best travel guides to wales

Cardiff Bay Waterfront

Award winner, bryn celli ddu, caernarfon castle, st david's cathedral.

South West Wales

Conwy Castle & River Estuary

North Wales

South Stack Lighthouse

Isle of Anglesey, North Wales

Welcome to Wales Best Guides

Wales Official Tourist Guides Association are the only guides officially recognised by Visit Wales and Welsh Government to guide in Wales. We have undergone extensive training, passing both practical and academic guiding examinations.

Many of us have the prestigious ‘Blue Badge’ guide qualification, a mark of quality and expertise for over 50 years. This enables us to take you around the whole of Wales. Others hold ‘regional’ or ‘site specific’ qualifications for parts of Wales. Click on the "Find a Guide" tab above to search for the guide of your choice.  Putting your mouse (or finger if using a mobile or tablet) on the badge or flag of a guide will tell you their area qualification and the language or languages they speak.

Wherever you choose for your break, you're guaranteed a guide who knows Wales intimately and relishes the chance to share their knowledge with you, aiming to provide a fun and enlightening tour for you or your clients.

When visiting Wales with a Wales Official Tourist Guide, you or your clients could not be in safer hands.

Find a guide

Meet our guides, look for a tour, cookies policy.

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better.

You can change your cookie settings in your web browser. Otherwise, we’ll assume you’re OK to continue.

Some of the cookies we use are essential for the site to work.

We also use some non-essential cookies to collect information for making reports and to help us improve the site. The cookies collect information in an anonymous form.

To control third party cookies, you can also adjust your browser settings.

Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

A Detailed Guide to Planning a Trip to Wales

Last updated: April 17, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 2 Comments

If you’re planning a trip to Wales, then you’ve come to the right place! In this guide we’re going to share everything you need to know to plan the perfect Wales trip. This is based on our experiences of traveling in Wales and also my time living in Wales, which I did for many years. I was actually born in Wales!

In this post, we’ll cover the best times of year to visit Wales, highlights not to miss, how to get around Wales, where to stay in Wales, what to eat in Wales, how to book tours, and many more tips to help you plan the perfect Wales adventure.

We’d suggest reading this guide alongside our detailed Wales road trip itinerary , which will give you more ideas of a specific itinerary and sights to see.

Let’s start with an overview of Wales.

A Quick Overview of Wales

Wales is a country with a population of around three million people. It is part of the Island of Great Britain along with England and Scotland. It is one of the four countries (along with England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland) that make up the United Kingdom.

Geographically, Wales borders England along its entire east coast, from around Chester in the north down to near Bristol in the south. The rest of the countries border is made up of stunning coastline, mostly along the Irish Sea.

The history of Wales is fairly complex. People have been living here for hundreds of thousands of years, with continuous habitation for at least 9,000 years. Since the Roman times, many battles were fought between the Welsh and the English as each side fought for control over what is present day Wales.

One of the side effects of all these wars is that Wales now has a huge amount of castles you can visit which is great as a tourist. There’s also a lot of fascinating history and culture which is unique to Wales.

Back to the present, and modern-day Wales exists as its own country with its own language (Welsh) and, since 1999, its own parliament. However, there are no border controls or anything like that when traveling from England to Wales (they are both part of the UK), and English is also of course the most widely spoken language.

If you are not that familiar with the history of Wales, we can highly recommend reading a book on Welsh history before or during your visit. This will not only help you better understand many of the places you are likely to visit in Wales (e.g., castles, museums, churches, Iron Age ruins), but it will also help you better understand the modern culture and politics in Wales.

What is there to see in Wales?

There is a lot to see in Wales, something really for everyone.

To start with, with so much history spanning thousands of years, Wales has a huge amount of cultural attractions.

From iron age burial chambers to fascinating museums to unique cultural events like the Eisteddfodd , there really is a huge amount to choose from.

Of course, the first thing that likely springs to mind when you think of Wales are the castles, a side effect of all the various wars over the years. Wales has a huge number of castles, including a number of UNESCO listed medieval castles .

In fact, Wales has more castles per square mile than any other country in Europe! Suffice to say, if you like exploring castles as much as we do, Wales has no shortage to offer you.

If you do plan on seeing a lot of castles, then we can highly recommend picking up a Cadw pass. This includes access to a huge number of historic sites in Wales, including most the castles.

You can buy this  online here , or in person at most Cadw sites. We found this saved us a lot of money on our most recent trips.

Lovers of the outdoors, like us, will also find plenty to do in Wales. There’s a huge amount of natural landscapes to explore, from stunning coastal scenery to beautiful hills and mountains. It’s perfect for hikers of all abilities. So whether you prefer to wander along a lovely bit of beach or climb to the top of a mountain, Wales has you covered.

Speaking of beaches, with so much coastline, as you might imagine there are plenty of beaches to choose from. These run the full gamut, from beautiful sandy stretches to those covered in pebbles. So if you’re after a good swim or just a nice walk on the beach, there are lots of options for you.

All that lovely outdoors space also means Wales is a great destination for wildlife. The variety in landscape and habitat means there’s a lot of different bird species you can spot, and there are various nature preserves you can visit where you can spot various types of bird and learn about them.

It’s more than just birds of course, with viewing opportunities for all kinds of wildlife, from seals and other marine life through to mammals, reptiles, and more!

Finally, Wales is also a great destination for lovers of mythology. This should be obvious from the flag, which is emblazoned with a red dragon, arguably the world’s coolest flag. Naturally, you can learn all about the mythology of Wales, from the origin story of King Arthur through to dragons and druids.

Overall, we think it’s fair to say that Wales is not a destination where you will run out of things to do!

Some Basic Information for Traveling in Wales

Let’s cover some basic information for traveling in Wales.

Wales and the wider UK

Wales is a part of the United Kingdom (UK), so once you have entered the UK then you can travel in and out of Wales freely.

If Wales is your first point of entry into the UK (such as if you arrive into Cardiff Airport from outside the UK), then you would need to go through passport control and have the correct visa and any necessary documentation.

You can see more information on any required visas for your visit on the UK government website here or from your own government’s official travel website.

If you arrive into another part of the UK such as England or Scotland, then you don’t need to go through any further controls when you travel to Wales, be that by car, train, or plane.

Getting to and from Wales

Wales is an easy country to get to. In terms of flights, the only commercial airport in Wales is Cardiff airport , which offers both local and international flights to a limited number of destinations.

Wales is also well served by regional transport connections from the UK. By train, Cardiff is around 2.5 hours from London, 50 minutes from Bristol, and 4 hours from Liverpool.

North Wales destinations like Conwy are around an hour by train from Chester, or 3.5 hours from London.

You can also easily drive to Wales from locations around the UK. It’s around 3 hours by car to from London to Cardiff, 4 hours from Liverpool to Cardiff and 7 hours to Cardiff from Edinburgh.

Wales is also served by ferry routes which link Wales with the Republic of Ireland. So if you are doing a trip like our two week UK itinerary , this would let you connect between Wales and the Republic of Ireland.

There are also multiple tours that include Wales, departing from locations such as London or Bristol. More on tours later on in this guide. Suffice to say, you have plenty of options for getting to and from Wales!

Language in Wales

Wales has two official languages: Welsh and English. Just under 20% of the population of Wales speaks Welsh, but pretty much everyone also speaks English.

However you will almost certainly hear Welsh being spoken during your visit.

The main way you will encounter Welsh as a visitor is likely to be on signs. Most signs are provided in both Welsh and English. Place names are also nearly always written in Welsh.

Welsh is a pretty challenging language to learn and the pronunciation is definitely not always obvious! Place names can easily trip visitors up, although the good news is that most Welsh people are pretty used to it.

If you’d like to improve your pronunciation, this is a good starter guide . A good guide book to Wales should also include a guide to pronunciation.

Driving in Wales

Driving in Wales is the same as driving in the rest of the UK, with the main difference being that the majority of the road signs are in Welsh as well as English.

If you drive in Wales, you will quickly learn some Welsh words from the road signs, particularly “Araf” which means “Slow”. In the majority of cases though, signs will be in both English and Welsh.

Other than that, driving in Wales is the same as driving in the rest of the UK. Drive on the left of the road and be sure to observe all speed limits and road rules. Speed limits are normally posted, with the national limit at 60 miles per hour and limits for built-up areas normally 20 to 40 miles per hour. You can see more tips in my guide to driving in the UK .

If you are renting a car ( compare prices here ), you can drive the car between England and Wales without any issues.

Be aware that the majority of cars in the UK use a manual transmission, so be sure to specify an automatic if that is what you are used to driving. Just note that these do normally carry a price premium as they are not as common.

Depending on where in the world you are visiting from and the language your license is in, you may also need an international driver’s license from the country which issues your driver’s license.

Public Transporation in Wales

Wales has a pretty good public transport network, with both buses and trains which link many of the towns and cities across the country. You can see the main transport routes on the Transport for Wales website here .

For travel planning by public transport in Wales (and the UK in general), we recommend and use the Traveline website . It’s a free service provided by a partnership of public transport operators in the UK, and will help you plan your travel between pretty much any two points in the country.

For the majority of public transport in Wales and the UK (especially on longer distance routes) you will get better prices if you book online in advance. We recommend the trainline website for train and bus booking, we’ve used them for years for our public transport needs in the UK.

Other options to consider, especially for long distance bus journeys include National Express and Megabus .

Electricity in Wales

Wales uses the same power system as the rest of the UK. It’s a 220v system which uses a three-pin plug (plug type G).

Travellers from most of the rest of the world, including mainland Europe and the United States will need an adapter like this .

American travellers will also want to check their equipment supports the 220v standard, as the U.S. uses a 110v standard. The voltage a device supports will be written clearly on the power adapter, usually in the form of 110v – 240v.

In our experience most modern laptops, phone and camera chargers, and other small electronics are universal, whilst larger devices like hair dryers and hair straighteners are not.

See more on travel adapters and how to choose one for your trip in our guide to the  best travel adapters .

Currency in Wales

Wales uses the same currency as the rest of the UK, namely Pound Sterling, or GBP (Great British Pounds). Wales uses the bank notes issued by the Bank of England, so the currency in use in Wales looks exactly the same as that used in England.

Note that this is different to Scotland and Northern Ireland, where bank notes are issued by Scottish and Irish banks respectively. These bank notes can also be used in the rest of the UK (and Bank of England notes can be used in Scotland and Northern Ireland).

Time Zone in Wales

Wales is on the same time zone as the rest of the UK, which is either GMT, or GMT+1, also known as British Summer Time (BST).

BST runs from the last Sunday in March through to the last Sunday in October.

Best Times to Visit Wales

You might be wondering when the best time to visit Wales is. Whilst Wales is a year-round destination, there are certainly advantages and disadvantages to visiting at different times of year.

Best for Weather

Wales has a relatively mild climate year-round without tremendous extremes.

If you want warmer weather and longer hours of daylight for sightseeing, then the best time of year to visit is going to be from late May through to mid-September.

This time of year will give you the best chance of good weather and sunny days, although note that rain and cooler temperatures are possible year-round.

The summit of Snowdon in summer – good weather not guaranteed!

Avoiding Crowds

Wales is a popular destination, especially for visitors from other regions of the UK. There are a number of big English cities near Wales such as Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol, and Manchester, and visitors from these cities regularly take trips to Wales. It is an especially popular destination for families.

As a result, the busiest time of year in Wales is generally going to be over the school holidays (school breaks) in England and Wales.

The exact timing of school holidays varies a little by area, but generally there are major holidays over the Easter period, and over the summer months from mid-July through to the end of August.

There are also “half-term” holidays which occur halfway through each school term and are generally a week in duration. There is normally one in mid-February, one around the end of May and one around the end of October.

The most popular time for people to visit Wales is during the warmer summer months, and during school holidays, especially the Easter holidays, spring half-term, and summer holidays.

As a result, if you want to visit Wales when it is likely to be quieter then you would be best served avoiding these times.

If you still want good weather, we’d suggest June or September to be optimal months, although April and May can offer good weather if you have a bit of luck on your side!

Best for Hiking / Climbing Snowdon ( Yr Wyddfa )

Whilst you can hike in Wales at any time of year, we would suggest that the best times for hiking are going to be similar to that for visiting for the best weather. So that is going to be from late May to mid-September.

Whatever time of year you plan to go hiking though, be aware that the weather can change very quickly. So you will want to be prepared, ensure someone knows your route and where you are going, and pack appropriately. For more information, this safety guide is very helpful.

The most popular hike in Wales by far is the hike up Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa in Welsh). You can both hike and take a train to the summit, both of which are popular options.

In our experience, Snowdon can be busy year round, but the warmer summer months are definitely the most popular time to tackle the hike.

If you want to avoid the crowds on the hike itself, then we’d suggest avoiding the Llanberis path which tends to be the most popular, and taking one of the other less popular routes such as the Snowdon Ranger path or the Rhyd Ddu path .

Of course, Wales has a great many more mountains you can hike, the majority of which are far less busy and popular than Snowdon. A personal favourite is Cader Idris , which also offers spectacular views across the Snowdonia National Park, and attracts a fraction of the visitors!

Major Festivals in Wales

Wales plays host to a number of festivals and fairs throughout the year, including music festivals, food festivals, literary festivals, craft fairs, art festivals, and more (see a fairly comprehensive list of festivals in Wales here ).

The largest festival in Wales is normally the National Eisteddfod of Wales , which is held for around a week on the first week of August each year. The location for the festival changes each year, and it normally attracts upwards of 100,000 visitors. The festival celebrates Welsh culture, with the events and activities all taking place in Welsh.

If you plan on visiting the Eisteddfodd (or any other festival in Wales), you will definitely want to plan well ahead as accommodation can book out, and the area where the event is being held is likely to be much busier than usual.

Conversely, it’s worth being aware when and where festivals are being held even if you don’t plan on attending them, so you don’t get caught up in the crowds!

How Long to Spend in Wales

As should hopefully be obvious by now, although Wales is a relatively small country, there is a huge amount to see and do in Wales. You could easily spend many weeks exploring the country without running out of things to see and do.

Our recommendation would be to spend at least a week if possible to get a good idea of what is on offer and to have time to explore some of the country’s highlights.

If you have less time, say three to five days, then we would recommend focusing on one area or region of the country rather than trying to cover too much ground.

So, for example, with three days you might want to focus on visiting Cardiff and south-west Wales or explore part of north Wales with visits to Caernarfon and Snowdonia National Park.

If you have a week or more, then you can expand your itinerary to cover more of the country.

We will share some suggested itineraries further on in this guide to help you plan, and we also have a 7 – 10 day Wales road trip itinerary you should find helpful. That itinerary can easily be expanded to 2 or more weeks.

Where to Stay in Wales

Wales has a wide range of accommodation options across all budgets. Whether you prefer camping , glamping , self-catered accommodation , family-run guesthouses , country house hotels or  regular hotels , you are going to find something to suit.

We have stayed at a huge range of accommodation options across Wales, including apartment rentals, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts and hotels. Usually we prefer to either stay at a locally owned bed and breakfast or small hotel. But for longer stays, we normally book an apartment or cottage.

When looking for accommodation, we recommend a mix of the following sites:

• Booking.com – this is usually our first stop for all sorts of accommodation types, from hotels to guests houses to apartments. We like the powerful filter system that allows us to hone in on exactly what we want in each location, as well as the map tool that lets us see different options in different areas.
• Sykes Holiday Cottages – for longer stays in Wales (and the wider UK) we also use Sykes. They specialize in holiday cottages, and we have stayed at some really lovely properties through their system.
• Vrbo UK – if we are specifically looking for an apartment or vacation rental, we’ll also usually look on Vrbo. They offer a good selection of options and it is nice to have a comparison.

If you would like more options for accommodation booking in Wales and the UK, see our guide to booking holiday homes in the UK for some ideas!

What to Eat in Wales?

You might be wondering what food you should try in Wales when you visit, and if there are any uniquely Welsh dishes. Well, the answer is yes there are.

Whilst there are certainly a lot of similarities between Welsh food and English food, including staples such as fish and chips and the full fried breakfast experience, there are some dishes that are common to Wales. Here are some to try:

• Cawl – one of more traditional Welsh dishes, cawl (pronounced cowl) dates back to the 11th century at least and is essentially a stew made with meat, vegetables, and potatoes.
• Welsh Rarebit – whilst this sounds like it’s going to involve rabbit, this quintessential Welsh dish is actually melted cheese on toast. There are variations on the recipe, with mustard or a bechamel sauce added to the cheese. Delicious however it’s made!
• Glamorgan sausage – this popular “sausage” is a traditional vegetarian sausage primarily made from leeks, cheese, and breadcrumbs. It dates back to at least the 18th century but rose in popularity during World War II due to meat rationing and remains popular today.
• Welsh cakes – this small cake is made from dough, raisins, currant and candied fruit peel and then cooked on a griddle. It can be eaten hot or cold and is texturally more similar to a shortbread than a cake. We like it served hot and eaten with butter!
• Bara brith – this fruit loaf is a popular option to have with afternoon tea and is often served with butter on it. It’s basically a fruit cake filled with raisins, currants and dried candied fruit peel.
• Laverbread – This is a very interesting delicacy, which despite the name, isn’t a bread at all. Instead, it’s a puree made from a specific type of seaweed which grows along the Welsh coastline. The seaweed is cooked for hours to form the puree, which is then most commonly served with bread.
• Welsh cheese – Wales is home to many milk producing animals, including cows, goats, and sheep. As such, there are many traditional Welsh cheeses to enjoy. The most well-known is Caerphilly, which is a hard but crumbly white cheese. Others include Y Fenni, Tintern and Pantysgawn
• Local drinks – Wales produces a wide range of local drinks, including locally brewed beers and ciders. There are also over 20 vineyards in Wales producing Welsh wine, and Welsh whisky is becoming more popular as well!

As well as specific dishes, there are also many foods that Wales is generally known for. These include Welsh lamb and beef, seafood, seaweed, and leeks, the latter of which is actually the national symbol of Wales.

If you are going to be shopping and cooking during your time in Wales, you should have no problem finding some local Welsh produce.

We can also recommend The Welsh House for trying a variety of Welsh foods. They are in a few locations, including in Cardiff near the castle. The last time we visited they had a “Taste of Wales” menu option which let us try a lot of different Welsh dishes for a very reasonable price.

Suffice to say, we don’t think you’re going to go hungry during your stay in Wales.

How to get around Wales?

There are quite a few options for getting around Wales, which we’ll go through now.

Our preferred option for traveling in Wales is to drive ourselves. Wales has a lot of attractions that are a little off the beaten path, and a car makes it a lot easier to reach those tucked away castles or hidden beaches.

That said, you should be aware that the road network in Wales is primarily made up of regular two-lane roads rather than multi-lane freeways (known as motorways in the UK).

As such, journey times can take a bit longer than in other parts of the UK. It is difficult to zip across Wales and journeys may take longer that you expect from just looking at the map.

This isn’t a bad thing, as the scenery is generally lovely, and there are plenty of things to stop and look at anyway. However, you’ll just want to be aware when planning that even if the distances don’t look particularly long, it can take a bit of time to get from place to place.

If you are planning on traveling by car and need to rent, we recommend comparing car rental prices on Discover Cars here . They compare all the main providers so you can get the best price for your trip.

Public Transportation

As mentioned in the section on public transport, Wales has a pretty good public transport network.

The main thing to know if you are planning to travel in Wales by public transport is that you’ll definitely want to plan well in advance. You will also want to be aware that it can take quite a bit of time to get between locations.

I have done a fair bit of travel by train and bus in Wales, and whilst the scenery is always very pretty, it can take a while to get from location to location. So just be aware that if you are on a limited timetable, you will need to plan carefully so as not to spend all your time sitting on a bus or train.

It’s also worth noting that whilst trains and buses connect a lot of the country, they don’t go absolutely everywhere. So if there is somewhere you really want to see, do check to ensure you can actually get there by the mode of transport you wish to use.

Overall, whilst you can definitely get around Wales by public transport, for folks on a limited timeframe who want to see a lot, we would probably recommend either driving or taking a tour.

Easiest Places to visit in Wales by public transport?

If you are planning on visiting Wales by public transport, you might be wondering what the best locations are for doing so. Here are some tips.

First, we’d suggest focusing on a specific region of Wales if you plan on visiting by public transport, as then you’ll be able to spend more time sightseeing and less time traveling.

Cardiff is a very well-connected city, and then from here you could easily explore along the south coast to Tenby and even St. David’s.

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to explore more of the mountains, then head to North Wales. I’d recommend taking the train line along the north coast from the English city of Chester (or Liverpool), which connects to a number of other train and bus routes.

This will allow you to explore many highlights of the region, including Conwy, Bangor, Caernarfon, the Snowdonia National Park, as well as the northeast coastline including Harlech and Barmouth.

You could easily make a loop through North Wales by public transport, going into Wales from Chester across to Conwy and Bangor, then heading south down the coast to Barmouth and Aberdovey, and then finally east through Machynlleth to Shrewsbury.

This route will let you explore castles, see coastline and experience the mountains, all without needing a car.

Join a Tour

One of the best way to see Wales in our opinion, especially if you prefer not to drive, is to join a tour. A tour lets someone else handle all the logistics, from planning what to see and do to how to get from place to place.

You do lose a bit of flexibility when taking a tour of course, as they generally follow a fixed itinerary. This is particularly the case if you join a group tour. A private tour will normally offer a lot more customization, with the downside that they tend to be more expensive.

That said, in our experience most group tours focus on the highlights that visitors want to see anyway. Just be sure when choosing a tour to ensure it visits the majority of sights and attractions you really want to see in Wales.

We have some recommended tours of Wales in the section of this guide on recommended tours. You can also see a range of tours by various providers at different price points and durations on TourRadar here .

Best Guided Tours of Wales

A great way to see the highlights of Wales without having to worry about the logistics of planning transport and accommodation is to take a guided tour.

There are a number of tours to choose from that visit Wales, of varying duration and price.

The longer Wales tours generally depart from London, Bristol, or Cardiff.

Some we suggest are as follows:

• This  5 day road trip with Rabbies would be our first pick of available small group tours of Wales. We’ve taken a great many tours with Rabbies and we love their knowledgeable driver guides and small group sizes. This tour departs from London and covers many of the highlights of the country, from Snowdonia down to south west Wales.
• This  8 day tour from Cardiff follows a similar route to our own suggested Wales road trip itinerary . This tour includes time in Cardiff, the Brecon Beacons mountains, Snowdonia National Park, Conwy Castle, St. Davids, Tenby, and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
• If you have less time to spare, then this 3 day tour with Rabbies departs from Bristol and focuses on the highlights of south Wales, including Carreg Cennen Castle, Hay on Wye, St. Davids, Tenby, and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
• This is another 3 day tour with Rabbies which departs from Bristol and focuses on the highlights of North Wales. It includes Snowdonia National Parks, Conwy Castle, Harlech Castle, the Slate Museum, and Portmeirion.

There are of course more tours to choose from in Wales. See  this selection from a range of operators on TourRadar  which will let you sort and filter by duration, places visited and price.

Highlights in Wales

There’s a lot to see in Wales, enough to fill many weeks of explorations. As it can be hard to figure out what to see, we wanted to share some of our personal highlights in the country. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but we do think it covers a lot of what the country has to offer.

We’ve divided it roughly into attractions in the southern half of Wales (basically everything south of around Aberystwyth) and the northern half of Wales (everything north of Aberystwyth).

We think this makes sense because if you are on a shorter timetable you will want to focus on a more manageable area.

If you are lucky enough to have more time then you can definitely visit the whole country!

South Wales Highlights

South Wales has a lot to offer, from the cultural attractions in and around the capital city, through to the stunning landscapes of the Pembrokeshire National Park where you will find ample hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities.

This part of Wales is also home to ancient burial grounds, beautiful churches, castles, beaches, and more!

Here are some highlights to consider adding to your Wales itinerary.

• Cardiff Castle
• Cardiff Museum
• St. Fagans (National Museum of History)
• Castell Carreg Cennen
• Caerphilly Castle
• Freshwater Beach
• Whitesands Beach
• St. David’s Cathedral
• Hiking in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
• Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber
• Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum, Aberystwyth
• Elan Valley
• Brecon Beacons

North Wales Highlights

North Wales is perhaps best known as being how to the spectacular Snowdonia National Park, which is fair enough as it is a truly beautiful part of the world.

However, there’s lots more to this region of the country, from epic castles through to heritage steam railways and wonderful beaches.

Here are a few highlights to consider adding to your itinerary for Wales!

• Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways
• Caernarfon Castle
• Beaumaris Castle
• Conwy Castle
• Harlech Castle
• Mount Snowdon & Snowdonia National Park
• National Slate Museum
• Bird Watching in the Dyfi Valley & Coast
• Centre for Alternative Technology
• Barmouth Beach
• Portmeirion

Suggested Itineraries for Wales

There is a lot to see in Wales! We wanted to share some suggested itineraries for visiting the country for different durations, so you can make the most of your visit.

Of course, your mode of transport will dictate exactly how far you are able to go and what you are able to see. If you are relying on public transport, we’d definitely recommend focusing on a smaller area so you can spend more time seeing sights and less time traveling.

If you are on a tour or in your own vehicle, you will likely be able to fit more in.

1 – 3 Day Wales Itineraries

With one to three days in Wales we would highly recommend focusing on a specific area of the country, such as an area of south Wales or north Wales.

For example, for south Wales you might consider spending a day in Cardiff and then a day or two exploring the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, overnighting in St. David’s or the pretty coastal village of Tenby.

Another option would be to focus on the mountains and castles of north Wales.

Basing yourself in Caernarfon for example would put you in easy reach of some of the most spectacular castles in Wales, as well as the hike or train ride up Snowdon. You could easily spend a wonderful one to three days visiting castles, exploring beaches and hiking in the mountains of Snowdonia.

3 – 6 Day Wales Itineraries

With three to six days you would be able to more thoroughly explore a region of Wales.

Again, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend trying to see the whole country in this time period as it might feel a bit rushed. Instead, focus on a particular area and hone in on some of the attractions you are interested in.

For example, if you want to experience culture and coastal scenery, then we’d suggest starting in Cardiff, working your way along the south coast, and then heading up towards Aberystwyth.

Along the way you’ll be able to visit cultural attractions, experience beautiful coastal walks and take in a number of castles.

Alternatively, head up to north Wales. With a bit more time you can explore more of this beautiful part of the world, from the peaks of the Snowdonia National Park to the UNESCO listed castles to the heritage steam railway lines.

We’d suggest basing yourself in two or three locations, such as Caernarfon, Porthmadog, Conwy, or Barmouth, and exploring from there.

6 Day+ Wales Itineraries

With more than six days in Wales, you would be able to explore from top to bottom if you so wished. We’d suggest a loop along the coast, starting in Cardiff, heading out to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, then all the way up to Snowdonia National Park and north Wales.

We have a suggested 1 week Wales itinerary (can be adjusted to 10+ days) for doing just that with lots of detailed information, which we think you’ll find helps you get around.

What to Pack for Wales

Wales, like the rest of the UK, is a country where the weather can be highly variable. Rain is possible at any time of year, as are cooler temperatures.

So when you plan what to pack for your trip to Wales you will want to be prepared for a variety of scenarios. Additionally, as a lot of the activities in Wales involve time spent outdoors and particularly hiking, you’ll want to plan and pack accordingly to ensure you are prepared.

We would recommend reading our guide to what to pack for the UK as a general overview, but also to remember the following items:

• Layered clothing so you can adjust what you are wearing as the weather changes over the day. We’d suggest something like a t-shirt baselayer, a fleece mid-layer and a waterproof outerlayer .
• A good pair of hiking pants and waterproof hiking boots if you plan on doing any hiking. We love our Scarpa hiking boots and have hiked in them all over the world, but there are many options available .
• A travel plug adapter like this so you can charge all your devices
• A good guidebook for Wales which you can use for planning and reference is always a good idea

Further Resources for Visiting Wales and the UK

And that’s it for our detailed planning guide for visiting Wales! We hope you found this guide useful. We also wanted to share some more resources we think might help you with planning this and future trips in the UK.

• We have a detailed 7 – 10 day road trip itinerary for Wales , with day by day highlights, tips on where to stay, and lots more.
• If you’re looking for more road trip inspiration in the UK, we have a  two week UK road trip itinerary  and a  one week UK road trip itinerary . We also have a  one week Cornwall itinerary
• If you’re heading to Scotland, check out our  2 day Edinburgh itinerary , our  Glasgow and Loch Lomond itinerary , our guide to the  best day trips from Glasgow , our guide to  things to do in Edinburgh , our  itinerary for Skye and the Highlands , our guide to the  best day trips from Aberdeen , and our guide to the best  day trips from Edinburgh . We also have a  North Coast 500 planning guide  and  North Coast 500 seven day itinerary
• If you’re not familiar with driving in the UK, see my  guide to driving in the UK  for helpful tips.
• We have guides to many cities in the UK you can check out! See our guides to  things to do in Manchester ,   things to do in Stratford upon Avon ,   things to do in Bristol ,   things to do in Portsmouth , tips on a  weekend in York , tips on  Visiting Oxford on a Day Trip , and  things to do in Cambridge  to get started
• If you’re looking for a guidebook for your trip, check out the  Rough Guide to Wales

And that’s it! Have you ever visited Wales? Do you have anything you’d add to the above? Just let us know in the comments below, and safe travels!

Enjoyed this post? Why not share it!

There are 2 comments on this post

Please scroll to the end to leave a comment

Claudia says

11th March 2024 at 1:52 am

Hi, there! First, I’d like to say that I find your blog, travel news and tips really useful and interesting!! Then, I wanted to share with you part of my experience in Wales. Last October I traveled solo from Argentina around Wales, England and Scotland. I organised my own trip visiting ONLY castles during 21 days and I can say that Welsh castles just blew my mind!!!! 🥰🥰 I visited some of the ones you’ve mentioned and some you haven’t, and I think ALL are worth seeing: Cardiff, Caerphilly, Chepstow and Kidwelly in the south and Conwy, Caernarfon and Beaumaris in the north ❤️❤️❤️. I really do hope I can go back some time!!! Cheers from Argentina🇦🇷

Laurence Norah says

13th March 2024 at 3:01 pm

Hey Claudia!

Wow, that sounds like an awesome trip 🙂 The Welsh castles are definitely epic, and I’m so glad you enjoyed your time visiting them. I agree, they are all worth seeing. We’re actually heading back to Wales in a couple of weeks to see some more 😉

Safe travels!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let me know when there's a reply to my comment (just replies to your comment, no other e-mails, we promise!)

Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter where we share our latest travel news and tips. This also makes you eligible to enter our monthly giveaways!

We only ask for your e-mail so we can verify you are human and if requested notify you of a reply. To do this, we store your data as outlined in our privacy policy . Your e-mail will not be published or used for any other reason other than those outlined above.

Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best things in life are free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Love the mag?

Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Los Angeles

Get us in your inbox

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

The 14 best places to visit in Wales

Cymru, the capital of castles, the Land of Song. Whatever name you know it by, here's where to go to see Wales at its most magnificent.

There can be no such thing as too much appreciation when it comes to Wales. This small but mighty country has spectacular landscapes, a fascinating history and an all-round warm and welcoming spirit that makes it hard not to love. 

And you can encounter its wonderful Celtic magic in so many places. The beach options are endless, the foodie scene is thriving, the castles house centuries of stories  and the peaks are breathtaking. From Cardiff in the south and Snowdonia in the north to the coastal towns of the west, here are the very best places you have to visit in Wales. 

RECOMMENDED:  🍴 The best restaurants in Cardiff 👀 The best things to do in Cardiff 🌤️ The very best  things to do in the UK

This article was recently updated by  Amy Houghton , a writer from the Brecon Beacons. At Time Out, all of our  travel guides  are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our  editorial guidelines .

An email you’ll actually love

Where to go in Wales

1.  Pembrokeshire

Of course, Pembrokeshire is a collection of places, but this spread of gorgeous coastal villages and unbeatable walks deserves all the attention it gets. The beaches of this western county win awards regularly, while its fishing villages may just be enough for the first-time visitor to consider the merits of such a life. Explore the UK's smallest city, St Davids, visit the serene little settlement of  Dale  or take an invigorating trek along the coastline. Pembrokeshire is one of the best destinations in the UK, let alone Wales.

2.  Brecon Beacons

Pen Y Fan (South Wales’s highest mountain) is the centrepiece of the Brecon Beacons, a gorgeous expanse of nature that serves as another great example of this nation’s natural beauty. Some of the walks in and around the Beacons are incredible, while the lakes, cirques and waterfalls showcase the variety that makes this part of the world so very special. Keep your eyes open for dinosaurs – this was the filming location for Jurassic World 2 and there's an award-winning dino park at Dan-yr-Ogof Showcaves. 

3.  Gower Peninsula

Way back in 1956, the Gower Peninsula became the first region of the UK to be designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. That alone makes it a must-visit corner of this gorgeous country, but the Gower has plenty of brains to back up its award-winning beauty. Swansea is a centre for culture and literary innovation, while the adventurous should seek out Paviland cave (between Port Eynon and Rhossili, for the record) to discover the final resting place of the Red Lady of Paviland. Still, it all comes back to nature, and it doesn’t get much better than this.

4.  Cardiff

Cardiff has only been the capital of Wales since 1955, but the largest city in the country was hugely influential long before official recognition came its way. One of the greatest sporting cities in the UK, it is also a hotbed of culinary innovation and cultural excitement, with a raucous nightlife and gorgeous parks to boot. The Cardiff Bay area is one of Europe’s finest water developments, while the range of architectural styles across the city is almost tailor-made for celebrating across social media.

5.  Snowdonia National Park

Climbing to the top of a country is a real bucket-list achievement.  Snowdonia National Park  is one of the most popular areas in Wales, and rightly so, with the mighty Snowdon peak (1,085m into the air) standing tall above rivers, lakes and mountains as far as the eye can see. Scaling the peak and heading back down takes between five and seven hours, although the scenic Snowdon Mountain Railway will get you to the top in just over an hour.

6.  Conwy

It is difficult to argue against Conwy, perhaps the country’s prettiest town. The double-whammy of the toll bridge and the town’s famous castle cause jaws to drop right out of the gate, while the abundance of cafés, restaurants, pubs and shops in the idyllic centre are among the region’s best. Conwy is also home to the smallest house in the UK, a bright red cutie that manages to be tiny and impossible to miss all at once.

7.  Aberystwyth

Famous for its heady student population and annual murmurations (of starlings that is, not the students), Aberystwyth is arguably the most popular spot on the west coast. Known as the cultural capital of Wales, the town manages to be instantly recognisable as ‘Aber’ from north to south, which is impressive when you consider the abundance of towns with that classic Welsh suffix. Aberystwyth Castle is another to add to the list, while the students ensure this is one of the best nights out in Wales.

8.  Abergavenny

  Abergavenny  might well be Wales's foodie capital. The borders town hosts a tremendous food festival every autumn while serving delicious dishes all year round, accentuating a stunningly quaint town centre full of cafés, bars, pubs and restaurants. The town’s castle and museum are unique among the best on the nation’s roster, with a story of treason and violence that contradicts its current peaceful atmosphere. Not far away you've got the small town of Crickhowell, which welcomes thousands of music fans to the beloved Green Man Festival each summer. 

9.  Anglesey

Head up here for the longest train station name in the world, more adventure than you can shake your fist at and a conveyer belt of natural beauty that is as good as anything found in the south. Anglesey is a little bit different and that’s how it should be, something that is as apparent in Menai Bridge as it is in Cemaes Bay. Beaumaris Castle may well be the highlight, although night paddleboarding, rib-riding and the rest of the adrenaline-centric activities come close.

10.  Porthmadog

Fan of aesthetically pleasing ports that are major hubs for narrow gauge railways? Sure, that’s a niche collection of interests, but Porthmadog is one of those places built for adoration. Porthmadog’s maritime history is its major pull, but the town also serves as a tremendous base for exploring the region, whether that means Snowdonia National Park or fairytale-like  Portmeirion .

11.  Llŷn Peninsula

Wales is at its best when the air is still, and it doesn’t come more tranquil than the Llŷn Peninsula. The most isolated paradise in Wales still marches to the beat of its own serene drum, an area of outstanding natural beauty that has the paperwork to back that up. This is just about as unspoilt as Wales gets, with cliff-top walks and island views to die for. The Llŷn Peninsula is all forts, extinct volcanoes and the rest. Want Wales all to yourself? Head here.

12.  Cardigan

One of Time Out’s best places to visit in 2023, this market town was the birthplace of the Eisteddfod – a cultural stalwart of the Welsh calendar. Beyond that, Cardigan has a bustling creative community and so, so many delicious food spots. For a hearty brunch check out Crwst Bakery’s venue on Priory Street and for dinner overlooking the River Teifi, head to Pizzatipi. The gorgeous beach at Poppit Sands is a short drive away and a few miles further north you'll find Mwnt Bay. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins! 

13.  Hay-on-Wye

Thought Timbuktu wasn’t a real place? Well, it is. And Hay-on-Wye is its UK twin. This small Wye Valley town proudly proclaims to be the world’s first ever book town and is famed for its annual book festival that has attracted the likes of Hillary Clinton, Dua Lipa and Stormzy. With over 30 bookstores, this is a bibliophobes mecca. If you had to go to just one, make it Richard Booth's – an emporium of new and used books spread over three glorious floors.  

14.  Machynlleth

This Powys settlement tends to fly under the radar when it comes to roundups of Wales’s best bits. But mark our words, there’s a wealth of cultural innovation happening in Machynlleth. It hosts an annual festival dubbed the comedy world’s best kept secret, where well-known comedians try out their rawest material. And if you’ve got some money to throw around, feast on the 30-course menu at Ynyshir, Wales’s first ever two-Michelin star venue. Don’t miss the modern art museum and the wildlife thriving in the surrounding Dyfir Biosphere.

[image] [title]

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Advertising
• Time Out Market

10 unmissable places to visit in Wales

Sep 25, 2021 • 5 min read

From the hills of Brecon to the dramatic coastlines the Gower, Wales has tons of beautiful places to visit © Roy JAMES Shakespeare / Getty Images

With three epic national parks , reams of beach-studded coastline, an underrated capital and more chocolate-box villages than you can shake a love spoon at, small but mighty Wales has a wealth of locations worth adding to your itinerary.

Planning a Welsh adventure but not sure where to start? Be inspired by our selection of the best places to visit in Wales .

Move over Bassey, forget it Tyler – with effortless beauty, an undeniable flair for the dramatic and the X factor that attracts devoted fans in their millions, you could call Snowdonia National Park the ultimate Welsh diva. Beyond its famous peaks, you’ll find ancient forests, sparkling waterfalls, historic mining towns and fairy-tale castles. Are you a thrill seeker? If so, there’s plenty to get your adrenaline pumping, from white water rafting to ziplining over the world’s largest slate quarry and surfing on an inland lagoon.

Pembrokeshire

Popular Pembrokeshire – the most westerly county in Wales – is home to some of the country’s finest beaches, a plethora of pretty seaside towns and the UK’s smallest city, St Davids . The entire coast is a national park, best explored with a hike along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path or on a coasteering tour – the cliff-scrambling sport was born right here. Lovers of wildlife won't want to miss a trip to Skomer Island, where thousands of puffins gather to raise their young come summer, while Harry Potter fans will want to make a pilgrimage to Dobby’s final resting place, Freshwater West beach. If you’re an ancient history buff, don’t miss Pentre Ifan , a prehistoric tomb hewn from the same bluestone used at Stonehenge.

Brecon Beacons 

The undulating hills and quaint villages of Brecon Beacons National Park are an irresistible draw for nature lovers and walking enthusiasts, not least because of the park’s proximity to the major towns and cities of South Wales – Cardiff, Swansea and Chepstow are all less than an hour away. Top hikes include Pen-y-Fan (come mid-week during school term time to beat the crowds) and Sugarloaf Mountain. The region is also an International Dark Sky Reserve – a dream for budding astronomers – so bring your binoculars for a spot of stargazing.

Portmeirion 

Is this Wales or the Italian Riviera? The brainchild of eccentric architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, Portmeirion is unlike anything else you’ll see in the UK , thanks to its hodgepodge of pastel-colored Mediterranean-style buildings and manicured gardens complete with giant chess board and golden Buddha shrine. But despite its commercial theme park-esque leanings, this curated “village” will soon win you over, especially if you stay to watch the sunset over the Dwyryd Estuary. 

Cardiff has all the trappings you’d expect of a cosmopolitan city – great nightlife, vibrant culture and a burgeoning indie food scene – but it all comes in an unusually green and compact package. Wander along the River Taff in Bute Park , picking up a coffee and decadent orange brownie at the Secret Garden Cafe ; catch a musical at the Wales Millennium Centre (nicknamed “the armadillo” thanks to its copper-colored curves); browse for bargains in the capital’s Victorian shopping arcades; or tour the ornate rooms and grounds of Cardiff Castle . Whatever you do, you’ll be met with a warm Welsh welcome.

Hay-on-Wye 

For a wholesome weekend away, look no further than Hay-on-Wye. This charming market town sits snugly between the River Wye and the English border, just north of the Brecon Beacons. It’s known for its annual Hay Festival , a literary extravaganza headlined by big-name authors featuring readings, writers’ workshops and book signings. But there’s still plenty to do year-round if you can’t make the festival. Peruse the abundant antique markets and secondhand book stores, hike to Hay Bluff via Offa’s Dyke Path or opt for a spot of wild swimming at The Warren, a pebble beach on the river bank. 

Slow travel comes with a historic twist in Llangollen, a compact, culture-packed town in North East Wales. A heritage steam train trundles between Llangollen and Corwen daily from February to October, and the town is a popular launchpad for hiking the ancient national trail, Offa’s Dyke Path. Don’t miss a trip to Pontcysyllte Aqueduct : towering 125ft (38m) above the River Dee, this spectacular World Heritage Site is the highest canal aqueduct ever built and can be traversed by foot, canal or even kayak. For a livelier time, visit in July, along with 120,000 other people, to attend the International Musical Eisteddfod and Fringe Festival.

Gower Peninsula 

The UK’s first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), this 70-sq-mile (180 sq km) peninsula is renowned for its dramatic coastline and fabulous beaches. Following the south coast west from Swansea and the Mumbles , you’ll find a smattering of family-friendly bays (try Caswell and Langland for starters) backed by heather- and gorse-clad cliffs. Three-mile-long Rhossili Bay Beach dominates the peninsula’s west coast, spoiling visitors with broad golden sands, rolling surf and coastal walking trails peppered with ancient ruins. It’s worth saving time for a walk to Worms Head – the rocky promontory at the southern end of the beach – but keep an eye on the tides to avoid ending up stranded.

The Isle of Anglesey has two obvious claims to fame: it’s where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge lived in the early years of their marriage, and it’s here you’ll find the village with the longest place name in Europe: Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch (a selfie next to the train station’s expansive sign is a tourist rite of passage). But the real magic is found along Anglesey’s coast (another AONB), whether you’re hiking the Wales Coast Path to bird-spotting heaven, South Stack Cliffs RSPB Reserve ; stand up paddleboarding on the Menai Strait; or lounging on Llanddwyn beach, a curve of pale sand backed by Corsican pines with views of Snowdonia. Beaumaris – with its Unesco-listed castle – makes a fine base from which to explore.

Machynlleth

This unassuming market town on the southern border of Snowdonia National Park is something of a cultural powerhouse. Once the capital of Wales (freedom fighter Owain Glyndŵr was crowned Prince of Wales here in 1404), today travelers come for the Museum of Modern Art and the increasingly popular Machynlleth Comedy Festival , which takes place each May. Save time for a day at the mostly open-air Centre for Alternative Technology , where you can learn about sustainable ways of living.

You might also like: The 10 most beautiful hikes in Wales The UK's longest mountain bike trail for beginners is now open How to spend a weekend in Anglesey, the eco-friendly island loved by William and Kate   

Explore related stories

Budget Travel

May 4, 2024 • 5 min read

From Deutsche Bahn rail passes to camping in the summer months, there are plenty of ways to save money in Germany.

Apr 2, 2024 • 9 min read

Mar 22, 2024 • 9 min read

Mar 13, 2024 • 7 min read

Feb 26, 2024 • 10 min read

Feb 8, 2024 • 7 min read

Jan 31, 2024 • 6 min read

Jan 30, 2024 • 9 min read

Jan 19, 2024 • 11 min read

Jan 16, 2024 • 8 min read

Wales Itineraries

Book your individual trip , stress-free with local travel experts

• roughguides.com
• itineraries
• Travel guide
• Itineraries
• Local Experts
• Travel Advice
• Accommodation

Plan your tailor-made trip with a local expert

Book securely with money-back guarantee

Travel stress-free with local assistance and 24/7 support

Our Grand Tour is ideal for a first visit to Wales, taking in a sampling of the best cities and towns, the country’s industrial heritage and its superb mountain and coastal scenery. Fans of Neolithic cromlechs, ruined abbeys and stately homes should follow our Historic Buildings itinerary, while the more energetic will want to sample items on our Active Wales menu.

Tailor-made travel itineraries for Wales, created by local experts

20 days  / from 2994 USD

The Great British Road Trip

Get ready to explore Britain on this unique self-drive road trip. Choose the car of your liking before you hit the road: from the Cotswolds and its picturesque villages over the Beatle's favorite hang-out in Liverpool to Scotland's capital Edinburgh: this trip includes many highlights to be explored

Recommended Wales itineraries

If you are planning your travel to Wales yourself, use these itineraries created by our travel writers as a starting point for inspiration.

Pembrokeshire coast, Wales

Wales Itinerary 1 - Grand Tour of Wales

If you’ve only got ten days and want to tick off Wales’ acknowledged highlights, hit these.

1. Blaenafon

South Wales’ industrial heritage: the powerful Big Pit mining museum and the evocative ruins of the Ironworks.

Ground-breaking architecture, top-notch culture and blistering nightlife in the cool Welsh capital.

Welsh natural heritage at its most stunning, the Gower peninsula boasts wide-open beaches, rocky bays and steep cliffs.

4. St Davids peninsula

Sample some of the finest sections of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, and stay in delightful St Davids.

5. Cadair Idris

The folds of this fine mountain harbour old castles, churches and a steam railway, the Centre for Alternative Technology and the sublime Mawddach Estuary.

6. Snowdonia

Hard-working narrow-gauge railways, slate-mining heritage and nuggety villages in inspiring mountain scenery.

7. Portmeirion

The whimsical Italianate beauty of Clough Williams-Ellis’ “home for fallen buildings”.

8. Conwy and Llandudno

A domineering castle and ancient houses within an intact ring of walls make Conwy an essential stop, best visited from Llandudno, with its grand seaside architecture, and blustery walks on the Great Orme.

9. Llangollen

A canal aqueduct, a heritage railway, a hilltop castle, an abbey ruin and the home of the Ladies of Llangollen all wedged into a bucolic valley.

Wales Itinerary 2 - Historic Buildings

Edward I’s massive castles across north Wales and the wonderful St Davids Cathedral are well known and covered elsewhere: here are a few equally fascinating monuments which can be inspected in a week or so.

1. Tintern Abbey

Admire the wonderful roofless ruin that inspired Wordsworth’s lines, by the placid River Wye.

2. Soar-y-Mynydd chapel

Wales’ most remote chapel, in the wild countryside of Mynydd Eppynt.

3. Carreg Cennen

The most wonderfully sited of all the native Welsh castles, high on a cliff.

4. Pentre Ifan

Wales’ largest burial stone with its 16ft-long top-stone precariously balanced on stone legs.

5. Penrhyn Castle, Bangor

Old masters in a grandiose Victorian mansion that loves to show off its slate-mining wealth.

6. Plas Mawr, Conwy

A superb example of an Elizabethan town house.

7. Plas Newydd, Llangollen

Fascinating mock-Tudor bolt hole of two aristocratic Anglo-Irish ladies.

8. Erddig, Wrexham

A Downton Abbey feel to the relationship between servants and masters at this stately home.

Wales Itinerary 3 - Active Wales

You’ll enjoy that slice of bara brith or pint of Purple Moose all the more if you’ve earned it hiking, biking or surfing. Set aside a week or more.

1. Whitewater rafting: Cardiff

Abundant thrills and spills on these superb man-made rapids.

2. Surfing: Gower

Suit up and surf some of the UK’s finest waves among the bays and beaches of the glorious peninsula.

3. Coasteering: St Davids peninsula

Jump off rocks into the sea, swim across bays and explore caves.

4. Walking: Pembrokeshire Coast Path

Spend a few hours or a few weeks exploring the gorgeous coves, windswept headlands and long beaches of this magical coastal walk.

5. Mine exploring: Corris

Get kitted out with harness and headlamp and listen to arcane tales of mining life in an abandoned slate mine.

6. Mountain biking: Coed y Brenin

Among the very best of many fine places to ride off-road in Wales.

7. Rock climbing: Llanberis Pass

The ultimate mountain challenge in the home of Welsh rock climbing; some climbers engage the guiding services of nearby Plas y Brenin.

8. Walking: Offa’s Dyke Path

Set aside a couple of weeks if you want to tackle the whole of this classic 177-mile long-distance walk which largely follows the ancient earthwork along the English border.

The Rough Guides to Wales and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

Travel advice for Wales

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Wales

• How to get to Wales
• Sports and Outdoor activities in Wales
• Eating and drinking in Wales
• Travel Tips Wales for planning and on the go
• Best time to visit Wales

Find even more inspiration here

written by Keith Drew

updated 26.04.2021

A former Rough Guides Managing Editor, Keith Drew has written or updated over a dozen Rough Guides, including Costa Rica, Japan and Morocco. As well as writing for The Telegraph, The Guardian and BRITAIN Magazine, among others, he also runs family-travel website Lijoma.com. Follow him @keithdrewtravel on Twitter and @BigTrips4LittleTravellers on Instagram.

Ready to travel and discover Wales?

Get support from our local experts for stress-free planning & worry-free travels.

• Where to stay
• Travel advice

Best places to visit Wales UK: The Ultimate Wales Travel Guide

My dream to explore Wales was due to several factors. Wales was my mum’s favourite country which she first saw in the 1940s during WWII when she was sent out of London in Operation Pied Piper to Wales to be protected from the bombs dropping on the city.

Taking the opportunity to visit Wales and take a Wales road trip, learning about the Welsh people and their Celtic history I became fascinated with Welsh history and in particular medieval Wales. Travelling the rugged coastline of Wales and taking in the breathtaking views is a dream come true for a slow traveller. 

A friend introduced me to the Sharon Penman books , The Welsh Princes Trilogy—Here Be Dragons, Falls the Shadow, and The Reckoning —these are historical novels about a turbulent time in British history.  These books gave me my travel inspiration and allowed me to see historic Wales through a Welsh state of mind.

Wales is a stark green and black land full of ruined castles, historic buildings, stunning mountains, and steep valleys with white dots of sheep herds. Welsh music and singing resonate across the valleys and of course, the symbol of Wales the red dragon flies over historic towns of Wales, castles, cities and villages full of history.

There are four UNESCO World Heritage sites in Wales, the  Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales  is made up of six sites around the county of Gwynedd that are all relics of the slate industry, which, in the 19th century, dominated this region of the country.

• Wales Travel Guide

Wales, a country with stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture, offers an unforgettable travel experience. Located in the southwest part of the United Kingdom, this small nation is often overlooked by tourists, overshadowed by its bigger and more famous neighbors, England and Scotland. However, those who venture to Wales are rewarded with breathtaking natural beauty, charming towns, and fascinating historical sites.

There are 3 National Parks in Wales: Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons and Pembrokeshire Coastal. They all offer very different activities and are located about a couple of hours from each other. One of the highlights of a visit to Wales is its dramatic coastline. With over 1,200 kilometers of pristine shores, Wales boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the UK, perfect for sunbathing, swimming, or simply enjoying a relaxing walk by the sea. For outdoor enthusiasts, Snowdonia National Park is a must-visit destination. Nestled in the heart of the country, the park offers majestic mountains, stunning lakes, and exhilarating hiking trails.

Wales is also renowned for its rich medieval heritage. Castles are a common sight in many Welsh towns and cities, each with its own unique stories to tell. Cardiff Castle, Conwy Castle, and Caernarfon Castle are among the most popular ones, showcasing the country’s fascinating history and architectural wonders. Wales has more castles per square mile than anywhere else in the world.

The quartet of castles built by Edward I during his long-lasting invasion of Wales are some of the finest, and best-preserved examples of medieval military architecture in the UK. The four strongholds, namely Conwy Castle in the county of Conwy, Harlech Castle and Caernarfon Castle in Gwynedd, and Beaumaris Castle on the island of  Anglesey .

Nicknamed the ‘stream in the sky’, the 307 metre-long  Pontcysyllte Aqueduct  carries narrowboats on a slender runnel of water some 38 metres (126ft) above the River Dee. With its 19 symmetrical metal arches and lockless design. And the South Wales hub for coal mining and iron production in the Blaenavon industrial landscape. Most of the infrastructure from this period has long disappeared, but the preserved buildings and industrial machinery in the former mining town of Blaenavon, stand as a monument to this important chapter in recent Welsh history.

• How to get to Wales: travel information

Cardiff Airport sits just on the outskirts of the city and boasts convenient bus and rail connections to not only the city center but also various parts of South Wales. A flight of approximately 80 minutes will transport you to key European hubs like Amsterdam and Paris, while domestic travelers can enjoy frequent services to destinations such as Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Belfast.

While Cardiff Airport stands as the largest airport in Wales, the nation remains easily accessible from nearby English airports. Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport, both strategically located, serve as excellent gateways for North Wales, with Liverpool merely around 40 miles or 60 kilometers away from Wrexham. For example to get to Llandudno or Conwy from Manchester airport is only an hour and a half drive.

There are three primary motorway connections linking Wales and England. The M4 serves as the vital highway connecting London to South Wales, extending all the way to Pont Abraham in Carmarthenshire, West Wales. As you venture into Wales, your journey will take you across one of the two magnificent Severn Bridges.

Air Travel for North Americans – you would have to fly into either London, Liverpool or Manchester Airports and then choose you method of travel from them to Wales.

The South Wales Main Line connects the trains from London to Newport, Cardiff, Swansea and other destinations in South and West Wales. On direct trains, the journey time between London Paddington and Cardiff is a little under two hours. From London Euston Station, trains run across Mid Wales to   Aberystwyth and up to the Llŷn Peninsula. There are also several trains that run to North Wales, stopping in the cities of Llandudno, Conwy, Bangor and Holyhead on the island of Anglesey. Check out the website Transport for Wales if you need more assistance.

Ferry services operate between the west coast of Wales and the Republic of Ireland across the Irish Sea (Fishguard or Pembroke to Rosslare, and Holyhead to Dublin). The frequency of the services means it’s easy to combine a stay in Wales with a quick jaunt over to Ireland, and the quickest ferries make the crossing in just two hours.

Wales has six ports that accept cruise ships , offering a range of services and facilities: Newport, Cardiff and Swansea in the Bristol Channel; Fishguard and Milford Haven in West Wales; and Holyhead on the island of Anglesey.

Castell Coch

Tintern abbey, hope and caergwrle, machynlleth, newcastle emlyn, caldey island, cosmeston medieval village, pontcysyllte aqueduct.

Xyuandbeyond is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission . You can read my privacy policy here.

23 Historic Towns in Wales You Should Visit

During the reign of  Edward I of England  (1272–1307), a series of castles were constructed in Wales with the purpose of subduing the population and establishing English colonies in Wales.

This UNESCO World Heritage site includes Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy, and Harlech. These castles of Edward I are considered the pinnacle of military architecture by historians.

Beaumaris on the Isle of Anglesey which is French for fair Marsh is part of the UNESCO heritage site that includes Beaumaris Castle . Anglesey lies on the North Welsh coast.

Built by Edward I this castle was to be his crowning glory but it was never finished. The castle featured the best of medieval defensive designs with its round towers, inner and outer circuit walls, massive towered gates and a fortified dock. Beaumaris Castle is considered one of the finest surviving examples of a concentric medieval castle.

In the 14th century St Mary and St Nicholas Church you will find the stone coffin of Princess Siwan or Joan as she was known in English. She was the illegitimate daughter of King John and the wife of Llywelyn The Great, Prince of Gwynedd. Sadly after the Dissolution of the Monasteries, her tomb was used as a horse trough but has now been restored.

In Beaumaris, you can also visit the Beaumaris Gaol a Victorian prison, walk along the beach and enjoy the beauty of the Strait. Take a moment to visit the gardens of  Plas Newydd and the ‘Hidden Gardens at Cadnant’ are simply stunning.

Castell Coch , or the ‘Red Castle’, is set in the ancient beech woods of Fforest Fawr and rises from the forest like a fairytale castle. Built by the Marquess of Bute this incredible castle is a masterpiece of the High Victorian era.

But it’s no exotic folly. Underneath the faux medieval trappings are the remains of a 13th-century castle, once used as a hunting lodge by the ruthless Marcher lord Gilbert de Clare.

The Wye Valley straddles the border of Wales and England and is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Tintern Abbey sits on the Wye River just south of Monmouth and Chepstow Castle. The Cistercian Abbey of Tintern is one of the greatest monastic ruins of Wales. it was founded by Walter de Clare Lord of Chepstow and it was the second Cistercian monastery in Britain and the first in Wales. Until its dissolution in 1536, it was an extremely prosperous Abbey and due to its location during the middle ages, it suffered very little in the Welsh uprisings and the battles to bring the Welsh into the control of the English.

Tintern’s crowning glory was its great church, which rivals the Abbey of Rievaulx in Yorkshire which was built between 1269 and 1301.

Cardigan is the gateway to the superb Pembrokeshire coast National Park. This historic Welsh town on the River Teifi was the capital of the Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth. Its history began with the building of a Norman Castle and the town grew up around it.

The very first Welsh eisteddfod was held in Cardigan in 1176, and it was held by Rhys ap Gruffydd of Deheubarth who held a festival of music and poetry in his court which became a tradition throughout Wales even into the modern day.

Just across the river from the Castle stands the ruins of St Dogmael’s Abbey .  Entry to this beautiful Abbey is free and well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome. The Coach House  Museum  is also free to visit and houses many relics and artefacts from the Abbey grounds. The museum displays a chronological history of the Abbey’s fascinating and turbulent past.

According to the legends Merlin was born just outside Carmarthen on Bryn Myrddin a tree-covered hill where he was trapped by Vivien. The legends say that he was in love with her and taught her all his spells but after learning them she imprisoned him. The legends also said that an ancient oak stood at the corner of Oak Lane Priory Street and when it falls so will the town. Pieces of the oak can be seen in the town museum.

Carmarthen is believed to be the oldest town in Wales and the Castle is one of the most frequently invaded. Around 1094 the Normans built a castle here but it was destroyed in 1215 and rebuilt in 1223.

Rhys ap Gruffudd was one of the leading figures of 12th-century Wales. He owned Carmarthen until his surrender to King Henry II in 1158. But the collapse of the building, like many others in Britain, was associated with the outbreak of the English Civil War of the 1640s.

Cardiff is the capital of Wales and the heart of the city was formed during the medieval period many traces from this time survive today, especially close to the castle. The castle dates from the 11th century when the Normans conquered Glamorgan. It was begun by William the Conqueror on his return from St David’s in Pembrokeshire, in 1081.

Cardiff Castle was originally built in wood. In the 12th century, Robert Consol, Duke of Gloucester, rebuilt it in stone. At this time, the Castle’s west and south walls were raised, building upon the ruined walls of the Roman fort .

In the 15th century, the town was destroyed by Owain Glyndŵr’s Welsh army. The Castle lay in ruin until Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, restored the defences and castle buildings.

If you are visiting Carmarthenshire don’t forget to stop by the Dylan Thomas Castle House in Laugharne, Carmarthenshire. This is a Georgian mansion. Described by Dylan Thomas as “the best of houses in the best of places”, it is one of many buildings of note in the medieval township.

Laugharne castle was built in 1116 and was the meeting place of Henry II of England and Rhys ap Gruffudd where they agreed on a treaty of peace. When Henry II of England died in 1189 the castle, was seized by Rhys ap Gruffudd in the same year. The castle may have been burnt down at that time. It was rebuilt by the Normans, and in 1215 was captured by Llywelyn the Great in his campaign across South Wales. By 1247 the castle was destroyed by Llywellyn.

Edward II was born here on April 25, 1284, There is a legend that Edward I had promised the Welsh nobility a prince “ that was bourne in Wales and could speake never a wrod of English “, then named his newborn son the Prince of Wales.

Caernarfon Castle is recognised around the world as one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages. This fortress-palace on the banks of the River Seiont is grouped with Edward I’s other castles at Conwy, Beaumaris and Harlech as a World Heritage Site.

Brecon lies on the River Usk where it is joined by the Rivers Honddu and Tarell, in the northern portion of Brecon Beacons National Park. You will find a few parts of the ancient city walls built around 1100.  Brecon was created by the Norman Lord Bernard de Neufmarché after he defeated the Welsh ruler Rhys Ap Tewdwer at the Battle of Brecon in 1093.

Brecon castle was built in a naturally defensive place at the crossing of the Usk and Honddu rivers, where it could guard the ferry and benefit from water mills. In the second half of the 12th century, the castle passed into the hands of the de Braose family, as a result of strategic marriages.

When they rebelled against the English King John, he conquered the castle in 1207. Brecon soon became the target of attacks by the Welsh of Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, who raided the castle and town in 1217, 1231 and 1233. During the latter, the town was burnt, but the castle managed to defend itself.

In the second half of the 13th century, Brecon was repeatedly attacked by the Welsh of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, who for a short period managed to capture the castle in 1263 two years later, the castle was recaptured by Prince Edward, but in the same 1265, it was again conquered by the Welsh.

In 1322, the castle was taken over by King Edward in 1399 Henry of Lancaster took the English throne as Henry IV, and entrusted Brecon to Sir Thomas Berkeley who prepared Brecon for defence against the rebellious Welsh of Owain Glyndŵr.

In the 15th century, Brecon passed to the Dukes of Stafford of Buckingham. The last of them were executed during the reign of Henry VIII Tudor, and the castle complex began to fall into ruin it was later dismantled by the Parliamentarians during the Civil War. The first repair works began in the 19th century, thanks to which the castle was transformed into a hotel.

The walls of Brecon were also destroyed by the war and only small areas survive near Plough Chapel and Watton Mount.

Chepstow Castle was first built c. 1067 by William FitzOsbern and then significantly improved c. 1190 CE by Sir William Marshal one of England’s greatest knights who served four kings and acted as regent for Henry III of England.

Chepstow Castle then became the home of a succession of rich and powerful medieval and Tudor nobles. Probably because of its formidable appearance, the castle was never attacked and today remains as a great example of military castles and can boast the oldest castle doors in Europe.

In the Middle Ages Chepstow was a town of great importance in the export and import trade due to its home on the harbour. wine was also imported by the town and the port has been continuously developed since those times.

Keeping up its reputation as an entertainment town Chepstow is Famous as the home of the Welsh National , which takes place each December and it’s also a popular venue for live music and entertainment.

Criccieth castle may have given Criccieth its name: ‘Crug Caeth’ means the jail on the hill. In the centre of the town lies Y Maes, part of the original medieval town common where fairs have been held for more than 700 years.

The castle was built in 1230 by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great) and in 1282 it became part of a ring of castles surrounded by Edward I’s conquered territories. In 1294, Madog ap Llewelyn led an uprising from native Welsh people angry against English rule. Criccieth was besieged for several months.

Much later, Edward, I took control of Criccieth Castle, which eventually led to the Welsh residents of the area revolting against this. Just over 100 years later in 1404, the castle was completely sacked and was never reoccupied. An exhibition on the Princes of Gwynedd can be found within the castle.

Since Victorian times the town has developed into a seaside destination where you can enjoy walks on the beach, rock pooling, water sports, fabulous fish and chips and icecream.

There’s even a traditional Welsh clog maker who still has his workshop in the town. The town sits on the Wales coast path , and there are plenty of quiet trails running out of the town for walking and cycling.  

Conwy is the most complete medieval walled town in Britain with a magnificent medieval fortress towering over the town for over 700 years. Climb to the top of one of  Conwy Castle’s  eight towers to get a stunning view over Conwy and the surrounding area. You can explore the inner and outer wards with their many rooms and the castle walls with their 21 towers that completely enclose Conwy town. 

Conwy Castle was built by Edward I to protect and maintain, along with several other castles, his newly acquired dominance in the region. Conwy Castle is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

The ruins of Aberconwy Abbey can be found at St. Mary and All Saint’s Church . The abbey was also the burial place of Llywelyn ap Iorworth, (Llywelyn the Great) and was the burial place of many of the native Princes of Gwynedd, including Gruffydd ap Cynan, and Llewelyn ap Maelgwyn. Llywelyn’s son and successor Dafydd ap Llywelyn were also buried there in 1246. Llywelyn’s other son, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, died trying to escape from captivity in the Tower of London in 1244, his body was later repatriated and interred at the Abbey.

In Conwy you can also visit the oldest townhouse in Wales Aberconwy House dates to the early 14th century, making it the oldest recorded dwelling house in Wales. Two other houses to visit include Plas Mawr or the Great Hall,  which is quite simply the finest surviving Elizabethan townhouse anywhere in Britain.

The Smallest House in Britain can be found at the end of a terrace of houses on Conwy’s quayside. The house is just 72 inches wide by 122 inches high. It was occupied right up until May 1900.

Denbigh castle is situated on the south side of the town high on a hill originally a wooden motte and bailey it was rebuilt by the English in stone. It was granted to Dafydd ap Gruffydd by Edward I after Dafydd assisted the English king put down a Welsh rebellion in 1277.

Construction of the castle and the town’s outer wall was interrupted when the town was attacked by the Welsh in 1294 and possibly captured. The main feature of the castle is the gatehouse which consists of three towers. In medieval times the houses were contained within the town walls on the hill but due to its steepness these houses were abandoned and the town was relocated to the valley floor below.

Within Denbigh’s walls lays the ruins of Leicester’s Church built by Robert Dudley . It was Elizabeth I who gave the castle to him and he began building the Church for Protestant worship. However, the money ran out and the church was never finished.  

Flint lies on the estuary of the River Dee and is home to the first castle built by Edward I in 1277 which was to be his “ Iron Ring ” of fortresses across Wales. Both castle and town were attacked by the forces of Madog ap Llywelyn during the revolt of 1294-5; the defenders of the town burnt it in order to deny its use to the Welsh.

Flint was the setting of another turning point in history this is where King Richard II came face to face with his rival to the crown Henry Bolingbroke. Flint Castle , is famous for featuring in Shakespeare’s play Richard II. The castle is where Richard II is captured.

Hope and Caergwrle have had a turbulent past due to their location on the border of Wales and England. Successive waves of invaders from England sought to take Welsh lands and ownership of the settlements changed several times.   

Caergwrle Castle Hill and Caer Estyn provided excellent defensive positions. In the late 13th century, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, Prince of Wales, refused to pay homage to the new English ruler, King Edward I. In retaliation, Edward invaded Wales in 1276 and forced Llywelyn to retreat into Snowdonia. Llywelyn’s younger brother, Dafydd, joined forces with Edward as he felt Llywelyn had cheated him of his inheritance.

As a reward, Edward gave Dafydd the rich lands around Caergwrle and Hope and, in 1277, Dafydd began to build his castle at Caergwrle. However, Dafydd felt unfairly treated when English lords were given more power and, five years later, he changed sides and fought against the English invaders.

Llywelyn was killed in battle but Dafydd was captured. In retribution for his defection, he was convicted of high treason and was the first person in England to be hung, drawn and quartered for that crime.

Caergwrle Castle didn’t fare much better. Edward began to rebuild it but, a year later, a fire ripped through the wooden parts of the castle and the work was abandoned.   

In 1400 Owain Glyndŵr rebelled and proclaimed himself Prince of Wales, and by 1403 he had infiltrated Flintshire, urging revolt. The local Welsh flocked to join his forces and burned the English settlement of Hope. Gradually, King Henry IV’s armies regained control.  

None of Edward I’s mighty coastal fortresses has a more spectacular setting than Harlech Castle set on a sheer rocky cliff overlooking the sea. In Snowdonia National Park the peaks of Snowdonia rise in the back and the Castle is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Harlech was completed from ground to battlements in just seven years its classic ‘walls within walls’ design makes the most of daunting natural defences.

In 1294 the rebellion of Madog ap Llewelyn (a distant cousin of Llywelyn the Great) took place against Edward 1 (Longshanks) the castle held out – thanks to the ‘Way from the Sea’. This path of 108 steps rising steeply up the rock face allowed castle defenders access to food and water brought to the steps by ships.

During the 15th-century Wars of the Roses, Harlech was held by the Lancastrians for seven years, before Yorkist troops forced its surrender in 1468, a siege memorialised in the song “Men of Harlech”. Following the outbreak of the  English Civil War  in 1642, the castle was held by forces loyal to  Charles I .

UNESCO  considers Harlech, along with Beaumaris, Conwy, and Caernarfon, to be one of “the finest examples of late 13th-century and early 14th-century military architecture in Europe”, and it is classed as a World Heritage Site.  In 2015 a new footbridge was installed which links a new visitor centre in the refurbished Castle Hotel, opposite the castle, replacing long flights of timber steps. It occupies the position of the castle’s original drawbridge. 

A 1000-year-old road in Harlech,  Ffordd Pen Llech was recognized by the Guinness World Records in 2019 as the steepest residential street in the world with a gradient of 1:2.67 (37.45%).

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning, nicknamed the Maid of Harlech , crashed on a Harlech beach in September 1942 when its pilot, Second Lt Robert Elliott, 24, of North Carolina, got into difficulties during a training exercise. The aircraft is one of the only known aircraft of its type still surviving substantially intact and is of international significance.

While the exact location of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft remains confidential, to protect the plane, it remains there today.

Llanrwst is a pretty, hidden gem in Wales and it’s most well-known for the picturesque  Ty Hwnt i’r Bont tea room which you have probably seen on Instagram, and the nearby three-arched stone bridge said to be built by Inigo Jones.

In the middle of the town is the Parish Church of  St Grwst  which is home to a stone coffin that is said to be the tomb of Llywelyn The Great. Then check out the nearby almshouses before heading out of town to  Gwydir Castle  (open seasonally), a 16th Century Tudor courtyard house built for the powerful Wynn family. While there, ask for the key to the nearby  Gwydir Uchaf Chapel . This was the castle’s private chapel and inside you will find a beautifully painted interior.

Gwydir Castle is an ancient Welsh house regarded as one of the finest Tudor houses in Wales, the castle was formerly the ancestral home of the powerful Wynn family. By 1994 the house and its surrounding grounds had become derelict, it’s taken a monumental 20-year effort to restore the property by the current owners to get it to where it is today, with works still ongoing to fully restore it to its former glory.

Machynlleth is truly a gem – a rural market town with a quirky, eco-friendly vibe nestled within the beautiful  UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere . There are loads to do and see just wandering around. There are plenty of antique stores, alternative lifestyle shops and galleries featuring local artists and craftspeople. There’s a bustling market on Wednesdays and even an annual world-famous comedy festival.

On Heol Maengyn which is the high street, there is a splendid Victorian clock tower, and on Wednesdays, the market (which was launched by Royal Charter in 1291) continues to this day. It was also the site of national hero Owain Glyndŵr’s 1404 parliament – the original Senedd. The Owain Glyndŵr Centre is the local history museum that tells his story.

Other attractions include  Y Plas  (The Mansion); a house and gardens formerly owned by the family of the  Marquess of Londonderry, which was given to the people of Machynlleth in 1948.

Newcastle Emlyn in Carmarthenshire is a town on the River Teifi, known for its 13th-century ruined castle, set on high ground in a loop of the river. According to legend, the castle was the home of the last dragon in Wales. The historic town centre is a conservation area, with a wealth of interesting old buildings.

Founded around 1240 by the Welsh Prince, Maredudd ap Rhys, Newcastle Emlyn castle is unique in that very few Welsh-built stone castles can be found in West Wales. Following a series of attacks and refurbishments over the following centuries, the castle was finally blown up with gunpowder in 1645 during the English Civil war.

The dragon gates at the castle are inspired by the legend which tells that the last Dragon in Wales was killed there. During a town fair when the town was full of people, a Wyvern (a fierce winged creature) breathing fire and smoke landed on the castle walls and settled down to sleep. Its appearance in the castle at first brought terror to all but, after the fear had died down, a few brave townsfolk sought to destroy the fearsome monster.

A soldier approached the dragon from the river Teifi and floated a red cloak in the river. The dragon awoke, saw the cloak and went to attack it but was shot at by the soldier. The wyvern, in its death throes, floated down the river. The legend tells of the great joy of the townsfolk when they saw the monster dead. Today, the legend of the last dragon In Wales is kept alive in the sculptures and plaques that sit within the dramatic castle ruins.

Pembroke was founded by Henry II and is the home of Pembroke Castle , a superb medieval fortress and the birthplace of Henry Tudor, later to become King Henry VII.

In addition to the castle, Pembroke features three medieval churches and the remains of the medieval town walls. The street’s layout follows a layout which is nearly 1,000 years old and a track of some sort was probably laid out 1,000 years before that. Beneath the castle, is a vast cavern called The Wogan which has been used for the past 12,000 years, if not continuously.

During the Wars of the Roses, town & castle wavered in support of warring Lancastrian & Yorkist factions.  In 1447 Jasper Tudor (half-brother to Henry IV) was appointed Earl of Pembroke and into his care was sent the young Margaret Beaufort, wife of his brother Edmund. She gave birth to a son in Pembroke Castle, a son destined to become Henry VII and the founder of the Tudor dynasty. Edmund died two months before the birth of their son Henry.

One of three medieval churches in Pembroke, St Mary’s dates to the late 12th century. By the entrance is a Tudor bench commemorating the birth of Henry VII (Henry Tudor) at the nearby castle in 1457. The second of Pembroke’s medieval churches, St Michael’s was built in the Norman period, rebuilt in 1835, and rebuilt again in 1887. Unfortunately, the church was forced to close in 2013.

The best place to see the medieval town walls of Pembroke is on Common Road. Here you can also see the ruins of lime kilns, used to process lime for fertilizer and mortar. Built into the town walls is the Gun Tower (also known as the Defending Tower). This was one of six flanking towers that gave defenders a good view along the line of the wall.

Ruthin is a Welsh hidden gem in North Wales where you can find the oldest timber townhouse in the country Nantclwyd y Dre . The house was started in 1435 and has been added to, updated and upgraded throughout the centuries.

Nantclwyd y Dre seven rooms have been restored and here you can see the various periods of the history of the building. There is also a fully restored garden known as the Lord’s Garden.

Ruthin’s other architectural gems include the multi-dormered tiled roof of the former Myddelton Arms (known as the Eyes of Ruthin) which dates from the mid-16th century and is of Flemish design.  

When walking the town centre keep your eyes peeled for the Maen Huail , a limestone block in Ruthin’s town centre. Elis Gruffydd (1490-1552) recorded it as the very stone on which King Arthur beheaded the young warrior Huail, who made the fatal error of raiding his lands, stealing his mistress, and mocking him for a slight limp which Huail himself had inflicted.

Ruthin Castle is built on a red sandstone ridge 100 feet above the Vale of Clwyd, overlooking a strategic river crossing. Judging by the curving moat to the west of the upper bailey, the earliest castle here may have been a motte and bailey. However, the first documented castle was given to Prince Dafydd ap Gruffydd by King Edward in 1277.  

Near Ruthin Castle, you will find a sign for Lady Grey’s grave – the wife of the second in command at the castle when it was a fortress inhabited by the armies of Edward I.

Lady Grey was said to have been executed after killing her husband’s lover with an axe in a jealous rage. The local priests wouldn’t allow her to be buried on consecrated grounds so she had to be buried outside the castle walls. There are reports of the apparition of a crazed woman walking through the banquet hall and the battlements wielding an axe as she moves through the grounds and outside the castle walls.

In the early 1960s, Ruthin Castle was purchased at an auction & converted into a hotel. One of its most notable guests since was HM King Charles III who stayed on his way to his investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969.

Caldey Island has a history from the 6th century when St Pyro established a monastery here. The monastery was reestablished in the 12th century, and again in the early 20th century. A small island off the Pembrokeshire coast is not the place you would expect to find three historic churches, a ruined medieval priory, a Tudor dovecote, a Catholic monastery, and, perhaps most unusual of all, a chocolate factory. But Caldey Island is no ordinary place.

The island site proved easy prey for Viking raiders, and the monks left but returned in the 12th century when the Normans conquered Southern Wales. The Norman lord of Wales was Robert Fitzmartin, who gave Caldey to his mother Geva. Around the year 1131 Geva founded a new monastery of monks following the Tironian rule, as a daughter house of St Dogmael’s Abbey near Cardigan. The new Caldey Priory was a poor place, able to support only a few monks. Indeed, when Henry VIII’s commissioners came to dissolve the Priory they found only one monk in residence.

St Illtud’s Church , built in the 13th century is near the Priory ruins and its sanctuary floor is made of pebbles gathered from the beach, polished smooth by the passage of feet over centuries. Outside the sanctuary is a 6th-century Ogham stone, bearing inscriptions in both Latin and the ancient Ogham script.

The Caldey Ogham stone was discovered buried in the Priory grounds in the 19th century and was used for a time as a garden seat before being placed for safekeeping inside the church. The Ogham inscription commemorates a servant of Dubricius, which may refer to St Pyro, who was himself a follower of St Dubricius. The Latin text is later, carved in the 8th century and commemorates a man named Catuocunus.

The Watchtower is a cylindrical building beneath a conical roof. It was probably used as a coastal lookout station, as was a similar tower at Penally, on the mainland. It dates to at least the 15th century, with one historian suggesting a Norman date of construction based on the very thick walls. It was probably used as a lookout tower.

Cosmeston Medieval Village is one of the Vale of Glamorgan’s leading tourist attractions. The Village is set in the year 1350, a turbulent period in the history of the Welsh and English. The remains of the community were discovered and excavated during the 1980s by a team of archaeologists, and the local authority decided that this was a unique opportunity to bring to life part of the history of Wales.

A programme of reconstruction allows visitors to see excavated buildings and gardens recreated, while livestock of the middle ages is cared for by “villagers” in authentic costume. There is an opportunity to experience medieval life by taking a tour of the village with a costumed guide or you can take a self-guided tour using the portable audio system.

UNESCO has described this world heritage site as “a masterpiece of creative genius”. Built and planned in the 1700s the Aqueduct is incredibly impressive and spans 18 km. It may not be medieval but it is of great historical importance.

It was built by Thomas Telford and William Jessop and completed in 1805. Cast Iron was used for the trough, while the pillars are made of brick. The aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal over the valley of the River Dee in northeast Wales.

The whole length of the site has also been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument of National Importance, and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

You simply can’t leave Wales without experiencing the national Sport Rugby. Rugby is Wales’ national sport and it helped to create Welsh nationhood. Rugby union is the national sport of Wales and is a great influence on Welsh culture. Try and get tickets to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff to experience Rugby international weekends and enjoy some real Welsh partying.

All these historic towns in Wales are fascinating places to visit and there are just so many captivating historical sites to see and discover. I love to know which ones you have been to and enjoyed the most.

You might also like to read.

27 Awe-inspiring things to do in Wales

25 Traditional Welsh food dishes

North Wales Coastal Path the famous Pilgrim’s Way Route

7 of the most beautiful beaches on the Pembrokeshire Coast Wales

Faith was born in Ireland raised in Canada and has lived in over 10 countries in Europe including England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain, Northern Ireland, Wales, along with Mexico, Antigua, the US and has slow travelled to over 40 countries around the world. Graduating with a degree in Anthropology and Women's Studies Faith is a student of history, culture, community and food and has written about these topics for over 40 years.

View all posts

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

I have read and accepted the Privacy Policy *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• North Dakota
• Czech Republic
• Switzerland
• Vegan City Guides
• Vegan Travel & Tips
• Vegan Fashion
• Sustainability
• Blogging Tips
• Photo Diaries
• Unfortunate (but hilarious)
• Recommendations
• Get in Touch
• Work With Me
• Best Travel Insurance
• Freelance Gig

• United Kingdom , Wales

Ready to see the best of Wales with this one week itinerary? Featuring the bustling city of Cardiff, the mountains of Snowdonia National Park, unique Wales attractions like Portmeirion, and the wondrous isle of Anglesey, this 7-day Wales itinerary will no doubt blow you away! Keep reading to get inspired and plan your trip to Wales, UK.

Psst, this post contains affiliate links. Read our disclosure .

As mentioned in my post on the 10 best places to visit in Wales , this tiny little country was named one of the top destinations to check out in 2020 by the LA Times. How cool is that?

Unfortunately, due to the chaotic pandemonium, ahem *pandemic* , not many people got to experience the greatness of Wales!

On the bright side, the travel industry is perking back up and people are planning trips to new places and new destinations, like Wales!

If you’re one of these people, but need some help figuring out where to visit in Wales and how to spend one week in this awesome country in the UK, I’ve got the perfect itinerary for you.

Keep reading to discover the best places to visit and the top sites with this brilliant 7-day Wales travel guide!

Table of Contents

HOW TO SPEND 7 DAYS IN WALES

Use this 7-day Wales itinerary as a guide for planning your trip here! Want to spend loads of time hiking? Plan more days in Snowdonia National Park! Love the seaside and coastal vibes? Spend more time in Pembrokeshire! This itinerary is simply a tool to help you plan your best trip to Wales.

Additionally, I do want to mention this Wales itinerary is heavily focused on driving as the main mode of transportation. While there are trains and buses that go across the country, they can be seriously slow!

With only one week in Wales, I highly recommend renting a car (or using your own if possible) to maximize your time here. Not to mention, opting for a reliable vehicle gives you the best opportunity to go off the beaten track and explore the more hidden gems Wales has to offer!

Personally, I recommend using KAYAK to search for a rental car and find the best price! Use the little widget below to see what comes up for you. (Tip: Put “Cardiff, Wales” as the pick-up / drop-off location!)

Day 1 — Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital of Wales and a great place to fly into!

Alternatively, you can always fly into the bigger cities of London, Bristol, or Birmingham and take a train to Cardiff. (I recommend using the Trainline for tickets!)

One of the best places to visit on any Wales trip, Cardiff is the biggest city in Wales and has a ton to offer in terms of history, fun pubs, bars, eateries, museums, and relaxing parks!

Not to mention, even though Cardiff is the largest city in the country, it’s small enough that you can see a lot of it in a short time !

With just a mere 24 hours or so in Cardiff, you can visit the castle, explore the bay, stop at a couple museums, fill your belly at some delicious restaurants, and browse some local shops for unique trinkets!

For more inspiration, here’s a short list of the best things to do in Cardiff, Wales:

• Visit Cardiff Castle , which is in the heart of the city and dates back to 50 AD. (Psst, you can also book a ghost tour here!)
• Check out Mermaid Quay and all its lovely views, shops, and waterfront eateries.
• Explore the museums — a few great ones include St Fagans National Museum of History , National Museum Cardiff , Techniquest , and the Museum of Cardiff (different from the NMC).
• Walk around Cardiff Bay , visit its piers, and stroll along the boardwalk.
• Relax at some of Cardiff’s green spaces — Roath Park, Bute Park and Victoria Park are nice!
• Do some shopping (or window shopping) at the Riverside Market, City of Arcades, and Cardiff Central Market.
• Visit the Rhondda Heritage Park and the Welsh Mining Experience.

For your one night spent in Cardiff, I recommend using Booking.com to find a suitable place to stay! I find this site shows the best prices (and most offer free cancellation!).

The morning after your night in Cardiff, it’s time to drive to Pembrokeshire !

This next destination on this Wales itinerary is only a couple hours away from Cardiff, giving you ample time to see this loads of Pembrokeshire on day 2 of this 7-day Wales itinerary.

Hey, want to simplify your visit to Cardiff? Go on a guided tour and see the city with a local! Check out these Cardiff tours below… (Psst, if nothing catches your eye, check out more tours here !)

Dying to visit Scotland, too? Take a peek at this post on 15 crazy awesome places to visit in Scotland !

Day 2 — Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

This is one of my favorite places on this 7-day Wales itinerary because Pembrokeshire Coast National Park features everything from gorgeous seaside views and exceptional hikes to charming Welsh villages and stunning beaches!

Not to mention, Pembrokeshire also features some of the more unique attractions in Wales, like the beautiful blue lagoon, the smallest city in the UK (aka St. Davids), and Skomer Island Nature Reserve , where you can find tons of adorable puffins.

Sound like a dream destination in Wales? I sure think so!

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is perfect for those who love the outdoors, coastal walks, and lots of small, adorable villages with friendly locals .

Here are some of the things I recommend you do in Pembrokeshire, Wales:

• Visit St. Davids, aka the smallest city in the UK.
• Go on a coastal walk — check out these top ten !
• Check out the Blue Lagoon in Abereiddy.
• If it’s summertime, go for a swim in one of its many beautiful beaches !
• Explore the vibrant Victorian city of Tenby.
• Go back in history and visit Neolithic burial chambers, stone circles and Iron Age forts in the Preseli Hills .
• Head out on the water and do some dolphin, whale, and porpoise watching.

For your time in Pembrokeshire, I recommend staying the night in either Haverfordwest , St. Davids , or Fishguard .

These destinations are on the northern part of the Pembrokeshire Coast, as you can see a lot of the southern part on the day you drive from Cardiff to here.

For example, as you drive from Cardiff to St. Davids, which is a 2 hour 45 min drive, you can stop in Tenby, visit Pembroke Castle, go for a walk along the coast, and explore several coastal attractions, like Church Door Cove, Saint Govan’s Church, and the Green Bridge.

Alternatively, if you’re into nature reserves, I recommend booking a boat tour to Skomer Island with the Dale Princess Boat Tours!

Additionally, for day 3-5 of this 7-day Wales itinerary, you’ll be heading up to Snowdonia National Park .

So by positioning yourself in the northern part of Pembrokeshire for your one night here, you make your drive up to North Wales a bit shorter!

Hey, is this your first trip abroad? Don’t forget to check out my post on 11 essentials to pack for a first trip to Europe !

Day 3-5 — Snowdonia National Park

Next up is the iconic Wales destination of Snowdonia National Park !

With towering mountains , thousands of hiking routes, jaw-droppingly beautiful landscapes, adorable Welsh villages, and super fun attractions for families with kids, Snowdonia is the perfect place to spend a couple days when visiting Wales!

Here are my favorite things to do in Snowdonia National Park:

• Go on a hike! This is a must in Snowdonia. If you’re an experienced hiker, I recommend climbing Snowdon, the largest mountain in Wales! (And don’t forget to read my tips on how to not be a sh*tty hiker !)
• Visit Beddgelert and uncover the legend of “Gelert’s Grave.” (It’s so cute but also a bit sad!)
• Explore Portmeirion , which is a strange Italy-inspired village just on the edge of Snowdonia National Park.
• Have a wild adventure at Zip World (great for kids!).
• Check out the countless waterfalls in Snowdonia — a few great ones include Rhaeadr Ewynnol Swallow Falls, Aber Falls, and the fairy pools and waterfalls along Watkin Path (one of my favorite hikes!).
• Head up to the top of Snowdon Peak with the Snowdon Mountain Railway .
• Visit the quaint town of Betws-y-Coed, which is so cute and in the heart of Snowdonia National Park. Lots and lots of local shops here for you support and get unique trinkets at, too!

So where should you stay for your 2 nights in Snowdonia? I recommend either Betws-y-Coed , Beddgelert , or Llanberis (this is where the Snowdon Railway is and where many begin their climb to its peak).

Betws-y-Coed is great for the first night, as you have easy access to all the finest gems in Snowdonia ( book on Booking.com ).

For the second night, I recommend either Beddgelert or Llanberis ( book on Booking.com ), which are closest to the next destination on this 1-week Wales itinerary!

Day 6 — Caernarfon, Anglesey, Conwy & Llangollen

After Snowdonia National Park, it’s time to make your way across the north coast of Wales visiting Caernarfon, Anglesey (if you have the time and energy), Conwy , and then back south towards Llangollen .

If staying in Llanberis for the second night, it’s only a short 20-min drive to Caernarfon (or a 30-min drive from Beddgelert), which is where you’ll find the stunning Caernarfon Castle.

(I recommend getting an early start on the day so you’re not rushed when exploring the castles !)

Caernarfon castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an incredible medieval fortress built in the late 11th century. Not to mention, the castle is used for the investiture (aka the “crowning”) of the Prince of Wales. The current Prince of Wales, aka Prince Charles, was “crowned” here in 1969. Cool, eh?

After visiting Caernarfon Castle, if you’ll either continue across the North Wales Coast to Conwy or make a slight detour to the gorgeous isle of Anglesey (which is one of my favorite places to visit on a Wales trip!).

On Anglesey, I recommend visiting Traeth Llanddwyn Beach and walking out to the lighthouse (Goleudy Tŵr Mawr) where you can visit the Pilot’s Cottages, Goleudy Tŵr Bach (beach), and get stunning views of Wales mainland!

Traeth Llanddwyn is just a 40 minute drive from Caernarfon, making it a great stop on your Wales itinerary. Also, with not many tourists knowing about this place, Traeth Llanddwyn and the lighthouse are a hidden gem you’ll no doubt love!

Next up: Conwy!

From Traeth Llanddwyn, this town is just a 50 minute drive. From Caernarfon, Conwy is 30 minutes away.

While there’s not much to do in the actual town, other than seeing the smallest house in Britain , visiting the castle is what you absolutely must do when here!

Conwy Castle is classed as a World Heritage Site and considered to be one of “the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe,” according to UNESCO. So it is a must visit when in North Wales !

After you’re done visiting Conwy, hop in the car and jump on the A470 towards the A5 road.

We’re going to the quaint little adorable town of Llangollen ! (You’re going to love it.)

This small, yet historic town features everything from cute local shops and castle ruins to mountain views and even a picturesque river running right through its center.

Even cooler, the  Pontcysyllte Aqueduct , which is a astonishing 18-arched stone and cast iron bridge for the Llangollen Canal, is just nearby and is one of the more unique sites to stop at on this Wales itinerary!

Within Llangollen, there are also a ton of cute local shops for some Welsh souvenirs and many delicious restaurants where you can get dinner. For those who like to get their hike on, don’t miss out on climbing up to the Castell Dinas Brân, which are castle ruins just outside the town!

As you might have guessed, you’ll be spending the night in Llangollen! Click here to find a great place on Booking.com .

Interested in hopping around Europe visiting some of the best Christmas markets? Check out my 10-day Christmas Market itinerary that visits Switzerland, Germany and Austria (with a stop at Neuschwanstein Castle)!

Day 7 — Brecon Beacons National Park & Cardiff

The last day on this 7-day itinerary for Wales is making your way back down south towards Cardiff with a nice stop at Brecon Beacons National Park !

Driving from Llangollen to Cardiff by going through the center of Brecon Beacons will take around 3 or so hours. (Not including stops within Brecon Beacons, of course.)

Again, I recommend getting up early and jumping on the road as quick as you can to make sure you get the most out of your day!

Brecon Beacons is a beautiful area in Wales. It features gorgeous landscapes filled with mountains, hills, waterfalls, and dense forests that will take your breath away!

Additionally, depending on when you start your day, the small town of Brecon is a charming little spot to grab a quick lunch before heading into the national park.

If you’re into hiking and want to do one last climb before you leave Wales, I highly recommend hiking up Pen y Fan, which is the highest peak in South Wales! (You check out my day hiking essentials here !)

At a steady pace, this hike usually takes between 2-3 hours. (But you won’t even notice the time, as you’ll be too caught up looking at the stunning views !)

Depending on what your schedule look like, such as when your flight out of Wales is or when you have to get back home, you can either spend the night near Brecons Beacons or near Cardiff.

Whew! What a wildly awesome 1-week itinerary for Wales that is, right?! I mean talk about seeing the best of this country!

From exploring the wild coastlines of Pembrokeshire and the towering mountains of Snowdonia to stepping back in history at numerous Wales castles and visiting underrated gems, like Llangollen, this 7-day Wales itinerary has it all.

Tell me, are you planning a trip to Wales in 2021 or 2022? Or do you have any other questions about traveling Wales? Let me know in the comments below! (I basically live in Wales so I’m happy to help you plan your trip here!)

Not sure what to check out next? Readers love these posts:

• Hiking Moel Morfydd (Llantysilio Mountain) in the Clwydian Hills – North Wales
• Abandoned castle hunting: Ewloe Castle ruins in North Wales
• Road tripping through southern England and the often forgotten country of Wales
• 10 outstanding places to visit in England that you must add to your UK bucket list
• 15 crazy awesome places to visit in Scotland

Love this post on the best 7-day Wales itinerary? Pin it!

As mentioned above, this post contains affiliate links. Which means if you make a purchase through the links, this site receives a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read our full disclosure here .

Related Posts

An enchanting week away in the stunning Scottish Highlands

8 unique things to do in Wales, UK (#2 is my favorite!)

10 outstanding places to visit in England (outside of London!)

Article comments.

Hello! Driving in Wales– Great tips/ itinerary. It’ll be my first time ever in Europe… Can I get an automatic ? I don’t drive stick shift. How’s the weather in July?

Hi Imelda! Wales is absolutely divine in July. Beautiful weather and views! Great for hiking, too. Regarding the car, you can certainly get an automatic! That shouldn’t be a problem if you are renting a car from a well-known rental car brand. Safe travels!

Keryn Dilley

Hi Sophie, My husband and I are travelling to UK in May-June. I have allocated 7 days to Wales. I was thinking 3n in South and 4n up north. However just wanted 1 stopover in both places. Where would you recommend a central spot for South ( to visit Cardiff to St David’s and everywhere in between? Maybe Gower Peninsula? Same for up North. Somewhere accessible to Snowdonia NP and Conwy/Llangollen? Thanks Keryn

Hi Keryn! I would recommend staying in Tenby when down south and Betws-y-Coed or Beddgelert when up north! Tenby is a gorgeous seaside town situated between Cardiff and St. Davids, while Betws-y-Coed and Beddgelert are picturesque Welsh villages located smack dab in the middle of Snowdonia. They also have great access to the coast and Anglesey, which are beautiful! Hope you have an amazing trip! Safe travels.

Does this itinerary seem too aggressive? When I look at a map with my untrained eye, it seems doable, but I have a feeling this might be way too much in too few days.

Day 1- Caerphilly Castle, Swansea, Rhossili Beach, Pembrokeshire Coast (Barafundle Bay, St Govan’s Chapel, Church Rock, Green Bridge,Abereiddy Lagoon Day 2-Preseli Hills, Pentre Ifan Stones, Carreg Cennen Castle, Pen y Fan hike Day 3- Drive up to Portmeirion, Watkin Path, Caernarfon Castle, Llandudno, Conwy Day 4-Traeth Llandowyn Beach, Anglesey Isle, Pistyll Falls, Snowdon Mtn. Railway

Hi Michelle! That’s a pretty hefty itinerary that I think would be too much, especially since the roads in Wales are quite small and it takes longer than you may think to get from one place to the other!

Here are my modification recommendations:

Tips: switch around your destinations, skip Swansea, Rhossili Beach, Llandudno and Pistyll Rhaeder, and include Aber Falls.

Day 1 – Caerphilly Castle (right when it opens), Brecon Beacons (Pen y Fan — 2-3 hour hike) and Carreg Cennen Castle (make sure you can get here before closing). Drive towards Pembrokeshire in the evening and stay near Tenby.

Day 2 – Pembrokeshire coast (Barafundle Bay, St Govan’s Chapel, Church Rock, Green Bridge, Abereiddy Lagoon), Preseli Hills, and Pentre Ifan Stones. Stay near Aberystwyth, which would result in a shorter drive to Portmeirion the next day.

Day 3 – Portmeirion (9:30 AM – opening time) and Watkin Path (if you’re going on this hike in the summer, it’s great for swimming! I’d spend as much time as you can on this hike — like 3-4 hours). Drive to Caernarfon via Pen-y-Pass and stay in Caernarfon.

Day 4 – Caernarfon Castle (10 AM – opening time), Anglesey (Traeth Llandowyn Beach — about a 2 hour walk to the lighthouse and back), Aber Falls, Conwy

Oh wow, this is incredibly helpful! Thank you so much!!

Hi Sophie, My husband and I are going to visit London, train to Wales, then train to Edinburgh. Just two nights in each! It’s a lot but I want to make sure we get the very best of Wales. I was thinking Snowdonia (but we will not have a car!) I’d love any tips or suggestions you have on getting around easiest. We’re up for the adventure but don’t want to get frustrated. Thank you so much!

Hi Natalie! If I only had two days to spend in Wales, I would actually take the train from London to Manchester, as this is an easy city to get a direct train from to Edinburgh (rather than taking a train to Cardiff or another city in Wales that is kind of out of the way of London to Edinburgh).

From Manchester, there are some really great tours that show you the best of North Wales, particularly this one, which takes you to the lovely destinations of Llandudno, Conwy (great castle!), Betws-y-Coed and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct (SO cool): https://www.getyourguide.com/manchester-l1128/from-manchester-full-day-north-wales-adventure-t269702/?partner_id=L10HEI3&utm_medium=online_publisher (aff link)

Wales is kind of a hard country to see without a car so I’d definitely recommend a tour instead! Manchester is also a great city for delicious food, architecture and nightlife.

Hope that helps!

Leave a Comment Cancel Comment

Sign me up for The Wanderful Me newsletter!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

The Perfect 2-Week Wales Itinerary

• Pinterest 77

Home to glorious mountain peaks, crumbling medieval castles, and a history stretching back millennia, even fitting the highlights into a 14-day Wales itinerary is a challenge. It’s a challenge we’ve welcomed with relish, though, as we plan the best 2-week trip to Wales, complete with national museums, national parks, UNESCO World Heritage sites, plenty of pub lunches, and perhaps even a rugby game!

Your journey begins in Cardiff, the buzzing capital of the Welsh nation (yes, Wales is a country, and don’t tell the locals otherwise!), where you can visit the first of hundreds of castles that dot the landscapes. Learn about Welsh national ambitions at the Senedd (the Welsh Parliament) before venturing along the shores of the Bristol Channel to enjoy the rugged embrace of the Gower Peninsula.

You’ll visit St. David’s, the UK’s smallest city, hear the singsong tones of Welsh in Gwynedd, and hike (or take the train!) to the summit of Snowdon (or Yr Wyddfa , in Welsh) in the north, the highest mountain in Wales. You’ll uncover a history of conquest and rivalry in the Welsh borderlands, cruise along the most spectacular canal in the UK, and finally, arrive full circle back in south Wales, ready to do it all over again. 

With so much to see, you’ll need to plan your Wales itinerary to a tee, which is why we’ve put together our perfect 2-week Wales itinerary. From Cardiff to Caernarfon, keep reading to find out more!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

Two Weeks in the Country of Wales

When to visit wales.

With long coastlines stretching from the Irish Sea to the Bristol Channel, Wales is well-known for the windy and often rainy weather patterns that storm in from the Atlantic Ocean. Even in the height of summer, you can be hit by unexpected rain showers, so always keep a raincoat packed away, even on a summer’s day!

Given the temperate, yet unpredictable, climate of Wales, there’s no doubt that the best time to visit is in summer. This is especially important if you’re hoping to hike mountain peaks like Snowdon or enjoy a rest day on the beaches of Anglesey. Summer temperatures generally range somewhere between 10°C to 20°C, although, on occasion, temperatures can soar to 30°C if the UK is hit by a heatwave. 

In summer, all the best attractions are open, campsites are in full swing, and the hiking trails are beautiful. However, it can also be spectacularly busy in summer, especially at iconic sights like Snowdon. For that reason, you might also consider planning your 2-week trip to Wales in the shoulder seasons, in either spring or autumn. 

Although temperatures are, on average, much cooler, the unpredictability of the UK’s weather does mean that you could also enjoy summer-like days in the off-season. Outside of the school holidays (July and August being the primary ones), prices are lower, accommodation isn’t going to be fully booked, and the sights are always quieter than in summer. 

The truly brave can take this ethos to the extreme and explore Wales in the winter. From November to March, the country is typically devoid of all but the hardiest tourists. 

You won’t be able to summit Snowdon or hike the Brecon Beacons (unless you’re into mountaineering), but you’ll find the beaches deserted (if windswept) and the castles empty. You can score great winter deals in Wales, but be aware that seasonal businesses will generally be closed until the spring. 

Things to Know Before You Go

For a country with a population of just over 3 million, Wales is a surprisingly complex place to visit. For starters, you may already be asking if Wales is really a country. 

Outsiders all too often lump Wales together with England, but the Welsh are, in fact, a people older than the English. You’ll discover this (as well as Welsh legends of old, like King Arthur!) when you visit the many castles and museums around the country. 

The castles are the legacy of endless wars with England during the medieval era, which resulted in Wales effectively being conquered by the English. To this day, the Welsh are quite rightly unhappy about that, and so it pays to brush up on your history before you travel here. The Welsh language, and a Welsh culture distinct from England, has persevered over the years, though, and Welsh is even rebounding to a level it hasn’t seen in centuries. 

Of course, English is spoken all over Wales. But all signage is bilingual in English and Welsh. You’ll find many communities where Welsh is the first language, and in large parts of the north, Welsh is the dominant language – so why not try and pick up a few words along the way?

Wales is part of the United Kingdom, and although it has a devolved parliament in Cardiff (the Senedd), you don’t need to worry about showing your passport when you cross the border from England! You will need to make sure you meet the requirements for entry into the United Kingdom, though. 

For passport holders from the EU, the US, and countries like Australia and New Zealand, this is easy enough. You’re typically allowed short stays for tourism purposes visa-free. Other nations may need to secure a visa before travel. 

Wales uses the Pound Sterling as its currency, and you’ll find ATMs are widespread. Increasingly, businesses in the UK are becoming cash-free, so make sure you have a card that can be accepted internationally. In rural areas, you may find cash is still king, certainly if there’s no signal for a card reader to work!

Getting Around Wales

Domestically, Wales is well connected to the rest of the United Kingdom by bus, train, and domestic flights. Internationally, it’s not quite so well connected.

The country’s primary international airport is Cardiff. However, it’s a small airport that largely has links with budget airlines to a select few European destinations and other UK cities. You may also find flights arriving and departing from Bristol Airport, over the border in England, are just as convenient, while in the north, Liverpool’s airport is often easier than Cardiff. 

If you’re flying long haul, your best choice will be a London airport, however. From London, it’s around 2 hours on the train to Cardiff or 3.5 hours on the bus. From Bristol, it’s around 1 hour by train or bus to Cardiff. From Holyhead in Anglesey, you can also hop on ferries across the Irish Sea to Dublin. 

The Welsh coastlines in the south and north are well connected by rail, as are the borderlands. However, everything in between is less so, as there’s no north-south rail line in Wales. This means that away from Cardiff, you’ll need to use local buses to get around, which can often be tricky. 

Given the remote nature of some of our destinations, like the Gower Peninsula, for example, we recommend renting a car if you can and road-tripping our Wales itinerary – it will be much more fun than hanging around for the one bus of the day!

Wales Itinerary: 2 Weeks to Explore the Highlights of the Country

Cardiff – 2 nights.

Overlooking the Bristol Channel in southern Wales, your epic journey begins in Cardiff, the nation’s independent-minded capital. 

Cardiff Bay

Although it’s home to around 10% of the Welsh population, Cardiff is a surprisingly walkable city. You can explore much of the city center on foot, hopping from one museum to the next (join a guided walking tour to learn more about the city) before strolling down to the revitalized docks for views over Cardiff Bay (and perhaps a cruise, if you’d love to see Cardiff from the water).

Museums and Galleries

Learn more about Welsh history at the National Museum Cardiff , where you can delve back in time to an age before humans had even moved into the Welsh valleys. Walk through centuries of Welsh history and culture at St. Fagans National Museum of History , where you can explore 40 historic buildings, including Iron Age roundhouses, traditional Welsh farmhouses, and old post offices.

Cardiff Castle

Cardiff Castle , with its imposing keep and grand grounds, is a must-visit, although, in a country with some 600 castles, it’s the first of many you’ll see. 

If you’re fascinated by the idea of Welsh nationhood, a tour of the Senedd is one of the best things to do in Cardiff. If politics isn’t your cup of tea, then head to Cardiff Market instead, where you can have your first taste of local delicacies like Welsh cakes or Welsh rarebit. 

Centers and Stadium

Cardiff has a buzzing nightlife, and you can find countless pubs and bars for the evenings. For something a little more cultural, see what’s on at the Millennium Centre , or try and book tickets for a rugby game – the national sport – at the Principality Stadium .

Swansea and the Gower Peninsula – 2 Nights

After 2 nights in Cardiff, your 14-day Wales itinerary truly begins as you head west to Swansea. This is the second-largest city in Wales, but it’s often overlooked, given its location by the spectacularly beautiful Gower Peninsula, which is just a short drive away.

We recommend the best of both worlds, using Swansea as your base to explore the Gower Peninsula, which was the first place in the United Kingdom to ever be protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Maritime Quarter

But first, Swansea, a surprising coastal city that’s home to the ruins of (you guessed it!) a 12th-century medieval castle. Head down to the Maritime Quarter, where you can visit the Swansea Museum before delving into Wales’ industrial past at the National Waterfront Museum and getting cultural at the Dylan Thomas Centre .

From the Maritime Quarter, you have around 5 miles of the waterfront to explore, with the marina, a long promenade, and even a lido (save that for summer!) stretching along the coast of Swansea Bay. If you’re up for a longer walk, you can make it all the way to the Mumbles, where you’ll find a charming seafront village with an old Victorian pier extending outwards into the bay. 

The Gower Peninsula

The next day, you’re off to the Gower Peninsula. If you’re driving, you can take it slow and stop off in the hidden bays and secluded beaches that ring the peninsula (you can also join day tours from Swansea). 

You can’t miss Rhossili Bay Beach, where a long stretch of golden sand extends along the coastline. Worm’s Head, Oxwich Bay Beach, and Three Cliffs Bay are all equally spectacular, and we guarantee you won’t want to pack up and move on from the Gower!

St. David’s and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park – 2 Nights

But move on you must, and we hate to say it, but you’ll soon have forgotten all about the Gower Peninsula when you reach the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park to the west. 

You can base yourself in colorful seaside towns like Tenby or Milford Haven, and you can’t miss a trip to St. David’s, the home of Welsh Christianity (St. David is the patron saint of Wales) and the smallest city in the United Kingdom (population: 1,600) even if it’s just for a few hours (which admittedly, is longer than you need!). 

Skomer and Caldey Island

You’re really here for nature, though, and when it’s puffin season, you’ll want to catch a boat straight over to Skomer Island for the day. Puffin season is between April and July, and the island – where the birds flock to nest – is literally swarming with these little flying critters. If it’s not the right season, catch a boat over to Caldey Island instead, where a small community of Cistercian monks eke out a remote living on a holy island.

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park covers a vast area of some 240 square miles and is a real playground for outdoor enthusiasts. You can join tours along the rocky cliffs, learn how to forage with an expert on the windswept headlands, or just find a secluded beach and set up camp for a day doing nothing at all.  

Caernarfon and Snowdonia – 3 or 4 Nights

Now, it’s time to head north. There’s lots to do in North Wales and you can pick and choose your activities as per your interests and your level of fitness. 

North Wales is where the Welsh language is most prolifically spoken, where Welsh nationalism is strong, and conversely, where the English monarchs also built the largest castles. We recommend basing yourself in Caernarfon, an old market town overlooking the Menai Straits where King Edward I built the largest and most technologically advanced castle of the day. 

Caernarfon Castle still dominates the town, and it’s where the Prince of Wales – the next in line to the throne – is invested with their title (Prince William is the current Prince of Wales). With Caernarfon as your base, you’re perfectly located to explore the best sights in North Wales. Cross over the epic Menai Straits Suspension Bridge and you can visit Beaumaris Castle , walk coastal paths, and discover hidden beaches along the coastline of Anglesey, the largest island in Wales.

National Slate Museum

Inland, you’re just miles from Wales’ newest UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales is a dark, brooding, yet dramatic region of manmade quarries and mining communities that tell the tale of the region’s industrial past. Visit the National Slate Museum at Llanberis to learn more, or head to Penrhyn Quarry to see how Welsh workers shaped the mountains forever more. 

Ride the Welsh Highland Railway from Caernarfon to the coastal town of Porthmadog, and you’ll be awed by the elevated scenery on this 25-mile-long scenic journey. Change lines in Porthmadog, and you can continue deeper into the highlands on the 13-mile-long Ffestiniog Railway .

And we’ve saved the best until last. You can’t visit Wales without summiting Snowdon (or Yr Wyddfa ), which, at 1,085 meters tall, is the highest mountain in the UK outside of the Scottish Highlands (and the highest mountain in Wales, of course). If you’re feeling fit, you can hike to the summit in around 6 to 8 hours. You’ll welcome the sight of the cafe after the long slog to the top, which is rather conveniently placed by the summit!

If you’re feeling lazy, you can take the equally convenient Snowdon Mountain Railway , which goes right to the summit. Just sit back and enjoy the scenery passing by outside the carriage, then enjoy leisurely views over Snowdon National Park from the top of the mountain.

Wrexham and the Llangollen Canal – 2 Nights 

From North Wales, it’s time to head east toward the border with England. The next stop on your Wales itinerary is Wrexham, a quirky destination that’s fast becoming a Hollywood hangout.

A.F.C Wrexham

Until very recently, Wrexham was a little-known border town with an industrial past and a struggling football team. Then Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney swooped in out of nowhere, buying A.F.C Wrexham, one of the oldest football teams in the UK, and bringing the town to Hollywood stardom with a dedicated Disney show about the endeavor. 

The pair worked their magic, and now Wrexham is hitting the big time. The town was even granted city status in 2022 to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, meaning you’ll be visiting the newest city in Wales. 

When the football season is on, you’ll want to catch a game at A.F.C. Wrexham. But visit any time of year, and the new city is a refreshing change from other tourist destinations in Wales. Visit the local market, the  Wrexham Museum , the church, and the nearby  Erddig National Trust  property to learn more about Wrexham.

From Wrexham, it’s an easy drive to Llangollen, a lovely town on the edge of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Above Llangollen sits the ruins of Castell Dinas Bran, a castle that once belonged to the Welsh princes of old.

The town is a short stroll from the Llangollen Canal, which runs for some 46 miles through Wales and England. This section of the canal is best known for the startlingly dramatic Pontcysyllte Aqueduct , which crosses the River Dee at a height of some 38 meters. Take a cruise along the canal for spectacular views, but only if you can handle heights. 

Hay-on-Wye and the Brecon Beacons – 2 Nights

Now you’re traveling south through the borderlands as your 2-week trip to Wales draws to a triumphal close. If you’re driving, you’ll love the winding roads that weave in and out of England. Heading south, you can stop on either side of the border, exploring the Wye Valley or visiting famous cities like Hereford or Gloucester. 

Don’t tarry too long, though, because your next destination is Hay-on-Wye, an eccentric town that sits right on the border between England and Wales. A unique Norman castle looks over the town, and inside, you can find out all about Richard Booth, an eccentric secondhand bookseller who once declared himself King of Hay-on-Wye in the 1970s.

Booth brought books to this sleepy little Welsh town, and many years after his death, Hay-on-Wye became home to the largest number of secondhand bookshops in the UK. The town also plays host to the annual Hay Festival, which celebrates literature and writing. 

The town sits on the banks of the River Wye, while the Black Mountains loom large over Hay-on-Wye. There are countless hiking trails leading from Hay-on-Wye, but we recommend venturing a little further afield if you’ve still got the energy.

Brecon Beacons National Park

Just a half-hour drive from Hay-on-Wye is the Brecon Beacons National Park (which recently reverted to its Welsh name: Bannau Brycheiniog), one of the most epic places to visit in Wales.  

Home to the highest mountains in the UK south of Snowdonia, this truly is an epic place to end your Wales itinerary.

At 886 meters high, the crowning peak is Pen y Fan, which has a steep but relatively short 4-mile circular trail from the Pont ar Daf car park. You can literally celebrate the end of your journey on top of a mountain!

There you have it! That’s our perfect 2-week Wales itinerary. Where will you be traveling on your 2-week trip to Wales?

Share this on pinterest.

About the Author:

Richard is an award-winning travel writer based in Southwest England who’s addicted to traveling off the beaten track. He’s traveled to 75 countries and counting in search of intriguing stories, unusual destinations, and cultural curiosities. Richard loves traveling the long way round over land and sea, and you’ll find him visiting quirky micronations and breakaway territories as often as he’s found lounging on a beach (which is a lot). When he’s not writing for BBC Travel, National Geographic, or Lonely Planet, you can find Richard writing for the Wandering Wheatleys or updating his off-beat travel blog, Travel Tramp.

View all posts

Related Posts

The 10 Best Boutique Hotels in Sardinia, Italy

The 10 Best Luxury Hotels Near Covent Garden in London

The 14 Best Spanish Tapas you Have to Try in Spain

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Wales Travel Guide

Your ultimate wales travel guide, with tips, ideas on things to do, and best things to see in wales. great for first-time and returning travelers..

Wales is a Celtic country in the United Kingdom. Known for its friendly locals, rugged coastlines, beaches, castles, and national parks, this is a great place to see something different.

Committed to preserving its history, Wales has a number of fascinating medieval castles waiting to be explored.

Add in natural wonders like caves, flower gardens, waterfalls, mountains, and lakes, and it makes a perfect trip for fans of the outdoors. There are many things to do and see here.

This Wales travel guide will help you plan your next vacation.

Popular City Guides

• Top places to visit in Wales

Our Highlight

Table of contents

Table of Contents

Fast Facts about Wales

• Power:  Power voltage is 230V at 50 Hz.
• Currency:  The official currency is the Pound Sterling and 1 Pound Sterling is equal to 1.22 USD.
• Getting Around:  The best way to get around is by car. You check for  great prices here.
• Entry Requirements:  You do not need a visa to enter, just a U.S. passport valid for 6 months after your departure date.
• Sim Cards:  02, Vodafone, Three, and EE are the main mobile providers and a SIM card can be purchased through any of them by visiting their official stores or local supermarkets and kiosks.
• Tax:  The sales tax rate is 5.1%.

Things to See and Do in Wales

• Coasteering in Wales:  It’s a thrilling adventure of a lifetime! Imagine jumping off cliffs into the freezing Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the UK while being slugged in the face with crashing waves. 
• Bounce Below : Wales has an amazing adventure infrastructure with a lot of adventure activities like zip lining
• Steam Train or Hike up Mt Snowden: Take the historic steam train up to the summit or enjoy a 3 hour hike to the peak. It’s the highest point in all of Wales and offers incredible views of Snowdonia.
• Top places to visit in Wales:  Get your adventure on, we’re rounding up the top places to visit in Wales that will make you want to pack your bags right now. 

Wales Travel Guides

• Bounce Below – The Ultimate Underground Trampoline for the Kid in You!
• Coasteering in Wales – It’s Not as Scary as you Think
• Top places to visit in Wales That Will Make You Want to Pack Your Bags Now

Accommodation

Budget:  You can find a number of budget hotels and B&Bs for 15- 50 pounds per night. Enjoy private rooms, free breakfast, en-suite bathrooms, and Wi-Fi, and central locations. Many of these hotels come in 17 th -century-style buildings, adding extra charm to the place.

Mid-Range:  For mid-range hotels, expect to pay between 65-110 pounds per night. Amenities include sea views, free breakfast, hotel restaurant and pub, and free Wi-Fi.

High-End:  Upscale hotels will range from 120-230 pounds per night. Take in the best with polished rooms and suites featuring HD TVs and espresso makers, spa services, fine dining, and prime locations.

Popular staples in Welsh cuisine include lamb, cabbage, leaks, mutton, potatoes, and fish. Bacon, eggs, laverbread, and cockle is a typical breakfast here.

Cawl (meat broth, typically lamb or beef) is the national dish. Vegetarians can look for the Glamorgan sausage, which contains no meat.

While you can find street vendors throughout Wales, many feature more international cuisines instead of Welsh food.

To sample more of Welsh cuisine, head over to a local café, pub, or restaurant. In total, expect to pay around 15-20 pounds per meal, depending on where you go. 

The Best Ways to Get Around Wales

Getting to wales:.

Getting to Wales:  The Cardiff Airport is the main airport in Wales and is 12.5 miles from the city center.

Flights:  You can check for the best flights to Wales on  Skyscanner .

Transportation:

Train:  Trains are a fast way to get around, especially between larger cities. Take a train from Cardiff to Swansea, for example, in about an hour and pay just 5-7 pounds.

Note that tickets get cheaper the further you book in advance.

Buses : Buses are a good way to get around, either for shorter trips or between cities. You can find a variety of buses that run frequently, though many routes take Sundays off.

The best way to get a bus is to wave it down and pay when you board. A typical fare is 3 pounds.

Taxis:   Taxis are an alternative way to get around. In larger areas like Cardiff, the taxi fare starts at 2.5 pounds and increases 1.12 to 2.75 pounds per kilometer.

A typical fare from the airport to the city center, for example, will cost around 30-45 pounds.

Car Rental:   To rent a car, you must be at least 21 years old and have a U.S. license, though purchasing an International Driver’s License is recommended.

Prices for car rentals average around 30 pounds per day.

Check for the best prices on rental cars here.

Uber:  Ubers are an alternative option and can be found especially in major cities.

When to go To Wales

March through May is considered the best time to visit Wales.

During this period, flowers are blooming, the weather is warm, and you can find many festivals to attend.

This is also an excellent time to find lower prices on hotels. A popular period to visit is between June and August, as exotic flowers and rare birds can be seen, and the weather is at its hottest (around 60 degrees Fahrenheit). 

Where to Stay in Wales

Park Plaza Cardiff : A favorite among travels is this four-star hotel located right in the center of Cardiff. Enjoy numerous amenities, including air-conditioned rooms and suites with minibars and flat screen TVs, a restaurant with a special diet menu, a nightclub, spa services, a fitness center, a heated pool, and express check-in and check-out. When you’re ready to explore, Cardiff’s many attractions are just minutes away.

Towers Hotel & Spa: Stay inside this beautiful Victorian tower hotel in Swansea. Enjoy views of the Swansea Bay from your room while taking in the hotel’s other amenities, including a pool and hot tub, spa, complimentary breakfast, room service, a fitness center, and the hotel’s restaurant. Swansea Bay, Swansea city center, and the National Waterfront Museum are all just a short trip away.

The Priory Hotel & Restaurant: When in Newport, stay at this unique hotel that was once a 12 th -century Monastery. Located in the historic town of Caerleon, the Priory is a great relaxing getaway.

Check out our favorite booking platforms  Booking.com ,  Tripadvisor  and  Air B&B  for the best deals on accommodation in Ireland.

What to Pack for Wales

July and August are peak season in Wales and accommodation will have to be booked well in advance.

Shoulder season” (May, early June, September, and early October) is a more preferable time to travel.

Crowds are smaller and the weather is pleasant. Just note that it can get cool in the mountains so dress appropriately.

• Raincoat:  Make sure to pack a raincoat so you can be prepared for rainy days.
• Walking/Hiking Boots:  Bringing a pair of sturdy boots will keep you dry and comfortable as you explore Wales.
• Power Adapter:  As the voltage is higher than the US, bring an adapter to make sure you can charge your electronics properly
• See our Packing for Europe – Tips That Will Make Your Travel Life Easier

See our packing tips:  packing list for smart travel.

Wales Travel Guide: Best Booking Resources

Whenever we travel to we make sure to start with these companies. We have tried a lot of different ones over the years and all of these have consistently proven to be the best when it comes to offering great prices.

We have used every one of these personally and continue to do so.

• Booking.com : This is our go site to when comparing prices for accommodation. It usually has the cheapest prices, especially in Europe and we love their interface. Not to mention you get free cancellation and you are guaranteed the best price.
• Trip Advisor :  What we like about Trip Advisor is that we can look at all the reviews and then book our accommodation. TripAdvisor is where we go when we want to compare prices with multiple accommodation providers.
• VRBO : is the main search engine we use when we are looking for a home or apartment rental. It can sometimes be cheaper than hotels and it is the best way to stay in areas that offer a more local feel.
• Hostelworld :  With one of the largest databases of hostels in the world, Hostelworld is the go-to site when you are looking for budget accommodation.
• Skyscanner : This is the first place we check for flights. It consistently comes back with the cheapest and best options. It allows us to compare a lot of airlines to get the best price.
• Rome 2 Rio :  If you want to see how to get somewhere by plane, train, bus, ferry or car Rome2Rio lays it all out for you as well as related costs.I love how they show it all to you on a Google Map and it works offline.
• Get Your Guide:  For all your day trip and city guide needs, we use Get Your Guide. It has the world’s largest collection of things to do with more than 30,000 activities in 7500 destinations.
• World Nomads Insurance:  When traveling to Italy you should always have travel insurance. We have found the best bang for your buck is by far World Nomads.

Wales Travel Guide: Related Articles

28 of the Best Places to Visit in Wales in 2024

Bounce Below – The Ultimate Underground Trampoline for the Kid in You!

What to Expect when Coasteering in Wales

Wales travel guide

Croeso, welcome to wales.

Why Visit Wales | Best Places to Visit | Best Time to Visit Wales | How to Get to Wales | Best Road Trips | Blog | FAQ

Welcome to our Wales Travel Guide, your ultimate resource for exploring one of the most beautiful and unique countries in the world.

As a born and raised Welshman and a former art director for Visit Wales, the national tourism body, I have over 30 years of experience and insider knowledge to share with you.

Wales is a small but magnificent country located in the west of Great Britain, which punches way above its weight with its stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage.

Its natural beauty ranges from the rugged peaks of Snowdonia, where the first team to conquer Everest learned much of their craft, to the softer ridges and escarpments of the Brecon Beacons. Much of the rural heart of the country serves as sheep pasture, the vivid green grass the perfect food for them.

We strongly suggest trying to see some of the coastline of Wales, from the glorious wide beaches of Gower, the Llyn Peninsula and Anglsey to some of the smaller sandy coves you find in Pembrokeshire. Among these 870 miles of coast you’ll find some of the best beaches in Europe, with the added bonus of having them largely to yourself even in the summer months. Wales also has some of the most beautiful seaside towns in the UK, with tenby and New Quay deserving a special mention.

Wales is also rich in heritage, with the Welsh language one of the oldest in Europe. You’ll find plenty of evidence of its ancient past with tombs 5,000 years old, and in the Middle Ages it was fought over ferociously, leaving a legacy of some of the finest medieval castles in Europe.

This guide includes all of our related travel posts about Wales, detailed itineraries, scenic road trips, the best places to visit, what not to miss, and the best places to stay. We also provide lots of practical tips, resources, photography, and inspiration to help you plan your perfect Welsh adventure.

Best places to visit in Wales

Snowdon in the Snowdonia National Park is one of the most popular mountains in the UK to climb.  You can also get to the summit by the popular Snowdon Mountain Railway where you will be greeted with magnificent views. One of the best days out in Wales.

Snowdonia National Park

Snowdonia is one of the best National Parks in the UK and is best explored on a road trip and on foot.  This extraordinary place has some of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe, from Alpine peaks to green valleys, and moorlands to amazing beaches.

• Snowdonia Road Trip – 4 great itineraries
• Best views in Snowdonia
• Best things to do in Betws-y-Coed
• Best things to do in Barmouth
• Welsh Slate Landscape
• Best things to do in Harlech
• Best castles in North Wales
• Most beautiful lakes in North Wales
• Best beaches in North Wales
• Best things to do in Blaenau Ffestiniog

Exquisite little seaside town on the South Pembrokeshire coast. Pastel-coloured Georgian townhouses cluster around it’s gorgeousharbour. Don’t miss the four glourious sandy beaches. Also check out some of the great boat trips, either to Caldey Island or seal watching

• Tenby Beaches
• Best things to do in Tenby
• Pembrokeshire Road Trip

Welsh Islands

• Pembrokeshire castles
• Best castles in South Wales

Llanddwyn Island

Staggeringly beautiful corner of Wales.  It’s a remote small tidal island off the south-west corner of Anglesey, named after the Welsh patron saint of lovers. Walk out to the edge of the island for astonishing views of the mainland.

How to visit magical LLanddwyn Island

The largest island in Wales has some of the best beaches in the country, and some of the best walks on the Wales Coast Path. Check out the cliffs around South Stack lighthouse, and the rugged north coast of Anglesey, from which you can sometimes see the Isle of Man.

• Best Anglesey beaches and coastal spots
• Best walks on Anglesey
• Best things to do on Anglesey
• 7 Captivating Lighthouses on Anglesey
• 22 incredible landscapes in Wales

Rhossili Bay

Repeatedly voted as one of the best beaches in the world, I’ve loved this beach since I was 9 years old. Three miles of glorious sand, spectacular sunsets, clifftop pub and home to some of the most exhilarating coastal walks in the UK.

A guide to Rhossili Bay Beach

Caernarfon Castle

Recognised around the world as one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages, and one of the most famous landmarks in Wales. It has a magnificent setting on an estuary at the end of the Menai Strait which separates the mainland from Anglesey.  Along with Conwy, Beaumaris and Harlech, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

The coastline of Wales’ westernmost county is the only coastal National Park in the UK. The National Geographic has named it one of the best coastal regions in the world. It has everything you could wish for, with superb sandy beaches, incredible coastal scenery and walking, and a touch of ancient Celtic mystique, especially in the less-explored northern half of the county.

St Fagans an amazing historic open-air museum located close to Cardiff tells the story of Wales and Welsh life through the ages. Located in glorious countryside.  It regularly tops the best places to visit in Wales list and it is free.

Take a road trip

The best way to discover Wales is by road trip and Wales has some of the best in Britain. Pembrokeshire, Llŷn Peninsula, Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons are all great places to explore by car.

Conwy and Conwy Castle

Conwy Castle is perhaps the most impressive of all the 600+ Welsh Castles, its eight towers guarding this prime site near the estuary of the river Conwy. Its circuit of town walls is also hugely impressive. Conwy is possibly the best town in the country to visit, with the amazing Plas Mawr 16th century townhouse and the Smallest House in Great Britain to detain you further. Spend an hour or two on the Quay at the end of the day, enjoying a drink by the river with an unforgettable view of the Castle.

Gower Peninsula

One of the most beautiful regions of Wales, the Gower coast packed with majestic cliffs, heathland and saltmarsh with ancient burial chambers, medieval churches and castles to entice you.  One of the most popular Wales holiday destinations for decades. Most visitors are drawn there by the varied multitude of Gower beaches , including sublime Rhossili Bay and Three Cliffs Bay . Some wonderful Gower walks. Unmissable.

• 19 Amazing Gower beaches
• Best walks on the Gower Peninsula
• Best things to see and do on the Gower Peninsula
• A guide to Rhossili Beach
• A guide to Three Cliffs Bay

Pen y Fan and the Brecon Beacons

A wild and wonderful National Park in South Wales, with three distinct mountain ranges and an exceptional series of waterfalls . The Beacons are a series of sandstone ridges stretching from the Valleys to the south, culminating in the highest mountain in southern Britain, Pen y Fan, at 886 metres. You’ll also find some amazing castles, remote churches, a UNESCO Geopark and a Dark Sky Reserve there.

Llŷn Peninsula

The Llŷn is the finger of land pointing westwards into the Irish Sea from Snowdonia.  I’ve always thought this area is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe, a mixture of mountains, rocky coastline and some of the best beaches in North Wales , and further afield.  And perhaps one of the best located pubs in Britain on the beach at Porth Dinllaen.

Cambrian Mountains

Off the beaten path Wales, if you like a place to yourself this is a stunning area to explore. The Cambrian Mountains are the Green Desert of Wales, a vast sparsely-inhabited uplands where you could wander all day without seeing a soul. The Elan Valley lakes and dams are about as busy as it gets, and the Glyndwr’s Way is one of the most underrated National Trails in the UK.

Small, culture packed town in North East Wales, surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in Wales.  It is home to a romantic ruined medieval castle, a heritage steam train, the long-distance Offa’s Dyke Path, and the World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is close by. It has hosted an International Musical Eisteddfod since the 1940’s.

Three Cliffs Bay

One of the most beautiful beaches in the British Isles, in a spectacular estuary setting surrounded by dunes, with salt marsh, a 12th century castle ruin and the famous three limestone cliffs, beloved of rock climbers. Limited access – it’s a mile-long walk to the beach – means this slice of Arcadia is never crowded.

Powis Castle

Powis Castle is a rarity in Wales, a medieval castle that is still intact. It is one of the finest stately homes in Wales, housed in the mighty red brick Castle dating back to the 12th century. Powis Castle Garden is stunning, and perhaps best-known for its enormous 300-year-old yew tree hedges.

Bardsey Island

Captivating scenery and wildlife off the coast of North Wales shrouded in myth and legend. Reputedly the burial place of 20,000 saints, it has been a popular pilgrimage destination for a thousand years. You can visit on a day trip by boat or stay overnight. 

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Grade 1 , amazing industrial heritage, being eye wateringly high it has fantastic views, can cross by foot or boat. towering 125ft (38m) above the River Dee, this spectacular World Heritage Site is the highest canal aqueduct ever built and can be traversed on foot, by narrowboat or even kayak. 

Blaenau Ffestiniog

This dramatically situated slate quarrying town is surrounded by the Moelwyn mountains and vast heaps of slate spoil. It is said that North Wales roofed the world, and this town is now a major part of the fascinating Slate Landscape of North West Wales World Heritage Site. Over the last decade or so it has also become one of the adventure capitals of Wales and the UK, with thrilling zip wire rides, precipitous mountain bike descents and more.

Delightful small seaside town on the west coast of Wales.  Incredibly picturesque, with its terraces of brightly painted houses stretching along the hills above the beaches, and three gorgeous sandy beaches that command wonderful views up the Mid Wales coast. The coastline near New Quay is also the best place in Wales to spot dolphins.

20 Best things to do in New Quay Wales

Historic Miniature Steam Railways

Wales is home to some of the most famous little railways in the world.  Taking a nostalgic trip on one of these narrow gauge and miniature steam trains is a glorious way to experience the magnificent landscapes of Wales.  The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways and Snowdon Mountain Railway are among the highlights of North Wales. And if you’re exploring Mid Wales, check out at least one of the Vale of Rheidol Railway, Talyllyn Railway and Fairbourne Miniature Railway.

Cardiff is the capital of Wales, and by far its largest and most cosmopolitan city. It grew from a small town in the 19th century to become the biggest coal port in the world, and signs of its wealth remain including its Victorian Gothic Castle and its elegant Edwardian shopping arcades in the city centre. Also check out the National Museum, which has one of the best collections of Impressionist paintings outside France.

• 33 Best day trips from Cardiff
• Famous landmarks in Cardiff

Best Road Trips in Wales

To truly experience the best of Wales, a road trip is a must. The country’s breathtaking scenery is best explored on four wheels. Here are my top picks for the best road trips to take in Wales.

Abergwesyn Pass

Bwlch y Groes

Llanberis Pass

Elan Valley and Cwmystwyth

Nebo Road above Betws y Coed

A5 Llangollen to Anglesey

How to get to Wales

The best way to reach Wales is by train or bus or road. Flights to Wales are few and far between. The main airport is Cardiff but there are only a limited number of flights from elsewhere in Europe. Most people flying to Wales from outside Europe will fly into one of the London airports for South Wales or Manchester for North Wales. If you are flying within Europe Bristol offers the largest number of flights. Liverpool and Manchester offer the most choice for North Wales.

Explore Wales

Discover all the best things to do in Wales with our latest travel guides

14 Stunning Brecon Beacons Mountains To Discover

28 Best places to visit in the Cambrian Mountains

• Art & Culture

35 Interesting and fun facts about Wales

• Inspiration

Staycation Wales: 20 Top places to visit in Wales in 2024

• Towns & Villages

32 Best things to do in Tenby, Wales

• Beaches , islands , Landscapes

The 30 best things to do in Anglesey Wales

• World Heritage Sites

Welsh Slate Landscape Guide: Wales’ 4th UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Beaches , Landscapes

22 Amazing things to do on the Gower Peninsula Wales

• Churches , History

6 Amazing pilgrimages in Wales

8 Best Tenby beaches to visit in Wales

• Beaches , Towns & Villages

20 Best Things to Do in New Quay Wales

• Castles , History

9 Best Welsh Castles To Visit

• Autumn , Landscapes

Wales in Autumn: 6 best places to visit

32 Best beaches in North Wales to explore

11 Best things to do in Portmeirion Wales

20 best things to do in Caernarfon Wales

• Beaches , Churches , Landscapes

15 Best things to do in St David’s Wales

• Things to do , Towns & Villages

14 best things to do in Caerphilly Wales

23 best seaside towns in Wales to explore

12 Amazing Pembrokeshire castles to explore

Visiting Caerphilly Castle: Everything You Need to Know

15 Best Villages in North Wales to visit

21 Best things to do in Aberdovey: A Beautiful seaside town

Visiting Three Cliffs Bay

• Castles , History , World Heritage Sites

The 20 best castles in North Wales to explore

22 best views in Snowdonia National Park and how to find them

• famous landmarks

20 Famous landmarks in Cardiff for your bucket list

Cities in Wales: A guide to the 7 Welsh cities

Wales in winter: Best places to visit and things to do

• Castles , Towns & Villages , World Heritage Sites

11 Best things to do in Conwy Wales

The 22 best things to do in Harlech Wales

20 Most beautiful rivers in Wales

35 best castles in South Wales

22 Incredible landscapes in Wales to explore

14 Best things to do in Barmouth, a wonderful Welsh seaside town

• Beaches , islands

22 Amazing Welsh islands: From Holy islands to wildlife havens

20 Fascinating facts about Snowdonia

How to visit magical Llanddwyn Island (Ynys Llanddwyn)

• Beaches , Landscapes , Photography

A guide to Rhossili Bay: voted one of the best beaches in the world

• day trips , Inspiration

33 Best day trips from Cardiff you can take

30 Wonderful Cardigan Bay beaches to explore

Wales bucket list: 40 amazing things to see & do in Wales

• islands , walks

The 8 best Anglesey walks you can do in North Wales

• Things to do

16 Best things to do in Betws-y-Coed North Wales

58 Famous landmarks In Wales

15 Best castles near Cardiff to visit

18 Most beautiful lakes in Wales

• islands , Landscapes

7 Captivating lighthouses on Anglesey and fun facts

• Towns & Villages , World Heritage Sites

The 17 best things to do in Llangollen, Wales

28 best places to visit in North Wales

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

5 Places in Wales Locals Visit for Gorgeous Hikes, Epic Stargazing, Castles, and Rugby

Here's how to see the very best of this proud Celtic nation.

Rory Fuller/Travel+Leisure

The Welsh love Wales. This proud country of three million people is culturally distinct from the rest of the U.K. and geographically unique. Called Cymru (cum-ree) in the Welsh language, the people of this Celtic nation have a reputation for being passionate about rugby (and football), but most of all about Wales itself.

Surrounded by the Irish Sea to the north and west and bordered by England to the east, Wales is a land of mountains, rolling countryside, and, yes, castles (427 at last count). Living in Wales, I'm always exploring its hidden corners in search of quintessential Welsh experiences and lesser-visited locations. Here's where the Welsh go on their days off.

Llanthony Priory, Brecon Beacons National Park

Rory Fuller

If you're after something genuinely idyllic, you don't have to start too far into Wales. The Welsh Marches that separate Wales and England are some of the most beautiful countrysides in Britain, none more so than Hatterall Ridge in the remote Vale of Ewyas. A wild part of the Black Mountains in the popular Brecon Beacons National Park , Hatterall Ridge is a natural part of the 177-mile-long historic Offa's Dyke Path that connects south and north Wales. It's also its highest point at 2,310 feet, and from Hatterall Ridge, it's possible to see over into Longtown below, in England. However, it's what's behind you that's most captivating. Though mostly in ruins, the 12th-century Llanthony Priory in the Vale of Ewyas is one of Wales' great medieval buildings. Yet within its boundaries is that most British of institutions — a small pub — with a hotel nearby. It's best visited after completing a five-mile circular walk up Hatterall Ridge. Twelve miles north is the famous "book town" of Hay-on-Wye, while 12 miles south is the Michelin-starred Walnut Tree Inn beside another classic short walk, The Skirrid .

Stargazing in the Elan Valley

More of the night sky is protected in Wales than any other nation. The darkest and most visually epic by day is the 45,000-acre Elan Valley, a vast chain of man-made dams, reservoirs, and an aqueduct that's also a certified International Dark Sky Park . It's about 100 years old and looks like it, with an iconic Victorian pump house on Garreg Ddu and a vast wall of water at Caban Coch dam at the entrance. It's best seen by bike, which you can rent, or by car, with the Elan Valley Hotel right by the entrance.

Nearby at Rhayader is Gigrin Farm and its Red Kite Feeding Station, which operates daily at 2 p.m. (from five hides). Tickets to photograph the incredible sight of hundreds of birds of prey swooping down must be booked in advance.

The Standing Stones of Pembrokeshire, West Wales

Stonehenge is for tourists. If you want to go deeper into Britain's mysterious neolithic history — and discover the origins of that iconic English monument — visit Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in West Wales. In addition to 186 miles of incredible clifftop coastal walks, this region contains dozens of bizarre monuments from 5,000 years ago, many of them in spectacular coastline locations.

One of the most dramatic is Carreg Coetan Arthur , a tomb in a boulder field on St. David's Head with spectacular seascape views. Another is Carreg Samson , a short walk from the tiny harbor at Abercastle. However, the most impressive and most famous is Pentre Ifan , a large capstone near Newport. Not far away is Waun Mawn in the Preseli Hills, where the oldest "bluestones" of Stonehenge originally stood.

Beddgelert, Snowdonia National Park

Idyllic mountain scenery is what you get in Beddgelert, a small and perfectly formed stone-built village in the shadow of Snowdon ( Yr Wyddfa in Welsh), the highest mountain in Wales and England at 3,560 feet. From Beddgelert, the region's highlights are within reach, from the stunning glacial lake of Cwm Idwal to Llanberis, where you can hike up the mountain (or cheat and take the Snowdon Mountain Railway ), take a circular walk around Llyn Padarn lake, or visit the lofty Dolbadarn Castle for spectacular views. Then, return to Beddgelert for a pint in its pubs, Prince Llewelyn and Saracens Head Hotel, before camping, glamping, or opting for secluded luxury at Forest Holidays and its woodland chalets complete with hot tubs.

A Rugby Match at Cardiff's Principality Stadium

It's not quite the biggest sports stadium in the U.K., but Cardiff's Principality Stadium is certainly the best. What helps make it a standout for atmosphere is its retractable roof, which is useful on rainy match days and turns the place into a cauldron of excitement. Hearing 74,500 rugby fans belt out Welsh hymns like "Bread of Heaven" and, in particular, the national anthem, "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau," is an experience like no other. Try the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) for tickets or take a stadium tour while you're in Cardiff. The Principality is also one of the few stadiums in Europe to be right in the center of a city. So, on match day, Cardiff — the capital city of Wales — buzzes with people, and the pubs become packed. As a bonus, it's across the road from one of Britain's weirdest fairy-tale castles that gives the capital of the "Land of Castles" a special feel.

Related Articles

The Ultimate Wales Road Trip Itinerary In 2024

Tucked away on the west side of this great British Isle, is the nation of Wales. A small country with a big personality. Wales is a mountainous region, with a rugged coastline and a proud history, making it the ideal destination for an epic road trip.

With three scenic national parks to explore, a road trip in Wales is filled with beautiful landscapes that will have you reaching for your camera around every turn. There are adventure sports for adrenaline junkies and leisurely strolls for the more laid back. There are perfectly placed castles to wonder at and ancient ruins to discover. Wales is also a drivers paradise with lots of windy roads, over far-reaching vistas.

With so much to see in Wales, a road trip around this country is likely to be busy affair, so where do you start? In this guide I provide a 2-week Wales road trip itinerary, which will enable you to see the main highlights of this beautiful country that I call home.

Disclaimer:  Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. This helps cover the cost of running this blog. Thanks for your support!

Wales Road Trip At A Glance

This Wales itinerary starts in South Wales and picks up Cardiff and the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog), before heading west to the Gower Peninsula. Then the route journeys through Pembrokeshire, picking up multiple highlights such as Tenby, St David’s and the Blue Lagoon. Travelling through mid-Wales there is a visit to the Elan Valley before heading northwards to Portmeirion. An exploration of Snowdonia (Eryri) is next on the agenda before venturing out onto Anglesey and finishing with the iconic Conwy Castle.

The itinerary I provide is based on a solo road trip I enjoyed around Wales in my converted campervan, although I have visited many of these places multiple times as day or weekend trips. This itinerary is designed to last two weeks, but if you don’t have two weeks to dedicate to a Welsh road trip, you can break it down into smaller sections.

Despite being a small country, it takes time to travel in Wales. The roads in Wales are often small “A” roads, especially around North Wales, Pembrokeshire and the Brecon Beacons. For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend trying to visit all of Wales in just one week. Instead, focus on one region, for example South Wales or North Wales.

If you aren’t from the UK you will likely arrive in London. From there you can rent a car, jump on the M4 and be in Wales at the first destination in around 3 hours. If starting in Cardiff, tick off all the Cardiff sights first before heading out to Tintern Abbey. From there you can drive directly to the Brecon Beacons.

The Ultimate Wales Road Trip Map

The Best Time Of Year To Visit Wales

Like the rest of the UK, Wales has a generally mild climate. A road trip in Wales can be enjoyed at any time of year as long as you and your vehicle are suitably equipped. Summer is peak season so tourist sites will be busier but the weather is generally warmer, whilst winter is wet but much quieter. Plan your visit according to your wants and needs.

Summer months typically run from June to September and this is when you can expect the driest and warmest months. However, this is certainly not guaranteed and even summer months can be quite wet in patches. This is why Wales is so green after all!

In the winter months from December to March there can be cold periods and snow, although this is usually confined to the mountainous regions, particularly Snowdonia (Eryri). Those with an interest in winter mountaineering would enjoy a road trip to Snowdonia during January and February. However, access to these areas, along the twisty mountain roads will require snow tyres and/or snow chains, particularly for campers and motorhomes.

On our campervan, we have GT maximiler all season tyres which cope with most snowy roads and Michellin material snow chains for when the going gets a little tougher.

Autumn and spring are usually wet months although they are arguably some of the prettiest times to visit Wales. From September to November the trees are drenched in tones of orange and yellow, whilst from April to June the mountains and meadows burst into colour with spring flowers. These are good times to visit Wales for those with an interest in photography.

Tintern Abbey – Day 1

We kick off this road trip itinerary with a visit to Wales’ most famous Abbey. Tintern Abbey is located in the gorgeous Wye Valley and dates back to the 12th century. The Abbey was abandoned under the reign of Henry VIII but found fame as a tourist attraction, thanks in part to poems by William Wordsworth.

Wandering amongst the ruined masterpiece won’t take too much time, so if you want to stretch your legs further you can walk a section of Offas Dyke, which is a walking route that runs the length of the England/Wales border.

With more time you could also visit nearby Chepstow , a historic port town with a fabulous castle nestled on the banks of the River Wye.

Once you’ve finished exploring the beautiful Wye Valley, take the short drive to Cardiff where you can enjoy the city’s vast array of bars and restaurants.

Overnight in Cardiff.

Highlights ↗

Tintern Abbey

The Wye Valley

Accommodation ↗

Hotel Indigo

Cardiff – Day 2

Cardiff is the vibrant capital of Wales and the beating heart of Welsh politics. In the city you can visit the Roman-aged Castle, explore the National Museum Cardiff and wander the Victorian Arcades to discover boutique shops and cafes. A short distance from the city centre you can stroll around Cardiff Bay Barrage which is the largest waterfront in Europe.

If you’re interested in learning about traditional Welsh culture, lifestyle and architecture, be sure to venture outside of the city, to St Fagans National History Museum.

Click here for a complete guide of things to do in South Wales.

Cardiff castle

Cardiff Bay

10 miles (St Fagans)

Accom m odation ↗

Bannau Brycheiniog (The Brecon Beacons) – Day 3

Next up, we pay a visit to the first of three national parks in Wales. Bannau Brycheiniog (The Brecon Beacons) is a mountain range that spans the width of South Wales. Locally known as the Beacons, this national park is known for its flat-top peaks, forestries, reservoirs and waterfalls.

Hiking is a popular activity in the Beacons, with the highest and most popular mountain hike being Pen y Fan . For other mountain hikes take a look at this guide . There are also several scenic waterfall walks in the Brecon Beacons  and I highly recommend either the Elidr Trail or the Four Falls Trail.

Now Available

Bannau Brycheiniog Hiking Routes

Hiking routes include the ever popular Pen y Fan, Llyn y Fan Fach, Sugar Loaf and the Four Falls.

Enjoy 35 beautiful hikes in Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) with the help of my pre-planned hiking routes. I have 35 beautiful hiking trails marked out on the free, offline app Maps.me. Simply download my pins into the app and choose which one of these epic hikes you’d like to enjoy!

Prefer not to walk alone? If you’re looking for a Mountain Leader to guide you on a mountain adventure, please contact me here to discuss rates and availability.

If you’re interested in something other than walking, then check out the National Showcaves Centre and   take your adventure underground. Whisky fans should head to Penderyn Distillery, shoppers should head to the quaint market town of Crickhowell, whilst families and train enthusiasts should take a ride on the Brecon Mountain Railway. See this guide for a complete list of things to do in the Brecon Beacons .

Merthyr Tydfil is a good central base for exploring the Brecon Beacons which you can learn more about here . Another good option is the market town of Brecon.

Overnight in Brecon.

Mountain hike or waterfall walk

Dan yr Ogof Caves

Brecon Mountain Railway

Borderers Guest House

Wales Driving Routes

If you love to drive windy roads with epic scenery, then there are two roads in the Brecon Beacons that you need to add to your road trip.

Gospel Pass – Brecon Beacons East

The road begins at Llanvihangel Crucorney. Leave the A465 and follow signs for Llanthony and then onto towards Hay-on-Wye. There is a 22 mile stretch that is single track which is amazing but might be tricky for motorhomes.

Near Abergavenny there is the great Sugar Loaf mountain hike which takes half a day, Llanthony priory is a beautiful ruined priory to visit en route and Hay-on-Wye is the book capital of Wales. 

A4069 Black Mountain Pass  – Brecon Beacons West

This fun drive of Top Gear Fame, starts just after you leave Brynamman, where the views stay epic up until the endpoint at Llandovery, although the highlight is the Tywi Valley. An awesome hike to combine with this drive is the hike to Llyn y Fan Fach . As an out and back walk this can take as little as 2 hours, however, if you opt for the full loop it’ll take most of the day. This is my favourite hike in the Brecon Beacons. (Closely followed by the Pen y Fan Horseshoe loop). You can incorporate this road en route to the Gower Peninsula.

The Gower Peninsula – Day 4

The next stop on this road trip around Wales is the Gower Peninsula. The Gower was the UK’s first Area of Outstanding National Beauty and is home to a selection of beautiful coastal walks . This 46 miles stretch of rugged coastline is part of the Wales Coastal Path which runs around the entire coastline of Wales.

If you want a lovely sandy beach on which to relax I recommend 3 Cliffs Bay or Rhossili. Three Cliffs Bay is accessed by a 20 minute walk from the road but the bay is magnificent, particularly at low tide. The long beach at Rhossili is often voted the best beach in the UK and the walk out onto Worm’s Head is a fun activity to enjoy between high tides.

The Gower is also a top location for coasteering and a popular destination for surfing, particularly at Llangenith. After you’ve finished your outdoor activities on the Gower, head to the Mumbles for a fine selection of restaurants and places to stay.

Discover all the prettiest beaches on the Gower in this article .

Overnight in the Mumbles, Swansea.

Enjoy a coastal walk

Relax on a beach

Try coasteering

Fisherman’s Cottage

Tenby – Day 5

Moving on from the Gower we begin our journey through Pembrokeshire, which I would argue is the prettiest stretch of coastline in the UK (although I might be slightly biased!). There are so many beautiful things to do and do in Pembrokeshire that it’s easy to dedicate an entire road trip in Wales to just this one county. However, on this trip to Wales, I will include the main highlights.

Of all the pretty seaside towns in Wales, my favourite is the historic fishing village of Tenby. Tenby is famed for its gorgeous sandy beaches, from which you can visit St Catherines Island and climb Castle Hill for fabulous views of the town. Around the harbour, you can wander the cobbled streets between charming colourful houses or take a boat trip to Caldey Island.

If you want to extend your time here you could add on a coastal walk. Good options include the Bosherton Lilly Ponds loop, which includes Broad Haven Bay and St Govans Chapel, or visiting Stackpole Quay and walking along to the beautifully secluded Barafundle Bay.

For a more in-depth guide of things to do in and around Tenby, take a look at this guide.

Explore Tenby

Hike the Pembrokeshire coast

Get to know our opening times, ticket prices and discounts.

Must-do addition for Puffin Lovers

If you like Puffins and want to catch a glimpse of the cute little creatures, there are two options on this itinerary.

The first option is to take the boat trip to Caldey Island from Tenby Harbour as mentioned above.

Alternatively, make time to stop off at Marloes and spend the day visiting Skomer Island. All trips to Skomer Island must be pre-booked and Puffins only nest on the island between April and August.

St Govans, The Green Bridge of Wales and St Davids – Day 6

If you didn’t walk to St Govan’s Chapel yesterday, then I definitely recommend stopping off there on your drive around the coast to St Davids. St Govan’s is a 6th-century chapel built into the side of a limestone cliff. Access to the chapel is via a set of steep stairs.

Further along the coast, there is another site worth visiting called the Green Bridge of Wales. This is a natural rock arch that has been carved away from the mainland over many years of erosion. Both of these areas are located in a MOD training area, so be sure to  check that it’s open and they’re not training on the day you plan to visit.

The final destination for today is the UK’s smallest city, St Davids. The main attraction here is the impressive St David’s Cathedral and the adjacent medieval ruins of the Bishops Palace. Also take some time to wander the pretty narrow streets, peruse the art galleries and grab a bite to eat at one of the many cafes.

Overnight in St Davids.

Did you know? St David is the Patron Saint of Wales (Dewi Sant in Welsh). St David’s cathedral is built on the site of a monastery founded by St David and where he is buried and the cathedral is the endpoint for religious pilgrimages.

St Govan’s Chapel

The Green Bridge of Wales

St Davids Cathedral

35 miles (via Pembroke)

St Davids Gin & Kitchen

St Davids Head – Day 7

Spend today exploring St David’s or if you managed to see all the sites yesterday, then head out to Whitesands Bay. Take to the waters and try your hand at surfing, kayaking or paddle boarding.

Alternatively, walk around St David’s Head, which is a stunning peninsula with gorgeous views. Keep your eyes peeled for seals and dolphins.

Explore St Davids

Whitesands Bay

Blue Lagoon, Strumble Head Lighthouse and Fishguard – Day 8

A short drive further around the Pembrokeshire coast from St David’s brings you to Abereiddi Bay. At one side of this bay you can find a unique cove known as the Blue Lagoon. This lagoon was originally formed when a channel connecting a quarry to the sea was blasted. Today the Blue Lagoon is a hot spot for coasteering, cliff jumping and other water sports.

Half a day is enough time to explore the Blue Lagoon before moving onto the next stop. Another short drive along the coasts leads to a headland known as Strumble Head. This is a top spot for birdwatching, porpoise spotting or simply admiring the scenery around Stumble Head Lighthouse.

Fishguard is a great place to spend the night with lots of bars and restaurants to choose from.

The Blue Lagoon

Strumble Head

JT Abergwaun Hotel

Pentre Ifan and the Elan Valley – Day 9

Rise early to make the short drive into the Preseli Hills and view Wales’ most ancient site, Pentre Ifan. Pentre Ifan is a burial chamber that was constructed over 5000 years ago. It’s basically the Stone Henge of Wales! This magical place is completely free to visit.

Next up we have a big drive (well big for Wales) to Elan Valley, in Mid-Wales. If you love remote mountain roads then be sure to approach the Elan Valley from the south, so as to include the Abergwesyn Pass. This stretch of single-track road runs from Tregaron to Llanwrtyd Wells and includes a series of steep hairpins called the Devil’s Staircase.

The Elan Valley is home to huge Victorian dams and reservoirs as well as 12 sites of special scientific interest and a nature reserve. If your visit coincides with recent heavy rainfall, you will be able to witness the dams in full flow. Tour the valley by car or if you have a bike, switch to two wheels for a more energetic experience.

Pentre Ifan and the Elan Valley both made it onto my top Instagrammable places in Wales list. Discover what else made the list here !

Rhayader is a good option for spending the night.

Pentre Ifan

The Devil’s Staircase

The Elan Valley

The Horseshoe Guesthouse

The Wales Way Driving Routes

The Wales Way is a collection of three national driving routes that can be linked together to visit some of the best of what Wales has to offer. The Cambrian Way runs 185 miles (300km from Cardiff in the south to Llandudno in the north along the mountainous spine of Wales. The Coastal Way runs from St Davids in the west to Aberdaron in the north and is 180 miles (290km). Finally, the North Wales Way is 75 miles (120km) and runs from Holyhead on Anglesey to the English border. 

Harlech Castle and Portmeirion – Day 10

Upon leaving the Elan Valley, jump on the Cambrian Way and drive north. For a mountainous drive, continue onto Dolgellau, before heading west towards Barmouth to pick up the Coastal Way. For a longer coastal route, cut across to Machynlleth and join up with the Coastal Way there.

I suggest driving to Harlech where you can take a break to view the magnificent Harlech Castle, before continuing on to Portmeirion. Portmeirion is a standard addition to most Wales itineraries as it’s a very unique destination. This Italian-inspired seaside town was purpose built for tourism, sort of like Disneyland but without the cartoon characters.

Wander around the streets lined with colourful buildings, play around on the life-size chessboard and walk down to the waterfront for a stroll around the coast. For the full experience spent the night at the lavish Portmeirion Hotel.

Harlech Castle

Portmeirion

81 miles (via Dolgellau)

93 miles (Coastal Way)

Portmeirion Hotel

Explore  Eryri (Snowdonia) – Day 11 & 12

Today we move onto Wales’ first national park and the third park on this Wales road trip. This stunning area is dominated by craggy mountain peaks, picturesque waterfalls and lakes as well as miles of scenic coastline. There are lots of things to do in Snowdonia (or Eryri to use its Welsh name), all depending on what interests you.

Snowdonia is the perfect place to get your hiking boots on and take to the hills. Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is Wales and England’s highest peak and for this reason, is a popular choice. Snowdon also has a train running to it’s summit so if you are unable (or unwilling) to hike to the top you can take the Snowdon Mountain Railway from Llanberis.

However, there are lots of other great hiking options in Snowdonia (Eryri) , some of the best of which are located along the Glyderau range . An easy, low-level walk suitable for families is the trail to the impressive Aber waterfall. Other easy waterfall walks include the Fairy Glen and Conwy falls. Learn more about these Snowdonia waterfalls here or discover more Welsh waterfalls in this guide .  

At Llanberis waterspouts dominate Llyn Padarn whilst at Betws-y-Coed you can find outdoor gear shops and outfitters happy to guide you in the right direction for your chosen outdoor adventure. Dotted around Snowdonia are a collection of Zipworld centres which offer a variety of activities from zip wires to cavernous trampolining.  

For something altogether more relaxing, you could explore Snowdonia by car. Driving from Portmeirion along the A498, the scenic beauty begins as soon as you enter the park. Take some time to explore the pretty village of Beddgelert before you continue on into the mountains. There are various viewpoints with lay-bys to stop at along the way.

Turn left onto the A4086 to drive over Pen-y-Pass, a mountain pass from here many hiking trails of Snowdon begin. This road continues onto Llanberis where there are some accommodation options. Alternatively, drive back over the pass and continue along the A4086 to Betws-y-Coed which is also a good base for your time in Snowdonia.

For a complete guide on what to do in Snowdonia, see this post .

Overnight in Betws-y-Coed.

Mount Snowdon

30 miles (via Pen-y-Pass)

The Royal Oak Hotel

South Stack Lighthouse and Ynys Llanddwyn – Day 13

At the very northern end of Wales you can find Wales’ largest island, Anglesey. The island is jam-packed with things to do, ranging from coastal walks, Blue-flag sandy beaches, historic castles and beautifully placed lighthouses.

Two of the most scenic lighthouses on Anglesey are South Stack Lighthouse in the north and Ynys Llanddwyn Lighthouse in the southwest. Ynys Llanddwyn is in fact located on a tidal island off Anglesey in the Newborough Warren National Nature Reserve. Here you can stroll through the woodland, walk out onto the island or simply relax on the beach with views over the Snowdonia range.

Overnight in Bangor.

South Stack Lighthouse

Ynys Llanddwyn

Conwy Castle and Llandudno – Day 14

As you leave Anglesey be sure to drive over the Menai Bridge if you didn’t on the way out. This is somewhat of an icon for North Wales and makes it onto top places for photography in Wales .

There are over 600 castles in Wales ranging from ancient ruins to castellated mansions, however the Edward I castles of North Wales are arguably some of the finest, perhaps the greatest of which is Conwy Castle.

For a self guided audio guide tour of Conwy’s highlights,  click here .

After your visit to this Welsh highlight, take a short drive onwards to the final destination on this trip around Wales, Llandudno. Built in the 1950s by the Mostyn family, Llandudno is Wales’s largest seaside resort and home to the longest pier in Wales.

Stroll the promenade with an ice cream, take in a punch and Judy show or kick back on the beach and reflect on an epic Welsh road trip.

Conwy Castle

Menai Bridge

Llandudno Pier

Belmont Llandudno

Llangollen – Extra Day

If you are returning your car back to London or are generally heading back in that direction, be sure to stop off in Llangollen and walk along the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an 18 arched bridge and the longest aqueduct in Britain. It’d be a shame to miss out on visiting this Welsh gem!

For even more places to add to your Welsh bucket list, take a look at this guide .

Tips For Driving In Wales

As part of the UK, Wales follows British driving rules and regulations, some of which I will briefly outline. They differ from mainland Europe in several ways.

• Drive on the left
• At roundabouts give way to traffic on the left
• Ensure headlights are converted for driving on the left
• All speed limits and distances are in miles rather than kilometers
• The speed limit on motorways is 70mph, on country roads it’s 60mph and in residential areas it’s 30mph, unless otherwise stated.

Wales is a bilingual country and as such all road signs are in Welsh and English. You will become familiar with the word araf  which means slow and Ildiwch  which means give way. If you’re interested in learning a few basics of the Welsh language, take a look at this guide .

If visiting the UK from overseas you will likely need an International Driving Permit so ensure you pick these up before you arrive.

You can find good deals on car rentals here and these can be picked up at International airports as well as major cities such as Cardiff and Swansea.

Road Trip In Wales Summary

Wales is a small but beautiful country, packed with a variety of things to do. There are mountainous landscapes and rugged coastlines to walk along, there are historic castles and ancient sites to visit and there are pretty seaside towns and quaint market villages to explore.

The roads in Wales are often single carriage as they twist and turn through valleys, over the mountains and around the coast. The lack of motorways in Wales means travel is enjoyed at a relaxed pace and should not be rushed.

If you’re wondering where to go in Wales, then a two-week itinerary like the one I’ve described above, is a great way to see the highlights of Wales. The itinerary I provide is quite busy and involves driving on most days but the distances are often short. I hope you like this itinerary and enjoy exploring my beautiful homeland.

Join My Newsletter Today!

By checking this box I consent to the use of my information provided for email marketing purposes.

Louise is an Adventure Tour Guide & Mountain Leader from South Wales. Through working as a tour guide and snowboard instructor, she has spent the last 15 years travelling Asia, Africa and the Americas. Louise is a published photographer and is currently based in the UK.

Recent Posts

Discover All The Best Things To Do On The Turquoise Coast Of Turkey

Turkey's Turquoise Coast, also known as the Turkish Riviera (Türk Rivierası), is a gem nestled between the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the rugged Taurus Mountains. Stretching 600...

The Best eFoiling Destinations For Beginners

Imagine gliding effortlessly over the water, powered by the wind and waves, but with a futuristic twist. Welcome to the world of eFoiling - a dynamic blend of traditional water sports and...

Essential travel information & guidance for tourists visiting or planning a holiday or short break to Wales.

Sub sections

Welcome to wales, a country like no other.

Find out key facts and figures about Wales - the country and its history, getting there, climate, culture and other useful information.

© Hawlfraint y Goron / Crown Copyright

Getting to and around Wales

Travelling to wales from overseas.

Wales has great international connections. It’s easy to get here from overseas.

• Trains and railways
• Transport and travel

Travelling around Wales

How to get around Wales by public transport, driving, cycling or walking.

Local information for your trip around Wales

A list of local websites to help plan your trip around Wales.

Getting to Wales from Ireland 

Find out the essential information needed to help you travel from Ireland to Wales.

• Annual holidays

Your guide to getting to Wales from across the UK

You can travel to Wales easily by road, rail or air. We’re linked to every corner of the UK.

Search for places to stay, things to do, and things to see in Wales

• Accommodation

Attractions

History, heritage and traditions

Poetry in motion - discover the language of wales.

Learn about the origins of the Welsh language and how it's still thriving today.

• National symbols

Mad for museums in Wales

Wales has over 90 accredited museums, ranging from industrial heritage, to textiles and fine art.

• Historic buildings

Epic ways to celebrate St David’s Day

Why we celebrate St David's Day on 1 March and some interesting ways to join in the festivities.

• St David's Day
• Myths and legends

Find your roots and trace your family tree

Discover sources of information and genealogy tours to help you trace your Welsh family history.

Visit our UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Wales

Find out how to make the most of your visit to each of the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Wales.

• UNESCO Heritage
• Amazing places

Safety advice for exploring our National Parks

Planning on visiting one of our National Parks? Find out how to stay safe.

• Eryri National Park
• Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
• Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park

RNLI's guide to beach safety

The RNLI's top tips for staying safe on the Welsh coast during the summer months.

Award-winning Wales

Wales is often named in top lists of places to visit and has won a number of destination awards.

Visiting Wales safely

Information on safety advice for outdoor activities and staying safe in accommodation.

Visit Wales Newsletter

This is Wales. A country with a warm heart, a rich history and an exciting future. Subscribe to our newsletter to hear our latest stories, holiday or short break ideas and more about interesting events taking place in Wales.

Before you start...

This site uses animations - they can be turned off.

Terms and Conditions

By using this site, you confirm you agree to our Terms and Conditions . 

We'd Like to Hear From You

By  answering a few questions , we'll give you the chance to win £500. By doing so you will also help us improve this website and help with your holiday planning and travel needs.

Good for you. Good for us. Teamwork!

Wales Travel Guide

Welcome to our  Wales Travel Guide  where you will find links to all the travel-related posts about Wales on the website. This includes articles about itineraries, where to visit, what to see and do, best day trips, tours and tickets, books to read and lots of practical tips, resources and inspiration for your trip.

Are you planning a visit to Wales? This guide contains everything you need to plan the very best trip. Discover the best places to visit in Wales plus resources, tips, and guides to ensure you make the most of your time at your chosen Welsh destinations.

Wales (or Cymru in Welsh) is famous for its rugged coastline (over 2,700 kms of it), beautiful National Parks, castles and mountainous landscapes.

With 2 official languages (English and Welsh) and a strong Celtic tradition, Wales has a population of around 3 million. Approximately 20% of the population speak Welsh.

Cardiff is the capital and Snowdon (or Yr Wyddfa) is its highest mountain.

If you love castles it is worth noting that Wales has more per square mile than any other country in the world.

Wales is also home to the town with the second-longest one-word place name in the world – LLanfairpwllg wyngyllgogery chwyrndrobwllllant ysiliogogogoch !!!

The leek and the daffodil are official emblems of Wales.

Click on the links below for travel inspiration and tips to make the most of your visit to Wales.

Start here – Top 10 places to visit in Wales

Travel guides for welsh cities, regions and attractions, 🎧 podcasts about visiting wales, when is the best time of year to visit wales, itineraries, best group tours and tickets, where to stay in wales – accommodation guide, travel books about wales, wales travel guide – popular destinations to visit in wales.

Follow-up your initial research with a more in-depth look at the places that interest you before then checking out the various itinerary and tour options for Wales.

CARDIFF TRAVEL GUIDE

WELSH CASTLE GUIDE

NORTH WALES TRAVEL GUIDE

LLANDUDNO TRAVEL GUIDE

PODCAST EPISODE #52 – AN INTRODUCTION TO NORTH WALES & ARTICLE

PORTMEIRION

FAQs – PLAN YOUR VISIT TO WALES

If you are wondering when is the best time of year to visit Wales the answer will depend on a number of factors.

The weather in Wales varies with the seasons and the number of hours of daylight also changes throughout the year. These factors should be considered when planning your visit as reduced daylight hours and cool. wet weather may impact your choice of activities.

Wales experiences its warmest and lightest days in the summer months of June, July and August and the colder, darker days during December, January and February.

For more information to help choose the best time of year to plan your visit to Wales read my in-depth article – ‘When is the best time of year to visit the UK?’ which examines each season as well as detailing popular events on a month by month basis.

Suggested itineraries for Wales coming soon

Read my month-by-month guide to visiting the UK which contains information about what to expect during the different seasons as well as shows/attractions and activities.

Tours and tickets for attractions can be purchased through Get Your Guide (one of my tour companies of choice) and include the following:

Fancy staying in a fairytale Welsh castle? Take a look at my curated list of 8 castles you can stay at in Wales.

My accommodation guide for Wales includes our pick of the best hotels, apartments, cottages for your stay.

• Best places to stay in North Wales (area and accommodation guide)

> CLICK HERE FOR MY STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO PLANNING YOUR UK TRIP !

What to budget

What to pack

Wales Travel Blogs (Top Wales Travel Guides)

Ready to travel around Wales?

Whether you’re simply looking for inspiration on where to travel to or you’ve already started planning your trip, these Wales travel blogs will help you kickstart your Welsh adventure.

To start, we’d suggest you read these 26 fun facts about Wales . They’ll give you a good background to the country before you visit.

If you can’t decide when to plan your trip for, take a look at our guide to the best time to visit Wales . It gives you suggestions based on the different seasons, weather and special events across the country.

We’ve also been busy picking out some of the best places to stay in Wales. If you like quirky accommodation, take a look at our post about the most unusual places to stay in Wales . From a dragon’s egg suspended from a tree and a tiny hobbit house to an ancient castle, there are some incredible options.

Love food? Wales has lots of great places to eat, including these Michelin starred restaurants in Wales . Want to hit the beach? Check out these beautiful beaches in north Wales .

Or if you just fancy a bit of fun, take our Wales quiz and see how much you know about the country.

We hope you have a great time exploring Wales.

13 BEST Hidden Gems in the UK

13 BEST Things to do in Wales in Winter

13 BEST Day Trips from Cardiff, Wales

13 BEST Places to Visit in Wales

The best places to go fossil hunting in Britain

From the Jurassic Coast to the beaches of ‘Dinosaur Island’, these locations offer the best chance of bagging a prize relic

News that an 11-year old girl, Ruby Reynolds, found an important fossil proves that anyone can make historic discoveries if they are willing to get out there and look. The fossilised bone, found on a Somerset beach in 2020, was recently identified by Dean Lomax, a palaeontologist from Manchester University, as coming from a species of giant marine reptile new to science. Ruby, now 15, helped name the prehistoric creature Ichthyotitan severnensis , or, “giant fish lizard of the Severn”. The species could reach lengths of 82ft. 

Britain is home to some of the best beaches for fossil hunting. The 96-mile-long Jurassic coast of Dorset and Devon, the Isle of Wight (also known as “Dinosaur Island”) and the Yorkshire coast are hotspots. Quarries – when accessed safely – are like fossil amphitheatres; their layers of rock stripped back to reveal prehistoric treasure.

Here, we’ve dug up five of the best fossil hunting locations in Britain. 

Compton Bay, Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is “one of the best locations for finding dinosaur fossils in the UK”, says Prof Paul Barrett, a dinosaur researcher at London’s Natural History Museum. Some 130 million years ago, this island was a wetland of swamps where herbivorous dinosaurs foraged. 

Twenty fossil dinosaur species have been found, and counting. For such a small area (147 square miles), the diversity of dinosaurs is the best in Europe. You may also find remains of animals that came later – such as a hornless rhino – as well as flint tools from prehistoric human residents.

The south-west of the island, with the oldest Cretaceous rocks, is the best spot for fossil hunting. 

National-Trust-owned Compton Bay, backed by low, grass-topped multi-hued cliffs, is a beautiful sandy beach with cliff-top car parking and beach access via steps. An ice cream van is your only option for food or drinks. At the bottom of the steps, turn left and 380 yards further on you find boulders that are casts of footprints of three-toed ornithopods. You may need an expert to point them out. 

The National Trust offers hour-long guided fossil walks with a local operator, Wight Coast Fossils, for (£5/£3) – your take-home finds could be fragments of fossilised dinosaur bones or teeth ( wightcoastfossils.co.uk ).

Best find? The skeleton of polacanthus, an armour-plated dinosaur found in 1979. You can see it in London’s Natural History Museum.

Crail, Fife

Rocks here date from the Carboniferous period, 335 million years ago. There are fossilised tracks of what looks like a four-wheel drive on the foreshore boulders. These are the trackways of an enormous giant centipede, up to two metres in length. Such finds are known by palaeontologists as ichnofossils or “trace fossils”, the term given for fossils that are not bodily remains but rather marks left behind by animals. Smaller fossils that you may find to take home include tree bark, roots and coprolite – fossilised (shark) poo. You may need a geologist’s hammer to open pebbles. Wear protective goggles. 

Crail Harbour Gallery and Tea room is a characterful café with sea views (01333 451896; crailharbourgallery.co.uk ) . 

UK Association of Fossil Hunters occasionally runs guided fossil walks at Crail and other locations around the UK (ukafh) 

Best find? Hard to beat those track marks of the giant centipede. 

Boggle Hole, Yorkshire

A one-mile hike south of Robin Hood’s Bay on the Cleveland Way footpath, a ravine descends to a building just yards from a former smugglers’ cove. This is Boggle Hole Youth Hostel with its cosy Quarterdeck cafe and outdoor seating where you can admire your beach finds of Jurassic ammonites of the Asteroceras obtusum species. There are also ichnofossils visible in a platform of Redcar mudstone, including Thalassinoides, the fossilised burrows of crustaceans, looking like complex railway maps. These are for viewing only; do not try to dislodge material from the cliff. 

As with all fossil hunting locations, Boggle Hole is best explored after storms, which not only dislodge new material from the cliffs but also scour sand away from the shale beds. 

YHA Boggle Hole sometimes organises guided fossil walks (£5 per person) for family groups in school holidays (01629 592700; yha.org.uk ). Email bogglehole@yha.org.uk  to request.

Yorkshire Coast Rocks leads fossil safaris at Boggle Hole and elsewhere on the Yorkshire coast. A private three to four hour safari with a scientist costs from £165 for up to six people. Alternatively, join one of their public walks for £24 for adults and £12 for children (07816 278287; www.yorkshirecoast.rocks ). 

Best find? New dinosaur footprints – stegosaurus, theropods and sauropods – revealed near Whitby this year. 

Lyme Regis, Dorset

With its tilted strata, meaning you walk a million years in a mile, the Jurassic cliffs of Lyme Regis were the birthplace of palaeontology in the 19th century with Mary Anning’s many fossil finds. Britain’s most complete dinosaur, scelidosaurus, was also found here. Soft, storm-lashed cliffs are constantly disgorging easy-to-find treasures onto the beach, such as ammonites, belemnites and gryphaea, or “devil’s toenails”, a type of extinct oyster species. 

Rubbish from the town’s historic dump, in use from Victorian times until the 1970s, is also tumbling beachward. Surprisingly perhaps, finding human detritus assists fossil hunting. Heavy items such as old pen knives and nails get washed together by tides and here, too, you will find fossils dense in iron pyrite – shiny little ammonite jewels of “fool’s gold”. 

Afterwards, head to town and uphill to the Alexandra Hotel for a cream tea al fresco with harbour views (01297 442010; hotelalexandra.co.uk ). 

Lyme Regis Museum leads three-hour fossil-hunting walks that cost £14.75 for adults and £8.75 for children (01297 443370; lymeregismuseum.co.uk ).

Lyme Regis’s annual fossil festivaltakes place on June 8-9 with talks, walks, films, boat trips and more ( fossilfestival.com ).

Best find? There are many contenders, but this year marks 200 years since Mary Anning described the first complete skeleton of a plesiosaur. 

Upper Gilwern Quarry, mid-Wales

On private land on the edge of the Brecon Beacons, this former quarry offers guaranteed finds of Ordovician trilobites of the genus Ogyginus (they look like giant beetles), up to 469 million years old. A local extinction event, possibly a volcanic eruption raining down ash, killed and preserved tens of thousands of the creatures at what was probably a breeding site in a shallow sea. 

Guests who stay at accommodation belonging to the landowners have more-or-less exclusive access to the quarry (educational groups occasionally visit). A shepherd’s hut on-site has far-reaching views. Another option is two “treehouses” that each sleep seven, located 10 minutes’ drive away. Your party gets half a day’s fossil hunting at the quarry included in your stay. 

The Hundred House Inn is a 10-minute drive away with open fires and reasonably priced food (01982 570 446). 

Upper Gilwern Quarry shepherd’s hut (07741 068 402; uppergilwernquarryhut.co.uk ) and Rhiw Wood Treehouses (07741 068 402; rhiwwoodtreehouses.co.uk ). 

Best find? Erm, that would be a trilobite. 

• United Kingdom,
• Isle of Wight,
• Facebook Icon
• WhatsApp Icon

Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

Things on Sale

• It’s Your Last Chance to Shop Wayfair’s Way Day Sale It’s Your Last Chance to Shop Wayfair’s…
• 39 Things on Sale That Would Make Great Mother’s Day Gifts 39 Things on Sale That Would Make Great…
• These Dusen Dusen Oven Mitts Are 40 Percent Off These Dusen Dusen Oven Mitts Are 40 Perc…
• All the Best Memorial Day Mattress Sales 2024 All the Best Memorial Day Mattress Sales…
• 12 Things on Sale You’ll Want: From Beyond Yoga to Vitamix 12 Things on Sale You’ll Want: From Beyo…
• These Mosquito-Repellent Bracelets Are Over 30 Percent Off These Mosquito-Repellent Bracelets Are O…
• 11 Things on Sale You’ll Want to Buy: From Hatch to Stanley 11 Things on Sale You’ll Want to Buy: Fr…
• Our Favorite Portable Speaker Is 38 Percent Off Right Now Our Favorite Portable Speaker Is 38 Perc…
• Our Absolute Favorite Garment Steamer Is 43 Percent Off Our Absolute Favorite Garment Steamer Is…
• 11 Things on Sale You’ll Want: From Levi’s to Skechers 11 Things on Sale You’ll Want: From Levi…

It’s Your Last Chance to Shop Wayfair’s Way Day Sale

In this article

For the living room, for the kitchen, for the bedroom, for the patio and outdoors, for cleaning.

Wayfair’s Way Day sale , like so many sales with day in their name, is definitely not just one day (it took place across three days this year and started on Saturday). But it all comes to an end tonight, May 7, at 2:49 a.m. ET, so now’s your last chance to peruse and buy those Breuer-esque barstools you’ve been eyeing. The home site’s been running this sale since 2018, and it’s a reliably good place to get good discounts on big-ticket items. In past years, we’ve found on-sale patio furniture , deals on coffee-makers and cookware from brands like Moccamaster and Le Creuset , and tons of on-sale furniture and décor pieces for every room in your home, from office desks to sofas to bath towels .

To save you hours of scrolling, I’ve pulled out all the best picks from the sale so far — including plenty of Strategist-recommended patio gear , inexpensive living-room furnishings, and kitchen appliances — and sorted them into categories for easy browsing. But if you want to scroll the sale yourself, you can find everything on sale on the main Wayfair Way Day Sale page .

It’s a good time to get a great deal on large furnishings, like sofas, armchairs, and coffee tables. But if all you’re looking for is décor, I also found plenty of throw pillows and rugs on sale, as well as a rather chic olive-green dog pillow.

The kitchen section is surprisingly robust this year: I found a nice knife set from Zwilling J.A. Henckels — one of our favorite knife makers — as well as a stylish bar cart and a Staub bakeware set.

For those looking to give their bed a spring refresh, there’s plenty of bedding to choose from, like a Nautica percale sheet set and our best cooling memory-foam pillow . As for furnishings, I spotted a nice-looking industrial nightstand and a cute bed frame for kids’ rooms.

As is usually the case with Way Day, the outdoor section is the most robust. I found a best-in-class clothes-drying rack , a covered fire pit , and plenty of outdoor-seating options. And if you’re looking for an early Father’s Day gift, I also found a slightly smaller version of the Blackstone flattop gas grill included in our gifts for grillers guide.

I wasn’t expecting to find so many vacuums on sale but was delighted to spot plenty of options from one of our favorite brands, Bissell (including a version of our favorite portable carpet cleaner .)

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments , rolling luggage , pillows for side sleepers , natural anxiety remedies , and bath towels . We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

• the strategist
• micro sales
• sales sales sales

Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

Deal of the Day

Greatest hits, most viewed stories.

• 39 Things on Sale That Would Make Excellent Mother’s Day Gifts
• All of the Best Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
• 10 Things That Delighted Us Last Week: From LEGO Bouquets to Line-a-Day Diaries
• The 17 Very Best Protein Powders
• All the Best Walking Shoes We’ve Ever Written About
• Mother’s Day Gifts for Every Type of Mom

Today’s Top Clicked

• Best overall
• Most comfortable
• Best for travel
• Most stylish
• Best convertible
• Best minimalist
• Most spacious
• Best gym bag
• Best storage
• Best for taller students
• Best budget
• Best sporty
• Best expandable
• Best for outdoors

The 14 best college backpacks, tested and reviewed

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

As any college student knows, your backpack is the most important accessory you'll wear all year. We tested the best college backpacks for their ability to carry a day's worth class essentials neatly and comfortably. Naturally, we also looked for the best-looking ergonomic designs — our favorite bags look sleek and polished, even when filled to their brim.

Our top pick for the best college backpack is the The North Face Recon Backpack . Men's style editor Amir Ismael especially liked its ultra-supportive straps, chest and back clips that distribute weight evenly, as well as its defined pockets for your laptop, books, water bottle, and phone. For something a little more fashionable yet still as functional, I love the popular Dagne Dover Dakota for the plush straps, luxe look, and neat removable compartments.

Our top picks for the best college backpacks

Best overall: The North Face Recon Backpack - See at Amazon

Most comfortable: Patagonia Refugio Backpack 28L - See at Patagonia

Best for travel: JanSport Main Campus FX - See at JanSport

Most stylish: Dagne Dover The Dakota - See at Dagne Dover

Best convertible:  Lo & Sons Edgemont - See at Lo & Sons

Best minimalist: Vera Bradley Campus Backpack - See at Amazon

Most spacious: L.L. Bean Comfort Carry Pack - See at L.L. Bean

Best gym bag: Lululemon Everyday Backpack 2.0 - See at Amazon

Best storage: Carhartt Medium Pack + 3 Can Insulated Cooler - See at Amazon

Best for taller students:  Herschel Little America Backpack - See at Amazon

Best budget: Carhartt 25L Classic Laptop Backpack - See at Amazon

Best sporty:  The North Face Borealis Backpack - See at Amazon

Best expandable: Fjällräven Kånken Laptop 15" - See at Amazon

Best for outdoors: Eddie Bauer Adventurer Backpack 2.0 - See at Eddie Bauer

Best overall: The North Face Recon Backpack

When searching for the best college backpacks, we look for durability, functionality, and style. Undoubtedly, The North Face Recon Backpack is the perfect combination of everything you need.

It features a medium-size main compartment with a laptop sleeve, a front mesh pocket filled with practical separations for all of your smaller devices and writing utensils, and two water bottle pockets on the sides. One of the best features of this backpack is the chest and back clips meant to alleviate back pain when carrying heavier loads, and the shoulder straps are well padded as well for optimal support. We also include the Recon in our guide to the best backpacks for students , as it makes a great confidence-boosting gift for pupils heading off to a new school. In terms of style, its minimal design and array of colorways make this a versatile choice for those who use a backpack for work or when traveling in addition to on campus.

Most comfortable: Patagonia Refugio Backpack 28L

Patagonia is one of our favorite B-corp retail companies and we appreciate it's eco-conscious approach to outdoor gear. What we love most about its Refugio backpack is how plush the padding feels on the shoulders and its sternum strap that balances heavy cargo, preventing extra pressure on the spine.

The Refugio's recycled nylon structure makes a great candidate for the best college backpacks because of its high-quality feel, protective laptop and tablet sleeve, and side pockets. It also has a small outer pocket that's in the perfect spot for quickly grabbing something like a sweater or snacks.

Best for travel: JanSport Main Campus FX

Out of the best college backpacks, JanSport's Main Campus FX is a top rated travel backpack . It's perfect for a student who's carrying a 15-inch laptop with a heavy load of books and random accessories like headphones, a water bottle, beauty products, and assorted writing utensils. The padded straps make carrying its weight a bit breezier. Its dedicated laptop pocket is nicely padded, and there are two other full-size compartments, making room for anything and everything. It also has a keychain in the front pocket to keep your dorm or apartment keys handy. JanSport's Right Pack is also a helpful but downgraded option that's probably best for the techie who has gone paperless.

The Main Campus FX is great for students when they're in school and even after they graduate. Not only is it built perfectly for carrying books and laptops, but it's also versatile, making it easy to use for everything from classes to road trips to the gym.

Most stylish: Dagne Dover The Dakota

If you like a minimalistic design with ample space and clever compartments, this neoprene bag will be your saving grace. The Dakota comes in three sizes, all of which are water-resistant, shock-absorbent, and complete with sleek straps. Inside, there are pockets galore, so no space is wasted. The laptop compartment in the large version fits a 16-inch laptop, which is bigger than the average college device. The main compartment holds up to 20 liters and has a mesh tablet pocket, five medium-sized pockets, and a convenient detachable pouch. Two exterior pockets can carry your water bottle and a stash of snacks. 

We can confidently say this luxury backpack fits everything you'd ever need: a laptop, tablet, textbooks, water bottle, notebook, snacks, and a spare pair of shoes. On the outside, it looks chic and simple, but inside, it gives you all the power to be your most organized self. It even has a nearly-invisible slip pocket by the handle where you can keep small items like a snack or headphones. 

One of our favorite features is the luggage handle sleeve that allows you to slide the backpack onto any carry-on you're wheeling around. Read more in our full Dagne Dover Dakota backpack review .

Best convertible: Lo & Sons Edgemont

Sometimes a tote is more convenient to access your belongings at a moment's notice, but the one-shoulder design is bound to cause more discomfort than two straps. Instead of deciding between the two, the Edgemont combines them into one convertible bag. "The backpack straps have clips that attach to loops at the bottom of the backpack (which hide away into their own pockets when not in use). If you want to use the bag as a tote, just un-clip the straps and fold them into the back compartment. They bulge a tiny bit, but I barely noticed them, and neither will anyone else. 

When using the bag as a backpack, the top straps act like any standard backpack top handle. In tote mode, they're the main straps you can carry in your hand or over your shoulder. They're very sturdy and also comfortable to hold." — Connie Chen, former senior reporter

Best minimalist: Vera Bradley Campus Backpack

For the college student with a maturing style and an appreciation for a spacious bag, this may be a great stylistic and functional choice. It has a gently padded 15-inch laptop compartment along with two side pockets for a water bottle. It has a sizable 25-liter main compartment containing two mesh slip pockets and outer pockets to store smaller items. It zips smoothly, has comfortable straps ergonomically designed for women, and a luggage handle on the back.

This is one of the best college backpacks that combines utility with a minimalistic look. The small brand tag is monochromatic and located on the side, so it blends in with the rest of the backpack. Once you open its pockets, you get a pop of paisley pattern and personality.

Most spacious: L.L. Bean Comfort Carry Pack

This backpack is all about functionality, protecting your laptop, and basic storage. The Comfort Carry Pack has a spacious 30-liter capacity, but not an extravagance of pockets. There's a main compartment with a laptop pocket as well as a second compartment with an organizer for pencils. Made with a chest belt, hip belt, and padded straps, this is a great choice for going between school and other activities. The bungee cords on the front are also a perfect place to store one last bulky item, like a jacket or sweatshirt.

Best gym bag: Lululemon Everyday Backpack 2.0

Lululemon's lightweight Everyday Backpack does exactly what a college backpack needs to do without too many frills. The wider-set bag has a 23-liter capacity and a padded laptop pocket that fits a 16-inch device. It's made with a water-repellent fabric, two side pockets for water bottles, inner mesh pockets, and a small outer pocket. It has a luggage sleeve and the minimalistic logo doesn't scream "I love Lululemon." While not made of the thickest material, the popular fitness brand's Everyday Backpack is designed with exactly what a college student needs. The sleek shape and neutral colorways also mean it can go with lots of different looks, making this one of the best college backpacks for toting around anything from gym clothes to textbooks. 

Best storage: Carhartt Medium Pack + 3 Can Insulated Cooler

The Carhartt Medium Pack, bundled with the three-can insulated cooler, might be one of the best college backpacks for hauling books and lunch. The backpack is made from Cordura, an incredibly durable ripstop material that's also been treated to be water-repellent. The outside of the bag features a mesh pocket for a water bottle, a Hook-n-Haul system for adding extra items like the insulated cooler, and air-mesh shoulder padding. The inside of the bag has plenty of practical storage compartments. From the 15-inch laptop sleeve to the fleece-lined eyewear compartment, you can keep all of your belongings organized and easily accessible. 

"My favorite feature is the attached cooler. It can fit up to three 12-ounce cans, but it's also the perfect spot to keep snacks or a lunch for days when you have a packed schedule of classes. And when you're not on campus, it's perfect for hiking, trips to the beach, or anywhere else you'd want to enjoy a cold drink while on the go. It's also easily removable if you prefer to carry the backpack without it." — Amir Ismael, style editor

Best for taller students: Herschel Little America Backpack

The Herschel Little America backpack is a classic carryall with a deceiving name. With its spacious 25 liters and nicely padded laptop compartment, the pack is made to help you carry everything you need for school while sporting a timeless style. The main compartment is like a huge pit where you can fit a lot of things: books, snacks, tech, and more. It also has two small side pockets on the inside. Little America is easily expandable and easily collapsible. The single outer pocket is perfect for storing quick things you may need throughout your day.

The backside is thoroughly padded for comfortable carrying. Though, personally, we think this backpack works best on taller people since it's 19.25 inches long. On an average-height woman, the bag is a bit overwhelming on a shorter back.

Best budget: Carhartt 25L Classic Laptop Backpack

We've tested the now-retired Carhartt Classic Work Pack, but thankfully, the 25 L Classic Laptop Backpack is an excellent upgrade. It's water-repellent, durable, and accommodates a medium-size cargo load. Thanks to its front zippered pocket with keyring clip and separated mesh slots for your phone, notebooks, or pens, you won't lose any of your smaller items at the bottom of the bag. It has a dedicated 15-inch laptop sleeve at the back of the main compartment, and this new model even comes with side pockets of water bottle storage. 

If you're a brand loyalist, this is one of the best college backpacks for you because it comes in the classic brown colorway that the Michigan-made workwear brand is recognized for. 

Best sporty: The North Face Borealis Backpack

The North Face is known for making durable and high-quality gear and the Borealis Backpack, one of the brand's most classic styles, is no different.

The 28-liter size fits just about everything you need for class and then some. It has the standard features: a nicely padded laptop pocket, a spacious main compartment, side pockets for water bottles, a small fleece-lined outer pocket, and a bigger outer pocket with pockets and places for pens. It's built with a chest and hip belt, making it useful for hikes too.

There's also a small but thoughtful feature to appreciate: U-pull zippers that make unzipping any of its pockets 10 times easier. The Borealis Backpack may not have a bunch of hidden compartments in the niftiest spaces, but it does what it needs to with quality materials made to last a long while. And for the same price, the Women's Borealis is specifically designed to fit a slighter build.

Best expandable: Fjällräven Kånken Laptop 15"

I see this backpack all the time on my college campus, and here's why: The compact rectangular design can be expanded, making it especially versatile. The sleek look makes this a functional piece as well as a nice addition to almost any outfit. It has three pockets: a laptop pocket, main compartment, and outer pouch. The laptop pocket is well padded and the zipper is tucked away in the back. The straps are nice and soft, though oriented differently than the typical backpack, and it has two side pouches that can be used to store a water bottle and possibly even an umbrella. Read more about its upgraded version in our full Fjällräven Tree Kånken review . 

Best for outdoors: Eddie Bauer Adventurer Backpack 2.0

We tested Eddie Bauer's previous Adventurer backpack, but their 2.0 version is even better. It stands out as one of the best college backpacks because of its versatility and durability. They aren't kidding when they say this backpack is for adventures — it has a hydration-compatible compartment and two water bottle pockets for your next hike to campus. As for its functionality, this backpack has a unique side access 17" laptop pocket and small fleece-lined front pockets for your smaller items. This water-repellent bag is built to battle with you all through college and after.

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here . Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected] .

• Main content