Cymraeg

Stay Social

Spending quality time with friends is an important part of university life, helping to create a healthy balance between work and relaxation.

Research has shown that healthy relationships can contribute to good physical health, a more positive mental health and can provide you with great emotional support. Harvard Medical School have even highlighted how social connections can help to reduce stress, which is important to remember when it comes to stressful periods such as exam season!

If you are experiencing money worries, social plans that involve meeting with friends may be one of the things you are cutting from your calendar to save money. Although seeing friends can be expensive, from bottomless brunches to shopping sprees, it’s important to remember that there are so many things in Cardiff that you can do with friends at a low, or even no, cost!

Below are some suggestions of free and low-cost things to do in Cardiff that we hope strike some inspiration:

Free Activities

• Visit one of the many beautiful parks in Cardiff, special mentions for Bute Park, Victoria Park and Roath Lake! – You can even make a day of it and take a picnic which would be less than buying food out!
   
• Go for a day at the Museum – Cardiff is home to the National Museum Wales which is right here in Cathays. You can also find the Museum of Cardiff in the city centre where you can learn more about the history of the city.
   
• St Fagan’s National Museum of History is free to visit and is a full day out, from visiting the castle gardens to the old-fashioned sweet shop. Just outside of Cardiff city, it’s easy to get to by car or bus for a low cost.
   
• Cardiff Bay and barrage can be a great day out if you are able to avoid the rain! You can get there for free if you walk (about 20 minutes from the city centre) or take the bus or train from Queen Street for less than £2. There are several free attractions down the bay to add to the beautiful views, including the Norwegian Church and Wales Millennium Centre which often has exhibitions that are free to enter!

Low-cost Activities

• Going out for a meal with friends can end up costing a small fortune, so as a budget friendly alternative, you could get together and cook a meal with friends. The hardest part may be deciding on something that you all fancy, but once the big decision has been made, you can share the ingredients list (and cost) between you.
   
• Cardiff castle is located in the centre of Cardiff and can be a great way to spend the day. Although some of the grounds are free, a ticket is needed to access the Norman Keep and the interior of the castle. However, if you live or work in Cardiff, you are entitled to a Castle Key (if you are able to provide evidence, such as with a bill or proof of employment). A Castle Key has a £7 admin fee, but this will give you free access for 3 years as well as some other discounts.  
   
• Cardiff is home to part of the Incredible Taff Trail which stretches 55 miles between Cardiff Bay and Brecon in Mid-Wales. A great way to explore the trail is by bike. As a student at Cardiff University, you are entitled to a Free Annual Membership for OVO bikes which gives you the first 30 minutes free per trip.

Got any other free or low-cost ideas?! Share them with us:

Contact Student Advice

advice@cardiff.ac.uk
02920 781410

Parhau i Gymdeithasu

Mae treulio amser gyda ffrindiau yn rhan bwysig o fywyd prifysgol, ac yn helpu i greu cydbwysedd iach rhwng gweithio ac ymlacio.

Mae ymchwil wedi dangos y gall perthnasoedd iach gyfrannu at iechyd corfforol da, iechyd meddwl mwy cadarnhaol a gall roi cefnogaeth emosiynol wych i chi. Mae Ysgol Feddygol Harvard hyd yn oed wedi tynnu sylw at sut y gall cysylltiadau cymdeithasol helpu i leihau straen, sy'n bwysig i'w gofio mewn cyfnodau llawn straen fel tymor arholiadau!

Os ydych chi'n profi pryderon ariannol, mae’n bosib eich bod yn osgoi gwneud cynlluniau cymdeithasol gyda’ch ffrindiau er mwyn arbed arian. Er bod gweld ffrindiau yn gallu bod yn ddrud, o’r ‘Bottomless Brunches’ i’r sbrioedd siopa, mae'n bwysig cofio bod cymaint o bethau yng Nghaerdydd y gallwch chi eu gwneud am gost isel, neu hyd yn oed am ddim!

Dyma rai awgrymiadau o bethau llai costus i'w gwneud yng Nghaerdydd i’ch ysbrydoli chi:

Gweithgareddau rhad ac am ddim

• Ewch i ymweld ag un o'r nifer o barciau hardd yng Nghaerdydd, fel Parc Bute, Parc Fictoria neu Llyn y Rhath! Gallwch hyd yn oed fynd am y diwrnod cyfan a chymryd picnic er mwyn lleihau costau cinio!
   
• Ewch am ddiwrnod i’r Amgueddfa — Caerdydd yw cartref Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Cymru sydd yma yn Cathays. Gallwch hefyd ddod o hyd i Amgueddfa Caerdydd yng nghanol y ddinas lle gallwch ddysgu mwy am hanes y brifddinas.
   
• Gallwch ymweld ag Amgueddfa Werin Cymru Sain Ffagan am ddim ac mae'n ddiwrnod llawn o fwynhad - o ymweld â gerddi'r castell i'r siop losin hen ffasiwn. Mae Sain Ffagan ychydig y tu allan i ganol y ddinas, ond mae’n hawdd cyrraedd mewn car neu ar fws am bris isel iawn.
   
• Gall Bae Caerdydd a'r morglawdd fod yn lle gwych i fynd os ydych chi'n gallu osgoi'r glaw! Gallwch gyrraedd y Bae am ddim trwy gerdded (tua 20 munud o ganol y ddinas) neu ddal y bws neu'r trên o Heol y Frenhines am lai na £2. Mae sawl atyniad rhad ac am ddim yn y Bae i ychwanegu at y golygfeydd hyfryd, gan gynnwys yr Eglwys Norwyaidd a Chanolfan Mileniwm Cymru sy’n aml yn cynnal arddangosfeydd sy'n rhad ac am ddim!

Gweithgareddau cost isel

• Gall mynd allan am bryd o fwyd gyda ffrindiau fod yn eithaf drud yn y pen draw, felly fel dewis llai costus, fe allech chi ddod at eich gilydd gyda’ch ffrindiau a choginio pryd o fwyd. Efallai mai'r peth anoddaf fydd penderfynu ar rywbeth sydd at ddant pawb, ond unwaith y bydd y penderfyniad mawr wedi'i wneud, gallwch rannu'r rhestr gynhwysion (a'r gost) rhyngoch chi.
   
• Mae Castell Caerdydd yng nghanol Caerdydd, ac yn ffordd wych o dreulio’ch diwrnod. Er bod rhai mannau yn rhad ac am ddim, mae angen tocyn i gael mynediad i'r Tŵr Normanaidd a'r tu mewn i'r castell. Fodd bynnag, os ydych yn byw neu'n gweithio yng Nghaerdydd, mae gennych hawl i Allwedd y Castell (os ydych yn gallu darparu tystiolaeth, megis gyda bil neu brawf cyflogaeth). Mae gan Allwedd y Castell ffi weinyddol o £7, ond bydd hyn yn rhoi mynediad am ddim i chi am 3 blynedd yn ogystal â rhai gostyngiadau eraill. 
   
• Mae Caerdydd yn gartref i ran o’r Llwybr Taf anhygoel sy'n ymestyn 55 milltir rhwng Bae Caerdydd ac Aberhonddu yng Nghanolbarth Cymru. Ffordd wych o archwilio'r llwybr yw ar feic. Fel myfyriwr ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, mae gennych hawl i Aelodaeth Flynyddol am ddim ar gyfer beiciau OVO sy'n rhoi'r 30 munud cyntaf o bob taith i chi am ddim.

Oes gennych chi unrhyw syniadau llai costus eraill? Rhannwch nhw gyda ni:

Cysylltu â Chyngor i Fyfyrwyr

advice@caerdydd.ac.uk
02920 781410