Beautiful Places in Wales
Most Beautiful Places in Wales 2026: Towns, Villages and Scenic Spots
Wales packs more beauty into a small space than almost anywhere in Europe. From the fairy-tale Italianate village of Portmeirion and the slate-grey shores of Eryri (Snowdonia) to the rolling hills of Powys and the ancient woodland of the Wye Valley, the country rewards exploration in every direction.
This guide covers the most beautiful places in Wales for 2026 — including three exciting new additions that are having a moment right now.
Portmeirion, Gwynedd
Best for:
Architecture lovers, unique experiences, photography
There is nowhere quite like Portmeirion. Architect Clough Williams-Ellis spent over 50 years building this whimsical Italianate village on a private peninsula on the Dwyryd estuary, and the result is one of the most joyfully bizarre and beautiful places in Britain.
Pastel-coloured cottages, baroque towers, a piazza, formal gardens and sub-tropical woodland all tumble together in a way that somehow makes complete sense.
It has been used as a film location for The Prisoner, Dr Who and Brideshead Revisited, but nothing quite prepares you for the real thing.
2026 highlight:
Portmeirion celebrates its centenary in 2026 — the village was begun in 1925 — with a year of special events, new exhibitions and a major programme of restoration and enhancement across the estate.
Staying overnight (within the village itself, in one of the restored cottages or the Hotel Portmeirion) is the best way to experience it after the day visitors leave. See our Wales holiday ideas for more unique accommodation experiences.
Beddgelert, Eryri (Snowdonia)
Best for:
Walkers, romantics, classic Welsh village character
Beddgelert is the archetypal Welsh mountain village — a cluster of stone cottages where two rivers meet in the shadow of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). The legend of Gelert, the faithful hound of Prince Llywelyn, gives the village its name and its famous grave by the riverside.
The surrounding landscape is some of the most dramatic in Wales: the Aberglaslyn Pass gorge, the sweeping Nantgwynant valley and the ridgeline approach to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) are all within walking distance.
A handful of cosy pubs, a village café and independent shops make it an excellent overnight stop before or after a mountain day.
The Welsh Highland Railway stops in the village — you can arrive by steam train from Porthmadog or Caernarfon for a genuinely magical approach. Explore more in our Eryri (Snowdonia) guide.
Tintern, Wye Valley
Best for:
History, romantic breaks, walking
Tintern Abbey is one of the great romantic ruins of Britain — a soaring 12th-century Cistercian abbey on the banks of the River Wye, largely intact after 500 years of slow collapse. Wordsworth wrote one of his most celebrated poems here, and Turner painted the valley on multiple visits.
The Wye Valley AONB surrounding Tintern is among the most beautiful landscapes in the UK: dense oak woodland dropping steeply to the riverbank, limestone cliffs rising above, and the 136-mile Wye Valley Walk passing right through the village.
Tintern is 40 minutes from Cardiff and 20 minutes from Chepstow by road — an easy day trip from Cardiff or a lovely stop on a road trip through South Wales.
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Caernarfon, Gwynedd
Best for:
History, families, Eryri gateway
Caernarfon’s UNESCO World Heritage castle is one of the most powerful medieval fortresses in Europe — a polygon of massive limestone towers built by Edward I to dominate the Welsh people, which instead became a proud symbol of Welsh resilience.
The castle overlooks a slate-grey strait separating the mainland from Anglesey, and the medieval walled town surrounding it is one of the best preserved in Britain.
The town is the informal capital of Welsh-speaking Wales: around 80% of residents speak Welsh as a first language, and the street signs, pub conversations and radio stations reflect a living culture.
Caernarfon is the terminus for the Welsh Highland Railway and a natural gateway for exploring Eryri (Snowdonia) and the Isle of Anglesey.
Hay-on-Wye, Powys
Best for:
Book lovers, slow travel, foodie breaks
Hay-on-Wye is the world’s first and most famous book town — a small market town on the English-Welsh border packed with over 20 second-hand bookshops and home to the Hay Festival, described by President Clinton as the Woodstock of the Mind. Beyond books.
The town has excellent cafes, independent food producers, a 13th-century castle and some of the finest walking country in Wales on its doorstep — the Black Mountains of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) rise immediately to the south.
The festival runs in late May and early June and brings in over 200,000 visitors.
FIND ACCOMODATION NEAR HAY-ON-WYE
Elan Valley, Powys
Best for:
Dark sky stargazing, wild landscapes, nature
The Elan Valley is one of Britain’s best-kept secrets — a chain of spectacular Victorian reservoirs in the hills of Mid Wales, surrounded by some of the emptiest and most beautiful landscape in the country.
The valley is a certified International Dark Sky Reserve, meaning light pollution is virtually absent and the night sky is extraordinary. In 2025, a new dedicated planetarium and upgraded visitor centre opened, making it one of the best stargazing destinations in Britain.
Red kites soar overhead during daylight hours, otters inhabit the river, and the only sounds are wind and water.
The Elan Valley is 4 miles from Rhayader in Mid Wales — explore it alongside a stay in Aberystwyth or Powys.
Aberystwyth, Ceredigion — UNESCO City of Literature
Best for:
Culture, solo travellers, literary visitors
Aberystwyth received UNESCO Creative Cities of Literature status in 2025, joining Edinburgh, Dublin and a global network of celebrated literary destinations.
The town on Cardigan Bay combines a long seafront promenade, a working cliff railway, ruined Norman castle and the National Library of Wales — holder of the finest collection of Welsh manuscripts in the world.
The University gives it a young, creative energy, and the independent food, arts and music scene punches well above its size. The Saturday farmers market is one of the best in Wales for local produce.
2026 highlight:
A year-long programme of UNESCO literary events runs throughout 2026, including a new annual literary festival launching in July, author residencies and a reading trail through the town’s historic buildings.
Wrexham — Wales’ Fastest-Rising Town
Best for:
Football culture, heritage, urban exploration
Wrexham was until recently an underestimated market town in North East Wales. The remarkable Hollywood-backed resurrection of Wrexham AFC — now playing in the Championship and followed around the world has transformed the town’s fortunes and its self-image.
In June 2026, the new Wrexham Football Museum opens, celebrating the club’s extraordinary story alongside the town’s history as the birthplace of the Welsh national football association (the world’s oldest, founded 1876).
The expanded Wrexham Museum and the TyPawb arts centre make it one of the most culturally interesting towns in Wales right now.
St Giles’ Church in the town centre contains some of the finest medieval stained glass in Britain, often overlooked by visitors heading straight for the stadium. See our North Wales guide for more on what to do in the region.
Swansea and the Gower Peninsula
Best for:
City and coast combined, surfers, Dylan Thomas fans
Swansea is Wales’ second city and is a place that genuinely surprise visitors who arrive expecting a post-industrial town and find a waterfront food market, a revitalised marina, the excellent National Waterfront Museum, and Dylan Thomas birthplace and writing shed.
But Swansea’s greatest asset is what lies immediately to its west: the Gower Peninsula, Britain’s first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Rhossili Bay, consistently voted one of Europe’s best beaches, is just 20 miles from the city centre.
The Gower’s limestone cliffs, coastal walks, seafood pubs and surf schools make it one of the most accessible and rewarding stretches of coastline in Wales.
Read our complete Wales beaches guide to plan a coastal itinerary from Gower through Pembrokeshire.
Plan a Visit to the Most Beautiful Places in Wales
All of these destinations have excellent accommodation options within easy reach. Use the map below to find places to stay, then plan your route using our Wales holiday ideas guide or the destinations hub for each region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the prettiest village in Wales?
Beddgelert in Eryri (Snowdonia) is widely considered the prettiest village in Wales, with its stone cottages at the confluence of two rivers beneath the mountain ridges. Portmeirion is technically a village too — and there is genuinely nowhere more beautiful or unique in the whole of Britain. Crickhowell in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) and Hay-on-Wye on the border are strong contenders for the most beautiful small towns.
Where should I go in Wales for scenery?
For mountain scenery, Eryri (Snowdonia) is unmatched in Wales and arguably in Britain south of the Scottish Highlands. For coastal scenery, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path and the Gower Peninsula are exceptional. For intimate pastoral beauty, the Wye Valley and the Elan Valley in Mid Wales offer something quieter and deeply restorative. For a complete contrast in a single trip, a road trip from Cardiff through the Brecon Beacons to Pembrokeshire and up to Snowdonia covers almost everything.
What are the hidden gems in Wales?
The Elan Valley in Mid Wales is one of the best-kept secrets in Britain — a chain of Victorian reservoirs in an almost entirely empty landscape that is extraordinary for stargazing, walking and wildlife. The Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire (where Stonehenge’s bluestones originated) feel like walking through prehistoric time. Llanthony Priory in the Black Mountains, reachable only by narrow lane, is one of the most atmospheric ruined abbeys in Wales. And the Llyn Peninsula remains far less visited than Snowdonia despite being equally beautiful.
How many days do I need to see the beautiful places in Wales?
A week gives you time to cover the main highlights across two or three regions. Ten days to two weeks allows you to do justice to both North and South Wales. If you have a long weekend (3–4 days), focus on a single region: base yourself in Eryri for mountains and castles, Pembrokeshire for coast and beaches, or the Wye Valley and Brecon Beacons for something more varied. Our holiday ideas guide has itinerary suggestions for every trip length.
Keep Exploring Wales
Discover the best seaside towns in Wales, explore our regional destinations guides, plan a road trip itinerary, or browse holiday cottages in the locations that have caught your eye. For a classic North Wales trip, our Eryri (Snowdonia) guide has everything you need to plan a visit to the mountains.
Nick, your trusted guide to Wales travel and exploration, shares a deep passion for this enchanting land. With years of exploration, Nick offers expert insights into the best of Wales. Join him on a journey through its captivating history, culture, and hidden gems, as he inspires you to create unforgettable Welsh travel experiences.
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