At a glance
3 days · Day 1: Conwy Castle (UNESCO) + free town walls · Day 2: Snowdon (walk or Mountain Railway) + National Slate Museum (free) · Day 3: Beaumaris Castle (UNESCO) + Newborough Beach · 2 UNESCO castles · Snowdon 1,085m — highest in England and Wales · From ~£110 per person per day.
3-Day North Wales Itinerary
This is the most popular North Wales itinerary — three full days covering the region's essential experiences. It combines the best of the north coast (Conwy), Snowdonia (Snowdon) and Anglesey (Beaumaris). Base yourself in Llandudno or Conwy for nights 1 and 2, or move to Llanberis before Day 2.
Getting here: From Manchester, take the M56 → A55 North Wales Expressway. Leave at Junction 19 (signed "Llandudno Junction / A470 / Betws-y-Coed") for the Conwy Valley. Conwy is approximately 85 miles from Manchester, 1 hour 30 minutes.
Day 1 — Conwy Castle and Medieval Town Walls
Morning: Conwy Castle (9:30am–12:30pm)
Start at Conwy Castle (LL32 8AY, adult £13.10 Cadw) as soon as it opens — the eight towers, Great Hall and water gate give a complete picture of 13th-century military architecture. The view from the top of the King's Tower — across the estuary, the three bridges and the Snowdonia mountains — is one of the finest in North Wales. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
Mid-morning: Town Walls Circuit (free)
Walk the complete free town walls circuit — 1.3km around the medieval town perimeter, with 21 towers and three original gates largely intact. Entry to the walls is free. Begin from the castle and work around the full circuit; several towers are climbable for views over the rooftops and the river. Allow 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Lunch and afternoon: Conwy town
Lunch in Conwy — The Erskine Arms or cafés on Castle Street. Explore the smallest house in Britain (quayside, free to view exterior), Aberconwy House (NT, the oldest house in Conwy), and the quayside. If time allows, drive to Llandudno for the Great Orme tramway or North Shore beach.
Evening: Conwy or Llandudno — base for nights 1 and 2.
Day 2 — Snowdon (1,085m) and Llanberis
Early start essential — depart by 7:30am
Option A: Walk Snowdon
Drive to Pen-y-Pass (LL55 4NU, 30 minutes from Llandudno via A55 J19 → A470 → A4086). Park must be pre-booked; alternatively use the Snowdon Sherpa S1 from Llanberis or S2 from Betws-y-Coed. Walk the Miners' Track — the most scenic approach, following a constructed path past Llyn Llydaw and Llyn Glaslyn before the steep final ascent to the summit ridge. Distance: 7.5 miles return. Allow 5–6 hours. Snowdon is 1,085m — the highest mountain in England and Wales.
Option B: Snowdon Mountain Railway
Drive to Llanberis (LL55 4TT). Snowdon Mountain Railway adult return ~£45–62 (pre-book at snowdonrailway.co.uk). The rack-and-pinion steam or diesel railway climbs 4.7 miles to the summit in approximately 1 hour each way. Allow 2.5–3 hours total including time at the summit.
Afternoon: National Slate Museum, Llanberis
After Snowdon (or the Railway), explore Llanberis — Llyn Padarn, the Llanberis Lake Railway and Dolbadarn Castle. Note that the National Slate Museum (LL55 4TY) is closed for redevelopment until around 2027, and the former Electric Mountain visitor centre has permanently closed.
Day 3 — Beaumaris Castle and Anglesey
Morning: Beaumaris Castle
Drive from Llandudno to Beaumaris (30 minutes via A55 Britannia Bridge to Anglesey). Beaumaris Castle (LL58 8AP, adult £8.50 Cadw) is the final and most technically perfect of Edward I's Iron Ring castles — never completed, but architecturally the masterpiece of the series. The concentric walls, the water-filled moat and the dock where ships once entered directly from the Menai Strait are extraordinary. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
Afternoon: Newborough Beach and Llanddwyn Island
Drive 25 miles southwest across Anglesey to Newborough Forest car park (LL61 6SG, charged, pre-book May–September). Walk 1.5 miles through the pine forest to Newborough Beach — one of the finest beaches in Wales — and continue to Llanddwyn Island with its two historic lighthouses and the ruins of St Dwynwen's church. Allow 2.5–3 hours. Return via A55 → M56.
Budget Summary
Per person, two sharing, mid-range (3 nights): Accommodation ~£200–240 · Attractions: Conwy Castle £13.10, Beaumaris £8.50, Snowdon Railway ~£45–62 (or free if walking) · Slate Museum free · Newborough free · Food ~£40–55 per day. Total: approximately £320–450pp for 3 days. Budget option (hostel, walking Snowdon): from ~£250pp total.
Frequently asked questions
Day 1: Conwy Castle (UNESCO, £13.10 adult) and the free 1.3km town walls circuit. Day 2: Snowdon — by the Miners' Track or Pyg Track from Pen-y-Pass, or the Snowdon Mountain Railway from Llanberis (~£45–62 return), plus the National Slate Museum (free) at Llanberis. Day 3: Beaumaris Castle (UNESCO, £8.50 adult) on Anglesey, then Newborough Beach and Llanddwyn Island. This covers two of the four UNESCO Iron Ring castles (Conwy and Beaumaris) and the highest mountain in England and Wales.
For a 3-day itinerary, the Miners' Track from Pen-y-Pass (LL55 4NU) is the recommended walk route — it is the most visually spectacular, passing Llyn Llydaw and Llyn Glaslyn before the final steep ascent to the summit ridge. Allow 5–6 hours return. The Pyg Track (also from Pen-y-Pass) is shorter and steeper. If the weather is poor, take the Snowdon Mountain Railway from Llanberis (~£45–62 return) — a completely different experience but equally valid. Pre-book Pen-y-Pass parking or use the Snowdon Sherpa bus.
Approximate costs per person (two people sharing, mid-range): Accommodation ~£50–80pp/night (3 nights ~£150–240). Conwy Castle £13.10. Snowdon Mountain Railway (if not walking) ~£45–62. National Slate Museum free. Beaumaris Castle £8.50. Newborough/Llanddwyn Island free. Food: approximately £35–55pp per day. Total: approximately £300–450pp for 3 days depending on accommodation level, whether you walk or take the Railway, and eating choices. Budget travellers using the YHA and walking Snowdon can do it for significantly less.
Two bases work well: (1) Stay in Llandudno for all three nights — 30 minutes from Snowdon, 5 minutes from Conwy, and Beaumaris is 30 minutes via the A55 and Britannia Bridge to Anglesey. (2) Stay two nights in Llandudno/Conwy and move to Llanberis on Day 2 — puts you at the base of Snowdon for an early start. Llanberis gives a more immersive Snowdonia experience; Llandudno is more comfortable and has more accommodation options.
Yes — the Snowdon Mountain Railway (from Llanberis) takes non-walkers to the summit without any walking. Conwy Castle and town walls are accessible (some steps on the walls; the castle towers have steep internal stairs but the ground level is flat). Beaumaris Castle is flat and fully accessible. Newborough Beach involves a 1.5-mile walk from the car park but the beach itself is flat. Non-walkers can replace the Snowdon section with the National Slate Museum (free, level ground) and Electric Mountain visitor centre (free).