12 Interesting Tourist Attractions to See and Things to Do in Aberystwyth

December 15, 2022 Mustafa Natalwala 2155 Views

Aberystwyth is a coastal town in Ceredigion County of Wales. The name of the town means “mouth of the Ystwyth”. This appropriately describes the location of this town at the confluence of rivers Afon Rheidol and Ystwyth at Cardigan Bay. The majority of the best things to do in Aberystwyth are situated around this bay.

The town is popular for its beach activities, coastal trails, and seaside attractions. There are many coastal places to visit in Aberystwyth for dining, leisure, entertainment, and adventure. The town is also popular for surfing and dolphin sighting boat tours. It is equally popular for its hike trails and nature walks that run alongside the coastline. These are the most popular outdoor activities to do in Aberystwyth.

Within the town, railway rides are perhaps the biggest Aberystwyth attractions. The Rheidol Railway ride takes you on a tour of the valley. The cliff railway takes you up to Constitution Hill. Both these tours show you wonderful things to see in Aberystwyth. There are also several viewpoints in the town that show different wonders of the town and the nature around it.

Once you are done exploring the surroundings, you can turn back into the town to explore historical Aberystwyth attractions. The town is home to the largest library in the country. You can also see a ruined castle, a 19th-century church, and a country history museum during Aberystwyth sightseeing.

Aside from attractions, the Aberystwyth travel also has a lot to offer in terms of arts and culture. It has an interesting culinary scene. You get to try out regional preparations as well as traditional Welsh cuisine. The Arts Center is one of the best places to go in Aberystwyth to experience visual and performing arts.

When you visit Aberystwyth, take some time off to just leisurely stroll the streets. It has a unique vibe and you will find yourself experiencing Aberystwyth points of interest in a completely different way.

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Table of Contents

Top 12 Tourist Places to Visit in Aberystwyth in 3 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Day 1

1. Aberystwyth Arts Center

This arts center contains a theatre, concert hall, cinema hall, exhibition galleries, and art studios. It is one of the best places to visit in Aberystwyth, Wales to experience regional and international artworks. You can see movies, performance arts, paintings, sculptures, musical concerts, and more. The campus also has cafes, craft shops, and bars. You will need about an hour to explore this place when you visit Aberystwyth.

2. National Library of Wales

This is the largest library in Wales. This library has a collection of more than 6.5 million items. It has books, archives, periodicals, photographs, maps, portraits, and more. It is one of the best Aberystwyth tourist attractions for those interested in bibliography and history. The building housing this library is also a wonderful piece of architecture. It was built in 1937 and was designed by Sidney Greenslade. The building is one of the most imposing things to see in Aberystwyth. You will need one hour to tour this place.

3. Vale of Rheidol Railway

This train tour is one of the best things to do in Aberystwyth. It takes you on a journey through the beautiful Rheidol Valley. You will go through mountains and forests. The scenic views of nature on either side create a soothing experience. You will need 2 hours from Aberystwyth for this ride.

4. Aberystwyth Castle

The history of this Edwardian Castle dates back to 1110. But, the current structure was built during the First Wales War in the 13th century. It is one of the oldest Aberystwyth attractions. It was built in a diamond shape with concentric fortification. It is a fascinating structure. But parts of the castle are now in ruins. You will need an hour and a half from Aberystwyth sightseeing to explore this castle.

5. Ceredigion Museum

This museum is housed in a restored Aberystwyth Edwardian Theatre. The museum focuses on the history and archeological findings of Wales. You will get to learn about Wales’s politics, history, culture, industries, pastoral life, arts, and more. It is one of the most interesting places to go in Aberystwyth. You will need about an hour to tour this museum.

Day 2

1. Aberystwyth Cliff Railway

This funicular railway ride takes up to Constitution Hill. It is one of the most fun things to do in Aberystwyth. This used to be the longest funicular railway line on the British Isle until 2001. As you move up the hill, you get a great view of the town and the coastal areas. You will need two hours for the train ride.

2. Constitution Hill

From atop the hill, you get breathtaking views of the town and Cardigan Bay. The viewpoint also has a Camera Obscura that lets you see clearly for over 1,000 miles. You can also spot many many places to see in Aberystwyth through this camera. You will need about an hour for constitution hill.

3. Aberystwyth Promenade

This coastline walkway dates back to Victorian times. You will come across several Aberystwyth tourist attractions while walking this promenade. It has several viewpoints, benches, and activity areas. You can also access the beach through this promenade. You can easily spend a couple of hours strolling this walkway.

4. Ceredigion Coastal Path

This coastal trail is one of the best places to go in Aberystwyth such as hiking and camping. The trail runs along the ocean and passes through beaches, forests, hills, and cliffs. You will need 2 to 3 hours to explore this trail when you visit Aberystwyth.

5. St. Michael’s Church

The history of this church goes all the way back to the 15th century. But it was rebuilt twice in the 19th century. The building exhibits Gothic Revival architecture. It is among the most important historical and cultural Aberystwyth attractions in the town. You will need about 20 to 30 minutes to explore this church.

Day 3

1. Sunset View over Cardigan Bay

Cardigan Bay is anyways one of the most popular Aberystwyth points of interest. But people especially come here to see the sun set into the ocean. There are several viewpoints along the bay. This sunset is one of the most photographed in the town. The Cardigan Bay is also popular for outdoor activities to do in Aberystwyth along the beach. You can easily spend a couple of hours at this bay.

2. Ynyslas National Nature Reserve

Spread over 2,000 hectares, this nature reserve has several terrains including mudflats, salt marshes, beaches, sand dunes, hills, and plains. It has vibrant natural treasures including plants, trees, wildflowers, and more. People come here for outdoor activities to do in Aberystwyth like hiking, trekking, bird-watching, camping, and more. You can easily spend an entire day in this nature reserve.

If you are looking for more places to visit in Aberystwyth, check out the section below. We have put together an exhaustive list of activities and attractions in the town and around it.

Things to do in Aberystwyth

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Aberystwyth

National Library of Wales
Aberystwyth Ceredigion Museum
Aberystwyth Arts Centre
War Memorial
Pen Dinas Hill Fort
Aberystwyth Castle
St. Michael’s Church
St. Padarn’s Church

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Aberystwyth

Clarach Bay
Pen Dinas Hill
Penglais Nature Park
Ynyslas National Nature Reserve
Dyfi National Nature Reserve

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Aberystwyth

Constitution Hill
Seafront Palace
The Magic of Life Butterfly House

Shopping in Aberystwyth

Market Hall
Saturday Market
Aberystwyth Farmer’s Market
Aberystwyth High Street

Beaches & Islands in Aberystwyth

South Beach
North Beach
Aberystwyth Beach
Tan Y Bwlch Beach
Wallog Beach

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Aberystwyth

Hiking
Trekking
Camping
Surfing
Swimming
Beach Sports
Boat Tours
Dolphin Sighting Tours
Train Ride
Watersports
Sea Fishing

Sightseeing in Aberystwyth

Vale of Rheidol Railway
Aberystwyth Cliff Railway

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Aberystwyth

Starling Cloud
Fusion King
The Libertine
Pier Brasserie
Baravin
The Angel
Banera
Theatre Bar
Ultracomida
The Carlton
Upstairs at the Pier
Little Italy
Y Ffarmers
The Cambrian
Sophie’s
Caesars Cafe
Glentower
Home Cafe
Med Delisght
La Taberna
Piazza Cafe

Where to Stay in Aberystwyth?

Here we have listed Top Rated Hotels in Aberystwyth. You can check the below-listed hotels for your perfect stay in Aberystwyth.

How to Reach Aberystwyth?

By Air

The closest airport for Aberystwyth travel is the Birmingham International Airport. You can get direct flights to this airport from several cities in Europe and Asia. But to reach Aberystwyth from Birmingham you have to use road transport.

By Road

You can direct trains to visit Aberystwyth from several towns and cities on the Transport for Wales railway route. This route connects Aberystwyth to Birmingham, Shrewsbury, Chester, Hereford, Swansea, Cardiff, and many more.

You can get direct buses to reach Aberystwyth from several major nearby cities. This includes Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Swansea, and so on.

If you are planning for Aberystwyth travel by road, you should head for routes A44 or A487.

By Water

There are no water routes for tourists to reach Aberystwyth.

Image Reference

Aberystwyth Arts Centre – Ian Capper / geograph.org.uk / Wikimedia Commons
National Library of Wales – Caroline Ramsden / Flickr
Vale of Rheidol Railway – Michael Day / Flickr
Aberystwyth Castle – Peter Broster / Flickr
Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum – Phil Beard / Flickr
Aberystwyth Cliff Railway – Werner Wilmes / Flickr
Constitution Hill – Ruth Hartnup / Flickr
Sunset View over Cardigan Bay – Peter Broster / Wikimedia Commons
Aberystwyth Promenade – Lyn Dafis / Flickr
Ceredigion Coast Path – Jeremy Segrott / Flickr
St. Michael’s Church – Michael Day / Flickr
Ynyslas National Nature Reserve – Des Blenkinsopp / Georgraph.org.uk