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Major city · United Kingdom

CardiganAberteifi

Give Cardigan one full day and two nights: castle, quay and a Teifi boat trip, then use it as a base for Cilgerran, St Dogmaels and the coast.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Cardigan (Aberteifi) is a small Teifi estuary town of about 4,200 people in Ceredigion, over half of them Welsh-speaking. It is not a resort: the pull is the restored castle, the river, the market town centre and its position between the Ceredigion coast and the Preseli Hills. Most visitors pass through on the A487 or stop for a night on the way to Pembrokeshire. Two nights is enough to see the town properly and reach Cilgerran and St Dogmaels without rushing.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Jan–Feb (wet, many places shut)
Airports
CWL · BRS
Nights
2
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Cardigan999 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • Non-emergency police101
  • NHS non-emergency (England and Wales)111

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Cardigan, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee£3–4 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
  • BeerPint of beer£4–5.50 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Metro or bus rideLocal bus single fare£2–4 (≈ US$3–6) (check)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week£6–12 (≈ US$8–16)
  • Museum or sight ticketCastle or mill entry£5–10 (≈ US$7–14) (check)
  • Budget bedHostel or bunkhouse bed, a night, per person£25 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedB&B or pub double room, a night, per room£110 (≈ US$150)
  • High-end bedB&B or pub double room, a night, per room£180 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £85 (≈ US$120) · High £150 (≈ US$200)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Cardigan CastleRiver Teifi and the quayCilgerran CastleWelsh-language market town
Airports
CWL Cardiff Airport (About 2 h by car; the nearest airport with scheduled flights) · BRS Bristol Airport (About 3 h by car; more routes, then M4 and A48 west)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    10°C (50°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    12°C (54°F)

  5. May

    Best

    15°C (59°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    14°C (57°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    11°C (52°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    9°C (48°F)

Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Jan–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (20°C (68°F)), coolest Jan (3°C (37°F) low), wettest Jan (17 rain days), driest May (11). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Cardigan: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

8°C (46°F)

3°C (37°F)

17 rd

Feb

8°C (46°F)

3°C (37°F)

13 rd

Mar

10°C (50°F)

4°C (39°F)

14 rd

Apr

12°C (54°F)

5°C (41°F)

12 rd

May

15°C (59°F)

8°C (46°F)

11 rd

Jun

18°C (64°F)

10°C (50°F)

11 rd

Jul

20°C (68°F)

13°C (55°F)

11 rd

Aug

20°C (68°F)

13°C (55°F)

13 rd

Sep

18°C (64°F)

11°C (52°F)

13 rd

Oct

14°C (57°F)

9°C (48°F)

16 rd

Nov

11°C (52°F)

6°C (43°F)

17 rd

Dec

9°C (48°F)

4°C (39°F)

17 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is walkable in 10–15 minutes end to end. For Cilgerran, St Dogmaels and the beaches you need a car, a bike or the local bus; services are thin on Sundays and in winter. Parking in the centre is short-stay and fills in summer.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Cilgerran Castle

go

Door to door: About 15 min by car

Car or bike on the A478, about 3 miles south

National Trust ruin above the Teifi gorge; pair it with a riverside walk.

St Dogmaels and Y Felin

go

Door to door: 10–20 min

Car over the bridge, or walk the riverside path

Working watermill with limited opening days: check before going.

Aberaeron

go

Door to door: About 35 min

A487 north by car or bus

Harbour town with a good half-day of eating and walking.

Aberporth

go

Door to door: About 20 min

A487 then B4333 by car

Two sandy beaches; the better swim of the nearby options.

Aberystwythgo

Door to door: About 1 h

A487 by car, or the T5 bus

University town with a promenade and the cliff railway.

Devil's Bridge

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 15

A487 then A4120 by car

Long for a half-day; the waterfalls and steam railway need most of a day.

Borth

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

A487 north by car

Long beach and a small railway station; wind is constant.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Town centre (High Street and Bridge Street)

Walk to the castle, quay and pubs; limited parking, so check whether the room comes with a space.

Quay and Teifi riverside

Quietest at night, a few minutes' walk from the centre; good for early boat departures.

St Dogmaels and Poppit

Across the river, 5–10 min by car; coast and estuary walks from the door.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
£75–120 (≈ US$100–160) excl. bed
High
£130 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
B&B or pub double room1 × 2 nights × £110£220
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × £85£340
Cardigan Castle entry2 × £8 · check£16
Teifi boat trip, about 1 h2 × £20 · check£40
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £8£16
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£63
Trip total≈ £174 per person per day, bed included£695≈ US$950

2026 estimate in pounds; travel to Cardigan excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee£3–4 (≈ US$4–6)
Pub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
Pint of beer£4–5.50 (≈ US$6–8)
Fish and chips£10–15 (≈ US$14–20)
Castle or mill entry£5–10 (≈ US$7–14) (check)
Local bus single fare£2–4 (≈ US$3–6) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week£6–12 (≈ US$8–16)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Cardigan is a low-crime small town and safe to walk at night. The real risks are weather, fast tides at the Teifi mouth, narrow roads with no pavement, and long waits for help if you walk the coast path unprepared.
  • No railway station: buses from Aberystwyth, Fishguard and Carmarthen, or drive the A487.
  • Mobile coverage is patchy on approach roads; O2 has had no signal here — check your network before relying on maps.
  • Many kitchens stop serving by 21:00 and rural pubs close mid-afternoon.
  • River and sea currents at the Teifi mouth are strong: check tide times before swimming or kayaking.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
999
Non-emergency police
101
NHS non-emergency (England and Wales)
111

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

CardiganAberteifi

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

I'r cyfeiriad hwn, os gwelwch yn ddaTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • Non-emergency police101
  • NHS non-emergency111

Embassy

No embassies in Cardigan; the nearest consulates are in Cardiff, and embassies are in London.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bus Cardigan → Aberystwyth (T5): about £5–7 (≈ US$7–10), about 1 h (check)
  • Taxi within town: £5–8 (≈ US$7–11)
  • Car park, town centre, per hour: £1–2 (≈ US$2–3) (check)

Say or show

  • Bore da — Good morning (BOR-eh dah)
  • Diolch — Thank you (DEE-olch)
  • Os gwelwch yn dda — Please (os GWEL-ookh un thah)
  • Ble mae'r toiled? — Where is the toilet? (bleh myr TOY-led)
  • Faint yw e? — How much is it? (fynt yoo eh)
  • Iechyd da — Cheers (YEH-khid dah)

Welsh is a first language for many residents; English is universal.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Cardigan. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Jan–Feb (wet, many places shut) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contracts for CWL and BRS: last bus and train times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: castle and centre, quay and riverside, St Dogmaels, Poppit.
  3. Place pages with verified opening days (Cardigan Castle, Cilgerran Castle, Y Felin) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Tide and weather fixtures for the Teifi mouth so boat and swim days can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources