The 18 Best Things to See and Do in Wales

You may be more likely to associate the Maldives with amazing beaches than Wales, but in fact this small country has a great many to rave about. Such as Barafundle Bay, which has been named one of the best in the whole world by Passport Magazine. It’s a small curved beach, surrounded by rolling green hills, pine trees and dunes. It’s a 10-15 minute walk from the nearest car park, so you’ll have a scenic route before you arrive, and the beach itself is sandy and pristine, with clear blue waters. A must-see.

This award-winning, 560-acre (227ha) botanical garden in the beautiful Carmarthenshire countryside contains 8,000 plant varieties. It can be seen a long way off due to the huge pod-like glass structures creating the right conditions for the exotic specimens. As well as conserving different plant species, the aim of the garden is to educate while providing a beautiful and interesting experience. There are themed gardens to explore and tons of activity days throughout the year.

With much of its coastline declared an area of outstanding natural beauty and its mainland comprising several picturesque villages, the island of Anglesey offers no shortage of reasons to visit. Lying slightly off the west coast of Wales, the island is home to an abundance of scenic views and mesmerising landscapes and is perfect for hikers and cyclists or those just looking for a quiet place to relax.

In a land full of castles it would be wrong not to visit one and soak up the history. Dinefwr is in a particularly attractive setting in Carmarthenshire with beautiful views of the countryside, as well as a nearby nature reserve. The fortress dates back to the 1100s, when it was associated with the rule of Lord Rhys.

Wales is a walker’s paradise thanks to its temperate climate, wealth of information on various walks and the beautiful landscapes to explore. Appearing on the National Trust’s list of legendary walks, Cwm Idwal follows “a bowl-shaped hollow filled with the crystal clear waters of Llyn Idwal”. It’s a stunning way to spend a few hours, with rock formations and the dramatic mountainous scenes of the oldest National Nature Reserve in the country. The route also passes the lake Llyn Ogwen, said to be where King Arthur’s sword lies.

This large, open-air museum is the perfect way to spend a day while diving into the history of Wales. See traditional farms full of animals, a village of old fashioned shops, and a collection of original buildings and houses from different periods. Also make sure to explore the gorgeous grounds of the 16th-century manor house and the workshops.

North Wales is one of the best-equipped places to zip line in the world. Enter Zip World, which comprises four different, equally epic options: Zip World Velocity at Bethesda, where you can reach speeds of 100mph (161kph) on a pair of zip lines a mile long; Zip World Titan, a four-person zip line at Llechwedd Slate Caverns; Bounce Below, a huge underground play area; and Zip World Caverns, an underground adventure on zip lines, rope bridges, ferrata and tunnels, both found at Llechwedd Slate Caverns. Take your pick and feel the adrenaline rush.

Wales is officially one of the best places in the world to see star constellations, planets… even shooting stars if you’re lucky. Several parts of the country have been awarded the rarely-granted Dark Sky status, meaning a place where light pollution is at a minimum and sky displays are exceptional. The Brecon Beacons National Park was the first place in Wales deemed to be an International Dark Sky Reserve and it is brilliantly place to go stargazing. Just pack your telescope, find a beautiful spot and get ready to be enthralled.

The National Eisteddfod of Wales, usually held August, is the pinnacle which other smaller eisteddfods lead up to. It is an important Welsh festival of music and poetry, presented in the form of competitions and performances. Despite everything being in Welsh, non-Welsh speakers can still appreciate the sounds, ceremony and sheer Welsh-ness of the festival. The prizes are awarded in colourful, druid-style ceremonies by prominent Welsh figures dressed in robes and the ceremonies include flower dances and trumpet fanfares. For a flavour of traditional Wales, this cannot be missed.

The number of reasons to visit this island off the coast of Pembrokeshire is huge considering its small size. Skomer is protected due to its wildlife and scientific value and much of it is designated as an ancient monument. There is a huge population of Manx shearwaters as well as other birds, rabbits, and a species of vole entirely unique to the island. Then there are its archaeological attractions such as standing stones and prehistoric house remains. Despite all this most people go for the Atlantic puffin colony. Go between April and July to see them and marvel at how close you get – they go about their business collecting fish and running across paths to their burrow nests with barely any regard to humans. There is now a hostel on the island too.

If you have children, or even if you don’t, you’ll love this adventure theme park. Set in beautiful Pembrokeshire, it has big name rides such as Hydro, Megafobia or Vertigo (likened to skydiving without the plane) plus many other smaller rides and attractions.

Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, home of the Wales national rugby union team, takes pride of place in the town centre, exemplifying the city’s love of sport. Coming to Wales would not be complete without watching a match here – the atmosphere inside the stadium when the crowd are raring to go cannot be beaten.

From dinosaur bones to natural history to world-class art, you will find a varied offering at this museum in the heart of Cardiff. It wouldn’t be hard to spend an entire day walking the halls and discovering fascinating facts about the natural history of Wales.

This castle right in the centre of the city used to, until recently, feature free-roaming peacocks. Even without them, there’s plenty to see. Go on a tour and learn about the history, enjoy the beautiful and intricate interiors and walk around the lush, green grounds. Locals who want to visit regularly can get a “key pass” for unlimited visits.

This building in Cardiff Bay is an impressive feat of engineering, made of Welsh slate and copper. Above it, in English and Welsh, are words by Welsh poet Gwyneth Lewis – “in these stones horizons sing” – which are illuminated at night. The centre itself is a hive of activity, hosting opera, ballet, comedy and musicals.

This medieval castle in beautiful Snowdonia was a powerful fortress in its time. It is situated beside the Conwy Estuary and dates back to 1283. Find the most complete set of historical residential rooms inhabited by the medieval monarchy anywhere in England or Wales, connected by spiral staircases and large chambers. Look out for the weekend schedule for the regular educational events for kids.

Barry Island is not actually an island but a seaside resort, with rides, arcade games, a promenade, a long beach and food stalls selling items such as freshly made donuts. The resort featured in the hit comedy TV show Gavin and Stacey and offers a quintessential Welsh holiday resort.

The magnificent Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is built on pillars high above the River Dee and is one of the few Unesco World Heritage sites in Wales. If you’re looking for a unique experience, try one of the horse-drawn boat trips that take you along the canal wharf in Llangollen.