Car hire in Cardiff
1 office in Cardiff · airport pick-up · United Kingdom
Cardiff, the capital of Wales, combines a medieval castle in the city centre, the regenerated waterfront of Cardiff Bay and a cultural scene built around rugby and music. It's a compact, easy city — but its real appeal begins where its streets end: the Welsh valleys, castles and national parks.
Cardiff Airport is in Rhoose, around 30 minutes west of the city, with limited public transport connections. Hiring a car right there is the logical move: Wales is a country of rural roads, jagged coastline and mountains the train simply doesn't reach.
Search cars in CardiffWhy hire a car in Cardiff
- The airport is well away from the centre and the rail network: collecting the car at the terminal saves an awkward transfer.
- The Brecon Beacons and the Gower Peninsula, two of Wales's natural jewels, have no reasonable public transport access.
- Wales packs in more castles per square kilometre than almost any country in Europe, and most sit in small villages reachable only by road.
Day trips near Cardiff
- Brecon Beacons — A national park of rolling mountains, waterfalls and certified dark skies, perfect for hiking, about 1 hour to the north.
- Gower Peninsula — The first area in Britain ever designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with beaches like Rhossili, about 1 hr 15 min away.
- Caerphilly Castle — One of Europe's largest medieval fortresses, with a double moat and a famously leaning tower, about 25 minutes away.
- Wye Valley and Tintern — A ruined Cistercian abbey beside a river hemmed in by woods, the quintessential romantic setting, about 50 minutes away.
Where to pick up your car
- Aeropuerto de Cardiff
Final prices in euros · book without paying · free cancellation up to 72 h before.
Frequently asked questions
Do you pay a toll to enter Wales from England?
No. The old Severn bridge tolls were scrapped, so crossing between England and Wales on the M4 is free in both directions. There are no toll motorways within Wales either.
Are the Welsh road signs a problem for drivers?
No: all signage is bilingual, with text in both Welsh and English. Speed limits are shown in miles per hour, and in many Welsh urban areas the standard limit is lower than in England, so keep an eye on the signs.
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