Caernarfon, the castle town on the Menai Strait
A UNESCO World Heritage castle, a walled medieval town, harbour-side pubs and the mountains of Eryri on the doorstep. Plan your visit, find somewhere to stay and see what’s on.
Everything you need for a trip to Caernarfon
Start here for the castle, the best things to do, where to eat and stay, and how to get here and park.
Book your stay in Caernarfon
From the 16th-century Black Boy Inn inside the town walls and the Celtic Royal Hotel with its indoor pool, to country houses and holiday parks a short drive away, there is a bed for every budget.
Search live availability and prices, or browse our accommodation guide.
Find a place to stay in Caernarfon
Live prices and availability from Booking.com, for hotels, B&Bs, guest houses and holiday homes.
Places we recommend
Local businesses, attractions and places to stay featured on Caernarfon.com.
Holiday Park
Hotel, Inn and Resteraunt
Roman Fortification
Forest Park
Country House Hotel
Forest Adventure Activity Park
Medieval Fortress
Run a business in or near Caernarfon? Get featured here.
What's on
Events in Caernarfon
Castle tours, family days out, festive events and more, coming up in and around town.
- 13Oct
Tue 13 Oct, 7pmHadestown: The Musical (screening)Galeri CaernarfonBig-screen showing of the Tony and Grammy award-winning musical, filmed live on stage in London's West End with original Broadway stars. Certificate TBC (12A).
- 15OctThu 15 Oct, 11amCastell Caernarfon ToursCaernarfon CastleJoin the castle's custodians for a 45-minute walking tour of Caernarfon Castle and discover the history behind this UNESCO World Heritage site.
- 16Oct
Fri 16 Oct, 10amSYMUD: movement and wellbeing sessionsGaleri CaernarfonFriday morning movement and wellbeing sessions for everyone aged 16+, of all ages and abilities, including people with limited movement, pain or recovering from illness.
Listings from North Wales Events. Check with the venue before you travel.
The best of Caernarfon
Castle, steam railway, Roman fort and the Menai Strait, all within a short walk of Castle Square.
Caernarfon Castle
Climb the polygonal towers and walk the walls of one of the great castles of Europe, part of a World Heritage Site with Conwy, Beaumaris and Harlech. Run by Cadw and open all year.
Adults around £15 · LL55 2AYWelsh Highland Railway
Steam trains leave from beneath the castle walls on a 25-mile journey through Eryri to Porthmadog, via Beddgelert and the Aberglaslyn Pass, connecting with the Ffestiniog Railway.
Station by the castleVictoria Dock & Galeri
The regenerated waterfront is home to the marina and Galeri, an arts centre with a theatre and cinema. Nearby Cei Llechi (Slate Quay) is a village of artisan makers’ workshops.
Doc Fictoria, LL55 1SQSegontium Roman Fort
On the hill above town, the remains of a Roman fort founded around AD 77 and garrisoned for over 300 years. Free to visit; Cadw currently opens it on selected dates for summer guided tours.
Constantine Road, LL55 2LNBoat trips on the Menai Strait
In summer, short pleasure cruises of around 45 minutes leave from Slate Quay below the castle, with tickets sold on the quayside. Cash is often needed, so come prepared.
Usually late May to SeptemberCycle Lôn Las Menai & Lôn Eifion
National Cycle Network Route 8 runs from near the castle along mostly traffic-free paths, with mountain views towards Eryri. Great for families and easy day rides.
Around 16 miles to BryncirDinas Dinlle beach
A Blue Flag sandy beach south of town with free parking, big sunsets over the Llŷn and the remains of an Iron Age hillfort.
Dog restrictions May to SeptemberInigo Jones Slate Works
See craftspeople at work in a slate workshop founded in 1861 at Groeslon, try engraving your own slate and stop at the café and shop.
Groeslon, LL54 7UEParc Glynllifon
Grade I listed historic gardens with woodland walks, follies and resident craft workers, just outside town at Llanwnda.
Llanwnda, LL54 5DYWhere to eat and drink
Caernarfon punches above its weight for food. The Black Boy Inn on Northgate Street has been serving travellers since the 16th century, the Anglesey Arms on Slate Quay has seats on the sea wall below the castle, and Bar Bach on Greengate Street claims to be the smallest bar in Wales.
Inside the walls, Hole in the Wall Street has Osteria for Italian and Ouzo and Olive for Greek mezze, while Sheeps and Leeks offers a tasting menu. For a special occasion, The Gunroom at Plas Dinas just outside town is listed in the Michelin Guide.
Getting here and getting around
By car
- From the A55, follow the A487 from Bangor (about 9 miles)
- A4086 from Llanberis, A4085 from Beddgelert, A487 from Porthmadog
- Castle sat nav: LL55 2AY
By train & bus
- Nearest mainline station: Bangor, about 9 miles
- Arriva 5C runs Bangor to Caernarfon frequently through the day
- TrawsCymru T2 links Bangor, Caernarfon, Porthmadog and Aberystwyth
- Summer Sherpa buses to Llanberis, Pen-y-Pass and Beddgelert
Parking
- Short stay: Penllyn, Greengate, Doc Fictoria (Galeri)
- Long stay: Balaclafa, Victoria Dock (Shell Site)
- Pay-and-display waterfront car park beside the castle
Day trips from Caernarfon
Mountains, islands and harbour towns, all within half an hour or so.
Snowdon Mountain Railway and lakesYr Wyddfaabout 13 miles
Paths up Snowdon from Pen-y-PassBangorabout 9 miles
Pier, cathedral and the mainline stationBeaumarisabout 13 miles
Anglesey’s castle townBeddgelertabout 13 miles
Mountain village on the Welsh Highland RailwayPorthmadogabout 20 miles
Harbour, railways and Portmeirion nearbyPwllheliabout 21 miles
Gateway to the Llŷn PeninsulaMore nearbyvillages & towns
Our guide to the surrounding area
The castle town
Mighty Caernarfon is possibly the most famous of Wales’s castles. Begun by Edward I in 1283 as the definitive chapter in his conquest of Wales, it was built as a military stronghold, a seat of government and a royal palace. Its polygonal towers and banded masonry are usually read as an echo of the walls of Constantinople.
Edward made sure his son, the first English Prince of Wales, was born here in 1284, and in 1969 the castle became world famous as the setting for the investiture of the Prince of Wales. Today the castle and town walls are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Beyond the walls, Caernarfon is a lively, proudly Welsh-speaking town, with independent shops, galleries and cafés. Learn a few words with our top 100 Welsh phrases, or read what it is like to live and work here.
Get your business in front of Caernarfon visitors
Hotels, B&Bs, holiday parks, restaurants and attractions can have a dedicated feature page on Caernarfon.com, placed in front of people planning their trip.
- Your own feature page with photos and a link to your website
- Home page and category placement for a year
- Optional professional video
Caernarfon questions, answered
Where is the best place to park in Caernarfon?
Gwynedd Council runs several car parks in town. For a short visit try Penllyn, Greengate or the Doc Fictoria car parks by Galeri; for a full day, Balaclafa and the Victoria Dock (Shell Site) long-stay car parks are a few minutes' walk from the castle. There is also a pay-and-display waterfront car park right next to the castle.
Does Caernarfon have a railway station?
Not on the mainline. The nearest station is Bangor, about 9 miles away, with frequent buses (Arriva 5C) into Caernarfon bus station. The heritage Welsh Highland Railway does run from Caernarfon, beneath the castle walls, to Porthmadog via Beddgelert.
When is Caernarfon Castle open?
Cadw opens the castle every day except 24 to 26 December and 1 January, usually from 9.30am to 5pm, until 6pm in July and August and 10am to 4pm from November to February. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Adult tickets are around £15, with a small saving for booking online.
How far is Caernarfon from Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)?
Llanberis, home of the Snowdon Mountain Railway, is about 8 miles away and Pen-y-Pass about 13 miles. In the summer season the Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses link Caernarfon with Llanberis, Pen-y-Pass and the Rhyd Ddu and Snowdon Ranger paths.
Is Caernarfon a good base for exploring North Wales?
Yes. It sits between Eryri, Anglesey and the Llŷn Peninsula, with Llanberis, Bangor, Beddgelert and Beaumaris all within about 13 miles, and the Welsh Highland Railway and Lôn Eifion cycle path starting in town.
