Queen Street is the main shopping thoroughfare in this newly regenerated city. The pedestrianised road offers a stress-free way to shop in the centre of Wales' largest city (below right).
Here, fashion is well represented and if you like to look good - even while climbing one of Wales' mountains - hunt out Animal (tel: 44 29 2022 7091) in the impressive Queens Arcade (below left; tel: 44 29 2022 3581). A Hamilton jacket (GBP44.99/HK$725) in midnight blue will keep a man warm on any trek while the dark chocolate Alcina T-shirt (GBP14.99) for women has street-cred.
It can get pretty cold in Wales so it's lucky there's a branch of Fat Face (tel: 44 29 2023 7108) in the Capitol Shopping Centre (Queen Street, tel: 44 29 2022 3683). This store specialises in outdoor gear with style. A pair of women's rugged lace-up suede boots with faux fur trim costs GBP45. A leather weekender bag is GBP125.
Upstairs, Blue Dot Gallery (tel: 44 29 2034 1222) has limited-edition paintings, sculptures and glassware to liven up your living room. Some works sell for as little as GBP100.
Hawkin's Bazaar (Queens Arcade, tel: 44 29 2034 3700) satisfies curious minds with books dedicated to trivia and facts. It also sells a dizzying range of novelty items, not all of which are tasteful. However, for the traveller who likes to enjoy the great outdoors, there's an 'extreme' barbecue kit (GBP9.99) with a recipe book and first-aid kit - in case you get carried away with the camping spirit.
If your romantic life needs a lift, Christopher George Jewellers (Queens Arcade, tel: 44 29 2023 1244) has wedding rings made of 18-carat Welsh gold; the yellow gold and diamond ladies solitaire ring (GBP819) will turn heads. Every wedding ring is inscribed with the Welsh word 'Cariad', which means beloved.