Top 10 Hidden Gems in Cardiff, Wales with Eugene Fogarty
Why does Wales so often get left off the itinerary while England, Scotland, and Ireland soak up the attention?
Eugene Fogarty grew up in Dublin, Ireland, and studied history before earning a master’s in journalism. After two years living and traveling across the Americas, a year in Brussels, and a stint managing a walking tour operation in London, he moved to Cardiff and launched Fogo’s Free Tours in 2018. He has since led around 2,000 tours of Cardiff and South Wales, from free city walks to Doctor Who filming locations and the darker side of the city’s past.
In this conversation, Eugene shares how travel led him to tour guiding and walks me through his favorite hidden gems in Cardiff, Wales, plus the day trip he recommends most.
Cardiff has only been the capital of Wales since 1955, and plenty of visitors still treat it as a one-night stop to tick off another country. Spend an hour with Eugene, though, and the city starts to reveal layers most people walk right past, along with a playful streak you wouldn’t expect from a place built on coal. There’s also a quiet reminder in his story about what can happen when you take the trip before you have the plan. If you’ve ever rushed through a place and wondered what you missed, this conversation might change how you build your next UK itinerary.
Is there a place you rushed through and later wished you’d given more time? I’d love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.
Tune In To Learn:
How a chip on his shoulder about being an Irish guide in Wales turned into an advantage
How two years across the Americas and a bar job in Brussels led Eugene to start his own tour company
Why not knowing what comes after a trip shouldn’t stop you from taking it
What locals say makes Cardiff feel different from other capital cities
A park in the center of Cardiff that even locals don’t know exists (and the two-week window to see it at its best)
Why a famous sci-fi villain is hiding inside an 840-year-old church
How a 19th century coal boom and a lot of rain shaped Cardiff’s shopping streets
The Viking roots, Victorian slums, and live music of one small side street
Where to hear Wales’s male voice choir tradition and its native language in the heart of the city
The add-on most castle visitors skip, plus the seaside town Eugene calls the perfect day trip
Resources:
Sign up for our FREE newsletter
Fogo’s Free Tours
Fogo’s Free Tours Instagram
Cardiff Castle Tours
Clwb Ifor Bach
Want More:
The Real Scotland: Ancient Traditions, Secret Valleys, and Why You Shouldn’t Cut Your Haggis with Andy McAlindon
Hiking the West Highland Way in Scotland with Lynne Nieman
You’re Coming Hitchhiking Around Scotland With Me
Thanks To Our Sponsors:
Explore 100% human-made itineraries at exploreworldwide.com
Begin your bilingual adventure with a free phrasebook with your first box at talkbox.mom/zerototravel
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Eugene Fogarty grew up in Dublin, Ireland, and studied history before earning a master’s in journalism. After two years living and traveling across the Americas, a year in Brussels, and a stint managing a walking tour operation in London, he moved to Cardiff and launched Fogo’s Free Tours in 2018. He has since led around 2,000 tours of Cardiff and South Wales, from free city walks to Doctor Who filming locations and the darker side of the city’s past.
In this conversation, Eugene shares how travel led him to tour guiding and walks me through his favorite hidden gems in Cardiff, Wales, plus the day trip he recommends most.
Cardiff has only been the capital of Wales since 1955, and plenty of visitors still treat it as a one-night stop to tick off another country. Spend an hour with Eugene, though, and the city starts to reveal layers most people walk right past, along with a playful streak you wouldn’t expect from a place built on coal. There’s also a quiet reminder in his story about what can happen when you take the trip before you have the plan. If you’ve ever rushed through a place and wondered what you missed, this conversation might change how you build your next UK itinerary.
Is there a place you rushed through and later wished you’d given more time? I’d love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.
Tune In To Learn:
How a chip on his shoulder about being an Irish guide in Wales turned into an advantage
How two years across the Americas and a bar job in Brussels led Eugene to start his own tour company
Why not knowing what comes after a trip shouldn’t stop you from taking it
What locals say makes Cardiff feel different from other capital cities
A park in the center of Cardiff that even locals don’t know exists (and the two-week window to see it at its best)
Why a famous sci-fi villain is hiding inside an 840-year-old church
How a 19th century coal boom and a lot of rain shaped Cardiff’s shopping streets
The Viking roots, Victorian slums, and live music of one small side street
Where to hear Wales’s male voice choir tradition and its native language in the heart of the city
The add-on most castle visitors skip, plus the seaside town Eugene calls the perfect day trip
Resources:
Sign up for our FREE newsletter
Fogo’s Free Tours
Fogo’s Free Tours Instagram
Cardiff Castle Tours
Clwb Ifor Bach
Want More:
The Real Scotland: Ancient Traditions, Secret Valleys, and Why You Shouldn’t Cut Your Haggis with Andy McAlindon
Hiking the West Highland Way in Scotland with Lynne Nieman
You’re Coming Hitchhiking Around Scotland With Me
Thanks To Our Sponsors:
Explore 100% human-made itineraries at exploreworldwide.com
Begin your bilingual adventure with a free phrasebook with your first box at talkbox.mom/zerototravel
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices