Built in 1999, the Principality Stadium has turned into a legendary battlefield hosting Wales national rugby team and at times Wales national football team. The ground depicts teams’ glorious histories and is home of over 72,000 of their dedicated supporters.

Key facts

Address Principality Stadium, Westgate Street, Cardiff, Wales
Postcode CF10 1NS
Capacity 72,500 seats for football; 73,931 seats for rugby
Club Wales national rugby team and Wales national football team (2000-2011)
Build Date 26 June 1999
Architect Bligh Lobb Sports Architecture
Average Attendance 38,850
Record Attendance 74,645 (rugby – Wales v. Ireland, 15–17, 2009 Six Nations Championship final); 73,062 (football – Wales v. Russia, 0–1, 19 Nov, 2003, UEFA European Championship Play-off)
Stadium Cost £121 million
Roof Fully-retractable roof
Who is the owner of Principality Stadium? The Welsh Rugby Union
Pitch Size 120 m × 79 m
Where is Principality Stadium located? 51°28′41″N 3°10′57″W
Nickname The Millennium Stadium, the national stadium of Wales
Surface GrassMaster

Seating plan

Principality Stadium seating plan

The national stadium of Wales was initially constructed to host the 1999 Rugby World Cup. It became the second European stadium featuring a fully retractable roof. However, it also has several other revolutionary features, such as movable pitch with built-in irrigation and drainage. It makes the venue versatile in terms of events that can take place there.

The stadium’s four sides face the four cardinal points. Thus, three of them are simply called the North Stand, the South Stand, and the West Stand. The fourth end is referred to as the BT Stand. The North Stand is the only two-tiered stand, while the other ends have impressive three tiers.

Speaking about the categories of seats, they are as follows:

  • Category A seats are located at the second tiers of the longside stands;
  • Category B seats are mostly located at the first and the third tiers of the longside stands and partly behind the nets;
  • Category C seats are the majority of the seats at the North and the South stands;
  • Category C (alcohol-free) – is the fan area at the North Stand, and obviously alcohol is prohibited there;
  • Categories D and E are premium seats.

The Millennium Stadium is a hugely important venue on the cultural map of Cardiff. Wales national rugby team and Wales national football team played hundreds of games at its pitch. Furthermore, it hosted numerous rally, boxing, film, and music events. One of the brightest days in its history was the 3rd of June, 2017. That’s when this magnificent venue hosted the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final.

Tickets

tickets

If you are going to visit the most magnificent stadium in Wales, I suggest you choose some of the best tickets. It will cheer you a lot because the Principality Stadium is truly one of a kind venue. Ticket Compare can help you to choose the cosiest tickets at a reasonable price. I often use this timesaving solution myself, and it’s always a pleasure to be served in such a professional way. The service has multiple great features, including intuitive interface and advanced navigation. If you want the alternative solutions, try to get the tickets using the following measures:

  • At the official website of the stadium;
  • By using ticket hotline – 0844 847 1881;
  • At the ticket office near the ground.

Because the national stadium of Wales hosts hundreds of various events, including the concerts, rugby and football games, boxing, racing, and exhibitions, the prices vary a lot. I suggest you check the abovementioned resources and find out what are the ticket prices for the certain event.

Hotels near

hotel

There are hundreds of reasons to visit Cardiff, and I can’t memorise even one why you shouldn’t go to this lovely and vibrant city. It’s not a big city, so you should book accommodations in advance. I can give you a few great ideas, and I hope you’ll enjoy your trip to the capital of Wales.

Cheapest offers

  1. Sleeperz Hotel Cardiff – is a fantastic hotel option located only a stone’s throw away from the venue. It’s pretty basic, but it’s clean, hospitable and very affordable. At £58 per night, it’s a bargain.
  2. The Angel Hotel – is another excellent choice for your stay in Cardiff. The hotel is situated between Bute Park and the stadium. Some of the rooms even have magnificent castle views! The price per night is £77.
  3. Wynford Hotel – looks great inside and has plenty of great features, including cosy and clean rooms and a nice bar, in spite of its hardly airtight appearance from the outside. It’s also located only a few steps away from the stadium. They charge £86 per night for the double room.
  4. Premier Inn Cardiff City Centre – is around a 12-minute walk away from the Principality Stadium. It’s a beautiful and modern property with incredible amenities located near shops and cafes. At £65 per night, it’s an excellent value for money.

Highest-rated

  1. Hotel Indigo – is an amazing hotel with a price tag of £110 per night. It’s only half a mile away from the Principality Stadium. You can even get an excellent breakfast at a reduced price if you order it in advance.
  2. Willow Serviced Apartments – is a lovely, soundproof, cosy, and spacious apartment featuring all necessary amenities. It’s a superb place where you’ll definitely enjoy your stay in Cardiff. The price is £37 per night. It’s hard to find a better place to stay in this great location. The distance to the city’s main sports and music venue is about a mile.
  3. Clayton Hotel Cardiff – is literally a 5-minute walk to the stadium. If you are lucky to book the cheapest room for two for £67 per night, you’ll be delighted to stay there. It’s a very stylish place close to the bars, restaurants, and the city’s main train station.
  4. The Royal Hotel Cardiff – is also a centric hotel with super comfortable and quiet rooms. You’ll love to stay in the Victorian building and get a world-class service for only £58 per night. It’s also only a few steps away from the largest sports ground in Wales.

How to get to

Principality Stadium on the map

Getting around Cardiff is easy and cosy because the city is very compact. The majority of places of interest and infrastructure objects can be easily reached on foot if you stay in the city’s centre. Many of Cardiff’s central streets are pedestrianised, which makes the walks pleasant, convenient, and safe.

By Train – the walk from Cardiff Central railway station (CDF) to the stadium takes less than three minutes. Intercity routes connect Cardiff with many UK’s cities such as London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester, Portsmouth, Southampton, and Swansea.

By Bus – Cardiff Central bus station is also located in the same area as the train station. It connects the Welsh capital with many UK’s cities. If you need to reach the ground using the local bus, the city routes 9, 13, 95, 44, 45, 49, and 50 are at your service.

By Car – the Principality Stadium’s address is Westgate Street, Cardiff, Wales, CF10 1NS. Use it on your smartphone on the matchday to get the optimal directions.

By Plane – Cardiff Airport (CWL) is the main airport in Wales. It’s located 12 miles south-west of the stadium. It can be reached within a 30-minute drive or a 45-minute trip via T9 service. It’s a convenient and affordable bus service linking Cardiff Airport with the downtown area and Cardiff Bay.

Parking

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to park your car at the stadium. However, there is a solution. There are several big car parks within 10-15-minute walking distance from the ground. The approximate matchday paid parking price near the sports and music venue in Cardiff is £6.

Eating out nearby

pub

There is probably no better place to try traditional Welsh food than in Cardiff. The legendary laverbread (the rare type of seaweed), Welsh rarebit (spicy cheese on toast with veggies), and oggie (thick pastry) won’t leave you indifferent. The Welsh capital also offers a variety of restaurants serving the dishes of international cuisine.

Pubs, bars & cafes

  • Ashton Fishmongers – is the country’s largest fish retail outlet where you can find tons of amazing meals at the most reasonable price. It’s probably the best place to go if you are interested in local cuisine. Laverbread is extremely recommended to try there.
  • City Arms – is a truly local beer drinking spot in Cardiff. You can enjoy the eclectic atmosphere, the number of lager, ales, spirits, and much more. The prices are very affordable, and the only drawback is that when it gets crowded, there is not enough staff.
  • Tiny Rebel Cardiff – is more expensive compared to the abovementioned pub. But probably no one can leave this place disappointed. It features a terrific atmosphere, a huge selection of beers on tap and ciders, and a comprehensive menu.

Restaurants

  • Cafe Citta – is one of the top-rated restaurants in Cardiff, and it’s for a reason. Traditional Italian cuisine has many fans in every corner of the world. But this place features not only great Italian food but also genuine hospitality, charming interior and good prices.
  • The Potted Pig – is located very close to the Principality Stadium. It’s an awesome Welsh restaurant where you can get acquainted with truly unique local dishes brilliantly served by the welcoming staff. They have very inexpensive 2-3 course lunch deals, so you shouldn’t miss this chance to try the favourite meals of the Welsh people.
  • Wild Thing – is a short walk away from the main sports and music venue of Cardiff. It’s a terrific vegan restaurant with superb plant-based cuisine and amazing staff. Delicious homemade drinks such as lavender milk and kombucha, plus exclusive cakes will make you crave for more.

Things to see at the stadium

stadium

This iconic sports and music venue is huge, and it has plenty of amazing things to show off. The stadium tours can be interesting to the majority of people of any age because they are truly spectacular. If you happen to arrive at the ground several hours before the beginning of the event, I suggest you explore Cardiff’s centre on foot. Luckily, the stadium is located in the centre, and there are hundreds of places to eat nearby.

Tour

I can agree that some of the stadiums are mostly interesting to the fans of the teams occupying these venues. In this particular case, it’s so much different. This epic multi-purpose 72,000 seater is a very intimidating place, and you shouldn’t miss your chance to walk through the players’ tunnel and to sit in the President’s Box like the British Queen. At the price of £13 for adults and £9 for children, it’s a bargain.

Fan store

Welsh Rugby Union Store is one of the places that you cannot afford to miss during your visit to the stadium in Cardiff. I’m not a rugby fan, but many of their souvenirs are versatile. They will always remind you about your trip to Cardiff. Among the other things, this store is the meeting point for the stadium tours. Their online store is available here.

Things to do in Cardiff

sightseeing

While there are many attractions in the Welsh capital, there is one more thing you’ll love about Cardiff! Its main streets are pedestrianised, making them safe and cosy for every tourist. The majority of the attractions can be easily reached on foot. Plus there are some wonderful trails near the city, and you can explore the stunning nearby areas with the help of a bike, car, train, bus, or even a boat.

Sightseeing tour

Although Cardiff is a small city, it’s the capital of Wales. There are numerous incredible options available for exploration of this vibrant city. Among them are impressive 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus tours, Cardiff Bay boat tours, the other unique sea tours, and even helicopter tours. If you have a day or two to experience more than just one city, you can take a 1-day tour to Wye Valley, Four Waterfalls Valley, or even the mythical West Wales tour.

Top 3 places to visit

Cardiff Castle – is a famous landmark and a must-visit in the Welsh capital. The admission tickets are affordable, and they feature a free audio guide, which is very convenient because the place has an incredibly exciting history. It’s a gorgeous castle loved by the locals and the tourists so that you won’t be disappointed with this choice.

Cardiff Bay – is a super lovely area where you can have a great walk, sit, and chill on a sunny day, take a boat tour, visit the Norwegian church, or simply enjoy a meal at one of its numerous food venues. In July, the food festival takes place at Cardiff Bay, but it’s just one of many great reasons to spend time there.

Bute Park – is a centric attraction located only a few steps away from the Principality Stadium. Beautiful flower beds and adorable arboretum stretch alongside the river. It’s a perfect place for a walk, morning yoga, and an inspiring bicycle ride.