Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland is back for the season and now officially open, running from Thursday 13 November 2025 through to Sunday 4 January 2026.
The event once again fills two key spots in the city. Cardiff Castle hosts the ice attractions and a mix of festive fun, while City Hall Lawn is home to the funfair, Big Wheel and the lively après ski style bar.
Skaters can glide under the castle’s Norman Keep on the covered Ice Rink and Ice Walk, which both return this year. There is also a Novice Rink for anyone who prefers a slower pace, along with accessible sessions every Thursday. The castle grounds are filled with new and returning sights, including a family Christmas tree ride and glowing Arctic lanterns. Seasonal food and drink will be on offer too, from toasted marshmallows and hot chocolate to mulled wine at the cosy Tafarn.
Over at City Hall Lawn, visitors can expect the usual mix of rides, games and the Big Wheel, offering wide views across Cardiff. Free entertainment will run under cover throughout the season, and Sur la Piste is back with its Alpine theme for people who want a relaxed drink after skating or shopping in the city.
Credit: Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland
Entry to Winter Wonderland is free, with charges for attractions, rides and food. Tickets for skating and the Big Wheel are now on sale here and funfair tokens can be bought on site.
While you are in the city centre, it is worth taking a walk through to see this year’s festive light projections. They brighten up the streets with colourful animations and add a bit more sparkle to the evening. You can see what to expect at https://www.wales247.co.uk/cardiff-lights-up-as-new-festive-projections-launch-christmas-season
Winter Wonderland is also only a short walk to and from Christmas at Bute Park, which will open its 2025 trail later this month with a fresh line up of installations and light displays. It is an easy extra stop if you want to carry on the festive atmosphere. You can read more at https://www.wales247.co.uk/cardiffs-christmas-at-bute-park-unveils-2025-trail
Winter Wonderland remains at the heart of Christmas in Cardiff and is expected to draw thousands of visitors throughout the season.
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<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/rue-du-petit-champlain-quebec-city-canada-the-most-famous-commercial-street-rue-du-petit-champlain-at-lower-town-basse-vill.jpg?id=61178695&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=132%2C0%2C132%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>Montreal may be a <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/montreal-restaurants" target="_blank">foodie paradise</a> and <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/montreal-festivals" target="_blank">festival capital</a>, but it still couldn't edge out its historic sibling when it came time for Travel + Leisure readers to pick their favourite city in the country.</p><p>The publication just dropped the results of its annual World's Best Awards for 2025, using the results to narrow down their <a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best-awards-2025-cities-canada-11736892" target="_blank">readers' five favourite cities in Canada in 2025</a><a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best-awards-2025-cities-canada-11736892"> five favourite cities in Canada in 2025</a>. Rankings were based on things like landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping, and overall value. The final scores were averages of all those categories.</p><p>While Montreal landed in a very respectable second place, Quebec City held onto its title — again. For those counting, that's 10 years straight that the capital has claimed the crown, making it not just a local favourite, but an international one too.</p><p>According to T+L, readers were particularly charmed by Quebec City's "French architecture and winding streets, excellent food and shopping, and the evocative historic atmosphere of Vieux-Québec." The old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was singled out as a must-see, especially in winter, when the Saint Lawrence River freezes and the city takes on a storybook feel.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKYe1uRpBJ/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>"If you can't get to Paris, go to Quebec," one reader said.</p><p>That's not to say Montreal didn't impress. The city was praised for its culture, cuisine, and value, and actually climbed one spot higher than last year. From arts festivals to late-night eats to a nightlife scene that doesn't really sleep, Montreal continues to leave a mark on visitors, even if it's not quite first-place material.</p><p>Quebec's one-two punch didn't go unnoticed either. With both Montreal and Quebec City earning top-tier scores, the province is clearly holding its own against heavyweights like Vancouver, Halifax, and Victoria — all of which rounded out the top five.</p><p>So, the next time someone asks which Canadian cities are worth the hype, just tell them two of the best are only a train ride apart. And neither of them is Toronto.</p><p><span></span>Here's the full 2025 list from Travel + Leisure:</p> <ol> <li> <strong>Quebec City, QC</strong> – Score: 86.79</li> <li> <strong>Montreal, QC</strong> – Score: 82.93</li> <li> <strong>Vancouver, BC</strong> – Score: 82.79</li> <li> <strong>Halifax, NS</strong> – Score: 82.26</li> <li> <strong>Victoria, BC</strong> – Score: 80.70</li> </ol><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>
