Lonely PlanetOct 4, 2026
12 Best Places to Visit in Wales
Rugged mountains, wave-smashed coasts, exciting cities and castles galore: small but mighty Wales has many places that enchant visitors.
22 things in this story
- Cardiff CastleAttractionUnmissable castle from Roman origins to mock-Gothic
- Bute ParkParkAdjacent park on the banks of the River Taff
- National Museum CardiffMuseumShowcases dinosaur bones to impressionist masterpieces
- Elsewhere
- Eryri (Snowdonia)TrailSnowdonia, United KingdomRegion welcoming hikers to the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)
- Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)NeighborhoodBrecon Beacons, United KingdomRegion with bracken-cloaked moors and dramatic mountains
- National Waterfront MuseumMuseumSwansea, United KingdomCrowned by the coolly revamped Maritime Quarter
- Dylan Thomas's birthplaceSightSwansea, United KingdomEdwardian birthplace where he penned two-thirds of his work
- No Sign Wine BarPubSwansea, United Kingdom17th-century watering hole beloved by Dylan Thomas
- Gower National PeninsulaNeighborhoodGower Peninsula, United KingdomDelivers refreshing sea air and bracing coastal walks
- Brandy CoveSightGower Peninsula, United KingdomCliff-hugged beauty where pirates once stashed their booty
- Gower coastal pathTrailGower Peninsula, United Kingdom39-mile path from Mumbles to Crofty
- Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)SightSnowdonia, United KingdomCountry's loftiest peak at 1085m
- Ogwen ValleyNeighborhoodSnowdonia, United KingdomRemote, glacier-scoured valley with thundering rivers and falls
- Glyder FawrSightSnowdonia, United KingdomIt is the fifth-highest mountain in Wales and has several walking and scrambling routes leading to its summit.
- Cader IdrisSightSnowdonia, United KingdomBoulder-strewn slopes at 893m
- Llanberis PathTrailSnowdonia, United KingdomPopular but crowded route up Yr Wyddfa
- Richard Booth’sMarketHay-on-Wye, United KingdomThree-floor bookshop in Hay-on-Wye
- River WyeSightHay-on-Wye, United KingdomRiver for walking and canoeing
- Rhossili BaySightGower Peninsula, United Kingdom
- Oxwich BaySightGower Peninsula, United Kingdom
- Rhyd Ddu pathTrailSnowdonia, United Kingdom
- Snowdon Ranger pathTrailSnowdonia, United Kingdom
