is also where you get the train for Europe's largest waterfront development, Cardiff Bay.

As you’d expect from the nation’s capital, there are taxi ranks placed around all the key areas that stag groups will be likely to frequent, such as Cardiff Central station, Wood Street, St. Mary Street and Mill Lane. Private hire cabs are also available too of course.

Other ways to get around Cardiff include OVO rental bikes, which can be picked up and dropped off at locations around the city. Use the Nextbike app to quickly unlock them and you’re on your way. Cardiff is nice and flat, so even if you’ve had a skinful the night before, it shouldn’t be too exhausting! 

Lastly, the Waterbus must be mentioned. Boat taxis get you from Bute Park in the city centre over to Cardiff Bay, a bustling waterfront development which is home to a huge range of bars, restaurants, hotels, tours and attractions, as well as cultural landmarks such as Wales' national art hub, the Millennium Centre.

Tips and ideas

Much of Cardiff’s history and culture revolves around its sporting heritage, so why not incorporate this into your stag weekend? The Principality Stadium (formerly the Millennium Stadium) is one of the most impressive architectural icons in Wales and the central focus of Cardiff’s sporting scene. If your stag do falls at the right time, then you may be able to enjoy a match whilst you’re here. The Six Nations is the biggie of course, with the tournament taking place in February and March, and the atmosphere about as electric as it gets. It's a grand day out even if you're not rugby fans, but of course tickets are not easy to come by!

Or perhaps your group would prefer to be in the thick of the action themselves, not simply spectating. In which case, talk to us about some of our fantastic Cardiff stag experiences that involve you all getting active. There’s everything from Bubble Football and Quad Biking, to Paintball and Clay Pigeon Shooting.

But some of the activities in Cardiff that we love the most are the water-based experiences that you simply can't find everywhere. Think Coasteering, Gorge Walking or even White Water Rafting - BIG thrills in the glorious Welsh countryside that are bound to leave the whole group with a serious thirst, as well as some great memories to recount on the wedding day (if everyone agrees to the details being disclosed!)

Then there’s the unashamedly bonkers Welsh Games, which see you battling it out across a series of ridiculous challenges like bashing each other with giant leeks, tackling the sheep rodeo, and taking on the rugby run. 

Another of the best things to do on a Cardiff stag weekend is to take the 30-minute train to Barry Island, famous for its Gavin & Stacey connection, as well as the amusement park and funfair rides. Lush.

Lastly, if you’re keen on getting to know Cardiff a little while sampling the beer in some brilliant pubs at the same time, then why not try the Treasure Hunt Pub Challenge? This activity is perfect for groups that love a little healthy competition and also works as a solid icebreaker if there are members of the group who don't know each other that well. If you’re feeling a little worse for wear after a big night out though, you might want to take the day at your own pace, rather than racing around against the clock!

Nightlife

We’ve already mentioned that Cardiff is an awesome night out and now here’s the details you need. The best places in Cardiff for nightlife are in the city centre, such as the old Brewery Quarter, Mill Lane, and the Castle Quarter. In the Castle Quarter there are lots of cool independent bars, as well as the (in)famous St Mary Street, and Revolution (a good spot for dinner, right opposite the beautiful Cardiff Castle). You’ll find popular mainstream clubs PRYZM and Tiger Tiger on Greyfriars Road, which is also home to plenty of buzzing bars. In Cardiff Bay, the action takes place around Mermaid Quay, but in our view the best night out for stags is to be found in the city centre.

For a wide range of delicious cocktails, head for the Alchemist on St Mary Street, or the Botanist on Church Street, while you can find a selection of craft beers at Westgate Street's Tiny Rebel. If you like to mix your drinks with some gaming, then check out Kongs, with its collection of classic arcade games and an array of craft beers.

We recommend getting your stag night out underway with a visit to one of Cardiff’s hottest pre-club bars, Revolution. Here, you’ll be able to eat, drink and party the night away - we can reserve you a table so there’s no waiting around. After that, why not pay a visit to PRYZM, where you and the lads can throw some serious shapes on the dancefloor as this club caters for everyone’s music tastes. We can sort you out a booth package where you can enjoy that bling-bling VIP treatment and end the night on a high.

FAQ

What is there to do in Cardiff at night?

There’s so much to do at night on a Cardiff stag do, you’ll wish your mate was getting married every year! Our suggestion: start the night with a bite to eat somewhere lively, such as Revolution or the Slug and Lettuce - we can reserve you a table in advance to save time. After a few drinks there you can wander the bars along Greyfriars Road, or head for a cocktail bar such as the Botanist. 

Then, depending on what the group is most interested in, you can head to a comedy club, a strip club, or one of Cardiff’s stag-friendly nightclubs like PRYZM. Whatever your group's tastes, we can arrange entry for you and the lads to save you the hassle. 

What are the best stag activities near Cardiff?

As we’ve been organising epic stag weekends since 2004, we’ve got a great idea of the best things to do on a Cardiff stag do and can help you to book in a full itinerary featuring all the classic bestsellers such as Paintball, Quad Biking, Go-Karting and Strip Clubs. 

But that’s not the half of it. One of the things we think makes Cardiff so special for stag weekends is the amazing array of outdoor activities in the magnificent surrounding countryside. For the active stag group, we’d recommend some action-packed Whitewater Rafting, or perhaps Coasteering, where you’ll get wetsuited up, scramble over rocks and jump into the sea - just awesome fun.

You’ve also got the ludicrous (and ludicrously entertaining) Welsh Games here. Batter each other gladiator-style with a couple of leeks instead of pugil sticks; ride a woolly wobbler in the sheep rodeo, and take on the giant bungee challenge - funny memories are guaranteed.

Then in the evenings, Cardiff’s legendary nightspots await…

Where are your stag do hotels?

We offer a range of Cardiff stag do accommodations to suit every budget. As a rule, we aim to place your group no more than a 10-20 minute walk, or a short taxi ride, from the main nightlife areas. We recommend booking early if you can, to ensure you have the best possible choice and cheapest possible rates available when it comes to hotels. 

What are the best bars for a Cardiff stag do?

Cardiff has such an amazing nightlife scene that whatever ambience your group is after, you surely will not be disappointed. For a high-voltage atmosphere, you can’t go wrong with Revolution or the Slug and Lettuce, the gold standard for stag groups. Alternatively, sample a few specialist cocktails, prepared by expert bartenders, at the Alchemist or the Botanist. And if your group are avid gamers, why not try Kongs, on the renowned St Mary Street, where you can enjoy some retro arcade games with your craft beers?

How do we get to our activities?

If your stag activities are in central Cardiff then you can usually get to them on foot, or easily with the city’s many public transport options. If they’re further out, such as the Whitewater Rafting, then you’ll need to think ahead and sort your own transport. 

Do you offer any stag do packages for Cardiff?

Yes, we offer a full suite of Cardiff stag do packages designed to get you off to the best start when planning your weekend. These are an easy, cost-effective solution to ensure your group samples the best of the stag activities in Cardiff, and of course you can use them as the foundation, adding in more activities as you please.

How can we be sure our money is protected?

The Stag Company is an ABTA member, which means means that we must adhere to their strict code of conduct in the way that we operate, but also that your money, and that of your friends, is completely safe when you book a package through us.