Jan’s Best Welsh Castle Awards
Map: where are the best castles in Wales?
What makes these the best castles to visit in Wales...the world’s castle capital?
At a glance: The top 8 castles in Wales
1. Caernarfon Castle (North Wales)
2. Caerphilly Castle (South Wales)
3. Pembroke Castle (West Wales)
5. Harlech Castle (North Wales)
6. Penrhyn Castle (North Wales)
7. Beaumaris Castle (North Wales)
8. Dolbadarn Castle (North Wales)
Famous castles in Wales I did not visit
Why does Wales have so many castles?
There are 641 castles in Wales—more than any other country in the world per square mile. Needless to say, the top Welsh castles are a super competitive list. So how the hell did I manage to choose just 8?
Glad you asked. First of all, obviously I didn’t visit all 641 Welsh castles. I doubt literally anyone on the planet has, except for maybe some super obsessed Welsh historian or something.
But I did manage to visit quite a few of them during my 10-day trip to the world’s castle capital, including every castle on this list plus several others that didn’t make the cut. These are my personal favorites from the castles I actually visited.
Scared there’s just too many? Good news: there’s so much variation that I didn’t get bored. Some of these castles are massive medieval fortresses built to control Wales. Others are the remains of castles built by the Welsh themselves. And then you have later estates that basically went “You know what we need here? A castle.” Because Wales didn’t have enough of those.
Point is, even after seeing castle after castle, I never felt like I was looking at the same thing twice. (Although after a while I started seeing stone walls when I closed my eyes...)
Spoiler alert: my top three castles are Caernarfon, Caerphilly, and Pembroke. They had super engaging exhibits, actual historical significance beyond “some random relative of some random prince happened to step foot in here,” and were more than worth the ticket price.
Still, I recommend all 8 of these places, and I’m about to tell you exactly why they’re the best castles in Wales.
Quick planning tip: North Wales castles make up most of my list, so that’s where I’d base myself if “castle hopping” is what you’re after when you visit Wales. And get a car. Public transport between castles is slow and spotty, and half of these places are in the middle of nowhere. I'd compare prices on Discover Cars before you go.
Read more from my Wales travel blog.
Same shorts, two castles, two moods. Caernarfon in the clouds, Pembroke in the fog
Sunsets in Tenby don't mess around, and neither do the colorful houses @ North Beach
To rank all the Welsh castle competitors fairly, I used my scientifically created, tried-and-tested castle ranking methodology:
A sunny day at Caernarfon means mountain views from literally every window. The one time Welsh weather played nice
Climb one tower, and you get the whole package: castle, town, and Eryri peaks in one shot @ Caernarfon Castle
I had the best overall visitor experience at Caernarfon. History, grand castle architecture, engaging information...It has it all. It’s also one of Wales’ 4 UNESCO castles—yep, only 4, which is kind of surprising—and of those Caernarfon absolutely takes the cake.
A lot of that is thanks to the curation. The educational videos are top-notch, meaning actually well done (especially by museum standards), there were easily digestible facts everywhere, and by the time I left I felt like an expert on Caernarfon’s history. Go ahead, ask me anything.
Another plus of a giant castle: all the visitors were well spread out so I never felt like I was suffocating in a crowd.
As for historical significance, Caernarfon kicks ass. The castle was built on the site of a former Roman fort by King Edward I and served as his royal palace, so he stayed there often. It’s also where his son, Edward II—the first English prince of Wales—was born. You can see the room where historians think it happened. Yes, think, because they still debate it as historians do.
Some say he was born in Eagle Tower. Even if he wasn’t, I still recommend you check it out. It’s one of the castle’s 2 tallest towers along with Queen’s Tower. Both of them are ginormous, have their own exhibits, and gave me excellent views of Snowdonia in the distance. That said, Conway and Beaumaris both beat Caernarfon for nature views. Nobody’s perfect.
Clouds, cliffs, and a lake straight out of a Norwegian fjord. Low effort, ridiculously high reward @ Cwm Idwal
Speaking of which, I’d say that Caernarfon has two downsides: the price and the accessibility. While I was able to park easily, paying GBP 2.6 (USD 3.50) for it was expensive. As was the entry price of GBP 14.9 (USD 20), making it one of the most expensive castles in Wales.
As for the accessibility, this castle is huge, so prepare to walk, walk, walk. I probably walked up 20+ floors overall. There’s an elevator that can take you to the top, but most of it is wall walks and tight spiral staircases. You won’t see much with a broken leg.
Two dragons and a steaming lair. The kids were losing their minds, and honestly, so was I @ Caerphilly Castle
Looking for the biggest castle you can get your hands on? Here it is. Caerphilly is the biggest castle in Wales, and it was obvious from the moment I started approaching it. That thing loomed in the distance miles before I actually got there.
But the size isn’t why it earned the #2 spot. Nope, it's because of the entertainment value and the pure medieval marvel of it all. The whole place has a cool over-the-top fortress thing going for it. Huge stone curtain walls, towers, a moat, and even siege engines sitting around. Y’know, in case someone wants to overtake it again. (I might try. I liked it that much.)
Caerphilly also has its own mini Tower of Pisa, except this one is a medieval castle tower damaged during the English Civil War. It’s big, wonky, and kinda looks like a foot. I loved it.
As for the entertainment value, Caerphilly is the best castle in Wales to see with children. The kids I saw there had a blast looking at all the dragons on display plus reading the story of the Welsh dragon. Adults did too, of course. Namely me.
The castle is also very easy to navigate despite its ridiculous size. That said, don't confuse easy navigation with easy walking. There are a lot of stone stairs, narrow passages, and uneven surfaces, especially if you want to get up into the towers.
Don’t come here for the views from the castle though. Most of the other castles on this list impressed me much more in that category because Caerphilly itself is very meh. The castle is very clearly the main event in this town. Which is fair; this is a castle in South Wales so you’re not getting Snowdonia views here.
At GBP 12.90 (USD 17), I thought it was money well spent, especially if you're traveling with kids. Parking was a little annoying to figure out, but the large parking lot behind the castle was cheap at around GBP 1.50 (USD 2) for two hours. All in all, well worth the money.
Pembroke’s gatehouse from the castle walls. I liked the exhibits here just as much as the castle itself.
Pembroke is hands-down the best Wales castle for history nerds. This place has connections to the Normans, the Tudors, the Magna Carta, the English Civil War, the Welsh Wars, and more. That's because it’s ridiculously old—like early twelfth-century old—so it's been through a lot.
As you might imagine, the exhibitions are absolutely loaded with historical facts. But it managed to engage me instead of drowning me in thousands of random tidbits. Considering how much can be said about this castle, that is an accomplishment.
A perfect example is William Marshal. He was the Earl of Pembroke and one of the most powerful figures in medieval England. You may not have heard of him, but his story is critical to understanding why this castle matters, so don't skip it. Not that I wanted to. The exhibits actually made me care about the guy, and that's exactly what I want from a historical castle.
How did they manage it? Well, for starters, the graphics and displays are actually well designed, not just Times New Roman on a boring plaque. And the stories explained why something matters to British history rather than just saying that it happened and moving on.
Now if you're imagining some stuffy old historical center, think again. The castle itself is super impressive with classic medieval towers, walls, and courtyards that keep me exploring for hours. But like Caerphilly, the setting is the weak point. It’s right by Pembroke’s main road, so I didn't get the same dramatic Welsh backdrop as some of the other castles on my list.
My personal favorite Pembroke historical connection: Henry VII, the founder of the Tudor dynasty, was born here. The introductory video does a great job of setting up that story. I know it's tempting to just run right into exploring the castle, but if I'd skipped the video, I would have regretted it. So don’t do that.
Say hi to baby Henry VII, the guy who kicked off the entire Tudor dynasty at Pembroke Castle
Be prepared for plenty of stairs and uneven medieval surfaces if you want to see everything. The Great Keep and towers are part of what makes the place so impressive, but they also mean this isn't the easiest castle on the list physically.
The GBP 13 (USD 17) entry price is a little hard to swallow, but understandable because Pembroke is privately owned. At least the parking is reasonably priced at about GBP 1.50 (USD 2) an hour, though the lot was smaller than I expected.
Also, this is my son’s favorite castle in Wales. Yes, it’s only because I bought him a beautiful wooden sword from here. No, it’s not factoring into the ranking.
Conwy Castle is worth visiting, but don’t skip the town walls. Walking those was one of my favorite things I did in Wales.
Conwy Castle is fine. So why'd I rank it the 4th best Welsh castle? Well, I'm counting the whole town too. But Jan, that's cheating! No, it's not. Let me explain: Conway itself, AKA the town, is basically a medieval castle in Wales in and of itself.
Let me explain. In the thirteenth century, Edward I didn't just build a castle here and call it a day. He built the castle and fortified the entire town around it as one enormous defensive project. The castle anchors one corner of the settlement while the town walls continue around the medieval streets.
And it goes one step further—you can actually walk on those medieval walls surrounding the town and circumnavigate it that way. As I walked, the castle kept popping up from different angles. It gets big bonus points for that, as it was one of my favorite things I did in Wales.
If you want someone to fill in the backstory while you walk, there are guided tours of Conwy Castle and the town walls too.
Not technically a castle, but Plas Mawr holds its own against the big boys.
Plas Mawr, an exceptionally well-preserved Elizabethan townhouse, is another reason to explore Conwy beyond its castle and town walls. As for the castle itself, don't get me wrong. It was a really great castle to see. But the hype kind of overhypes it, if that makes any sense.
It was completed, but you wouldn't necessarily guess that from looking at it today, since it looks like one big ruin. The original blueprint was also fantastic: eight massive towers connected by the walls and creating a badass symmetrical fortress. What the hell happened to that plan?
But the views blow Pembroke and Caerphilly out of the water. I got some of my favorite views in Wales from the walls, where I was able to see the castle, the Old Town's rooftops, and out over the estuary and toward the Eryri mountains. The whole thing all became one giant panorama, which I didn’t get at any other castle.
So yes, the castle is worth seeing. Just don't make the mistake of treating the literal castle itself as the whole Conwy experience. The real attraction is the medieval town wrapped around it, and that's why it's at spot #4 on my list.
Harlech looks enormous from below. I’d seen most of it in 30 minutes, though—the location is what earned it a place on my list.
Harlech Castle has the best location of all the castles in Wales. It's up on a cliff with the dramatic landscape all around it. From a distance it looks ridiculously formidable. If I were a Brit trying to recapture it, I might turn around with my tail between my legs.
That being said, the castle is in ruins. Just to keep your expectations reasonable. But as the smallest of Edward I's four main Welsh castles, the setting makes it seem a lot more intimidating than it should be. Like a tough-looking chihuahua or something.
Harlech was built fast and to last. The castle was finished in just 7 years, which is crazy. I loved learning how that was done. The famous architect James of St. George oversaw the project and lived here while the work was happening, which helps to explain the pace a little bit.
The sea used to come right up to the castle. These days you have to peek through a window to find it @ Harlech Castle
The information about the construction and the accounting behind it was surprisingly interesting too. This was far from some cheap little fort thrown up on a hill. The project was extremely expensive, and the exhibition gave me a really good sense of just how much money, labor, and planning went into it. Spoiler: it was a lot.
It’s also one of the four UNESCO castles in Wales, and I can absolutely see why it belongs in that group. The architecture is impressive, and the castle played an important role in the centuries of conflict between the Welsh and English: It was built to crush Welsh resistance to Edward I and later was famously captured by the Welsh. Good for them.
But the setting does a lot of the heavy lifting here. I saw the whole castle in about 30 minutes and didn’t find that much to explore, especially compared to Caernarfon or Caerphilly. What I did see was well presented and interesting; I just wish there was more of it. The castle parking lot is a bit small too, although there are larger ones in town if you don't mind walking. I didn't.
Penrhyn is a 19th-century mansion pretending to be a medieval castle. The interiors were some of the best I saw in Wales.
Penrhyn Castle is not like the other castles on this list. It wasn’t built to protect Edward I’s kingdom from the Welsh or anything like that. Instead, it’s a 19th-century neo-Norman country house, and it’s one of the world’s richest estates you can visit today.
I could see the Pennant family’s wealth from the moment I stepped onto the grounds and was greeted by a very opulent mansion road to the parking lot. The history of the family wealth is problematic, though. The Pennants owned Caribbean sugar plantations operated using African slaves. And hundreds of slaves worked right there on the property. Ugh...
If you can overlook that ugly part of the castle’s history, you get rewarded with one of the most beautiful castles in Wales. This is an absolutely massive estate with amazing Snowdonia views. George Hay Dawkins-Pennant was clearly a megalomaniac and told himself, “Hmm, I want to build myself a castle and see both Snowdonia and the sea.” And boy did he manage it.
Dinner for twenty, anyone? Victorian aristocrats clearly never heard of minimalism @ Penrhyn Castle
The interiors were just incredible. It kind of felt and looked like Hogwarts in some places. Plus the text was simple, easy to understand, and helped me appreciate just how much money and time went into building the place. I especially liked the servants’ room, funnily enough.
The gardens are just unending too. Don’t forget to see them. But if you don’t have time—fair, just the castle itself took me 1.5 hours—at least make time for the walled garden. It’s more than worth it.
I also loved the collection of old steam engines and railway equipment. I probably would've visited it anyway even if it wasn’t in the castle because it reminded me of the UNESCO Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, which is one of my favorite places in Wales.
I will say, though, that the entry fee is stupidly expensive. I would visit anyway, but sheesh. There’s enough money in this estate, isn’t there? The parking lot was free though, so I guess it balances out.
Every arch here frames a postcard, and the castle isn't even finished
Beaumaris Castle is the greatest castle never built. What you get is ruins, but nice enough ruins that had me wistfully wondering what could have been...unfortunately, Edward I was too busy funding a war in Scotland to finish it. It happens.
What you’re getting to see today is basically just the fortress. Which honestly was still really dramatic. Especially because it's completely surrounded by a deep moat. That was probably my favorite feature of the castle, and it’s not part of the castle itself...
But Beaumaris gets points because if the weather is right, the views are super nice over the Menai Straits and toward Snowdonia. Of course, I got pure clouds and couldn’t see shit from the outside but finally got those views once I entered and climbed up a little bit.
Edward I. ran out of money before he could finish it. Lucky for me, there's still plenty to explore
The inner castle was surprisingly large. Beaumaris was designed to be Edward I's ultimate concentric castle, and I still got a sense of the scale despite it being unfinished. It felt bigger to me than Conwy but smaller than Pembroke, which makes sense because Beaumaris was designed to spread out horizontally instead of being tall.
It's a shame that with all that space, the insides were totally empty. I get it, you have to preserve the original state because of UNESCO, but then again it could be just a little bit furnished and curated. What info they did have was great, though. The story of the castle is really interesting. Bonus points for being totally pigeonless.
The entrance fee was fair—I'd say just about worth the entrance and the 45 minutes I spent there. I dunno if the castle is worth the drive and money just to see as a standalone attraction, but I’d definitely combine it with other things in the Anglesey area. It’s genuinely worth visiting. I just wouldn't make it the only reason I drove all the way there.
One lonely tower, a slate mountain backdrop, and serious Welsh-prince energy
I spent much of this list talking about enormous castles built by Edward I to conquer and control Wales. So here’s something completely opposite: a little ruined castle built by the Welsh themselves. It may be less impressive, but the Welsh heritage is why I wanted to include it.
It was built by Llywelyn the Great, the powerful Welsh prince who ruled in the 13th century. So instead of seeing another example of Edward I's ridiculous castle building, I got to see what the Welsh princes were building to defend their territory before the English took control.
And what I saw was...mostly ruins. The main attraction is the surviving stone tower. It became a lot more interesting once I climbed up it, though, since the setting is the real draw here. From the top, I got excellent views of the Llanberis landscape’s gorgeous mountains and lakes.
It’s a strategic location too. From that position, the Welsh princes would get a damn good view of anyone coming through the surrounding valleys.
I didn’t spend much time here, only about 30 minutes, because there’s obviously very little to see and explore here compared to the enormous castles like Caernarfon or Caerphilly. Don’t come here for elaborate exhibitions or furnished medieval rooms either.
I wouldn't drive across Wales just for Dolbadarn, but do stop by if you’re in the area en route to Llyn Padarn, the slate quarries, Llanberis Pass, or Snowdonia. It's an easy addition that gave me a nice taste of an actual Welsh castle. Plus, it’s free to visit and easy to walk to.
Caerphilly Castle made my list. Plenty of other Welsh castles didn't make my itinerary. Even I have my limits.
These are a few famous castles in Wales I didn't make it to, either because they didn't fit my route or because I could only get to so many. But you'll hear about these repeatedly when researching Wales castles, and they're worth knowing about if you're planning your own route.
Cardiff Castle — I didn’t make it to Cardiff at all, so I skipped this one. It’s right in the center of the city and is a bizarre mix of a Roman fort, Norman castle, and Victorian Gothic palace.
Raglan Castle — Out in Southeast Wales, Raglan is a medieval fortress dating back to the 12th century with huge towers and Renaissance-era architecture. It’s a great choice for anyone who wants something different from Edward I's fortresses.
Powis Castle — Powis, just outside Welshpool, started as a medieval castle and was gradually transformed into a grand country house. It's especially famous for the terraced gardens, so it's worth considering if you're particularly interested in historic gardens.
Chirk Castle — Also a medieval fortress turned into a country home, Chirk is another one of Edward I’s in North Wales. It's a good option if you want to see the evolution of a medieval fortress since an earlier Norman motte-and-bailey castle stood in the area.
Castell Coch — Castell Coch north of Cardiff is for people who are underwhelmed by regular castles, if that’s possible. It's a spectacular Victorian Gothic fantasy created for the Marquess of Bute.
Carew Castle — Near Pembroke in Pembrokeshire, Carew is a large medieval castle overlooking a tidal millpond. It’s got impressive surviving walls and pretty setting, which make it an obvious stop if you're already exploring southwest Wales.
Chepstow Castle — Chepstow in southeast Wales is one of the oldest stone castles in Wales. It stretches along a cliff rather than forming one big symmetrical fortress, making it one of the more visually interesting castles I missed.
Caernarfon Castle is just one of the many fortresses left behind by centuries of fighting over Wales. Apparently, everyone wanted a piece of it.
Wales wasn't always so peaceful. In fact, for centuries of its existence, it was fought over, conquered, defended, re-conquered, re-defended...Rinse and repeat. And each of these periods left its own type of castle behind:
Same shorts, different castles. I visited them, ranked them, and picked my top 8. You're welcome.
The number of castles in Wales you should visit depends on your priorities. I personally visited 13 during my trip to Wales, but I’m a history nerd, so maybe that’d be too much for someone else. For me it was a good amount.
Here’s the thing about Wales though—even if you’re not seeking castles out, you’ll end up in cities and towns with castles anyway and probably think ‘might as well give it a visit.’ It's very possible to rack up castle stops even if that wasn’t your specific aim.
If you want to be intentional about it though, I’d aim for at least 5. And those 5 should be different enough from each other to make an impression. Meaning, don’t go and see only Edwardian fortresses and especially don’t see them back-to-back. I didn’t get bored because I varied my castle order enough.
These are some possible combinations I’d recommend:
For the North Wales route, you only need one base. Conwy or Caernarfon both work well, and you can compare hotels on Booking.com to see which fits your budget.
There is a total of 641 castles in Wales. Bear in mind that most of those are just castle ruins and are not worth visiting.
Cardiff Castle (duh), Castell Coch, and Caerphilly Castle are the main castles near Cardiff.
Wales’ four UNESCO castles are Caernarfon, Harlech, Beaumaris, and Conwy.
Absolutely. At one point I saw three of the UNESCO castles in one day, and it didn't even feel repetitive. If you're short on time, you can absolutely combine a few smaller or nearby castles into one day instead of giving each its own itinerary.
With a moat like this, you know you're looking at Wales' biggest castle @ Caerphilly Castle
The largest Wales castle is Caerphilly in South Wales.
The answer is, again, Caerphilly. I saw tons of kids enjoying all the dragon statues around the grounds without even getting bored.
I found the Cadw pass to be absolutely worth it. I visited enough of the castles covered by the pass that it quickly paid for itself. Several of them are on this list, including Conwy and Beaumaris. But if you’re only aiming to see two or three Wales castles, the pass may not be worth your while. Bear in mind that it only covers the Cadw owned castles, which are generally publicly owned. The private castles like Penrhyn aren’t included.
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Jan’s Best Welsh Castle Awards
Map: where are the best castles in Wales?
What makes these the best castles to visit in Wales...the world’s castle capital?
At a glance: The top 8 castles in Wales
1. Caernarfon Castle (North Wales)
2. Caerphilly Castle (South Wales)
3. Pembroke Castle (West Wales)
5. Harlech Castle (North Wales)
6. Penrhyn Castle (North Wales)
7. Beaumaris Castle (North Wales)
8. Dolbadarn Castle (North Wales)
Famous castles in Wales I did not visit
Why does Wales have so many castles?
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.
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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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