There are a lot of things to do in Caernarfon, for history buffs there is Caernarfon Castle which is a popular attraction in Caernarfon, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There are also plenty of museums and archeological sites to explore in Caernarfon.
If you’re looking for something a bit more active, you can go for a walk or a hike in the nearby Snowdonia National Park.
Honestly, there are so many fun things to do in Caernarfon, narrowing down a list of 15 was hard.
But I’ve done my best to prioritize the must-do things — especially if you are a first-time visitor
About Caernarfon, North Wales
Located along the Eastern shore of the Menai Strait, opposite the Isle of Anglesey is Caenarfon.
Caernarfon is a small town in Gwynedd,
Caernarfon Timezone: GMT+0
Caernarfon Population: 9,852 (2011)
Caernarfon Area Code: 01286
With that said, in this article we will talk about the top things to do in Caernarfon, anyone can do the activities listed below.
1. Checkout The Airworld Aviation Museum
Located 2.4 kilometers (4-min drive) from Dinas Dinlle Beach is The Airworld Aviation Museum.
This Museum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Caernarfon, and I think it is one of the best places to check out if you’re visiting Caernarfon for the first time.
Address: Caernarfon Airport, Dinas Dinlle, Caernarfon LL54 5TP, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1286 832154
The museum is dedicated to preserving historic aircraft.
The Museum features a wide collection of historic aircraft like The Hawker Hunter, D.H. Vampire, along with the T2 BAe Harrier, which is the only remaining T2 BAe Harrier in the world.
The Airworld Aviation Museum is closed from Monday to Friday and opens only on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm.
If you’re interested in machines, planes or technology then I recommend you visit this place.
2. Go Skating at Caernarfon Skate park
Apart from visiting museums, there are other incredible and fun things to do in Caernarfon, and one of them is to skate at the Caernarfon Skate Park.
The Caernarfon Skate park is located at the back of the Caernarfon Castle, which is just 2.7 km away.
Address: Caernarfon LL55 2AY, United Kingdom
Skating in this park is very enjoyable, it does not matter whether you’re a beginner or an expert, the skating arena has a lot of different obstacles to skate on which makes it even more enjoyable.
One of the reasons why this place is on our list of fun things to do in Caernarfon is because the skating course here is challenging enough for the experienced skater, yet also forgiving enough for the beginner.
3. Visit the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum
Located 850 meters away from the city centre, Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum is one of the most popular places to visit in Caernarfon.
The Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, one of Wales’ oldest infantry regiments.
The museum features a wide collection of different records, including the 96,000 digitized records from the RWF covering the period between 1807-1948.
Address: Castle, Castle Ditch, Caernarfon LL55 2AY, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1286 673362
Founded: 1960
The Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum is divided into two sections.
The first section of the museum educates you on the history of the Royal Fusiliers.
The story stretches back to 1689 when the regiment was formed in response to the Fresh Invasion of England.
The regiment fought for the first time during the War of the Spanish Succession.
As time went on and the regiment developed, they were involved in a number of battles like the Battle of Blenheim, the Battle of Ramililes, and the Battle of Oudenaarde.
While the second section of the museum talks about the history of Caernarfon and its environment.
The Royal Welch Museum is one of the best Caernarfon attractions that is worth visiting.
4. Visit The Parc Gwledig Padarn
Located 1.6 kilometers away from the Dolbardan Castle, Parc Gwledig Pardarn is a beautiful, family-friendly park that is located in the Caernarfon.
The park features a wide variety of wildlife like red kites, buzzards, ravens, otters, and water voles.
Address: 4, Parc Padarn Country Park, Llanberis, Caernarfon LL55 4TY, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1286 870892
One of the reasons why visiting this park is on our list of things to do in Caernarfon is because it is family friendly.
The playgrounds here are perfect for kids, and the park also features a wide variety of outdoor activities walking, cycling, horse riding, and fishing
This park also features a wide variety of rare flowers and plants
5. Explore Caernarfon Castle
Just like touring the Airworld Aviation Museum, exploring the Mighty Caernarfon Castle which was built in the 13th century is another amazing thing to do in Caernarfon.
Address: Castle Ditch, Caernarfon LL55 2AY, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 300 025 2239
Opened: 1283
Architectural styles: Medieval architecture, Edwardian architecture
Caernarfon castle was established in the 13th century by King Edward I when he was trying to conquer Wales.
Because of King Edward I’s goal of making the Caernarfon Castle his royal palace in Wales, it was built on a Roman Forth.
The castle also features two polygon towers, which are considered to be one of the best examples of military medieval architecture.
In the 19th century, the castle served as a prison and as a military barracks.
Nowadays, as one of the most famous castles in Wales, Caernarfon Castle is now a tourist attraction and is under the control of the Welsh government’s historic environment service.
6. Explore The National Slate Museum
Exploring The National Slate Museum is one of the most interesting things to do in Caernarfon.
If you have any interest in the industrial revolution of Wales – especially in the slate industry, which is one of the most important verticals in Wales, then this museum is worth visiting.
Address: Llanberis, Caernarfon LL55 4TY, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 29 2057 3700
Opened: 1972
Because of its wide collections of artifacts and slate quarrying equipment that was used in the olden days, the Slate Museum is one of the most popular attractions in North Wales.
This Museum is housed in a former slate quarry workshop, where tourists can see the process of cutting slates.
The Museum also hosts exhibits, so visitors can see how slate is cut and how the slate industry impacted the lives of people in the days of old.
7. Go On The Snowdonia & The 3 Castles Guided Tour
If you don’t know your way around Wales, then I recommend you go on a guided tour.
This guided tour gives you the opportunity to explore the Snowdonia national park, and its three most famous castles, the Conwy Castle, the Dolbadarn Castle, and the Caernarfon Castle in one day.
The bus tour features a maximum of 16, so the bus won’t feel tight.
You’re also allowed to bring your children with you, however, they must be more than 3yrs
This guided tour lasts for 9hr and according to user reviews on TripAdvisor, this guided tour has a rating of 10/10.
If you’re interested in this tour, then click the button below to purchase a ticket, pricing starts at $73 per adult.
8. Go On Sightseeing Day Trip Tour
Going on a guided sightseeing day trip tour is one of the cheapest and less stressful ways to explore a place.
In short, if you’re not a local resident or if you’re not familiar with a city, and you want to explore the city, I recommend using a guided day trip tour.
This type of tour is perfect for those who want to explore a new city or country without having to spend a lot of money lodging in hotels or rentals.
There are different day trip tours in Caernarfon, however, I recommend the Sightseeing Day Trip Tour by Busy Bus.
This Tour by Busy Bus feature a day trip around North Wales, Caernarfon town walls, Snowdonia National Park, the Betws-y-Coed, and Llanfairpwll railway station.
I give this day trip tour a solid 9.5/10, however before booking a tour, make sure you read by other travelers to see what they have to say about their experience and the company.
If you’re interested in this tour, then click the button below to purchase a ticket, pricing starts at $85 per adult.
9. Play Golf at Caernarfon Golf Club
I’m not that good at playing golf. However, if you know how to play golf, then I suggest you check out the Caernarfon golf club.
The Caernarfon Golf Club was established in 1909 and its golf course features an 18-hole parkland layout.
Address: Aber Foreshore Rd, Caernarfon LL54 5RP, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1286 678359
Caernarfon Golf Club has a very rich history, this is because in its early days it was a private club that was only open to Elites.
However, as the world became more civilized and social stratification became less relevant, the golf club is now accessible to the public.
Apart from its 18-hole course, Caernarfon Golf Club also features a 9-hole golf course which is perfect for beginners or those looking for a quick round.
Another reason why this place is on our list of things to do in Caernarfon is that Caernarfon Golf Club is a welcoming place, and you also get to meet people.
10. Tour The Dolbadarn Castle
Just 1.6 km away from the National Slate Museum is a fortification known as the Dolbadarn Castle.
Touring this castle is one of the best things to do in Caernarfon! The castle was built by Llywelyn the Great during the early 13th century and served as his residence.
Address: A4086, Caernarfon LL55 4UB, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1443 336000
Opened: 1220
However, during the Welsh War, the castle was captured by King Edward I
Nowadays, the Dolbadarn Castle is now under the control of the Welsh government and serves as a popular attraction and a major example of early medieval military architecture
11. Checkout The Dinas Dinlle Iron Age Hillfort
Located 6 km away from Inigo Jones Slate Works is the Dinas Dinlee Iron Age Hillfort.
Dinas Dinlee Hillfort is a well-preserved Iron Age fort which is located in North Wales, the fort was established in 600 BC and was occupied until the Romans conquered Britain in 1 AD.
The main purpose of the forth was to protect the town from raiders and invaders from Ireland and other parts of Europe.
Address: Llandwrog, Caernarfon, United Kingdom
The fort was excavated in the 19th century and the remains of the roundhouses were found to be in a good state of preservation.
Nowadays the Dinas Dinlle Iron Age Hillfort serves as a popular attraction in Wales.
12. Watch A Movie At Galeri Caernarfon Cinema
One of the best things to do in Caernarfon at night is to watch a movie at the Galeri Cinema.
The Galeri Cinema is located just 450 meters away from the Fun center.
The Galeri Caernarfon features a lot of trending and classic movies like The Grinch, Avatar, A Man Called Otto, and many more.
13. Visit The Segontium Roman Fort
Another fort in Caernarfon that is worth visiting is the Segontium Roman Fort.
The Segontium Roman FortThe fort was built in AD 77 by Legio II Adiutrix, during that time, Gnaeus Julius Agricola was the governor.
The name of the fort was derived from the River Seiont (Welsh: Afon Seiont), because the fort was built on the mouth of the river seiont.
The reason behind building the fort was to protect the Roman empire’s northern frontier from the hostile tribes of the Brigantes and the Ordovices.
The Segontium Fort also served as a military base for the Roman army during their campaign against the druids of Anglesey.
Nowadays the Segontium Fort serves as a popular tourist attraction in Wales and I recommend you check it out.
14. Take a walk along the walls of the castle
The castle walls were built by King Edward I and they were built with local stone and marble so they would be strong enough to withstand a siege and protect the inhabitants of the castle from attacks.
Address: Caernarfon LL55 1RG, United Kingdom
The walls are up to three meters (9.8 ft) thick and 20 meters (66 ft) high. They were reinforced with towers, turrets, and arrow slits.
15. Grab a Drink at The Old Courthouse Caernarfon
The Old Courthouse is a luxury bar located in the Winstar Casino & Resort
After a long day of work, you can head over to the Old Courthouse to enjoy a cocktail or spirited beverage.
Old Courthouse also provides its guests with a special bar menu featuring light foods, appetizers, and snacks.
16. Read a Book at Caernarfon Library
Located 66 meters away from Turf Square, The Caernarfon Library is a historic library that was built in 1873, and is one of the first public libraries in Wales.
The Library is located in the town center of Caernarfon, Gwynedd, and overlooks the castle.
Address: Pavilion Hill, Caernarfon LL55 1AS, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1286 679463
The Caernarfon started as a subscription-only library, which means that only people who have a library subscription can use the library.
However, in the early 1900s, the Library was opened up to the public and since then you can use the library for free.
If you’re looking for a great place with a calm and pleasant environment to study, then I recommend you check out the Caernarfon Library.
17. Have Fun At The Caernarfon Fun Center
Located just 500 meters away from Turf Square and a 3-min drive away from Asda Supermarket.
One of the best things to do in Caernarfon with kids is to check out the Fun Center.
Address: Christ Church, Bangor St, Caernarfon
Phone: +44 1286 671911
The Fun Center is a great place to perfect place to visit, especially if you’re going out with your family or kids.
The Fun Center has a big play area for kids, the play features a giant 25ft high drop slide, ball pools, swing-over nets, tumble towers, spinning steps, dark maze squeeze rollers, and much more…
There’s also a place for adults to sit and have food or beverages.
18. Watch or Play Football At The Oval
If you’re a huge football fan like me, then head over to the Oval every Sunday afternoon to watch a football match.
Address: Marcus St, Caernarfon LL55 2HT, United Kingdom
It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Caernarfon Town F.C. The stadium has a capacity of 3,000 people and has 600 seats
If you can play football, you can go there in the evening from Monday to Saturday
19. Go Swimming at Byw’n Iach Arfon
Byw’n Iach Arfon is a leisure center in Caernarfon that feature a swimming pool and different recreational activities
Address: Bethel Rd, Caernarfon LL55 1HW, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1286 676451
During the hot summer months, one of the best things to do in Caernarfon is to cool off at this recreational facility.
20. Explore The Dinorwig Quarry
The Dinorwig quarry is a former slate quarry that is located in the Snowdonia National Park, just 450 meters away from the National Slate museum.
Address: Dinorwig Quarry, Caernarfon LL55 4TY, United Kingdom
The quarry stopped being in operation in 1969 and today it serves as a popular tourist destination, featuring a number of hiking and climbing trails as well as views of scenic lakes
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a lot of things to do in Caernarfon Wales.
From going on a 9hr day trip to some seeing cool examples of medieval architecture.
The activities we listed here are not the only things you can do in Caernarfon, they are just the best thing to do.
There are many other activities you can participate in.
We hope this list of 20 best things to do in Caernarfon helped you plan your travel itinerary!
Please let us know if you have any questions or need any help with planning your visit!