Wales Travel Guide - Delve Into Europe

Croeso, Welcome to Wales

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

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.

Tenby

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

Anglesey

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.

Image of the Helvetia shipwreck at Rhossili beach at sunset Gower Peninsula Wales UK

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.

Image of a sunset on the north Pembrokeshire coast at Abereiddi

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

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.

Snowdonia Road Trip Image of the A4086 Llanberis Pass road in Snowdonia North Wales UK

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.

Image of Conwy Castle at sunset North Wales UK

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.

Image of the view from the summit of Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons Wales

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.

Image of Porth Dinllaen village and beach. One of the best places to visit in Wales

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.

Llangollen

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.

Three Cliffs Bay

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.

Welsh Islands

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.

Blaenau Ffestiniog

New Quay

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

Image of a locomotive from the Llangollen Steam Railway leaving Berwyn Station — A locomotive from the Llangollen Steam Railway leaving Berwyn Station

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

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.

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.

A470

Abergwesyn Pass

Bwlch y Groes

Llanberis Pass

Elan Valley and Cwmystwyth

Wye Valley

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

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