Winter Wonderland Cardiff runs from Thursday 12 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 across two sites: ice skating and the Ice Walk in the Cardiff Castle grounds, and the Giant Wheel and funfair on City Hall lawn. Entry to both is free, and you pay only for what you ride, skate or drink. It’s closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Here’s what’s on at each site in 2026, how to book skating, how to get there and where to leave your bags.
Winter Wonderland Cardiff 2026 at a glance
| Dates | 12 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 (closed 25 and 26 December) |
| Hours | Vary by day and by site, with longer hours on busy days. Check the official timetable |
| Locations | Cardiff Castle grounds (skating, Ice Walk, Tafarn bar) and City Hall lawn (Giant Wheel, funfair, Sur la Piste) |
| Entry | Free. Attractions are paid; skating must be booked online in advance |
| Nearest station | Cardiff Queen Street or Cardiff Central |
Winter Wonderland Cardiff dates and opening times
The 2026 season opens on Thursday 12 November, the same day the city’s Christmas lights are due to be switched on, and closes on Sunday 3 January 2027. Both sites close on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Opening hours change through the season, and the castle and City Hall keep separate timetables. Expect longer hours at weekends and in the school holidays. Visit Cardiff publishes the full timetable for both sites, so check it before you travel.
Ice skating at Cardiff Castle
The castle grounds host the ice rink and the Ice Walk, a skating path that loops around the site with the castle walls as a backdrop. Skating tickets must be bought online in advance through the official booking page, and evening and weekend sessions in December sell out first.
New for 2026 is Bavarian curling, a simpler, team version of curling you can try without any experience. The Tafarn bar is spread across three large tepees, and there are food and drink stalls around the rink.
Giant Wheel and funfair at City Hall
A few minutes’ walk away, City Hall lawn has the Giant Wheel and a family funfair. Rides are pay as you go and contactless cards are accepted, so you don’t need to book. Sur la Piste, a ski-lodge style bar, is the place to warm up with a drink. Both sites also run free family entertainment through the season.
Tickets and prices for Winter Wonderland Cardiff
Walking into either site costs nothing. Skating is the only attraction you must book ahead; rides at City Hall are paid on the spot. Ticket prices for 2026 are shown on the booking page when you pick a date and time.
Christmas in Cardiff city centre
The castle and City Hall are both close to the main shopping streets, so it’s easy to combine skating with the Cardiff Christmas market stalls in the city centre and a look at the lights. Queen Street and St Mary Street are a short walk from the castle gate.
Getting there and parking
Cardiff Castle is about a 15-minute walk from Cardiff Central and around 10 minutes from Cardiff Queen Street. City Hall lawn is a few minutes north-east of the castle. There’s no parking at either site, but city-centre car parks are within walking distance. On match days and Saturdays in December, the train or park and ride is the easier option.
Luggage storage near Cardiff Castle
On a day trip by train, or between hotel check-out and a late skating session? Radical Storage has luggage storage points with local businesses across Cardiff city centre. Book online, leave your bags with the partner and collect them when you’re ready to head home.
Bags are covered up to €10,000 per bag, cancellation is free and travellers rate the service 4.8/5. You can see storage spots near Cardiff Castle on the map.
FAQ about Winter Wonderland Cardiff
From Thursday 12 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. It is closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Yes. Both sites are free to enter. You pay for skating, rides, curling and food and drink.
In the Cardiff Castle grounds, together with the Ice Walk skating path and the Tafarn bar. The Giant Wheel and funfair are on City Hall lawn.
Yes. Skating tickets must be bought online before your visit. Rides at City Hall are pay as you go.
No. Use a city-centre car park or come by train to Cardiff Central or Queen Street.
Radical Storage has luggage storage points in Cardiff city centre. Book online, drop your bags and collect them after your visit. Bags are covered up to €10,000 per bag.