If you're looking for windswept and spectacular then Wales is for you. It doesn't matter if it's a dramatically buffeted coastline, rocky mountain range or lush river valley, Wales offers a myriad of opportunities for getting out into the great outdoors. Of course Wales also has lively cities, charming seaside towns and has had many thousands of years in which to build wonderful castles, historic homes and fascinating structures. Some of these have now been converted into the best places to stay in Wales.

Some of our Welsh Collections:

• The best hotels in Snowdonia National Park
• Best hotels in the Brecon Beacons
• Best hotels in Mid Wales
• Best hotels in the Gower Peninsula
• Best pubs with rooms in Wales
• Best hotels in South Wales
• Dog friendly hotels in Wales
• Best hotels for the Wye Valley

North Wales

North Wales is a great destination for active folk and active families are especially well catered for. As well as access to Snowdonia National Park and the Wales Coastal Path - Llandudno is a good base for the coast and Conwy or the Isle of Anglesey for other outdoors activities - there are also several areas classified as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Then there are the stunning beaches along dramatically rugged coastlines and rocky interiors and also plenty of rainy-day heritage activities.

South and Mid Wales

South and Mid Wales have the main cities, Cardiff and Swansea. It’s also where you’ll find the vast mecca for walkers and cyclists that is the Brecon Beacons which is part of the Powys area, parts of the Wye Valley and the pretty village of Mumbles, gateway to the Gower Peninsula. This is where you can find some of the best beaches and surfing conditions in Wales.

Cardiff is watched over by its ancient fort, and in turn, watches over the modernised waterfront and bay. This layout is a pretty good analogy for the city itself: a blend of recent innovative architecture which still preserves the city’s heritage. Cardiff’s popularity as a destination for visitors is relatively new, and there’s a nice buzz on a busy weekend - especially when the rugby is on - with the shopping districts doing a lively trade and the pubs, clubs and restaurants enjoying the same crowds in the evenings.

Swansea’s not the most beautiful city in Wales, but it is situated on Swansea Bay, a five-mile swathe of stunning beach. It’s also where you’ll find the National Waterfront Museum and for fans of "Under Milk Wood" the Dylan Thomas Centre.

West Wales

As you get into West Wales you'll notice road signs changing from English above Welsh to Welsh above English. This is the heartland of traditional Wales and Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion really feel a long way, culturally, from the rest of the mainland. The coastline is tamer, with more sandy stretches, dotted with candy-coloured harbour towns, so this is great place for a unique seaside holiday.

What not to Miss

• Get in touch with the capital at the the National Museum of Cardiff which houses a truly wonderful collection including over 500 years worth of paintings, sculptures and one of Europe's finest collection of Impressionist art. There's an array of galleries displaying Wales' rich natural history as well as dinosaur displays.
• Also in Cardiff, the 19th-century Gothic revival Castell Coch features dazzlingly colourful interiors and splendid architecture, including a moat, draw bridge and dungeon. You'll feel as if you're in a fairy tale!
• Consider exploring some of Snowdonia National Park, home to a number of fantastic hiking trails, fishing spots, cycling routes and no less than 20 golf courses!
• Or how about walking the Wales Coastal Path?
• There’s the Brecon Beacons National Park, which covers some 520 square miles and is a mecca for walkers and cyclists. The landscape is stunning with old sandstone forming four distinct ranges of hills intersected with major river valleys.
• The Wye Valley which stretches from mid Wales to Chepstow, runs a picturesque course through typically British countryside. Obviously ideal for keen walkers, the area also offers great fishing. Of course the only literary festival to be seen at is the Hay on Wye Festival.
• Pembroke Castle, the "birthplace of the Tudor Dynasty", is a wonderful place for the whole family visit. It boasts an 80 foot Great Keep and the medieval dungeon, as well as a number of falconry displays and historic re-enactments.

With such a variety of areas and experiences we are sure it will be easy to find a bed in one of the best places to stay in Wales, here are our suggestions.

The best places to stay in Wales

In Cardiff

• Holm House occupies a tranquil spot on top of the Penarth Cliffs, overlooking the stunning Welsh coastline so you’ll feel a bit seaside-y on your city break. As well as 12 individually designed and decorated rooms, Holm House has a luxurious spa and a fine dining restaurant.
• Cathedral 73 is a beautifully renovated Victorian townhouse in one of Cardiff’s smartest neighbourhoods. The nine rooms are elegantly furnished, bright and airy and the bathrooms are enormous. The indulgent breakfasts will set you up for the day’s sightseeing as you’re close to many of the main attractions.
• St David's Hotel & Spa is a large hotel right on Cardiff Bay with a wonderful waterside restaurant, a luxurious spa and stylish decor throughout.
• The Hotel One Hundred is a family owned B&B with seven rooms in the heart of the city. Clean, simple rooms and a complimentary breakfast for around £50 per night make this a great value option.

For Snowdonia National Park

• Seoint Manor Hotel, set in an 18th century country house amidst 150 acres of grounds, provides stylish and tasteful accommodation. You'll love their 2 AA Rosette awarded Llwyn y Brain dining room! Plus, you're right on the edge of Snowdonia National Park.
• Pen-Y-Gwryd is a historic mountaineer's hotel in the heart of Snowdonia. It offers cosy and unfussy rooms right by the mountains - perfect for hiking holidays.
• Palé Hall is set in a historic Victorian manor house next to Snowdonia. With elegantly traditional interiors and gorgeous surroundings, this is a top-notch country stay.
• Y Meirionnydd is a quaint stay located in Snowdonia with Coed-y-Brenin's fantastic mountain biking just 8 miles away. Homely rooms and an atmospheric cellar restaurant with exposed stone walls and church pew seats.

For The Brecon Beacons

• The Cawdor is a lovely spot in the village of Llandeilo, offering great value rooms mixing original features - think high ceilings and wooden beams - with contemporary touches. Wholesome, typically Welsh grub served up at the restaurant.

For the Coastline

• The Restaurant James Sommerin is a gorgeous, Michelin-starred restaurant with nine boutique-style rooms. The setting is idyllic in Penarth, right on the waterfront, and you’re close to Cardiff.
• Patricks With Rooms is located just a short distance from the beach and offers views across Mumbles Bay. With contemporary rooms featuring a red and white colour scheme as well as great British cuisine (specialising in seafood), this is a top family coastal retreat.
• The Harbourmaster Hotel is located in Aberaeron and has a reputation for great food as well as being perfect for the seaside. The rooms are split between three harbour side buildings and many have stunning views out to sea.
• Located on the Pembrokeshire coast, St Brides Spa Hotel enjoys a cliff top situation with stunning views. Privately owned, it boasts forty-six contemporary styled bedrooms and top-notch spa offering various marine therapies and an infinity pool with sea views.
• The Penrhiw Hotel is a luxurious seven room bolthole on the southwest tip of Wales with chic and fashionable accommodation. It's ideally located to head off hiking through the beautiful Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

For A Romantic Escape

• Close to Snowdonia National Park, the wonderfully Gothic Chateau Rhianfa, inspired by the castles of the Loire Valley, offers bedrooms in a traditional style but with contemporary furnishings - as well as three self-catering cottages. Come back after a long day hiking and enjoy a good book in their elegant sitting rooms.
• The Georgian Brooks Country House expertly blends original features with contemporary touches to provide beautiful accommodation. With a sauna and top-notch food.

Perfect for Walkers

• Llwyndu Farmhouse enjoys a wonderful location overlooking Cardigan Bay at the foot of the Rhinog mountains. Offering comfortable and cosy accommodation, this B&B is a great spot for avid walkers.
• Ael y Bryn offers comfortable cream coloured accommodation and extensive gardens. Set in Snowdonia, there are a number of surrounding walking trails to explore whilst Royal St David's Golf Course is just a short distance away.
• The Wye Valley’s Tudor Farmhouse offers chic accommodation in serene countryside surroundings. The Michelin noted restaurant serves up quintessentially British classics - ideal to come back to after a day out hiking.
• King Arthur Hotel is situated beneath Cefn Bryn, the Gower Peninsula's highest point. Boasting nineteen unfussy yet chic rooms, there's also delicious home cooked food served up and a cosy log fire by which to enjoy a good book.
• The New White Lion is an intimate six room hotel in the Brecon Beacons and Cambrian Mountains. Boasting tasteful accommodation with log burning fires, there's also a lovely restaurant and huge breakfasts to set you up for the day.

For a Rural Retreat

• The Kinmel Arms boasts lovely rooms with an Alpine-chalet feel, but the main attraction's definitely the wonderful food. Spend your days hiking around the coast before relaxing with a tipple by the fireplace.
• The West Arms Hotel is a 16th century inn located in the foothills of the Berwyn Mountains. It offers cosy bedrooms with original features and antiques. There are nearby golf clubs and wonderful walking trails to be explored.
• Manorhaus Llangollen boasts artsy rooms featuring plenty of black and white, whilst the bathrooms have private hot tubs and there's even one on the roof. With the Dee Valley on your doorstep, there's no excuse not to go on a number of wonderful hikes.
• The Grove is a beautifully restored manor farmhouse just outside Narbeth in West Wales. There are twelve bedrooms which are simply perfect, plus extra accommodation in an adjoining cottage and longhouse. Food too is outstanding here and if you book a self catering cottage you're positively encouraged to raid the vegetable garden.

Great for Families

• The Hotel Portmeirion & Castell Deudraeth enjoys a terrific setting, right by the coast (with a beach area out front) and Snowdonia National Park to the other side. Come back after a day out hiking and go for a refreshing dip in the pool.
• The Bell at Skenfrith is an old coaching inn featuring charming, cosy accommodation in the peaceful countryside (there's no phone signal!). A relaxed, family-friendly getaway.

For an apartment or cottage

• If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private cottage we recommend you visit our online partner Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Cardiff Airport is directly linked to around 50 destinations, including all the main airline hubs, but it’s also a fairly short distance from Heathrow - only three hours by road. Alternatively there are good rail links to many Welsh destinations from continental Europe and the rest of the UK, and you can cross to and from Ireland on the ferry, which takes under two hours from Dublin.
• If you want to hire a car - which we highly recommend if you’re staying in Wales - we recommend you visit our online partner Rentalcars.
• Spring is beautiful in Wales. If you enjoy a stroll, be it around a castle grounds, up a mountain or along a rocky peninsula, then the mild, dry weather of spring is a good time for it. Plus there are lambs and birdsong. Summer in Wales is also appealing, what with the golden beaches looking almost as good as the Med. under the summer sun. Autumn is great for walkers, with the colours adding to Wales’s dramatic views and welcoming pub lunches to come in for. Plus the castles are at their most moody and dramatic looking too. In winter you might need to walk more briskly, or up higher mountains, to keep you warm, but there’s always a welcoming fire burning somewhere and plenty of colourful Christmasy events to keep you in good cheer.

Still not sure?

• Refine your search to the best places to stay in Cardiff,
• Or how about choosing one of the best hotels in the Wye Valley?
• Or contact one of our friendly Gurus for advice.