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WALES DESTINATION GUIDE

As the world leader in travel experiences since 1947, we connect you to the real Wales in a way like no other. With towering mountains melting into lakes, and ancient castles on the golden coastline, Wales is impossible not to fall in love with - and the Welsh know it. They often speak of ‘hiraeth’, a Welsh word used to describe a sense of longing for home. The country’s sweet grasslands and Snowdonia mountains move you in ways you could never imagine, and you may find your own feeling of hiraeth once you’ve seen the best of Wales. The country is well-protected, with three national parks, five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and 42 per cent of its south and west coastline designated as Heritage Coast. You’ll also find a proudly preserved culture, with centuries-old Celtic traditions, ancient castles like Cardiff Castle, and Welsh delicacies found in Cardiff Central Market. When you travel Wales with Trafalgar, you’ll get to know the country through the locals, sharing stories over a traditional dinner or enjoying Welsh music in an old inn. Travel with us and unlock the infinite possibilities thanks to our exclusive Trafalgar Highlights.
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5 million happy guests and counting

Overall Rating

4.6

Out of 5

Based on 93,274 independent reviews

"A land of stately mountains, verdant valleys, ancient castles and golden-sanded beaches, beautiful yet understated Wales is impossible not to fall in love with"

Caroline, Travel Director
Wales at a glance
With towering mountains melting into lakes, and ancient castles on the golden coastline, Wales is impossible not to fall in love with. Join your expert Trafalgar Travel Director and get to know the country through the locals, sharing stories over a traditional dinner or enjoying Welsh music in an old inn.
Currency
Pound Sterling
Winter avg
7°C
Summer avg
18°C
Time Zone
GMT+1
Capital City
Cardiff
Language
Welsh, English
Good morning
Bore da
Good evening
Noswaith dda
Welsh Food
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Our top 5 things to do in Wales

When you’re not trekking through the mountains and exploring the most beautiful places in Wales, retreat to the city where you’ll find historic castles, old-fashioned markets and a compelling culture. Here are just a few of the ways we'll unlock the magic of Wales for you on your trip.

Go on a Cardiff Castle Tour

One of the city’s biggest draws is Cardiff Castle, a mixture of Roman, Norman and Victorian architecture strewn around the central green. It offers a fantastic insight into the history of Cardiff as for centuries it was the home of the Butes, the family who transformed Cardiff from a small town into the biggest coal port in the world.
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Walk down to the Cardiff Bay

Enjoy a walk along the old Cardiff docklands, now known as Cardiff Bay, a vibrant waterfront filled with restaurants, boutiques and boats. You can go sailing on the large freshwater lake, enjoy a night of opera at the Wales Millennium Centre, and indulge in exceptional dining along Mermaid Quay.
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Learn about Celtic culture

A trip to Wales offers the chance to dive into Celtic culture with our Local Specialists. They’ll show you the way of the Celts through food, music and humour, with traditional Welsh dinners and an evening of Welsh music performed by magical harpists and the finest local singers.
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Hike in the Welsh mountain region of Snowdonia

Hiking in Wales is one of the best ways to get immersed in the country’s mountains, and Snowdonia National Park offers a grand introduction. Sprawling across northern Wales to the rugged coastline, you can find the highest peak in Wales, along with an excellent network of trails to guide your exploration.
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Stroll through the Cardiff Central Market

Discover a range of local Welsh cuisine, vintage clothing and seasonal produce at Cardiff Central Market, a historic Victorian building that has been the site of a farmer’s market since the 18th century. You never know what treasures you’ll find as you wander the stores under the market’s glass roof.
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Best museums in Wales

Wales is home to some of Europe’s best historical and cultural collections and our Wales tours take it all in, from an open-air museum in a 16th-century castle, to an Egyptian mummy’s tomb.
CARDIFF

National Museum

Set in Cardiff’s civic centre, the National Museum is home to a variety of national collections and touring exhibitions of geology and natural history. It also houses one of Europe’s best art collections, with paintings, drawings, sculptures and ceramics from Wales and the world, and one of the finest collections of Impressionist art.
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CARDIFF

St Fagans National Museum of History

Located on the grounds of St Fagans Castle in Cardiff, St Fagans National Museum of History is one of the world’s best open-air museums. Along with St Fagans Castle, a 16th-century manor house, you’ll find a collection of more than 50 original buildings from different historical periods that have been rebuilt on the 100-acre parkland.
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SWANSEA

Swansea Museum

Built in 1841, Swansea Museum is the oldest museum in Wales. It’s home to a fantastic collection of historical objects from the pasts of Swansea and the world. You’ll find six galleries with everything from a Welsh Kitchen to the tomb of an Egyptian mummy.
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Best food in Wales

From cheesy toast and spiced fruit cake, to vegetarian sausages and hearty meats, we'll show you how Welsh cuisine turns simple ingredients into memorable meals.

Welsh rarebit

A traditional Welsh dish hailing from the 18th century, Welsh rarebit is a delicious take on the classic toasted cheese sandwich. It’s made from creamy sauce of Welsh cheese, ale or milk, and mustard or spices, poured hot over slices of toasted bread.
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Glamorgan sausage

Named after the county of Glamorgan in Wales, Glamorgan sausage is a Welsh vegetarian sausage. Traditionally made with Caerphilly cheese, leek and coated in breadcrumbs, the sausages are fried until crispy. The dish became popular in the Second World War when meat was scarce, and is now a national specialty.
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Bara brith

Also known as ‘speckled bread’, Bara Brith is a rich fruit cake, originally made as a yeasted bread. Spread with salted butter or drizzled with warm honey, this traditional Welsh dish is a tea-time favourite.
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What to pack for Wales

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Waterproof coat

A waterproof coat is an essential item in Wales - there are showers all year round and Cardiff is one of the wettest cities in Europe.

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Hiking boots

The mountains of Wales are best explored on foot, and you’ll need a comfortable pair of hiking boots to explore the trails. Make sure you break in your boots before your trip to Wales.

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Camera

From the historic buildings like Cardiff Castle to the giant mountains of Snowdonia, you’ll want to capture every exquisite moment.

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An adapter plug

Voltage in Wales is 230V and the sockets are of Type G, with standard British 3-pin plugs.

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Sunglasses

Sunglasses are great to have all year round, to protect from the sunny days in summer and the low angle of the sun in winter.

Other things to know before you go

Depending on your nationality, you'll need a valid passport and may also need visas to enter. Please check this well in advance of your trip departure date here. Some countries also require passports to have 3-6 months left on them before the given expiry date, so be sure to double check this before booking your travels.

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Our Europe & Britain destinations

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