North Wales is perfect for first-time Wales explorers. Why? The places to visit in North Wales gave me everything I wanted from the country all in one region: mountains, castles, coastlines, and charming villages. It’s like sampling everything at the food court plus Welsh pies.
Which places should you visit exactly? Glad you asked. My top three places to visit in North Wales are Eryri, Caernarfon, and Llanberis. Eryri is the region’s big natural showstopper, Caernarfon is the best castle in Wales, and Llanberis is the perfect mountain base. Together they gave me a pretty good idea of why this region of Wales kicks ass.
Let me paint you a picture of my North Wales sightseeing experience: I spent one day climbing around medieval fortresses, another wandering a Victorian pier, and the next staring at scenic mountains disappearing into the clouds. (Thanks, Welsh fog.) Sometimes I did all 3 in one day. Quite the adventure playground, right? And without the city congestion of South Wales.
Just so you go in with the clearest possible expectations, let me tell you the things that surprised me the most—both positively and negatively. The biggest positive surprise? How diverse North Wales is. I was kind of just expecting castles and mountains. And I got so much more than that. But my biggest disappointment was the weather. Like I always say about Wales, go in expecting bad weather, and you’ll be less annoyed by bleh gray skies.
I’ve picked the places that made the biggest impression on me, from famous castles to coastal stops that are easy to overlook. Some deserve half a day. Others need, like, an hour. I visited all of them and am here to tell you which places to visit in North Wales, and 2 places I’d skip if I were doing it again. And I’d like to someday.
Read more from my Wales travel blog.
Elan Valley isn't in North Wales, but it's a great excuse to pull over on the drive up from the south
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, proof that North Wales has more to see than you’ll have time for
All my North Wales stops on one map
Sheer cliffs, waterfalls, and a lake. Snowdonia doesn't do boring
If you know anything about me, you know I love an epic mountain. Eryri National Park overdelivers on that front, so it’s my absolute favorite place to visit in North Wales. I loved that I got to choose between chill low-effort hikes and ass-kicking treks—and that both gave me the same fantastic mountain views that felt exactly like how I pictured North Wales.
Besides the hiking, one of my favorite parts about Eryri was just driving through it. I especially recommend the Llanberis Pass route, which took me through intense mountain scenery with a landscape that never made me bored.
That’s also thanks to the Welsh weather. Because Wales can never decide what weather it wants to have, the same valley can look completely different in a matter of minutes. Oh, here it is in gloomy drizzle. Here’s what it looks like under a clearer sky thirty seconds later. Aaaand it’s drizzling again...I never knew what I was gonna get, and that was part of the fun.
The raincoat isn’t optional
Although it’s not fun to get rained on while you hike. But there’s like a 99.9999% chance it’s gonna happen. Go into Snowdonia with a raincoat and your expectations in the right place, and it won’t be half as bad. And rest assured, the views will not be ruined. I had clouds most of my visit, and I still rank those views as some of the best throughout my entire 10 days in Wales.
If you want to prioritize hiking, 2-3 days in Eryri National Park is a generous amount. But if you just want to see it and be done, spend 1 day seeing Cwm Idwal, Llyn Padarn, and Llanberis Pass.
Pro tip: No car, or no desire to drive Welsh mountain roads? This Snowdonia and three castles day tour from Llandudno hits Llyn Ogwen, Pen-y-Pass, Dolbadarn, Caernarfon and Conwy in one day.
Boy, this is a castle. Caernarfon doesn’t do modest
Caernarfon itself didn’t leave much of an impression on me, but Caernarfon Castle is so spectacular that it seriously deserves its own stop. Of the four major Edwardian castles in North Wales, Caernarfon is the one that impressed me the most. Actually, it’s my favorite castle in Wales, period.
Put off by the ‘meh’ town? Don’t worry, you won’t have to go out of your way to get there since it’s conveniently right between Eryri and Anglesey. So I’d just combine the castle with one of those destinations instead of making a special trip just for Caernarfon.
But honestly, I could have spent hours here. It’s enormous—the second largest castle in the whole country. And all that space is used very, very well. Every tower and room is filled with interesting facts and well-done curation. So even if you subtract all the walking around (and boy, is there a lot), there’s so much to learn and occupy your time.
What really surprised me is how different it felt from the other UNESCO castles. I visited three of them in one day—a lot, I know—and was honestly surprised that they weren't more similar. The reason I liked Caernarfon so much better is that it felt much more like a complete experience than the others, not to mention how dramatic the outside is. Boy, this is a castle.
Built to keep the Welsh in line, Caernarfon Castle now tells their story
It’s also a place where Welsh history and symbolism are impossible to miss. Caernarfon was built as part of Edward I’s campaign to bring Wales under English control, and it later became a symbol of Welsh power and identity. I got to dig into this more at the exhibit on the Welsh kings, which was one of my favorite parts of the castle.
The downside is the setting. It's not as dramatic as Conwy or Beaumaris because, as I said before, the town itself is meh. Caernarfon is much more about the castle itself. Still, when the weather decided to be nice for once during my afternoon visit, the views toward Eryri were impressive.
The town is meh, but the view from Caernarfon Castle’s battlements is not
No train ticket? The slate quarries above Llanberis are the next best view
Conwy is the best base in North Wales overall, but Llanberis wins if you're an outdoor enthusiast who wants to spend your North Wales trip hiking Eryri National Park. It’s a fantastic base for getting into the mountains because the Snowdon Mountain Railway (Yr Wyddfa) leaves from here.
If you haven’t heard of Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon), it’s only the highest peak in Wales, clocking in at 3,560 feet above sea level. It’s one of the most iconic places to visit in North Wales. If you want to hike it, you’ll have to commit a full day.
I chose not to. Yes, I like to hike. But I didn’t feel like hiking 7 hours up and down a mountain in the rain. Sue me. Which meant rail was my only option for getting up the damn thing.
The Snowdon Mountain Railway
But I wasn't able to do it. Me and everyone else in the world, apparently, wanted to snag a train ticket. Which meant none of us got one. My advice? Reserve at least as far in advance as you can, with one caveat—it should be based on how far in advance you can see favorable weather.
In Wales, that’s tough since there are really no guarantees when it comes to the weather. But basing yourself in Llanberis gives you a big leg up. So if Yr Wyddfa is your priority, this is where you should stay. It’s closer to Eryri by car than Conwy, too.
If the train is fully booked or the weather doesn’t cooperate, there’s still plenty to do around Llanberis. Llyn Padarn and Dolbadarn Castle are here. There’s also the National Slate Museum, but it’s closed for redevelopment right now. My point is, you could easily spend a day combining a walk around the lake with a couple of these shorter stops.
Llanberis itself is also quite nice if you’re looking to wander around a cute little Welsh town. I wish I’d had more time for that, but what I did manage to see was really charming. It’s the kind of laid-back place with independent shops and cafés you can spend an afternoon discovering. Makes for a great stop in between epic Eryri hikes.
Sold-out train, still a good day. Llanberis has backups
Llandudno and Conwy are neighbors with completely different personalities.
I wasn’t expecting to like Llandudno nearly as much as I did. But it ended up being one of the most pleasant surprises during my 10-day trip to Wales. I fell in love with the Victorian seaside atmosphere, which, in my opinion, Llandudno nails more than anywhere else in Wales. That’s why I think this is a must-see place in North Wales.
Sure, I also really enjoyed the smaller villages around Eryri. But Llandudno's size works to its advantage. I got to explore lots of Victorian buildings next to an elegant promenade and a gorgeous beach that quickly became one of my favorite beaches in Wales.
Honestly, I only came to Llandudno in the first place for the famous restaurant, the Cottage Loaf. If you haven’t heard of it before, be sure to get it on your radar because it is just incredible. Well-deserving of the fame and the ranking in the UK’s 100 top pubs. It’s also probably the most famous spot in Llandudno.
But as great as Cottage Loaf was, it turned out to be a highlight within my whole Llandudno experience instead of the main thing. Considering how much I loved the sticky toffee pudding, that’s saying something.
Llandudno is also special for having the longest pier in Wales. I got such amazing views of the Great Orme cliff from there. Not to mention, the seaside walk was great for helping me digest all that Welsh pie.
My recommendation is to pair Llandudno with Conwy. I would spend the afternoon exploring Conwy’s walls and then head to Llandudno for a nice waterfront dinner and a dose of fresh air. They’re close enough to combine without much hassle, but completely different.
No crowd at Cwm Idwal is big enough to block this view
Don't miss hiking Cwm Idwal in Eryri National Park. The hike itself is simple, but the views are not. I’m talking towering, jagged black slate cliffs all around me and waterfalls that seemed to go on forever. I felt like a badass posing with all that as my backdrop. Who wouldn’t?
Parking is in a big but not cheap lot at Lake Ogwen—5 GBP (7 USD) for 4 hours. From there it’s an easy circular walk that doesn’t skimp on drama. It was seriously so easy that there were tons of kids skipping along the path. And so dramatic that just stopping and looking added to our hiking time of 1.5 hours.
The Cwm Idwal valley itself is under the monster of a mountain, Glyder Fawr, which is over 3,000 feet tall. The good news: no matter how popular this hike got (and boy did it get busy in the afternoon), it would take an army to block views that tall. My camera was happy too.
My tip? Start clockwise, as the views are gonna be just a little bit better from that direction. Especially the black slate cliffs. They looked extra epicly dramatic, and that’s saying something.
Skip the castle tour if you must, but don’t skip the Conwy walls
Conwy is one of the most unique places to visit in North Wales because you can circumnavigate it via ancient walls. I’ve literally only ever done that in one other place–Ávila in Spain–and it was just as special the second time around. The walls surround the entire Old Town and gave me incredible views I couldn’t get in any other Welsh town.
Conwy Castle is nice too, but the best part for me was viewing it from the walls rather than taking the tour. Yes, touring it was fine. But I enjoyed my time outside the castle and in Conwy itself even more. It’s really beautiful with a great atmosphere, especially in the evening because of all the pubs to choose from. I’d calculate 2 hours for the town at minimum, but 4-5 hours is ideal if you have the time.
I was really impressed by just how interesting Conwy is. It has the Smallest House in Great Britain, which you’ll miss if you’re not actively looking for it—it's not called the smallest house for no reason. I also recommend Plas Mawr, an Elizabethan townhouse that gave me a completely different perspective on Welsh history. Don’t skip the audio guide for that one.
Conwy’s castle gets the crowds; Plas Mawr gets the better stories
If you're planning to explore North Wales beyond just hiking Eryri, there's no better base than Conwy. It’s so centrally located, which made it super easy for me to get where to go in North Wales.
And another huge plus: parking was really easy, with parking spaces all over town. Including smack dab in the middle of Old Town. Which meant they ruined the view in some places, but eh, what can you do? I’d rather have a place to park than circle Conwy for hours.
Also, for those of you who dread the idea of driving all around Wales and wish the country had some sort of public transport, you’re in luck. Conwy actually has hop-on hop-off buses. Yes, I was just as surprised that Welsh buses are not entirely a myth.
Llyn means lake in Welsh, and Llyn Padarn is a good place to learn it
Another easy Eryri National Park hike I recommend is Llyn Padarn. It’s a circular walk around the lake through the forests—yep, ‘Llyn’ means lake in Welsh, a word that came in handy during my trip.
My favorite part was the spectacular views of Yr Wyddfa along the way, because of course it was. I mean, that mountain’s even taller than Glyder Fawr and, um, taller than every other mountain in Wales or England. Yep, it’s number one in Wales and beats every mountain in England.
The slate quarries are also seriously dramatic and worth at least a quick stop on their own. Just stopping and seeing them was super impressive.
Some of the best views are from the bridge at the western end, so be sure to stop there for some photos during the hike.
Beaumaris Castle
Anglesey has its fair share of castles—2 major ones, in fact—but what impressed me the most here was the coast. I got that classic Welsh coastline with lighthouses, rugged shoreline, and long stretches of Irish Sea. I think it’s one of the most beautiful places in North Wales.
The most interesting natural landmark here is the Menai Strait, which is the narrow body of water that separates Anglesey from mainland Wales—AKA what makes Anglesey an island destination. Unless you love marine attractions or old bridges, it’s not a standalone attraction, but worth seeing nevertheless.
When it comes to the castles in Anglesey, though, I'm not saying skip them. I'm saying that visiting them took me a lot less time than everyone says. Unless you're some mega history buff, it won't take more than an hour to see them both.
The best one of the two is Beaumaris Castle, which is another one of my favorite castles in Wales...but not my all-time favorite. It didn’t quite blow me away the way Caernarfon or Caerphilly did. It’s absolutely worth a stop, but don’t schedule all your time in Anglesey around it. Save time for those coastal views too.
Beaumaris Castle, a proper moated castle that won’t eat your whole day
Anglesey travel tip: Anglesey is bigger, and more spread out than it looks on the map, so you’ll need a car to explore the whole island beyond just a couple of nearby stops. I’d treat it as a half-day trip from Conwy or Caernarfon.
Pro tip: If you don’t want to do the Anglesey driving yourself, this full-day Anglesey tour from Llandudno and Conwy covers Beaumaris and even South Stack, so someone else handles that hour-long drive.
If you can only pick one area of Anglesey to visit, go for the eastern tip by Penmon Point.
Harlech Castle, the Edwardian UFO with a sea view
Harlech is mostly known for its castle, but the highlight for me was the setting and views. The town of Harlech is easy to overlook, but once I got to the top of the fortress—and boy is that a climb—the views over Harlech made me immediately want to explore it.
I made sure I budgeted some time after seeing the castle to do that. I recommend you do too. I found a picturesque little town that was well worth a wander. Walkable, peaceful, and quintessential Wales—no complaints here. I think it's one of the cutest places to visit in North Wales.
Of course, the castle itself is still the main attraction. It’s one of the four UNESCO World Heritage-listed castles built by Edward I in North Wales, and he really chose his location strategically. The castle hovers above the town on top of a hill like an ancient Edwardian UFO. Is it important to see your enemies coming from a distance, right?
The castle is small—I saw the whole thing in about half an hour—but the info I got to read was well-presented and interesting. Economical, too. Nothing was dragged out. Though I guess you can’t drag anything out when you don’t have the space for it...
Views of Harlech Castle
Penrhyn Castle looks medieval from the outside. Then you walk in, and it’s pure Victorian showmanship
Penrhyn Castle is a great rainy-day activity, and in Wales you'll need those. Keep in mind that this is a 19th-century neo-Norman country house, not a medieval defensive castle. So if you're looking for Tudor history, this is not the place. But if you're looking for a castle with a, say, problematic past, here you go. (The family wealth came from slavery. Unfortunately.)
On a positive note, I loved the grand interiors, and all the information was super easy to digest. The gardens are equally impressive. I got lucky for once and visited on a clear day, so I got lovely views toward the sea and Eryri. Make sure you see the walled garden, too. It was spectacular.
Penrhyn Castle isn’t cheap, but at least you can see where the money went
The main downside to Penrhyn is the price. It’s expensive, and the Cadw Explorer Pass doesn’t cover it. Still, I think it’s worth considering if you enjoy grand historic houses or want to see a castle that looks different from one of Edward I’s.
Bangor itself is a small, welcoming university city with a modern feel. I enjoyed adding a short city stop to a day exploring the area. Garth Pier is especially worth a look: it’s a Victorian pier (are you sensing a theme? I love all things Victorian) with great views across the Menai Strait toward Anglesey and the mountains. The city is also hilly, so don’t expect a flat stroll.
Best things to do:
Trwyn Du Lighthouse and Puffin Island, Penmon Point’s whole lineup in one view
Penmon Point at the eastern tip of Anglesey is the perfect place for countryside views. The black-and-white Trwyn Du Lighthouse just offshore is impossible to miss. I got excellent views of Puffin Island across the water here, with the North Wales coast and Eryri in the distance. It’s a really pretty spot, especially if you're looking for a break from castles and historic towns.
I wouldn't do it as a standalone North Wales attraction though—it's not worth the drive and money on its own. But if you're in Beaumaris, it would be a shame not to stop by. Or if the weather on the mainland is bad but Anglesey has been spared. The perks of being an island.
Dolbadarn Castle, one tower left standing, and it picked the best view in Llanberis
Dolbadarn Castle is a great little stop if you’re already exploring Llanberis. Unlike the enormous castles built by Edward I, this one was built by the Welsh themselves under Llywelyn the Great in the 13th century. So this is the Welshiest Welsh castle, in a way. Today it's mostly ruins, but the one stone tower that survives sits in a gorgeous mountain setting.
In my opinion, the views are the main reason to visit. I spent about 30 minutes here, and most of that was spent climbing up to take in the surrounding mountains and lakes. I wouldn’t make a special trip just for Dolbadarn. But it’s free, quick, easy to get to, and a great addition to a day exploring Llanberis, Llyn Padarn, or the slate quarries. Areas you'll probably hit anyway.
Pro tip: This Best of Snowdonia day trip from Llandudno and Conwy stops at Dolbadarn, has lunch in Llanberis, and throws in Beddgelert and Betws-y-Coed.
Colorful, quirky, and done in an hour. Portmeirion in a nutshell
Portmeirion looks better in photos than it felt in person. It’s basically an Italian Riviera-themed village in the middle of Wales with colorful buildings and quirky architecture. I found it unusual, sure, but once I took my pictures and got my coffee, there wasn't a whole lot else to do.
I spent about an hour here, mostly because it was raining and I needed somewhere to wait it out. If you’re nearby and curious, go ahead. But I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit unless you have money to burn (it's expensive, ugh) or a thing for odd places.
South Stack is gorgeous. So is the hour-long drive back
Remember how I said you need to drive around Anglesey to see at least a good amount of it? South Stack is proof of that. It's on the northwestern tip of Holy Island—the complete opposite side to Penmon Point—so I had to drive an hour and back just to see it.
Don’t get me wrong, South Stack is beautiful. It's got the dramatic cliffs and coast and everything. But it wasn’t worth a drive that long. If you’re gonna pick a side of Anglesey to explore, go for the east tip near Beaumaris instead. But definitely give it a visit if you’re spending a full day in Anglesey.
Five days, too many castles, zero regrets. North Wales, you did good
Step one of the best places to visit in North Wales: go to Eryri, Caernarfon, and Llanberis. That’s where I’d send you for the strongest intro to what makes this region so special. Those three together cover a lot of bases. You get epic mountains, fascinating history, and easy outdoor access.
Step two: sprinkle a few coastal stops in there next. The best are Llandudno or Anglesey. Both are best, of course, but that all depends on the amount of time you have.
Step three: understand that Welsh roads are slow. You have less time in North Wales than you think you do. So don’t try to see everything. North Wales has more than enough castles, mountains, and pretty towns to fill a week. So pick Conwy or Llandudno for accommodation as your base, give yourself ample time at each location, and for the love of god bring a raincoat.
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Hi, I’m Jan. I travel fast and intensely, whether I’m exploring the buzz of Tokyo in 3 days or road-tripping through mountains and beaches on a 3-week Thailand adventure. And no matter where I am, you’ll always find me in a comfortable hotel at night and eating the best food.
If that sounds like your kind of journey, hop on board, and let’s explore the world together!
I started this blog after realizing how tough it can be to find reliable, authentic travel info. You wouldn’t believe how many “travel bloggers” never even visit the places they write about! On Next Level of Travel, you can count on my full honesty and insights drawn from my firsthand experiences.
Here’s the deal: not every destination is all superlatives and unicorns. I’ll let you know if a tourist attraction isn’t worth your time, like skipping overrated stops in my 2-week Spain itinerary. And when I find something truly special—like the perfect mix of culture and nature in Cape Town—you can trust that it’s worth adding to your itinerary.
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