2026's 8 Most Scenic Wales Towns

The seaside of Wales is a feast of natural wonders, where sapphire waters like the Irish Sea, Carmarthen Bay, and Cardigan Bay meet rolling green hills and majestic slate gray castles. Try Tenby for a destination that looks like it came out of a holiday postcard with its row houses and Tenby Castle. Or Aberystwyth and its student-friendly vibes, old-fashioned funicular railway, and strolls on the seafront. Perhaps Llandudno, too, with trips to Great Orme and the souvenir shops on Llandudno Pier.

Tenby

Tenby is a classic summer vacation, awaiting you on the south coast of Pembrokeshire. Wander around the grounds of 12th-century Tenby Castle, out on the pierhead. This area is also home to the Tenby Museum and Art Gallery, a great opportunity for perusing local historic art in their permanent and temporary exhibitions. There is also The Rath, a clifftop green above the rocky shore, where a bench and a picnic come with a long view over Scotch Bay. Say hello to Goscar Rock and plan your picnic on the sandy shoreline, while looking out onto the Carmarthen Bay. Harbour Beach is another tourist favorite. Although small in size, Harbour Beach sits below the colorful row houses that are worth a snap, making up the easily recognizable Tenby waterfront that makes Tenby live up to its expectations as a popular summertime getaway.

Conwy

Conwy's scenery is difficult to separate from its medieval history. Conwy Castle towers over the River Conwy beside a compact old town still partly enclosed by its medieval walls. Built between 1283 and 1287, the castle has eight substantial towers, with views from its battlements stretching across the harbor toward the mountains of Eryri. The castle and walls form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can explore the castle before walking accessible sections of the town walls for a different view over the rooftops and estuary. Down by Conwy Quay, fishing boats and pleasure craft gather below the fortifications, while the Smallest House in Great Britain provides one of the town's more unusual stops. A walk onto nearby Conwy Mountain gives the widest perspective of all, looking back toward the castle, estuary, and surrounding hills.

Milford Haven

The port town of Milford Haven, another location in Pembrokeshire, has its lively Milford Waterfront on Nelson Quay, full of upscale restaurants and cozy cafes with a view of Milford Marina and Milford Beach. On one end of Milford Waterfront, Milford Haven Museum treats visitors to an education on the maritime history of this Welsh town, specifically on the fishing and whaling activities that once happened here, formerly a place of trade and new opportunity in the 18th and 19th centuries. Now you can experience the same waters that played such a significant role in Wales' history by walking on the dockside of Milford Beach, maybe even taking a quick swim at the bottom of Slip Hill. There is also Milford Rath Beach, a rather hidden piece of the rocky shore with a grassy hillside where picnics and gazing out at the deep blue of Scotch Bay.

Cardigan

Yet another Welsh town with a castle, Cardigan Castle remains the standout point of the Welsh riverside town of Cardigan, set on the Afon Teifi, which flows from the Cambrian Mountains to Cardigan Bay. Almost 1000 years old, Cardigan Castle served as a stronghold of Welsh military presence and went through a number of destructive events and rebuilds, officially re-opening to the public in 2015. And by the Castle Street bridge, check out the endearing Teifi Otter Statue for a quick photo op. Cardigan's High Street is also dotted with historic buildings, such as The Black Lion Hotel, which originated in the late 18th century and offers period architecture that is easy on the eyes. Concerning more of the natural landscape, Traeth Mwnt, further out of the town center, is good for an afternoon of taking in Cardigan Bay. If you are lucky and the conditions are right, you might spot a dolphin or a seal in the water.

Aberystwyth

A Mid-Wales town best known for Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth is also famous for its walkable seaside and vintage funicular Aberystwyth Cliff Railway. Climb up and play a round of miniature golf, try out the 14-inch camera obscura, and have a picnic while way up high over the Irish Sea. Down below, North Beach, which is adjacent to the promenade on Marine Terrace, highlights the Wales Coast Path and the rows of Victorian seafront accommodations, as well as the vivid colors of the Irish Sea. Then there is Castell Aberystwyth and the War Memorial alongside the northern end of South Beach, the castle standing since 1277 and made of timber and stone. It was once even a royal mint in 1637 and in ownership under Owain Glyndwr in the early 15th century. And then there is the War Memorial, honoring those who lost their lives in both world wars, both the castle and the memorial providing monumental insight into the history of Wales with these grand pieces of architecture.

Pwllheli

Gwynedd's Pwllheli is a little town where a holiday escape can be found. Pwllheli Beach and The Promenade suggest an excellent coastal break among the winds of Cardigan Bay, especially during summertime when the temperature heats up a bit. To the east is Carreg yr Imbyll, a group of interesting dolerite rock formations right on the water, much of which was removed by quarry workers in the 19th and 20th centuries, but can still be seen in this day and age. Some even try climbing on them! And closer to the center of Pwllheli Beach is Pwllheli's very own modern day Gorsedd Circle that was set up in 1925. Then there is Traeth Glan-y-Don on Plas Heli, a local sailing spot, which has a beach stretching three miles for whatever activity you may like. Whether coming for the ancient rocks or the waves of the sea, Pwllheli is a rather unspoiled location for beachcombing and breathing in the Cardigan Bay.

Aberaeron

Aberaeron is small, but has one of Wales' most attractive waterfronts. The town was largely developed in the early 19th century, and its harbor is surrounded by rows of brightly painted Regency-style buildings. Boats in the sheltered water, colorful façades, and green Ceredigion hills behind the town make the harbor the obvious first stop. There are North and South beaches beside the harbor. Walkers can join the Wales Coast Path, with the roughly 6.25-mile section toward New Quay offering cliff-top views along Cardigan Bay. Inland, Llanerchaeron provides another worthwhile excursion. The National Trust estate centers on an 18th-century villa designed by John Nash, along with its gardens and surrounding grounds.

Llandudno

Llandudno occupies one of the most dramatic settings among Britain's traditional seaside resorts. Its broad waterfront curves around Llandudno Bay, with the limestone mass of the Great Orme rising above the western end of town. The North Shore promenade is the simplest place to enjoy the view, passing grand Victorian and Edwardian buildings on one side and the bay on the other. Llandudno Pier extends the walk out over the water, while the Great Orme offers a completely different perspective. Visitors can reach the summit on foot or ride the historic Great Orme Tramway, gaining views over the town, sea, and surrounding North Wales coast. The cable car provides another scenic route when operating. A drive or coach trip around Marine Drive follows roughly four miles of the headland's coast, where cliffs drop toward the sea and the built-up resort quickly gives way to a much wilder landscape.

Let Wales Win Your Heart

Much of the beauty of Wales lies in its beaches and seascapes along its western side. These locations will give you just the coastal trip you need in 2026, whether preferring something smaller like Pwllheli's quiet town life in Gwynedd, or the bustling waterfront of Milford Haven. Swim in Cardigan Bay or get an ice cream on Llandudno Pier while marveling at the cerulean waters, out ahead and below. The western shores of Wales is where to go for that peace of mind and salty sea air against your cheeks.