✓ Welsh capital
✓ Compact city, easy to get around
✓ Full of bars: St Mary Street, Mill Lane, Cardiff Bay & Greyfriars
✓ Affordable drinks (it's a uni town)
✓ Wide range of activities, countryside not far away
✓ Just 2 hours on a direct train from London Paddington
✓ Something for everyone
Tips from the stag experts
Pack the Red Bull
"Walk down St Mary Street and every bar has a sign outside saying open till 4am. Cardiff just runs later than anywhere else."
It kicks off early
"It's one of those places where, when you end up there, you actually have such a good time. Everyone's just trying to have fun. You walk into a bar at 6pm and there's already 200 people dancing."
Fill the Saturday afternoon
"West Country Games is the perfect activity to fill your Saturday afternoon. It works perfectly for all ages, it's something unique to Cardiff and Bristol, and makes for a memorable day."
Get competitive
"Get yourself on the Stag Challenge and compete in teams across games like zorb football and combat archery."
What 243 Stag Groups Had to Say About Cardiff
Pros
Good-looking capital - Cardiff Castle, Mermaid Quay and the grand city-centre streets
The Welsh capital beat expectations - "loved it" topped the list
Proper party city - St Mary Street runs late; nightlife was the No.2 thing they said
Perfect for stags - came up again and again
They'd be back - most said they'd return, no question
Cracking food - proper local spots: the Potted Pig, Steak of the Art and Pieminster
Chippy Lane - Caroline Street's takeaway strip, sorts the walk home
Big groups welcome – friendly locals, and the doormen are sound (with a reservation)
All walkable - everything's close, so no money wasted on taxis
Cons
Bit of a trek - a fair way to travel if you're coming from Scotland or the far south
Some venues are funny about fancy dress - Chillisauce know the ones that aren't
Welsh weather - can turn windy and cold, so pack for it
Busy and gets rowdy late on