In the last five years, Cardiff has built on its reputation as a world-class centre for international sport. The city has been the passionate home of Welsh rugby for more than a century, housed in the iconic Millennium Stadium. Rugby now takes its place alongside a host of other international sport.

As well as being a great city for spectator sport, Cardiff is also the ideal location to try your hand at a variety of activities. With a 200 hectare fresh-water lake, mountains, forests and beaches right on the doorstep, it's the perfect starting point for an adventure filled holiday.

Great atmosphere

The Swalec Stadium has become a regular Test and one-day international cricket venue, following the amazing success of the first Ashes test at the stadium in 2009. Find out about upcoming cricket games here.

Cardiff Blues, the city's rugby union team share the Cardiff City Stadium with their footballing counterparts, Cardiff City FC with the two clubs bringing top class European rugby and Championship football to the capital of Wales – a designated European City of Sport for 2009.

Cardiff International White Water is the latest international standard facility, offering an Olympic standard rafting and canoeing course. Just next door, Cardiff Devils bring top class ice hockey in the Elite League. Both venues are open to the public when they are not in use for competition.

The Millennium Stadium is not restricted to rugby. It is the regular venue for the British Speedway Grand Prix and has hosted special stages of the Wales Rally GB.

For a full list of sporting events in Cardiff, click here.

Get active

Cardiff has a wide range of Golf courses in and around the city-region. With this much choice, it's not surprising that the Celtic Manor Resort, just down the road in Newport, hosted the 2010 Ryder Cup, in October 2010.

Energetic visitors can get some fresh air cycling on the Taff Trail, an 88-kilometre cycle route that travels largely off-road from Cardiff to the market town of Brecon. Within the region there are also great mountain biking trails, in particular Cwmcarn Forest offers over 15km of exhilarating downhill track. If you fancy a more manageable challenge why not hire bikes from Pedal Power and explore the Cardiff Bay Barrage circular route.

If your preferred means of transport is a little more gentle, why not explore Cardiff on foot. Walking in and around Cardiff lets you discover the city and surrounding countryside at your own pace. Find out about Cardiff Walks here.

If adrenalin is what you seek, Cardiff has a wide range of adventure activities, suitable for all the family. From karting to quad-biking, to climbing to paintball, there's no time for boredom with such a choice of things to do.

Watersports enthusiasts of all abilities from age 8 upwards can 'wet' their appetite in Cardiff Bay. You can try canoeing, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and even power-boating on the safe 200 hectare freshwater lake with Cardiff Bay Water Activity Centre.