Wales Area Guide

At 8,023 square miles, Wales is the smallest of the three nations on the island of Great Britain, but it crams a huge amount of interest into its compact size. There's something here for everyone, whether your interests lie in lively cities, quiet traditional villages, historic sights, exciting outdoor activities or peaceful beaches. Read on to discover some of the best places to visit in Wales.

Top attractions in Wales

Not sure where to start? Focus your trip around one of the best attractions in Wales – the three highlights we've chosen here are among the most popular places to visit, catering to all sorts of different tastes.

For urban explorers: Cardiff

Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is known for its lively atmosphere and its historical landmarks alike, so it's a great base for a city break. The city's relatively small size makes it an easy place to get to know, as well – with a population of less than half a million, it's not even in the top 10 UK cities by size.

At the heart of the city is Cardiff Castle, an eclectic mix of medieval and Gothic styles, and the most-visited paid attraction in Wales. Nearby, you can visit the National Museum of Wales, explore the stalls of thriving Cardiff Market and dine or drink at the many cafés, bars and restaurants in the city's beautiful arcades.

There's often something of a good-natured party atmosphere in central Cardiff – and it’s arguably at its best on a rugby weekend, when thousands of fans flock to the Principality Stadium and the streets fill with flags, daffodils and face painters. If that's not your scene, head down to Cardiff Bay for shows and concerts at the Wales Millennium Centre or get on a train to hit the sandy beach in Barry Island.

For outdoor adventurers: Snowdonia National Park

Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is the iconic sight in Snowdonia National Park (now more correctly known by its Welsh name of Eryri), and a day spent climbing the highest mountain in Wales is a must-do activity for many visitors. Around 600,000 people make the climb each year – either using their own efforts or riding the train to the top. That means it can get very busy around the mountain in high season – but don’t worry if you're hoping for a quieter experience, as there's plenty more to explore around the national park’s 823 square miles. 

Intrepid adventurers can fill their days in Eryri with hiking, mountain biking, climbing, watersports, canyoning and paragliding – as well as riding the world's fastest zipline at ZipWorld Penrhyn Quarry. Meanwhile, those who fancy a more leisurely life can take easier walks, visit pretty villages like Llanrwst and Betws-y-Coed, dip into the past at the National Slate Museum or head to one of the sandy beaches in the west of the park.

For history hunters: Conwy

Wales is well known for its castles – in fact, it’s said that there are more castles per square mile here than anywhere else in the world. Even among such stiff competition, Conwy Castle is a real standout: the medieval structure, with its eight sturdy towers, is still remarkably intact after more than 700 years. The gorgeous background of the Conwy River and the mountains of Eryri add even more appeal to the setting, and you can climb to the top of the towers to take it all in.

The castle is the highlight of Conwy, but it’s not the only historic attraction in town. While you're here, complete the circuit of the city walls, drop in to 16th-century Plas Mawr house and squeeze yourself into the Smallest House in Great Britain on the quay. Once you've done all that, there are more castles to visit in nearby Caernarfon, Harlech and Beaumaris. 

Scenic countryside and coastline

Wales is known for its stunning landscapes – and with fabulous beaches, craggy coastline, lakes, mountains and rolling green hills, you’re never far from some lovely scenery when you're here. There's plenty to explore and enjoy all around the country, but we've picked out a few highlights here that we think represent some of the best scenery in Wales.

• The mountains, waterfalls, caves and forests of the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) National Park entice millions of visitors to south Wales each year, for days of hiking, cycling and other outdoor adventures.

• As the name suggests, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is entirely devoted to the seaside scenery of west Wales. It's a spectacular place to visit – expect sweeping sandy beaches, thrilling coastal walks and the chance to spot marine wildlife such as puffins, dolphins and seals.

• There’s more fabulous coastal scenery in the Gower Peninsula National Landscape – places like Rhossili, Oxwich Bay and Three Cliffs Bay are much loved by locals and visitors alike.

• If you can’t get enough of this gorgeous coast, it's worth knowing that Wales is the only country in the world to have an official path running along its entire coastline. Walking the Wales Coast Path (or at least some of it) is a real highlight for many visitors.

• Away from the coast, there are lots of fabulous hilly views in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape. The area around Llangollen is particularly popular, but in general this less-explored area is a good place to visit for quieter walks.

Cultural highlights of Wales

Wales is a country with a strong sense of its own cultural identity – the Welsh language is still widely spoken in many parts of the country, and cultural traditions such as male voice choirs, wooden lovespoons and delicious Welsh cakes are alive and well too. If you'd like to delve into the history and culture of Wales, here are two of the best places to do that.

Caernarfon

Home to the UNESCO-listed Caernarfon Castle, this small town in north Wales is a great place to learn about Welsh heritage. There's a lot of history packed into its ancient streets, and the cultural attractions range from the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum to the thoroughly contemporary Galeri arts centre. 

Beyond the town itself, you can explore the area's history further with a visit to nearby Segontium Roman Fort, a ride on the Welsh Highland Railway or a walk from the village of Beddgelert to learn about the story of Prince Llywelyn. It's also easy to cross the Menai Bridge from here and explore the heritage of the Isle of Anglesey.

Hay-on-Wye

Right on the border of Wales and England, Hay-on-Wye is known for its 'book town' status, which makes it one of the best UK destinations for culture lovers. The highlight is the annual Hay Festival of Literature & Arts, held in late spring, but the town’s extensive collection of bookshops of all kinds makes it a great place to explore at any time of year.

Hay-on-Wye's location at the top of the Wye Valley National Landscape means that it's also a very pretty location, with lots of walks nearby along rivers or up mountains, plus other outdoor activities including cycling and canoeing.

Planning your trip to Wales

There’s a huge amount to explore in Wales, whether you fancy visiting Pembrokeshire's best beaches, touring all the ancient castles or hiking in Snowdonia (Eryri). Camping and glamping are great ways to make the most of the wonderful scenery and keep costs nice and affordable. From simple farm pitches to smart log cabins with luxurious hot tubs, Pitchup's collection of Wales campsites and glampsites has something for all tastes.