Wales

✨ Things to Do

There is a huge variety of things to do in Wales, including things you probably had never even dreamt of! A few top recommendations are:

• Visit a castle – There are over 600 recorded castles in Wales, each with a unique history. 
• Go hiking – Explore Wales’ three National Parks, stunning coastline, and nature on foot.
• Zip World – An outdoor activity centre whose offerings include soaring over a quarry on the world’s fastest zip line.
• Portmeirion – This beautiful, colourful village overlooks an estuary and feels like a piece of Italy in Wales.
• Epic train rides – Wales’ vintage steam trains and narrow gauge railways are a magical way to see breathtaking scenery.

✨ Read the full list of best things to do in Wales.

🗺️ Where to Stay

Wales is a small country with many great options for places to stay. These recommendations are beautiful in their own right and close to other popular destinations:

• Cardiff – The capital city hosts a wealth of attractions, history, culture, eateries, and has a friendly atmosphere.
• Llanberis – A small village at the foot of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) mountain, popular for hiking trips.
• Aberystwyth – A vibrant seaside town full of culture in the heart of Cardigan Bay. 
• St David’s – The UK’s smallest city is a well-known destination near some of Wales’ best beaches.
• Abergavenny – This scenic market town is a great base for exploring Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park.

🛎️ Best Hotels

Wales has a wide selection of hotels that cater to a range of budgets and needs. Here are some top unique hotels:

• Deep Sleep – The world’s deepest underground hotel in an abandoned slate mine beneath the Welsh mountains.
• Portmeirion – This idyllic estate offers guests luxury accommodation in one of two incredible hotels. 
• The Coal Exchange – Once the site of Welsh coal trading, this building is now a luxury hotel in the Welsh capital.
• Y Capel – This stunning boutique hotel is in a beautifully renovated Welsh chapel in Conwy.
• Craig Y Nos Castle – A hotel known for being the former home of a famous opera singer and for its paranormal activity!

🚗 Best Road Trips

Traveling in Wales by car can be a great way to enjoy the spectacular scenery. But keep your eyes on the road on these stunning routes:

• A470 – Wales’ longest road passes through rugged, spectacular scenery and links Cardiff with Llandudno.
• Anglesey (Ynys Môn) – Drive from mainland Wales to the Isle of Anglesey across the Menai Suspension Bridge.
• The Wye Valley – Follow the serene River Wye down the valley from Chepstow to Monmouth via Tintern.
• Pembrokeshire (A487) – Get sweeping views of stunning beaches and countryside as you wind around rural roads.
• ‘Heads of the Valleys’ – A scenic route through industrial landscapes and a national park (still under construction).

⛱️ Best Beaches

The Welsh coastline is breathtaking and is home to some incredible beaches. These are some of the best beaches in Wales:

• Rhosilli Bay – A stunning sandy beach on the Gower Peninsula, often featured as one of Wales’ top 10 beaches.
• Porthor (Whistling Sands) – A small beach on the Llŷn Peninsula known for its unique whistling sound.
• Whitesands – A large beach in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park popular for water sports.
• Abersoch – This sandy beach with colourful beach huts is a good spot for sunbathing and water sports.
• Barry Island – A popular seaside destination which featured in the British sitcom ‘Gavin and Stacey’.

⛰️ Best Mountains

Wales is known for its mountainous scenery and views. Here are some popular mountains for hiking:

• Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) – Wales’ largest peak which you can summit on a range of trails or by steam train.
• Pen y Fan – The largest peak in South Wales and the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park.
• Cader Idris – One of the Welsh Three Peaks, this dramatic mountain is steeped in legends and is not an easy climb.
• Skirrid Fawr – A distinctive mountain with beautiful views and a relatively easy hike to the summit.
• The Garth – This big hill near Cardiff is a good option for those who want a lighter walk with great views.

🖼️ Best Museums

The many museums across Wales capture the country’s past and present, including Wales’ National Museums. Here are some highlights:

• Big Pit National Coal Museum – Learn about Wales’ coal mining heritage in this former working mine.
• St Fagans National History Museum – Explore Wales’ history in this popular open-air museum across acres of parklands.
• National Slate Museum – Delve into the slate industry and craft of quarrying in this engaging museum.
• National Waterfront Museum – This interactive museum in an old dock area explores Wales’ industry and innovation.
• National Roman Legion Museum – Step back into the Roman Empire in Wales and see rare Roman legionary artifacts.

🏰 Best Castles

It’s hard to choose from Wales’ hundreds of castles as each one is unique. But here are some favourites:

• Caerphilly Castle – The largest castle in Wales and second largest in the UK has a moat and beloved leaning tower.
• Cardiff Castle – This iconic landmark in the heart of the capital city has a history dating back two thousand years.
• Caernarfon Castle – This huge castle has been the site of significant battles and royal occasions in Wales’ history.
• Harlech Castle – A dramatic castle built on a rocky crag with a mountainous backdrop.
• White Castle – A fairytale-like castle in Monmouthshire, on the ‘Three Castles’ hike.

🌊 Best Waterfalls

Wales has many spectacular waterfalls. One of the bonuses of Wales’ wet weather is the plentiful supply of water for them! Here are some top picks:

• Pistyll Rhaeadr – Wales’ tallest waterfall is set in the beautiful Berwyn mountains.
• Sgwd yr Eira – A towering waterfall that you can walk behind (carefully!) in ‘Waterfall Country’.
• Swallow Falls – A stunning waterfall along the Afon Llugwy, surrounded by lush woodland.
• Devil’s Bridge Falls – These magical waterfalls are set in a gorge and plummet past the iconic ‘Three Bridges’.  
• Henrhyd Falls – The highest waterfall in South Wales has even appeared in a Batman movie!

👉 Tips & Things to Know

• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 – Welsh (Cymraeg) – Welsh is an official language of Wales and is still widely used and spoken, especially in North Wales.
• 📅 – Keep plans flexible – The weather can change quickly so you might need to adapt depending on the weather.
• 👍 – Explore responsibly – Park in designated car parks, always stick to the path, and check the weather before doing outdoor activities.
• 🚌 – Public transport – Check recent timetables for buses and listen to announcements on trains.
• 🏰 – Cadw membership – Consider becoming a member of Cadw if you plan on visiting multiple castles and historic sites. You’ll get free or reduced entry to over 130 sites for a small yearly membership fee.

🧳 What to Pack

• 🧥 – Raincoat – Wales is notoriously wet and windy so come prepared with a decent raincoat.
• 🚶‍♀️ – Hiking Boots – Bring decent hiking or waterproof boots to keep your feet comfy and dry.
• 👖 – Layers – The weather is unpredictable and can change in any season. Bring layers so you can easily adapt.
• 💳 – Cash and card – Bring cash (GBP) and a card – some places only accept one or the other.
• 📷 – Camera – You’re going to want to take lots of photos of Wales, so bring your camera and its charger!

🤓 Facts & Info

• Population (2021) – 3,107,500 
• Capital – Cardiff
• Largest Metro Areas – Cardiff, Swansea, Newport
• Time Zone – Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and British Summer Time (BST) (UTC/UTC+1 during daylight savings)
• Airports – Cardiff (CWL)
• Colleges & Universities – Cardiff, Aberystwyth, Bangor, University of South Wales
• Nickname – Land of Song
• Demonynm – Welsh
• Prime Minister – Rishi Sunak (The Conservatives)
• Welsh First Minister (Prif Weinidog) – Mark Drakeford (Labour)
• Country – United Kingdom

💵 Costs & Budgeting

• 3 Star Hotel Room – £100/night 
• 1 Bedroom Apartment Rental -£120/night
• Rental Car – £85/day
• Public Transport Ticket – ~£4
• Take Out Meal for Two – £24-£45
• Sit Down Dinner for Two – £30-£60
• Draft Beer – £3 – £6/pint