Best spa hotels in Cardiff for 2023

The Welsh capital might not be the first place that comes to mind for a well-earned spa break, but with plentiful green spaces, historical sights, cultural activities, an innovative food and drink scene, and stand-out spa hotels, Cardiff is well worth adding to your list.

Easily accessible by plane, train and road, Cardiff is the ideal spot for getting away from it all while still being in the heart of the action.

The city centre is compact, and all major sights are within easy walking distance, from Cardiff Castle to the Principality Stadium, Cardiff Bay to the Cardiff International Arena.

Over the past few years, Cardiff has also blossomed into a gourmet hotspot, thanks to a raft of independent restaurants, cafes and wine bars filling the pretty Victorian arcades and historic streets. Add to that the city’s impressive live music and sports scenes and you’ll be sure to find something to keep everyone happy, leaving you time to sit back, relax and enjoy these top-notch spas and health clubs.

Neighbourhood: Cardiff Bay

With its iconic sail (or is it a wave?) roof, Voco St David’s has taken its place on the roster of architectural symbols – alongside the Millennium Centre, Pierhead Building, and Senedd – that define Cardiff Bay. What was once an industrial dockland, Tiger Bay (birthplace of singing superstar Shirley Bassey) has been transformed over the past 30 years into an exciting neighbourhood for lifestyle and the arts, with the BBC Roath Lock Drama Village and Welsh National Opera positioned here among shops, bars and restaurants. Standing proudly on a promontory in the barrage-made lagoon is Voco St David’s, where 142 rooms and suites overlook the water.

When you’ve suitably exhausted the delights of the Bay – don’t miss Cadwaladers famous ice cream – take respite in the hotel spa. It has a swimming pool, hydrotherapy circuit and a range of relaxing treatments using Ishga natural seaweed products for a powerful boost of minerals. Need to refuel? Head to Ti a Môr, the hotel’s recently relaunched restaurant, which serves modern Welsh dishes using locally sourced ingredients, such as fig and balsamic onion tartlet with Pant-Ys-Gawn goat’s cheese, and Wye Valley Farm sirloin steaks.