The Best Places to Visit in Wales
Wales is one of the most underrated countries in Europe, and despite being small, it feels much bigger once you start travelling through it. It’s actually pretty overlooked amongst travelers, but in terms of hiking options and nature, it is a top country. There is a strong national identity here, and the Welsh language remains strong and used every day amongst locals. It doesn't have a huge backpacker scene, but that's not really why people come here, they come to explore.
Capital: Cardiff
Currency: Pound
Language: English, Welsh
When to visit: May to August
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1) Snowdon
Snowdon, otherwise known as Yr Wyddfa, is one of the tallest mountains in the UK, and a very busy attraction for everyone who loves natures. It is a really accessible day out no matter your fitness level, and it is just a place loved by everyone, attracting upwards of 600,00 visitors per year.
Things to do:
Obviously the main thing to do is hike up the mountain to the summit, and there are six main routes to the summit catering to all abilities. The most popular is the Llanberis Path, a well-maintained track starting from Llanberis that takes roughly 5–6 hours return and is considered the most straightforward route. And for something more dramatic, the Snowdon Horseshoe is regarded as one of the finest ridge walks in Britain so you can try that if you’re a bit more experienced. Those are my 2 recommendations, but you do of course have 4 more to look into if you please. For those who want to reach the summit without the hike, you can actually take the Snowdon Mountain Railway which departs from Llanberis and climbs nearly 1,000 meters to the top. Lastly, visit the National Slate Museum which is free to enter and tells the story of the region's slate quarrying heritage.
How to get there:
You can take a train to Bangor from major nearby cities like Liverpool, Cardiff, London, and then take a bus to Llanberis from there.
The Sherpa'r Wyddfa bus network connects the trailheads and key villages.
2) Cardiff
Cardiff is Wales capital city, and you can find it in the south of the country where most of Wales major cities tend to be. It’s a lovely, walkable city with a lot of what you see being linked to the industrial history, however it is becoming increasingly modern and is thriving more then ever.
Things to do:
Starting in the city center, you have to visit Cardiff Castle. It sits right in the heart of the city, surrounded by Bute Park and is just really impressively decorated inside. As a bonus, the Cardiff City Hall is also nearby. Head into the Victorian Arcades next, since Cardiff has one of the finest collections of covered shopping arcades in Europe, with the Royal Arcade, Morgan Arcade, and Castle Arcade which are all worth wandering through. I’d say also spend some time walking around Cardiff Bay, which is the waterfront area of Cardiff. You can see the the Senedd (the Welsh Parliament building) and the Wales Millennium Centre all in this area. Finally, for museum lovers check out the National Museum of Cardiff (it has free entry so no reason not to).
How to get there:
Cardiff Wales Airport (CWL) serves the city and has flight options from all around the UK and Europe.
You can also take a coach or a train from most major cities in the UK.
3) Pembrokeshire Coast
The Pembrokeshire Coast is literally one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline in the British Isles, located at the southwestern tip of Wales. It’s a pretty rugged coastline so not really a place you visit for the world class beaches, but the waters here are some of the cleanest in Wales. There is a few main towns you can travel between to explore, although it’s best explored via car.
Things to do:
Tenby is the perfect place to begin exploring the Pembrokeshire Coast. The town's medieval walls are still kept very well intact, and the colorful harbor and beaches is one of the most photogenic spots in Wales. Castle Beach and South Beach are both brilliant for swimming too. Just a short boat trip from Tenby harbor is Caldey Island, a small inhabited island home to a community of Cistercian monks who produce their own perfume and chocolate, well worth the short crossing. Moving along the coast westward, the Stackpole Estate is a stunning stretch of National Trust coastline containing Barafundle Bay, consistently rated one of the best beaches in the UK. It is only accessible on foot, which is perfect for backpackers who want to explore. The Green Bridge of Wales is also around here and worth a stop. You also HAVE to go to the town of Pembroke simply for Pembroke Castle which is the birthplace of King Henry VII and literally just a beautiful castle. You can then keep moving north up to St. Davids and Whitesands Bay, then on to Strumble Head for some wildlife watching to end your time here.
How to get there:
You can very very easily train from Cardiff or Swansea, then from there buses run by TrawsCymru connect the villages and towns.
4) Conwy
Conwy is a pretty small medieval town up in the north of Wales, not far from Liverpool. For its size, there is loads of history thanks to the incredible preservation of many medieval sites. The town is simply just very beautiful especially with the green backdrop and the River Conwy Estuary there too.
Things to do:
Conwy Castle is the undeniable centerpiece of any visit and the natural place to start. It is one of the most impressive medieval castles in all of Great Britain and you should go up the towers for views over the estuary. From the castle, walk directly onto the Town Walls themselves. Conwy's walls are among the most complete medieval town walls surviving anywhere in Britain, and you can walk a large section of the wall walk with the town on one side and the estuary and mountains on the other, which is a really nice experience. Then get back into the center of the town and walk through the old cobble streets and see all the shops. Walk further along to the waterfront, and go past the Lower Gate Street Arch to where you can find the The Smallest House In Great Britain, a fun little sight.
How to get there:
You can take an easy bus or train from places like Manchester, Liverpool, or Chester, plus the local buses across nearby Welsh towns.
5) Anglesey
Now to the first island on the list, Anglesey, which is off the west coast of Wales connected by very short bridges. It’s a flat open landscape with some of the most beautiful coastal areas in the country. It’s visited purely to see some Welsh charm amongst the little towns and farming villages which spread out all across the island.
Things to do:
A good place to begin is on the eastern shore at Beaumaris. The town is widely considered one of the prettiest in Wales and is home to the massive Beaumaris Castle complex at the edge of town, an incredible sight no doubt. You may have crossed the Menai Suspension Bridge to get here, but if you didn’t it is worth going to visit for the views along the Menai Strait. Next to the suspension bridge is also the town of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, and I’m pretty confident you can guess why it’s famous. Let’s get back out to the coast to the town of Penmon, worth visiting so you can do the iconic Penmon Point Walk out to Penmon Point, taking you round the coastline and out to the beautiful lighthouse. If you want to go the other way, go all the way up the island to Holyhead. It’s a nice little town with cool places like St Cybi's Church, but you can use it as the stop to go up to South Stack where the most gorgeous lighthouse of the island is.
How to get there:
You can take a train from Manchester, Liverpool, and Chester to the island all the way up to Holyhead.
6) Portmeirion
Portmeirion is a pretty unusual place because it doesn’t really look like something you’d expect from Wales. It is a privately owned fantasy village on a wooded peninsula on the southern shore of Cardigan Bay in northwest Wales, built in an Italian style.
Things to do:
It’s basically fully a tourist village, so arrive through the main gateway and walk into the into the central Piazza and see all the colorful facades around you. Take your time wandering The Village and seeing the architecture until you end down the bottom overlooking the estuary. The Chantry and the Pantheon are among the most striking structures, and the Toll House and the Government House are pretty cool too. Then, from the village, head into The Gwyllt, which is the extensive woodland gardens network you can wander for a long time.
How to get there:
Take a train or bus from around Wales to Porthmadog, then take a bus to Portmeirion.
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