Millennium Stadium Travel Tips

Thousands of fans head for Cardiff city centre whenever there's a big match or concert at the Millennium Stadium.

Here are some tips on how to make your way through the congestion.

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• Leave the car at home - fewer vehicles means less congestion, and parking near the stadium can be limited. Go by coach or rail instead - or share a car with others if you really have to drive.
• Set off early - make plenty of allowance for delays, whether you're travelling by road or rail. Even a minor accident ahead of you can add hours to your journey.
• Listen to BBC Radio Wales - for regular travel news with extra bulletins on match days. If you're travelling from England, you'll probably be able to pick up the station on 882 or 657 AM long before you reach Wales where you can also hear it on FM. For more details see the Radio Wales website or Radio Cymru for Welsh language coverage.
• Have some cash for the Severn Bridge tolls - you have to pay to come into Wales via the M4 or M48. Toll booths are on the westbound carriageway shortly after the new crossing (M4) or just before the old bridge (M48) - they also take cheques but do not take credit or debit cards. The charges as of 1 January 2009 are £5.40 for cars, £10.90 minibuses and £16.30 coaches. See the Severn River Crossing plc website for the latest details. There is no charge on the eastbound carriageway heading from Wales into England.
• Double check rail timetables - trains are far less frequent in the evenings and at weekends, and Sunday services may be affected by maintenance work. Be aware that popular routes like Paddington-South Wales and the Valley Lines will be very busy, although some companies put on additional trains for big matches or concerts. Check our trains page for contact details and timetable information.
• Follow the special routes - rival sports fans are often guided to separate park-and-ride sites. Look out for the signs on the M4 in South East Wales which will indicate the route your team should take into Cardiff - you'll also find details on the Traffic Wales website.
• Check public transport - call Traveline on 0870 6082608 for information about buses, coaches and rail services throughout Wales.
• Park-and-ride - motorists should really avoid the centre of Cardiff and use park-and-ride facilities instead. Follow the road signs on major routes into the city or check the Cardiff Council website for further details.
• Meter/Residents Parking - if you do try and park in town, watch out for meter parking zones around the city centre. If you're trying to park elsewhere, remember that local residents will be much more welcoming if you don't park in their reserved spaces, on grass verges or block their driveways. You'll also run the risk of a parking ticket or even a clamping.
• Go by plane - budget flights to Cardiff International Airport are now available from a range of cities including London (City), Belfast, Edinburgh and Glasgow. The journey from airport to stadium takes around 30 to 40 minutes by the X91 Airbus Express (£4 one-way) or by taxi (around £16).
• Go by waterbus - if you're staying in Penarth or Cardiff Bay, you can take a boat trip to the Stadium up the River Taff. See www.cardiffwaterbus.com for details.

Going to the new Cardiff City Stadium? See our page of Cardiff City travel tips .

For further information, see our other Travel pages .