Wales Travel Guide

United Kingdom

Cardiff featuring modern architecture, a square or plaza and a city
Grand Theatre showing theatre scenes and interior views
Swansea featuring street scenes and night scenes
South Stack Lighthouse featuring general coastal views and a lighthouse
Swansea featuring night scenes and heritage elements

Medieval castles, national parks, unspoiled coastlines and culture-rich cities make this United Kingdom country a thrilling place to visit.

Wales packs a lot of scenic beauty into its compact size. The countryside is characterized by mountain ranges, wide river valleys, attractive coastline and ancient castles. Visit the towns and cities as well to see historic sites and cultural attractions.

Explore Welsh spots of beauty. Go hiking, caving, canoeing and rock climbing at Brecon Beacons National Park. Step aboard the Brecon Mountain Railway for a scenic trip. Climb the peaks of Snowdonia National Park and visit the Gower Peninsula for its coves, cliffs and sandy beaches.

In 2012, Wales opened the Coast Path, an 870-mile (1,400-kilometer) uninterrupted route that follows the country’s entire coastline. Walk or cycle along clifftop paths, visit secluded beaches and look for wildlife, including puffins and dolphins.

Beyond the fabulous scenery, see what the nation’s urban areas offer. Cardiff is the capital, an attractive modern city with numerous attractions. Explore Cardiff Bay, a regenerated docklands area of trendy boutiques, hotels, cafés and restaurants. Watch a concert at the Wales Millennium Center, a striking steel and slate structure. View the art, archeology and natural history collections at the National Museum Cardiff. On the outskirts of the city is St Fagans National History Museum, 100 acres (40 hectares) of parkland that exhibits original houses from different historic periods.

Swansea is another large city in Wales. Visit the childhood home of Dylan Thomas, the country’s most famous poet. Treat the family to a day of aquatic fun at the LC Swansea waterpark and stroll through Clyne Gardens, home to more than 2,000 species of plants.

Wales has more than 600 castles, from Roman defensive strongholds to the fantasy projects of 19th-century millionaires. Tour the 11th-century Chepstow Castle with its 800-year-old wooden doors. See the lavishly decorated rooms of Castell Coch, a late 19th-century building constructed on the ruins of a 13th-century castle. Climb the towers of the 12th-century Dinefwr Castle.

Join other tourists drawn to the history, culture and fascinating scenery of Wales.

Popular cities in Wales

Cardiff showing a square or plaza, a city and modern architecture
Cardiff
Known for Friendly people, Shopping and Historical
Trip time! Discover the castle, history and bars in Cardiff.

Reasons to visit

  • Principality Stadium
  • Cardiff Bay
  • Cardiff Castle
Llandudno which includes a square or plaza and a small town or village
Llandudno
Known for Friendly people, Sea and Tours
Hailed as the “Queen of the Welsh Resorts”, with its stunning coastline and buzzing nightlife, Llandudno offers a royal welcome to you that richly rewards. Llandudno is the largest resort in Wales. It sits comfortably between the Great and Little Ormes and boasts two wonderful sandy beaches, which is a rare treat indeed for anywhere in the British isles.

Reasons to visit

  • Venue Cymru
  • Llandudno Pier
  • Promenade
Bodelwyddan Castle featuring heritage elements and a castle
Rhyl
Known for Friendly people, Bars and Beaches
Rhyl is a busy, seaside resort on the northeast coast of Wales.

Reasons to visit

  • Rhyl Beach
  • Bodelwyddan Castle
  • Dyserth Waterfall
Tenby featuring boating, a bay or harbour and a beach
Tenby
Known for Recreation, Churches and Fishing
Revered as Wales’ most iconic seaside town, with it’s brightly coloured houses overlooking pristine sandy beaches, Tenby brings quaint charm to the South Wales coastline.

Reasons to visit

  • Tenby Beach
  • Manorbier Castle
Swansea featuring a sunset, sailing and general coastal views
Swansea
Known for Friendly people, Bars and Marinas
The second largest city in Wales, Swansea is known for its vibrant energy and welcoming charm. With the university on its doorstep, the city has a large student population which means plenty of choice when it comes to shopping, dining and nightlife. And with the city currently enjoying something of a rebirth through an extensive bout of regeneration – now boasting both a national museum and a new marina, as well as five Green Flag Award-winning parks – Swansea is fast becoming known as “the Brighton of Wales”.

Reasons to visit

  • Three Cliffs Bay Beach
  • Mumbles Pier
Abergele
Abergele
Known for Friendly people, Bars and Countryside
Although Abergele can sometimes be overlooked in favour of more well known north coast holiday resorts in Wales, it still holds its own and has a good choice of things to do and the splendour of the Irish Sea to provide the perfect backdrop to them.