The 10 best places to stay in North Wales

North Wales should be on everyone’s holiday bucket list. Full stop. We believe you could easily spend a year visiting all the picturesque towns and villages and popping into all the attractions on offer, and still not run out of things to do.

However, the majority of us will only be able to take a fortnight off at most before we have to get back to the real world. Still, that’s plenty of time to soak up the mountains, wooded valleys and coastal gems on offer throughout North Wales.

Keep scrolling to read about ten of the best places to stay in North Wales or click the button below to start searching for your home away from home.

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Anglesey

We begin with the Isle of Anglesey. A county adjacent to the north-west coast of Wales, this island has plenty to offer the intrepid explorer and is certainly one of the best places to stay in all of Wales. Whether you want to marvel at unparalleled natural beauty or you’re looking to immerse yourself in the history and culture of this heritage-rich isle, you’ll have enough to occupy your entire visit and more.

You could begin with a meander along the Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path, a 140-mile route that circumnavigates the entire island (you don’t have to do it all though!). Next, visit the Dingle Nature Reserve, a 25-acre wooded valley where a blanket of bluebells can complement the sightings of woodpeckers and kingfishers. Finish off with some shopping and take home some Halen Môn sea salt as a gift for a friend.

Snowdonia / Eryri

You may need longer than a week to explore all that Snowdonia / Eryri has to offer. You might have to revisit year after year if you want to take full advantage of the five towns and 24 villages that illustrate what a strong sense of community this part of Wales has. You’d be in good company though, as nearly 4 million people visit Eryri each year to soak up the mesmerising views from over 70 miles of coastline and nearly 30,000 acres of native woodland.

Choose from nine mountain ranges and 15 peaks if you want to summit an iconic precipice; you could use the time climbing to brush up on your Welsh language as it is the spoken tongue of most of the national park’s residents. Closer to sea level, you’ll find an abundance of flora and fauna living in and amongst the region's many lakes and rivers, and enchanting forests.

Abersoch

We’ll come to the Llŷn Peninsula as a whole later on, but before we do, a pitstop in Abersoch is a justified use of your time. Sitting on the coast in the south-east area of the peninsula, this seaside village has a host of sandy North Wales beaches that face Cardigan Bay and Snowdonia. If water sports are your thing, you’re in luck as the surf scene is thriving with the popular Porth Ceiriad and Porth Neigwl (aka Hell’s Mouth) just around the corner. There are opportunities to have more relaxing watery experiences in kayaks or on stand-up paddleboards, or you can get your heart racing with power boats and Ringo rides!

For those who prefer their activities dry and on land, head to Abersoch Golf Club, where you’ll be able to play your usual round whilst enjoying the coastal views without getting wet (just stay out of the water hazards). There are a surprising number of cafes, bars, restaurants and shops in the village, making it easy to scratch that retail itch and grab a meal out if you don’t fancy cooking in your self-catering cottage.

Llandudno

Visit Llandudno and discover a pocket of history that dates back 4,000 years. This coastal town came to prominence during the Victorian era, but the Great Orme mines were first worked during the Bronze Age, around the same time that Stonehenge was being built! These days, Great Orme is a mini-mountain that visitors can climb on foot or via the Great Orme Tramway which has been operating since the 19^th century.

Great Orme’s eastern flank is called the Happy Valley; there’s plenty of space for little ones to run and play, plus you can follow the white rabbit and take part in the Alice Trail (see below). If you feel the need to get off your feet, Marine Drive, created by the Victorians, is a beautiful 4-mile drive along a private road that is squeezed in between the coast and the fringes of Great Orme. Enjoy the stunning views from this level or take to the heights on a ride on the UK’s longest cable car for even better panoramas.

Aberdovey/Aberdyfi

If you’re looking for a little serenity on the coast, then Aberdovey/Aberdyfi has to be one of the best places to stay in North Wales. Nestled on the north side of the Dovey/Dyfi Estuary, this small seaside village in Snowdonia National Park welcomes visitors year-round. However, it’s fair to say that a large number of thrill seekers make a beeline for the blue waters of Cardigan Bay during the summer months thanks to Aberdovey’s water sports offering. With sailing, rowing, canoeing, paddleboarding, kitesurfing and water-skiing to choose from, we think a love of water sports is a prerequisite when it comes to things to do in North Wales.

If you’re not feeling energetic, the beaches themselves are award winning and are perfect for a lazy day catching up with a good book or building sandcastles. Make sure you leave some time for 18 holes at the championship golf course with fairways and greens boxed in beautifully between the Cambrian mountains and the coast. Should you want to slow it down even further, make the short trip to Tywyn, hop aboard the Talyllyn Railway and explore Southern Snowdonia.

Barmouth

Do you ever find yourself torn when choosing your holiday destination? You either want a holiday on the coast or a more inland adventure near a mountain range where you can put your hiking skills to the test. You can’t have both. But ah, yes you can. And that destination is Barmouth. This family-friendly town, where the mountains meet the sea, has been welcoming visitors for 150 years and like many of the hotspots along the west coast, it boasts stunning sunsets over Cardigan Bay.

As you’d expect, there are water sports opportunities galore in the town with paddleboarding and kayaking on offer. However, many visitors choose to stay on the clean, sandy beaches and partake in a paddle before heading to the arcades to play games and buy candy floss. There is greater depth to Barmouth though; it has some impressive heritage links with connections to Henry Tudor, the Titanic and the founding of the National Trust. Explore the Heritage Trail to find out more.

Check out our family-friendly cottages in North Wales and discover the mountains, sand and sea of Barmouth.

The Llŷn Peninsula

In a country renowned for its remarkable and varied scenery, it must be hard to come out on top but the Llŷn Peninsula endeavours nonetheless. And it’s impossible to deny that this impressive headland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is anything less than spectacular. With nearly 100 miles of coastline, constituting towering clifftops and vast sweeping bays, there’s the prospect of spotting local wildlife or just splashing in the crystal-clear waters just off the Wales Coast Path.

If you’ve brought your walking boots along, tighten your laces and attempt the three peaks of Yr Eifl – Garn For, Garn Ganol and Tre'r Ceiri. Understandably steep in places, the walks reward you with delicate flora and unmatched views. The beaches of the Llŷn Peninsula are well worthy of a mention too, with beaches at Porthdinllaen, Abersoch, Llanbedrog, Traeth Penllech and Traeth Porthor giving holidaymakers plenty of options for rockpool hunting, fresh morning walks and lunchtime swims.

Conwy

For a small town, there certainly is a lot to keep you occupied in Conwy. Located on the north coast of Wales in between Anglesey and the headland of Llandudno, the landscape here is dominated by the impressive 13^th-century Conwy Castle, whose walls envelop the medieval town. If you desire a little more history, make a beeline for the Iron Age hillfort found near the summit of Conwy Mountain. The network of paths you’ll traverse to reach its peak will provide you with gorgeous views and the chance to see the birdlife that lives on the mountain.

Other points of interest include Conwy Marina and Quay where you can marvel at the vast array of watercraft or just bathe in the sun outside a pub or cafe. The smallest house in Britain is nearby, which is worth a visit (it won’t take long!) and if you want to take in a bit of nature, you can choose from either RSPB Conwy Nature Reserve or Bodnant Garden; the latter showcasing plant collections from the world over.

Betws-y-Coed

No, this isn’t Switzerland or Northern Italy – this really is North Wales. Betws-y-Coed, also known as the gateway to Snowdonia, is as picturesque as they come, often being likened to an Alpine village thanks to the dense Gwydyr Forest surrounding the settlement. Even the name is poetic, translated as the prayer house in the woods. It’s these woods, the four rushing rivers and the mountainous terrain that have been attracting visitors since the Victorian era. And the best thing? It’s remained largely unchanged since those times.

It's also a magnet for adrenaline junkies with a number of mountain biking trails to choose from, a subterranean trampoline park, and Zip World: an adventure centre set in the woods featuring the UK’s only alpine rollercoaster of its kind. For a more natural thrill, visit Swallow Falls, a spectacular waterfall in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You can view it from above the river if you don’t fancy the walk, or you can descend some steps and see it from the riverside in all its glory.

Llanberis

To look at Llanberis, you’d think you’d stumbled upon the filming location of the latest fantasy blockbuster; glistening waters cutting through rolling hills and mountains carpeted in luscious foliage – this is Snowdonia at its absolute best. The twin lakes of Llyn Padarn and Llyn Peris offer exquisite perimeter walking paths, or you can get out on the water and partake in water sports with the backdrop of Snowdon looming over you protectively. To gain aerial views without pulling a muscle, hop on one of two narrow-gauge lines: Llanberis Lake Railway and Snowdon Mountain Railway.

For a dose of history and heritage, visit the National Slate Museum for a taste of quarry life, or visit the ruins of Dolbadarn Castle with its 15-metre round-towered keep. The position of this former fortress will take your breath away with the cool waters of Llyn Peris giving way to the foreboding mountain ranges in the distance; the glacial valley location gives the strong impression that this would have been a difficult keep to plunder.

Map of the 10 best places to stay in North Wales

Find your place to stay in North Wales

With so many superb places to stay in North Wales, you might need more than one self-catering cottage to call your home. Luckily, we’ve got accommodation for every occasion, from dog-friendly escapes to romantic boltholes for two. Tap the button below to start your search.