Fact! Welsh people know how to have a good time and Cardiff is testament to that very fact. The Welsh capital has undergone a major transformation of late and has received masses of investment over the last decade; Cardiff is now truly a vibrant and attractive European destination that can hold its head high.

The city centre is compact, meaning you’re never more than a stone’s throw away from breathtaking architecture, historical buildings, lush parkland and the coast. The city’s rates as one of the best in the UK for a night out, this in part is due to Cardiff being a huge cosmopolitan melting pot with a massive student population, a continual rotation of sports fans and a healthy influx of tourists, it’s no surprise that the city’s pubs and bars have capitalized upon it’s appeal by offering a drinking establishment to meet every taste and need, live music venues, gastro pubs, sports bars cocktail lounges and the usual line up of chains are in attendance.

The busiest streets are St Mary Street, Greyfriars Road and Mill Lane all of which attract mixed and heady crowds week in and week out, and on the weekend these streets are especially popular with the stag and hen party’s, so expect to cut price drinks and all that goes with it.

Cardiff has a healthy live music scene and features high on the list for bands on the gig circuit, so expect to see some great talent any night of the week, some notable live music venues are Buffalo on Windsor Place,10 Feet Tall in Church Street and The Globe on Albany Road and last but by no means least the Milgi Lounge on the City Rd.

For real ale try Camra’s Cardiff pub of the year The Vulcan Hotel in Adam street which narrowly avoided being flattened and being turned into an NCP thanks to the efforts of over 5000 locals including Manic Street Preacher James Dean Bradfield, Actor Rhys Ifans and sports presenter John Inverdale who petitioned to save the ageing boozer .The Vulcan Hotel, opened its door way back in 1853, and is the only building left on Adam Street that has links to the former Newtown area of the city. It’s very much a spit and sawdust joint but well worth a visit, rumour has it that the newly granted licence expires in 3 years so don’t delay.

For a more upmarket experience check out The Promised Land in Windsor Place, Ba-Orient in Mermaid Quay and The Calcutta Club in Womanby street which is ones of Cardiff most elegant venues.If your visiting the Stadium and fancy some pre or post match drinks then try The City Arms which is only a minutes walk away from the stadium, it’s a friendly traditional welsh pub that’s popular with locals especially on match days when it gets packed, it’s also open till 2 am on Friday and Saturday.