At a glance
412 verified attractions across 22 categories — from UNESCO castles and the world's first preserved railway to wild mountain summits, hidden coves and Dark Sky stargazing.
Browse by category
- Castles 28 attractions Four UNESCO Iron Ring fortresses and twenty-four more medieval strongholds.
- Beaches 38 attractions Blue Flag sands and remote coves on 125 miles of Anglesey and Llyn coastline.
- Mountains & Walks 22 attractions Snowdon at 1,085 m, Tryfan, Cadair Idris and 20+ mapped routes.
- Heritage Railways 10 attractions The world's first preserved railway and nine more narrow-gauge lines.
- Heritage 30 attractions Portmeirion, Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
- Prehistoric Sites 12 attractions 5,000-year-old passage tombs and the 3,700-year-old Great Orme Copper Mines.
- Wildlife & Nature 21 attractions RSPB reserves, red kites, ospreys and the Anglesey Red Squirrel project.
- Adventure 20 attractions Zip World Velocity, Adventure Parc and world-class outdoor adventure centres.
- Wild Swimming 12 attractions Glacial lakes, hidden gorge pools and coastal wild swims — with safety guidance.
- Waterfalls 8 attractions Pistyll Rhaeadr (highest in Wales), Swallow Falls and 6 more.
- Lakes 22 attractions Bala Lake (largest natural lake in Wales), Llyn Padarn and glacial mountain tarns.
- Family 38 attractions The best family-friendly days out, from Llechwedd to the Great Orme.
- Hidden Gems 22 attractions Car-free coves, empty valleys and places the crowds haven't found yet.
- Villages & Towns 32 attractions Medieval Conwy, Betws-y-Coed, Beddgelert and 29 more character towns.
- Food & Drink 17 attractions Welsh lamb, local seafood, Bodnant Walled Garden and independent producers.
- Lighthouses 8 attractions South Stack, Point Lynas, Llanddwyn Island and five more coastal beacons.
- Dark Sky 6 attractions Snowdonia International Dark Sky Reserve — some of Wales's darkest skies.
- Cycling 10 attractions Lôn Las Cymru, the Mawddach Trail and off-road trails at Coed y Brenin.
- Gardens 10 attractions Bodnant Garden, Plas Cadnant and Wales's finest designed landscapes.
- Museums 22 attractions The National Slate Museum (free), Segontium Roman Fort and more.
- Viewpoints 14 attractions Panoramic summits, ridge walks and coastal vantage points.
- Religious Sites 10 attractions Bangor Cathedral (c. 525 AD), Valle Crucis Abbey and the Isle of 20,000 Saints.
Planning your visit
North Wales divides naturally into seven regions. Snowdonia has the mountains, railways and UNESCO castles. Anglesey has the best beaches and most prehistoric sites. Conwy and the North Coast has Conwy Castle, the Great Orme and Llandudno. The Llyn Peninsula is remote, Welsh-speaking and spectacular. The Vale of Conwy, Clwydian Range and Wrexham round out the east.
Use the search page to filter by region, price, accessibility or category. Our itinerary guides (2, 3, 5 and 7 days) give ready-made plans.
Frequently asked questions
The unmissable highlights are: Conwy and Caernarfon castles (UNESCO Iron Ring), Snowdon (1,085 m — highest in England and Wales), the Ffestiniog and Talyllyn heritage railways, Portmeirion Italianate village, Zip World Velocity and Bounce Below, and Newborough Beach on Anglesey. North Wales has over 412 verified attractions across 22 categories.
A long weekend (3 nights) covers the key Snowdonia and Conwy highlights. Five days lets you add Anglesey and the Llyn Peninsula. A week gives time for Wrexham, the Clwydian Range and the Vale of Conwy. Our 2, 3, 5 and 7-day itineraries are at northwalesholidays.org.uk/plan/itineraries/.
May–September gives the longest daylight and best weather for mountains and beaches. June–August is peak season. October and November offer dramatic autumn colour, fewer crowds and lower prices. The heritage railways run year-round (reduced winter timetables). The castles are open every day from March to October.
Exceptionally so. The Snowdon Mountain Railway reaches Wales's highest summit without walking. Zip World Velocity and Bounce Below (age 3+ on some activities) are world-class. Llechwedd Slate Caverns and all four UNESCO Iron Ring castles have dedicated family facilities.
The Conwy Valley Line connects Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog (about 1 hour). The Cambrian Coast Line serves Barmouth, Porthmadog and Pwllheli from Birmingham. The TrawsCymru T2 bus links Bangor, Caernarfon and Porthmadog. Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses serve Snowdon trailheads from Caernarfon, Betws-y-Coed and Beddgelert — including a Park and Ride service.