Compare Cardiff Airport car hire

Cardiff has plenty to keep you busy, but hiring a car allows you to explore the natural beauty beyond the city, including the Brecon Beacons and rugged Pembrokeshire coast. You'll find loads of cheap hire options both at the airport and in the centre of the city.

Hiring a car from Cardiff Airport (CWL) means you can easily reach your hotel, explore the city and discover more of South Wales. Rental firms operating out of the airport include Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Europcar, Hertz and Avis, and the drive to the city takes just 30 minutes.

The airport lies around 19.3km (12 miles) south-west of central Cardiff, and the drive is relatively easy. From the airport, take the A4226 and A4050, then join the A48 for north Cardiff or the A4232 for the waterfront, depending on the location of your hotel. Head east from the airport and you'll quickly come to the seaside resort of Barry, just 5km (3 miles) away.

Car rental companies that have desks at Cardiff Airport include:

• Enterprise Rent-a-Car (Tel: 01446 712837)
• Europcar (Tel: 0371 384 3404)
• Hertz (Tel: 01446 711722)
• Avis (Tel: 0344 544 6006)

You’ll find these companies’ booking offices in the arrivals area of the main terminal building.

If you're spending some time in the city before heading out to explore, it could be easier to pick your car up in Cardiff city centre. Several companies operate from Grangetown – near to Cardiff City Stadium – and in the area surrounding the main railway station.

The A48 and A4232 roads connect Cardiff with the M4, offering speedy connections to Bristol, Swansea, the Welsh valleys and nearby coastal towns. However, in the city centre itself, heavy traffic, confusing bus lanes and an increasing number of 20mph zones may slow you down.

Avoid driving in Cardiff during the morning and evening rush hours – the roads around the commercial district get very busy. Also, if your trip coincides with a major sporting or performing arts event at the Principality Stadium, be wary of increased traffic, road closures and additional parking restrictions.

On-street parking is at a premium in the busy centre, with drivers encouraged to use the three Park & Ride sites on the edge of the city. There are also large multi-storey car parks at St David’s Dewi Sant Shopping Centre, Dumfries Place and Westgate Street, among other locations, but prices are eye-wateringly expensive for longer stays. This is a capital city, after all.

Brecon Beacons National Park

Driving time: One hour 30 minutes

For windswept mountains, misty lakes, dense forests and surging waterfalls, set a course for the dramatic Brecon Beacons. Driving around South Wales’s upland national park, you’ll happen upon historic villages, industrial relics, medieval churches and ancient castles, and you could call in at Abergavenny, Brecon or one of the other pretty market towns for a light lunch or dinner before the drive back to your hotel. Alternatively, sign up for some outdoor activities; among the offerings are canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, whitewater rafting, raft-building, windsurfing and horse-riding.

Tredegar House

Driving time: 20 minutes

Set in a vast 90-acre estate just outside of Newport and one of the finest country homes in Wales, the National Trust’s 17th-century Tredegar House is jam-packed with fine art and authentic period features. You’ll come across grand reception areas, luxurious bedchambers and a vast ‘downstairs’ where the servants lived and worked. Outside, you can enjoy the blooming beauty of the Orchard, Cedar and Orangery gardens, and look for wildlife in the parklands surrounding the house. On certain dates you can also go kayaking on the lake, while regular events include festivals and themed family events.

Barry and Porthkerry Country Park

Driving time: 25 minutes

The coastal resort of Barry, situated between the capital and its airport, offers retro seaside fun with its arcades, theme park, promenade and beach. Enjoy the sea air and coastal views – and perhaps even a spot of sunbathing – before heading inland to the Holton Road shopping area. You’ll find both chain stores and quirky independents, along with cafés, pubs and restaurants in the town’s commercial zone. The nearby Porthkerry Country Park boasts 220 acres of woods and meadowland, with enticing hiking trails zigzagging the valley as it leads down to a pebble beach.

Fair fuel policy

A fair fuel policy (also known as full-to-full or same-to-same) means you’ll only pay for the fuel you use. All car rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket come with a fair fuel policy, so you can book your hire car safe in the knowledge there will be no nasty surprises at drop-off. More information on TravelSupermarket’s commitment to fair fuel policies can be found here.

No hidden fees

All rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket include mandatory fees (for example, one-way and young driver surcharges) in your rental quote at the time of booking, meaning you’ll know the full price of your car hire upfront.