chloedickensonLast Updated on 14th January 2024
This post about the ultimate 3-day North Wales itinerary contains affiliate links.
Are you planning a trip to North Wales and wondering how long you should spend there? This North Wales 3 day itinerary tells you everything you need to know!
I only visited Wales for the first time ever – a place that’s a mere two and a half hours away from our house in York – in September 2021!
I still can’t believe that it took me that long to visit Wales but once I had, I fell utterly in love with the beautiful country, so much so, that we decided to split our Wales road trip in two and complete the North and the South separately.
Unfortunately, we only spent three days in North Wales and while we did intend to spend around 1-2 weeks there, Matt fell ill on our third day so we decided to come home.
Despite our short trip, I’m pretty impressed with all the awesome things we managed to see and do during our 3 days in North Wales and while there are still a few more places I’d like to visit, I think we managed to experience plenty of the best things to see in North Wales.
This list isn’t entirely exhaustive of all the best things to do in North Wales, but it’s a good starting point if you’re planning an epic 3-day North Wales itinerary!
Read more: 10 Day Wales Road Trip Itinerary
How many days do you need in North Wales?
I think 3 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in North Wales! It gives you the chance to see and do plenty of things, such as Portmeirion Village, Anglesey, Aberystwyth, Snowdonia National Park and much more!
Portmeirion Village – best places to visit in North Wales
I’ve already written about our time at Portmeirion Village on my blog, but I wanted to include it in this list of the best places to visit in North Wales as it’s such a beautiful part of the country and I’d highly recommend adding to your Wales itinerary.
Situated in the touristy village of Gwynedd, Portmeirion is an attraction in Wales like no other. Influenced and inspired by Italy, this micro town feels like you’ve stepped foot in a beautiful coastal town in Italy.
A wander around the village will see you experiencing things such as the town hall, a giant chessboard, plenty of places to eat and drink and even many accommodation types if you want to spend a little longer there!
Portmeirion is such a beautiful place to visit in Wales and I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
Day tickets:
- Adult – £17.00.
- Concessions – £13.50 (60+ or a student with a valid student ID).
- Children – £10 (5-15 years).
Read more: The Ultimate Guide To Visiting Portmeirion Village, Wales – What You Need To Know
Anglesey – 3-day North Wales itinerary
Anglesey is a place that I’d wanted to visit for many years ever since I saw Sophie get married there and I’ve seen her spend tonnes of time there over the years as her in-laws live there and when we arrived, I was delighted that it didn’t disappoint!
The island is situated just off the coast of mainland Wales and it can be accessed by multiple bridges. It’s only a half an hour’s drive from Llandudno and just over half an hour from the heart of Snowdonia National Park, so it’s a great place in Wales to add to your road trip itinerary.
Beaumaris Castle
Beaumaris Castle is located in Anglesey and it’s a top place to visit while you’re there.
Dating back to the 13th century, this beautiful stronghold is renowned for being the “greatest castle never built” as it’s unfinished in places. To me, it still looks mightily impressive and with its very own half-moat, it does look like something out of an epic period drama.
The castle’s opening times operate on a seasonal basis, so be sure to check their website before you go to see when it’s open at different times of the year.
Tickets:
- Adult – £8.30.
- Children – £5.80 (aged 5-17 or students with a valid ID).
- Seniors – £7.70 (65+)
- Family – £27.40 (2 adults and up to 3 children).
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
While I suppose this place doesn’t have anything to “do” as such, if you’re heading on to Anglesey island as part of your North Wales trip, you need to make a brief stop in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, AKA “the place with the very long name”.
Shockingly, it’s not the longest place name in the world (that title belongs in New Zealand), Llanfairpwllgwyngyll as it’s more commonly known, has a crazy long name that is pretty much impossible to read out loud and pronounce correctly!
We only stopped at the local Co-Op while we were there, largely just so we could take a picture of the hilarious sign, so while I wouldn’t necessarily recommend going out of your way to visit Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, I would say that it’s worth a little nosey if you’re heading to Anglesey as it’s just over the bridge.
Aberystwyth – 3-day North Wales itinerary
Aberystwyth is another great place to visit in North Wales as it’s home to a beautiful town, a great little beach and tonnes of lovely shops, pubs and cafes.
We didn’t spend ages in Aberystwyth, but we did spend a good few hours mooching around the town and strolling along the beach and admiring the wonderful views. The castle grounds are well worth a little stroll around as they’re home to great picnic spots and numerous benches for sitting and resting your feet while taking in the beautiful surroundings.
There’s also the gorgeous St. Michael’s Church which is incredibly photogenic and the stunning Old College that dates back to 1795; it’s a truly magnificent building that’s well worth capturing on camera! We also popped into Mollie’s Sweet Shop which is home to a vast array of chocolatey and sweetie goods!
Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall
Pistyll Rhaeadr is the first place that we visited in North Wales and my goodness, what a way it was to start our trip!
It’s the tallest single-drop waterfall in Britain at a towering 240ft high and standing underneath it, it feels even bigger! The surrounding scenery is also absolutely beautiful and of course, as with any waterfall, it’s best seen just after a heavy downpour so that you can admire the impressive crashing of the water.
Snowdonia National Park
Unfortunately, neither of us were really in the mood for a huge walk in the mountainous Snowdon, but we did have a long drive through Snowdonia National Park and it was every bit as beautiful as I imagined.
Not only is Snowdon itself truly wondrous, but the whole park is utterly stunning and everywhere you look, whether you’re driving or walking around, there’s always something amazing to see with regards to nature.
Devil’s Bridge – 3-day North Wales itinerary
Devil’s Bridge Falls (Pontarfynach) is home to a stunning waterfall and numerous streams with three bridges that have all been built on top of one another over the years. It’s a very unusual sight to see and one that you certainly won’t see recreated quite as dramatically anywhere else, so it’s certainly worth the visit if you’re in the area.
There are two different walks you can enjoy at Devil’s Bridge; we opted for the shorter walk that takes you almost straight to the viewpoint of the towering bridges and cascading waterfall. You’ll need two £1 coins per person to get through the archaic turnstiles to reach the walk, but if you visit during peak hours, there’s usually an attendant at the kiosk over the road.
It’s important to note that the steps are very steep and can get very wet at times, so utmost caution and care is advised. It’s also not very accessible or pushchair or wheelchair-friendly, so this is something to bear in mind when visiting.
In the village of Devil’s Bridge, you’ll also find the Steam Railway which wasn’t running on the day that we visited, but I imagine that it’s a really fun thing to do when it’s running, especially if you’re travelling with kids in tow.
Conwy Castle
Conwy Castle is another top spot to visit in North Wales that you should have on your road trip itinerary.
Dating back more than 700 years, the castle is a huge feature in the town of Conwy and as it’s right in the centre of the town, you’ll more than likely drive around it at some point or another.
Tickets aren’t super cheap to go inside and explore the castle grounds, but it’s worth it to see this impressive fortress up close and personal.
- Adults – £11.10
- Children – £7.80 (aged 5-17 and students with a valid ID)
- Seniors – £10.60 (65+)
- Family – £36.60 (2 adults and up to 3 children)
Related posts:
- The Ultimate Guide To Visiting Portmeirion Village, Wales – What You Need To Know
- South Wales Road Trip – The Ultimate Guide Of The Best Things To Do
- The Best Things To Do In Swansea Bay, Mumbles & Gower
- The Best Places To Eat In Swansea Bay, Mumbles & Gower
- The Ultimate Guide To Visiting Cardiff Castle – What You Need To Know
Pin for later – 3-day North Wales itinerary
Have you ever been to Wales? Do you have any more places in North Wales to add to this guide? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram at @imjustagirl_16.
