Nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike will find lots to do in Wales. From battlegrounds to peaceful woodlands and coal and slate mines, to sandy beaches to rugged mountains, and majestic castles to charming villages, Wales has plenty to offer. Many of the smaller, far-flung villages can only be visited by car, but a great deal of this beautiful country can be reached by public transport. Here is a suggested itinerary by rail and bus to get you inspired, or we can tailor tours to your Wales wish list.
There’s a lot of outdoor space to explore so pack your comfy walking shoes. And don’t forget your waterproofs! Wales gets a lot more rain than many other places in Great Britain and the weather can be unpredictable.
Look out for some of Wales’ traditional foods, such as Welsh Cakes, Laverbread (made with seaweed), Cawl (stew), Glamorgan sausages, and of course, Welsh Rarebit.
Get in touch for your accommodation, rail and sightseeing bookings – we’re looking forward to helping you get the most out of your trip. Email sales@britishtips.com, call +27 21 975
2047, or WhatsApp +27 76 399 3630.
Train or bus from London to Cardiff: Start your journey bright and early at London Paddington for the 2-hour journey to Wales’s capital. Or take the National Express bus from London Victoria Coach Station or direct from Heathrow in just 3.5 hours.
Explore Cardiff Bay, home to the Wales Millennium Centre, Mermaid Quay, and Roald Dahl Plass. The town is easy to visit on foot and we recommend a walking tour and/or hop-on hop-off bus to orient yourself. You can easily spend 2 or more days here!
Be sure to visit the imposing medieval fortress of Cardiff Castle which overlooks the city. St Fagan’s National Museum of History is also an absolute must for anyone interested in this incredible part of the world. Take a boat cruise on Cardiff Bay to get a different view of Wales’ capital, learn more about the city at the Museum of Cardiff, and if you have an extra day and are visiting in summer, take a day trip by boat out to Flat Holm Island. Rugby fans will enjoy a tour of Principality Stadium. Spend 1 – 2 nights in Cardiff, or make this your base for the next few days.
Spend the night in Cardiff, or make this your base for the next few days, depending on where you’ll be visiting.
Train or bus from Cardiff to Swansea and the Gower Peninsula: It’s only around 1 hour by train or bus from Cardiff to Swansea so you can even do this as a day trip.
You can visit Swansea from Cardiff as a day return trip or spend a night or two there so you have plenty of time to visit the beautiful Gower Peninsula. Spend the morning exploring the National Waterfront Museum, which showcases the fascinating industrial heritage of Swansea and Wales. Once you’ve learned a bit more about Wales, take a stroll around Swansea Marina and its shops, cafes, and restaurants. The Maritime Quarter is a great place for lunch or dinner. Looking for bustling nightlife? Spend the evening in the Uplands area, known for its bars and live music venues.
If you’d prefer to head out of the town and can’t overnight in Swansea, visit the Gower Peninsula on a day trip from Cardiff instead and admire the gorgeous beaches and rugged landscape.
More time in Swansea? Hop on a morning bus to Rhossili on the Gower Peninsula, the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK. Rhossili has a helpful Visitor Centre for advice and souvenirs, and you can enjoy coastal walks at Rhossili Bay, famous for its stunning cliffs and sandy beach. Alternatively, there are tours that run to this area, depending on season. If you love exploring the outdoors and long to get away from the bustle of the city, why not spend a few nights on the peninsula, soaking up the glorious natural landscape?
TIP! Use the “This is Gower” App to plan your walking routes on the peninsula, available for iOS and Android.
Train or bus from Swansea to Tenby: Board a morning train to Tenby, which gets you there in just 2 hours.
Tenby is a picturesque seaside town with pastel-coloured buildings, medieval walls, and a cute little harbour. Spend the day wandering along cobbled streets, visiting Tenby Castle, and relaxing on the town’s sandy beaches. Don’t forget to stop for an ice cream at one of Tenby’s ice cream parlours, such as the famous Fecci’s, a fixture in the town since 1919.
Feeling energetic? Take a walk on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. There are many walking options and you can find out more and plan your route at the Pembrokeshire Coast website.
Tenby has many excellent restaurants where you can enjoy dinner with harbour views, but they are popular so we recommend booking your table in advance, particularly in busy season.
Bear in mind that Tenby is one of Wales’ most popular seaside towns, so it gets crowded in summer.
RECOMMENDED: In summer (April to October), take a boat trip to Caldey Island (just 20 minutes), run by Cistercian monks and known for its tranquil atmosphere. Buy your tickets at the kiosk at Tenby Harbour, where boats set off. Note that the island is always closed on Sundays.
Tenby to Aberystwyth: Next stop: Aberystwyth! Get going early as it’s around 3.5 – 4 hours by train from
Tenby to the town of Aberystwyth (with a change at Carmarthen).
Aberystwyth is a charming university town on the west coast of Wales, and a popular summer vacation destination. It’s also the location of Netflix’s popular drama, Hinterland (Y Gwyll in Welsh) so, if you’re a fan, it may look familiar. Wander along the seafront to the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway – the longest funicular electric cliff railway in Britain – for panoramic views of Cardigan Bay (and one of the world’s largest camerae obscurae).
Back in town, explore the ruins of Aberystwyth Castle and stroll along the mile-long Victorian promenade. There’s plenty to do indoors too, with both the Aberystwyth Arts Centre and the National Library of Wales being surprisingly interesting places to visit. Aberystwyth also has plenty of shops to stock up on goodies and souvenirs!
Spend the evening in a cosy pub or one of the many excellent restaurants in the town centre.
RECOMMENDED: If you love heritage railways and are visiting in summer, take a ride on the Vale of Rheidol Railway, which dates back to 1902 and takes you from Aberystwyth to Devil’s Bridge and back. Trains usually run July to October, and tickets sell out fast.
Aberystwyth to Porthmadog (2.5 hours, change at Dovey): Take the morning train to Porthmadog via Dovey Junction. The Cambrian Railway is considered one of the most scenic routes in Britain and this route takes you, first on the Cambrian Main Line and then along the Cambrian Coast Line.
The coastal harbour town of Porthmadog is home to the Ffestiniog Railway (the world’s oldest narrow-gauge railway), and the Welsh Highland Railway (the UK’s longest heritage railway). It also has a great Maritime Museum. Although the town itself isn’t packed with attractions, it’s well located and a great place to pause your journey, or base yourself for other trips.
RECOMMENDED: We highly recommend taking a ride on one of the heritage railways based in Porthmadog. The most popular is the 3-hour round-trip to the historic slate quarrying town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, but there are other options, depending on season and time. These don’t run all year around and they sell out fast, so be sure to plan ahead.
You can do a day trip to Portmeirion (less than 10 minutes by taxi), an absolutely gorgeous folly tourist village designed to look just like a picture-perfect Italian village. An overnight stay is even better as, after closing time, those staying at Portmeirion get to explore the village without other tourists around!
From Porthmadog, you can also do a side trip to overnight in Caernarfon. Wander the narrow streets, visit Wales’ most famous castles – Caernarfon Castle – & hop aboard the heritage Welsh Highland Railway. Get there by local bus (luggage maximum 20kg), in around 1 hour. Times can’t be pre-booked – you simply purchase a day ticket and get onto whichever bus has space, so be there early.
Heading home? Many visitors to North Wales opt to depart from Manchester or Birmingham as they’re closer than London, and have international airports too. Alternatively, spend a few hours relaxing on the train back to London (around 4-5 hours). Your departure city may inform where you go from Porthmadog.
If you’d prefer to continue, here are two popular options within Wales to consider for your next stop after Porthmadog…
Betws-y-Coed: If you plan to visit Betws-y-Coed from Porthmadog and you don’t have a car we suggest taking a bus as, by rail, it’s a 6-hour journey with 2 changes. A bus will get you there in 1.5 hours with 1 change at Gwastadnant.
Betws-y-Coed is a charming village known as the gateway to Snowdonia National Park. With the mountain scenes in the background and surrounded by dense Gwydyr Forest, the village has quite an Alpine atmosphere. Explore the village, stop for tea, do a little shopping, and visit the Conwy Valley Railway Museum & Model Shop next to the train station. Take one of the many nature walks around the village. The Gwydyr Forest has easy strolls, old miners’ paths, rover walks and bike trails. Or tackle slightly more challenging rambles, such as the 8.5km round trip along the river to Swallow Falls. (Important: there is a small entry fee.) There are also a few accessible routes for those with limited mobility, in wheelchairs, or strollers.
Llandudno: If you plan to visit Llandudno from Porthmadog and you don’t have a car, the options are rail (6 hours, change at Shrewsbury & Llandudno Junction) or bus (3 hours with 1 change at Bangor).
One of the most well-known seaside resorts in Britain, Llandudno, with its seafront promenade, Grade II Listed Victorian Pier, and many Victorian buildings is a lovely place to visit. A great way to explore is to follow the Llandudno Heritage Trail, taking in 15 important locations in this “model Victorian resort town”.
A trip on the Great Orme Tramway, which takes you up to the Great Orme Country Park and Nature Reserve, is also a fun way to see more of Llandudno.
Between March and early November, CitySightseeing runs a sightseeing bus which gives you a panoramic view of Llandudno and Conwy. Or why not visit Penderyn Distillery, home of Welsh Whisky, for a distillery tours and tasting? The Home Front Museum is a quirky collection of home-front related memorabilia, located in a mid-19th century building, previously used as a garage. Enjoy a tasty treat at Haulfre Tea Rooms, which are believed to date back to the 1860s. You really are spoilt for choice here! (Don’t forget to stock up on Welsh rock – the quintessential seaside holiday candy sold all over Llandudno.)
All too soon, it is time to bid Wales “hwyl fawr” (goodbye) and head home, but you’re sure to be longing to visit again!
Note: This itinerary can be customised based on your preferences and the time available for your visit. Additionally, it is recommended to check train schedules and make advance reservations to ensure a smooth journey.
(PS: don’t forget your BritRail Pass!)
The above post is designed to inspire. All information is correct at time of writing, but it is always best to check before you travel to ensure there are no closures or changes.
