At a glance
Choose your base by region: Llanberis or Betws-y-Coed for Snowdonia walking, Conwy or Llandudno for the north coast, Caernarfon for western Snowdonia and Anglesey, Bala for the south. Self-catering is the best value for families. Book at least 3 months ahead for July and August.
Best Base Towns for North Wales
Llanberis — Best for Snowdon and the Llanberis Valley
Llanberis sits at the foot of Snowdon and is the single most convenient base for mountain walkers. The Llanberis Path starts in the village; the Snowdon Mountain Railway terminus is here; and the National Slate Museum (currently closed for redevelopment until ~2027) and Llyn Padarn are a short walk away. Accommodation includes Llanberis YHA (excellent budget option on the lakeside) and a range of B&Bs and small hotels. The village has several cafés and restaurants, including some of the best post-walk breakfasts in Snowdonia.
Betws-y-Coed — Best Central Base
Betws-y-Coed sits at the confluence of the Conwy, Lledr and Llugwy rivers — the most central point in Snowdonia for a wide range of activities. Snowdon (via A4086/Llanberis) is 30 minutes; Tryfan and Llyn Ogwen (via A5) are 20 minutes; Conwy Castle is 20 minutes. The Conwy Valley Line station connects to Llandudno Junction. The village has a good range of hotels, guesthouses and outdoor shops, and is the most popular tourist town in Snowdonia.
Conwy — Best for Heritage
Conwy is one of the best-preserved medieval walled towns in Europe. Staying inside or immediately outside the town walls — within walking distance of the castle and the complete 1.3km walls circuit — gives a North Wales experience unavailable anywhere else. Accommodation inside the walls is limited but special. Llandudno (4 miles) has more options at all price points and is easily combined with a Conwy base day.
Llandudno — Best for Families and Non-Walkers
Llandudno has the widest choice of accommodation in North Wales — large Victorian hotels, modern options and everything in between — and is the most accessible by public transport (direct trains from Manchester). The Great Orme, North Shore beach, pier and town centre keep non-walkers happy; Conwy (4 miles) and Snowdonia (30–45 minutes) are feasible day trips. Best for mixed-interest groups.
Caernarfon — Best for Western Snowdonia and Anglesey
Caernarfon is the best base for combining Anglesey day trips with western Snowdonia. Edward I's castle dominates the town; Newborough Beach and Llanddwyn Island are 20 minutes south; Llanberis is 8 miles east. The town has a working Welsh-language culture not found in the more tourist-dominated bases. Limited hotel range — mainly B&Bs and guesthouses.
Bala — Best for the South and Llŷn
Bala sits at the northern end of Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake — the largest natural lake in Wales) and is the best base for exploring southern Snowdonia, the Aran mountains, and the Dee Valley. White-water rafting on the Tryweryn is accessible here. The Llŷn Peninsula is 45 minutes southwest. Bala is a strongly Welsh-speaking town with a more authentic feel than the more touristy northern bases.
Frequently asked questions
Llanberis is the best base for Snowdonia walking. It sits at the foot of the Llanberis Path (the most used Snowdon route) and is the departure point for the Snowdon Mountain Railway. The National Slate Museum (closed for redevelopment until ~2027) is in the village, with the Llanberis Lake Railway and Llyn Padarn a short walk away. Accommodation ranges from budget hostels (Llanberis YHA) to small hotels and B&Bs. Betws-y-Coed is the best central base if you want both Snowdon access and the Glyderau/Tryfan area.
Llandudno is an excellent base for the north coast, the Great Orme and the Conwy area. It has the widest range of hotels in North Wales — from large Victorian seafront establishments to boutique options — and is very well served by trains from Manchester and Liverpool. Conwy is 4 miles away by car or bus. The main limitation is that Snowdon (via Pen-y-Pass) is 45 minutes drive, and Llanberis 30 minutes — feasible but not as convenient as basing yourself in Snowdonia. For families with mixed walking/non-walking interests, Llandudno is often the best compromise.
For the Llŷn Peninsula, Abersoch (south coast) or Pwllheli (main town) are the best bases. Abersoch is a popular sailing and watersports town with a lively summer atmosphere and several good restaurants. Pwllheli is quieter and more workaday but well-connected by the Cambrian Coast Line. Nefyn is the best base for walking the northern Llŷn coast and visiting Porth Dinllaen. Criccieth (at the Llŷn base) is convenient for both the peninsula and Portmeirion.
Camping is excellent in North Wales. The National Trust campsite at Llyn Gwynant (south of Pen-y-Pass) is one of the best-located campsites in Britain — directly on the lakeshore, below the Snowdon cwm. Cae Du campsite near Aberdaron (Llŷn) is spectacular for coastal camping. The Bala area has several lakeside sites. Wild camping is permitted on open access land in Wales (unlike England) — the Snowdonia plateau and Rhinog mountains are popular wild camping areas. Use a leave-no-trace approach and avoid open fires.
Self-catering is widely available and is the best option for families or groups wanting flexibility. Cottages.com, Sykes Cottages and local agencies have properties throughout Snowdonia and Anglesey. For families, properties in Llanberis village offer walking access without car dependence for the mountain. Anglesey has many excellent self-catering options with sea views near Newborough, Rhosneigr and Beaumaris. Book at least 3–4 months ahead for July and August, and well in advance for the Easter school holiday.
Beaumaris (east Anglesey) is the most attractive Anglesey base — a well-preserved Georgian harbour town with a superb castle, good restaurants and easy access to the Menai Strait. Rhosneigr (west Anglesey) is the best base for surf, kitesurf and beach activities. Menai Bridge town is convenient for both Anglesey and the mainland (Snowdonia access is straightforward). For South Stack and Holy Island, Holyhead is the practical base but has limited tourist accommodation; Valley or Trearddur Bay are better options in the same area.
Not yet. The Welsh Government passed the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) (Wales) Act in 2025, which lets each council introduce a small overnight visitor levy. Registration of accommodation begins in autumn 2026, and the earliest any council could start charging is April 2027 — and only where the local council chooses to apply it. If introduced, the levy is expected to be about £1.30 per person per night for hotels, B&Bs and self-catering (around 75p for hostels and campsites), with under-18s exempt in shared accommodation. Check whether your accommodation's council has adopted the levy when booking for 2027 onwards.