What to See in Wales
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UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Wales has 3 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list:

Blaenavon Iron Works Museum, Blaenavon, Grande Bretagne
Blaenavon (2000)
A former mining and ironworks town designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its industrial landscape.
Châteaux forts de la région du Gwynedd, Grande Bretagne
Castles of the Gwynedd Region (1986)
Four magnificent medieval castles in northwestern Wales (Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy, Harlech) designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct (2009)
This impressive structure, built in the early 19th century, allows pleasure boats to travel along the Llangollen Canal by crossing above the Dee Valley. The aqueduct is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cities and Cultural Heritage

Abbaye de Tintern, Grande Bretagne
Tintern Abbey
The imposing remains of a 12th-century Cistercian abbey located in the Wye Valley on the border with England.
Aberystwyth, Grande Bretagne
Aberystwyth
It's a small student town on the west coast with the remains of a 13th-century fortress.
Bangor
Facing the Isle of Anglesey, to which it is connected by a bridge, this town is visited relatively little despite its cathedral and castle.
Barry
A popular seaside resort near Cardiff.
Blaenau Ffestiniog, Grande Bretagne
Blaenau Ffestiniog
This former mining town has reinvented itself as a tourist destination, offering a scenic train ride, a visit to the Llechwedd mine, and various hiking and activity options in the surrounding mountains.
Blaenavon Iron Works Museum, Blaenavon, Grande Bretagne
Blaenavon
A former mining and ironworks town designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its industrial landscape.
Brecon, Grande Bretagne
Brecon
The town sits at the gateway to the park of the same name, with a small but nevertheless quite pretty cathedral.
Cardiff, Grande Bretagne
Cardiff
The Welsh capital offers a variety of attractions (and events), including its Norman castle, beautiful religious buildings, its renowned rugby stadium (Millennium Stadium), and its museums.
Château de Caerphilly, Grande Bretagne
Caerphilly Castle
It is the second-largest castle in the United Kingdom, after Windsor. Surrounded by water, its construction dates back to the 13th century.
Château de Carew, Grande Bretagne
Carew Castle
This is a 13th-century medieval castle located in Carew.
Château de Kidwelly, Grande Bretagne
Kidwelly Castle
These are the remains of a formidable 13th-century fortress built in the town of the same name.
Château de Pembroke, Grande Bretagne
Pembroke Castle
A stunning 11th-century medieval fortress in the small town of the same name.
Châteaux forts de la région du Gwynedd, Grande Bretagne
Castles of the Gwynedd Region
Four magnificent medieval castles in northwestern Wales (Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy, Harlech) designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Chepstow Castle, Chepstow, Grande Bretagne
Chepstow
On the border with England, Chepstow has preserved its medieval walls and fortress.
The Burgess gate house of Denbigh Castle, Denbigh, Grande Bretagne
Denbigh
This small town in northern Wales still boasts the remains of its castle and city fortifications, along with several religious buildings.
Hay-on-Wye, Grande Bretagne
Hay-on-Wye
This village of 1,500 inhabitants, on the doorstep of Brecon Beacons National Park, is internationally renowned for its forty bookshops. You can also see an old castle there.
Holyhead, Grande Bretagne
Holyhead
Located at the western tip of the Isle of Anglesey, it is one of the main ferry ports in Great Britain, with over 2 million passengers per year on its routes to and from Ireland.
Île d'Anglesey, Grande Bretagne
Isle of Anglesey
A large, flat island in the northwest of Wales, connected to the "mainland" by two bridges. It is home to several small villages, a few castles (including Beaumaris Castle), cliffs, and beautiful beaches. It is also the shortest route for those planning to reach Dublin by ferry via the port of Holyhead.
Llandudno, Grande Bretagne
Llandudno
One of Wales' main seaside resorts. Pleasant and renowned since the late 19th century, it is located on the north coast with some beautiful cliffs nearby.
Llanfairpwll, Grande Bretagne
Llanfairpwll
Nothing special about this locality except that Llanfairpwll is actually the short form of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, the longest municipal name in Europe.
Newport
A large university city in the south, close to England, known for its bridges and especially its lively atmosphere and nightlife.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
This impressive structure, built in the early 19th century, allows pleasure boats to travel along the Llangollen Canal by crossing above the Dee Valley. The aqueduct is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Portmeirion, Grande Bretagne
Portmeirion
In northwest Wales, this Italian-style village is world-famous for serving as the filming location for the TV series "The Prisoner".
Cathédrale, St Davids, Grande Bretagne
St Davids
This large village, at the southwestern tip of Wales, in Pembrokeshire National Park, is home to one of the most important cathedrals in Great Britain.
Swansea, Grande Bretagne
Swansea
Nestled in its bay, Swansea is the second-largest urban area in Wales. Beyond its historic buildings, castles, and museums, it’s primarily known for its beaches and the stunning Gower Peninsula on its outskirts.
Tenby, Grande Bretagne
Tenby
This seaside resort has preserved its medieval charm with its fortifications. It is located in the southwest of Wales.
Tywyn, Grande Bretagne
Tywyn
A seaside town on the west coast, with Snowdonia National Park and its many outdoor sports activities in the surrounding area.

Natural Heritage

Parc national de Brecon Beacons, Grande Bretagne
Brecon Beacons National Park
One of the country's most beautiful parks, with the Black Mountains, valleys, lakes, waterfalls, forests, and vast moorland expanses. It is naturally very popular and also appreciated for climbing, canyoning, and hiking on foot, by bike, or on horseback.
Parc national de la Pembrokeshire Coast, Grande Bretagne
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
One of Wales’s three national parks, it stretches along the coast in the southwest tip, offering stunning landscapes where beaches and cliffs blend against a backdrop of hills. You can hike, swim, surf, or take boat trips to nearby small islands.
Parc national du Snowdonia, Grande Bretagne
Snowdonia National Park
A stunning national park in western Wales, featuring mountainous landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, quaint villages, castles, and a charming steam tourist train. It’s a destination for hiking, climbing, canoeing, and other outdoor activities.
Péninsule de Gower, Grande Bretagne
Gower Peninsula
A stunning peninsula on the outskirts of Swansea, where beaches, cliffs, forests, moorlands, and small villages stretch over about thirty kilometres. Ideal for hiking and surfing.
Péninsule de Llyn, Grande Bretagne
Llyn Peninsula
This peninsula below the Isle of Anglesey offers some beautiful landscapes along with a few swimming spots (Llanbedrog, Nefyn) and hiking opportunities.
Vallée de la Wye, Grande Bretagne
Wye Valley
This river valley, marking the "border" between England and Wales, is prized for its beautiful scenery, hiking, and canoe trips on the river.

Must-see & highly recommended

Brecon Beacons National Park
★★★★ One of the country's most beautiful parks, with the Black Mountains, valleys, lakes, waterfalls, forests, and vast moorland expanses. It is…
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
★★★★ One of Wales’s three national parks, it stretches along the coast in the southwest tip, offering stunning landscapes where beaches…
Snowdonia National Park
★★★★ A stunning national park in western Wales, featuring mountainous landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, quaint villages, castles, and a charming…

Recommended

Castles of the Gwynedd Region
★★★ Four magnificent medieval castles in northwestern Wales (Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy, Harlech) designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Isle of Anglesey
★★★ A large, flat island in the northwest of Wales, connected to the "mainland" by two bridges. It is home to several small villages, a few…
Gower Peninsula
★★★ A stunning peninsula on the outskirts of Swansea, where beaches, cliffs, forests, moorlands, and small villages stretch over about thirty…
Portmeirion
★★★ In northwest Wales, this Italian-style village is world-famous for serving as the filming location for the TV series "The Prisoner".

Worth a look / Other

Tintern Abbey
★★ The imposing remains of a 12th-century Cistercian abbey located in the Wye Valley on the border with England.
Blaenau Ffestiniog
★★ This former mining town has reinvented itself as a tourist destination, offering a scenic train ride, a visit to the Llechwedd mine, and…
Cardiff
★★ The Welsh capital offers a variety of attractions (and events), including its Norman castle, beautiful religious buildings, its renowned…
Caerphilly Castle
★★ It is the second-largest castle in the United Kingdom, after Windsor. Surrounded by water, its construction dates back to the 13th century.
Pembroke Castle
★★ A stunning 11th-century medieval fortress in the small town of the same name.
Llandudno
★★ One of Wales' main seaside resorts. Pleasant and renowned since the late 19th century, it is located on the north coast with some beautiful…
Llyn Peninsula
★★ This peninsula below the Isle of Anglesey offers some beautiful landscapes along with a few swimming spots (Llanbedrog, Nefyn) and hiking…
Tenby
★★ This seaside resort has preserved its medieval charm with its fortifications. It is located in the southwest of Wales.
Wye Valley
★★ This river valley, marking the "border" between England and Wales, is prized for its beautiful scenery, hiking, and canoe trips on the…
Aberystwyth
★ It's a small student town on the west coast with the remains of a 13th-century fortress.
Bangor (Wales)
★ Facing the Isle of Anglesey, to which it is connected by a bridge, this town is visited relatively little despite its cathedral and castle.
Barry
★ A popular seaside resort near Cardiff.
Blaenavon
★ A former mining and ironworks town designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its industrial landscape.
Brecon
★ The town sits at the gateway to the park of the same name, with a small but nevertheless quite pretty cathedral.
Carew Castle
★ This is a 13th-century medieval castle located in Carew.
Kidwelly Castle
★ These are the remains of a formidable 13th-century fortress built in the town of the same name.
Chepstow
★ On the border with England, Chepstow has preserved its medieval walls and fortress.
Denbigh
★ This small town in northern Wales still boasts the remains of its castle and city fortifications, along with several religious buildings.
Hay-on-Wye
★ This village of 1,500 inhabitants, on the doorstep of Brecon Beacons National Park, is internationally renowned for its forty bookshops…
Holyhead
★ Located at the western tip of the Isle of Anglesey, it is one of the main ferry ports in Great Britain, with over 2 million passengers per…
Llanfairpwll
★ Nothing special about this locality except that Llanfairpwll is actually the short form of…
Newport (Wales)
★ A large university city in the south, close to England, known for its bridges and especially its lively atmosphere and nightlife.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
★ This impressive structure, built in the early 19th century, allows pleasure boats to travel along the Llangollen Canal by crossing above…
St Davids
★ This large village, at the southwestern tip of Wales, in Pembrokeshire National Park, is home to one of the most important cathedrals in…
Swansea
★ Nestled in its bay, Swansea is the second-largest urban area in Wales. Beyond its historic buildings, castles, and museums, it’s…
Tywyn
★ A seaside town on the west coast, with Snowdonia National Park and its many outdoor sports activities in the surrounding area.
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