Places to Visit in Wales

Capital city

Cardiff

Currency

GBP

Timezone

GMT (Winter), GMT + 1 (Summer)

WHY WE LOVE WALES

Wales packs more castles per square mile than any other country in Europe. From Caernarfon Castle’s polygonal towers to Castell Coch’s fairy tale turrets above ancient beech woods, these tourist attractions in wales span 2,000 years of conflict and culture.

Three National Parks guard the most dramatic terrain in wales great britain. Snowdonia’s (Eryri) peaks challenge hikers, the Brecon Beacons’ waterfall trails reward gentle walkers, and the Pembrokeshire Coast traces 186 miles of hidden coves. Add Zip World’s record breaking zip wire and Llechwedd Slate Caverns’ underground adventures, and you begin to see why stuff to do in wales never runs short.

Film crews have noticed too. Freshwater West doubled as Shell Cottage in Harry Potter. Rhossili Bay appeared in Doctor Who. The Wye Valley hosted Sex Education. Ready to visit these famous places in wales yourself?

Starring Great Britain

Wales highlights

WELSH DESTINATIONS

Heading: Famous Places in Wales Subtext: Destinations across North, Mid and South Wales for every type of traveller.

Tenby

Pastel painted Georgian harbour town on the Pembrokeshire coast. Three sandy beaches, medieval town walls and Caldey Island’s Cistercian monastery accessible by short boat crossing.

Llandudno

Victorian seaside resort framed by Great Orme and Little Orme headlands. The Great Orme Tramway, pier promenade and Alice in Wonderland connections establish this north wales destination.

St Davids

Britain’s smallest city built around a 12th century cathedral. The Bishop’s Palace ruins and Whitesands Bay’s surfing beach sit within Pembrokeshire Coast National Park boundaries.

Hay-on-Wye

The town of books on the Welsh-English border. Over 20 bookshops and the annual Hay Festival of Literature attract bibliophiles to this Wye Valley market town.

Aberystwyth

University town on Cardigan Bay. The National Library of Wales, cliff railway to Constitution Hill and dolphin watching trips anchor this mid wales coastal settlement.

Betws-y-Coed

Alpine style village at the gateway to Snowdonia. The Swallow Falls, Fairy Glen gorge and outdoor equipment shops make this a base for mountain activities.

Swansea

Dylan Thomas’ birthplace and gateway to the Gower Peninsula. The Maritime Quarter, National Waterfront Museum and Mumbles Pier provide urban culture beside the coast.

Merthyr Tydfil

Industrial Revolution heritage at Cyfarthfa Castle and the Brecon Mountain Railway. BikePark Wales delivers world class mountain biking trails above the Valleys.

Things to Do Wales: Regional Routes

Featured things to do in Wales

The National Botanic Garden of Wales

The National Botanic Garden of Wales is a garden for all seasons. But at its heart sits Lord Foster’s Great Glasshouse, home to one of the finest collections of Mediterranean climate-zone plants in the world. In April and May, this glass dome is bursting with colour as flowers from the Mediterranean, Australia and Chile are in full bloom.

Experience festivals

Jam-packed with summer festivals, come and party with the big names in music and celebrate the arts.

Explore England’s cities

Wander through quaint cobbled streets, tuck into street food as diverse as our communities, and explore a world-class art and music scene.

Savour our Christmas markets

Pick up a gift or two under the twinkling lights of England’s Christmas markets. Grab yourself a mulled wine and enjoy the festive cheer across the country.

Our favourite experiences in Wales

Wales’ hidden gem

Can we let you in on a secret? Ceredigion(opens in a new tab) offers a crowd-free summer escape, where adventure awaits you along its unspoilt coastline. Its biggest town Aberystwyth – with its pastel-hued houses and vibrant arts scene – will act as your transport hub. From here, catch the bus to explore the rest of the county. Picture-perfect New Quay will surprise you with its golden beaches and abundant wildlife. Head out on a New Quay Boat Trip(opens in a new tab) for the chance to spot bottlenose dolphins, porpoises, grey seals and countless sea birds. Get your adrenaline pumping with a visit to Adventure Beyond(opens in a new tab) in Cardigan Bay, and try your hand at anything from white water tubing to sea kayaking. And for a well-deserved tipple, In The Welsh Wind(opens in a new tab) distillery offers gin tasting and making sessions, as well as a bar fully stocked with their very own spirits.

Sightseeing