Activities in Caernarfon

With the Snowdonia National Park on our doorstep, plenty of adventurers who are planning to take on Snowdon choose to stay with us at our Caernarfon hotel. The national park is nearby, and the popular ridge Crib Goch is less than a 30-minute drive away. If you’re thinking about exploring Snowdonia, be sure to visit some of our favourite cafes and places to eat in Caernarfon to fill up on a hearty meal before you begin your route. There is all manner of excellent routes in Snowdonia, which vary in difficulty depending on your skill level. Alternatively, you can save your legs and hop aboard the Snowdon Mountain Railway from Llanberis, taking in waterfall views and mountain vistas en route to the summit.

Whether it’s your first visit or your 50th, you can’t come to Caernarfon without at least having a wander around Caernarfon Castle. The impressive stone fortress is among the best preserved and most powerful in Wales. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site that dates back to the 11th century when it was first built as a motte-and-bailey castle before being replaced and reinforced with stone 200 years later.

The castle’s silhouette is among the most recognisable in the country. We highly recommend making your way inside to learn about its rich history. Tickets are reasonably priced, and there’s a fascinating museum. You can enjoy beautiful views of the town and the harbour from the towers, and there are furnished rooms for exploring as well. You can easily kill a couple of hours here, longer if you take your time. Plus, there are plenty of great pubs in Caernarfon nearby when you’re finished.

If you’re visiting with young family, the nearby GreenWood Family Park was named ‘Best Family Attraction in North Wales’ and features endless fun and games for the kids. There are 27 acres of rides and activities hidden in the forests of Snowdonia, including jungle boat rides, rope bridges and treetop towers, and Wales’ longest sledge run. It’s in between Caernarfon and Bangor and barely more than a five-minute drive from our Bangor hotel.

Another popular choice for families is a trip across the Menai Strait to Anglesey Sea Zoo. You can see it from the Victoria Dock, but you’ll need to drive towards Bangor and cross the Britannia Bridge to reach Wales’ biggest and best aquarium. Still, it only takes half an hour, and it’s worth it for a full day marvelling at the mysterious mammals and fish of the marine world. There are more than 40 tanks for you to see. They contain everything from powerful sharks and rays to dainty coral fish and anemones.

If the weather decides to be kind, and you’d rather spend a day beside the sea instead of climbing Snowdon, North Wales is blessed with some beautiful beaches including some great nearby options for you choose from during your stay in Caernarfon. Plas Menai is perfect for water sports; it’s also one of our top picks for water sports entertainment in Caernarfon. Other popular choices nearby include Rowen Beach, Aberdesach Beach and the stunning Newborough Beach across the Menai Strait on Anglesey. However, the finest can be found further south around Cardigan Bay.