14 Cool Things to See and Activities to Do in Conwy, Wales

November 9, 2023 Mustafa Natalwala 2211 Views

Conwy or Conway is a town in the North Wales region of Wales, UK. Some of the best things to do in Conwy, Wales include historical sightseeing and leisure activities. The biggest attraction of the town is the medieval castle and defensive walls.

Both of these were built under the reign of Edward I. The Castle is among the best places to visit in Conwy for their architecture, history, and collection of artworks, antiques, and artifacts. The walls have been an integral part of the town’s history. You can get a wonderful Conwy sightseeing tour just by walking along these walls. Both of these are considered some of the finest works of military architecture of their time.

Under the protection of these two structures, Conwy developed as a major merchant town during the Middle Ages. Many of the things to see in Conwy were built by the merchants who settled in this commercial centre. While the castle gives you a glimpse of the royal life, you can also witness the life of small and rich merchants of the era when you visit Conwy.

The town has well-preserved merchant houses built between 14th and 17th century. These interesting Conwy tourist attractions have been restored from the inside as well with authentic antiques to represent their eras. You will not only see what the houses looked like but also know how these people used to live. This makes them interesting places to see in Conwy. You will see how they cooked, dressed, cleaned, dined, bathed, and more.

The most popular among these Conwy attractions is the Quay House, better known as the smallest house in Great Britain. It is a quirky place that looks like a toy house. But, it was a home to a merchant at one time. There are many such quirky and charming historical places to go in Conwy. You just need to roam the town and its cobbled streets.

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Table of Contents

The Top 14 Tourist Places to Visit in Conwy, Wales

1. The Smallest House In Great Britain

Also known as the Quay House, this structure was built in the 16th century. It is one of the most popular places to visit in Conwy, North Wales. This attraction is exactly as advertised. It is house is 3.05 by 1.8 meters in size.

The house was actually in use until the 19th century. Outside the house is a guide dressed in traditional Welsh attire. The guide narrates the history of the house and its residents.

People love clicking pictures with the guide and this house. It is one of the top things to do in Conwy, North Wales. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore the house.

2. Conwy Town Walls

These walls were constructed during the 1200s under the reign of Edward I. The fortified walls stretch for 1.3 km. Walking along these walls, you will encounter 21 defence towers, 3 entrance gates, and several historical Conwy attractions. You will need about an hour to take a tour along the town walls.

I suggest you should book a Guided Tour of Conwy Town Walls in advance.

3. Conwy Castle

Alongside the walls, this castle was also built during the 13th century by Edward I. The castle is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most impressive things to see in Conwy, Wales.

The castle has stood in protection of the town for many centuries withstanding several wars and sieges. It is renowned for its defensive architecture. The structure is considered one of the finest of its time in Europe.

The castle has several museums and galleries showcasing different aspects of history. You will find many of the best things to do in Conwy, Wales in this castle. The tour will tell you about the castle, its residents, wars, nobility, and town history. You will need about 2 to 3 hours to tour the castle.

I suggest you should book a Guided Tour of Conwy Castle in advance.

4. Conwy Suspension Bridge

Built during the 1800s, this was one of the first road suspension bridges in the world. The bridge is adjacent to the town’s castle and holds great historical significance.

You can cover this Conwy tourist attraction alongside the tour of the castle and walls. It also played a vital role in the development of the town over the centuries. You will need 15 to 20 minutes to walk this bridge.

5. National Trust – Aberconwy House

This house dates back to the 15th century and is one of the oldest houses in the country. The house once belonged to a merchant and has been home to numerous families over the ages. It is one of the most interesting places to see in Conwy.

After the conquest of Edward I, many English merchants came and settled in this commercial centre. This is one of the only two such houses remaining today. The house gives you a glimpse into the life of the people during that period. You will need about an hour to tour this house when you visit Conwy.

6. Plas Mawr Elizabethan Town House

This townhouse was built by Robert Wynn in the 16th century. The house has 17 rooms recreating the interior of the 1500s. Even the house’s garden has been restored.

It is one of the best places to go in Conwy to experience history. It is interesting to see how the bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, appliances, antiques, fashion, and facilities worked during the 16th century. You will need 30 to 45 minutes from Conwy Travel to tour this house.

7. Conwy Mountain

If you are looking for fun things to do near Conwy, you should head to this beautiful mountain. You will come across a variety of landscapes and is a hotspot for outdoor activities.

The mountain has lakes, grasslands, forests, rocky terrain, and so on. People come here for hiking, boating, mountain biking, and so on. You can also see the archeological site of the Neolithic Huts while exploring this mountain. It takes at least half a day to make a trip to this mountain from the town.

8. RSPB Conwy Nature Reserve

The nature reserve is one of the best places to visit near Conwy for hiking and birdwatching. You can explore the bushlands, marshes, and lake to find a variety of birds. You will need to take about 2 to 3 hours to explore this place.

9. Conwy Boat Trip

You can take a boat trip from the town’s Quay to tour the river Conwy. The tour includes exploring surrounding landscapes and Conwy sightseeing. You will get to see some historical sites as well as parts of the nature reserves. You will need about an hour for the trip.

10. Cable Car Tour (Llandudno Cable Car)

This cute blue cable car takes you on a tour of the Great Orme, close to Llandudno. It is one of the best things to do around Conwy. You will go through wonderful grasslands with amazing mountain views. You will need about 2 to 3 hours for this trip.

11. Welsh Mountain Zoo

Spread over 37 acres, this zoo houses a variety of animals including tigers, snow leopards, chimpanzees, gibbons, brown bears, sea lions, pythons, alligators, and many more. It is one of the top places to visit in Conwy for families.

The zoo also has several animal interaction activities with meerkats, sea lions, penguins, and even tigers. You will need about 2 hours to explore the zoo when you visit Conwy.

12. Adventure Parc Snowdonia

The park is known for all the best things to do near Conwy, Wales. It has a lot of adventure sports including surfing, ziplining, mountain biking, skateboarding and more. Alongside outdoor activities to do in Conwy, the park is also great for picnic spots and hiking trails. You can easily spend a couple of hours enjoying this place.

13. Conwy Morfa Beach

Hidden behind a grassland, this beach is one of the best places to go in Conwy for leisure. People come here to just sit by the water and enjoy picnics. You will also see people building sandcastles and flying kites. It is also one of the most popular Conwy tourist attractions for hiking and paddleboarding. You need an hour or so at this beach.

14. Gwrych Castle

This beautiful castle was built in 1812 and is one of the most beautiful things to see in Conwy. The castle gained more popularity after being featured in the TV show “I am a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!”.

When you tour this castle, you will not only learn about its history but also explore parts of it that were used as set for the show. The castle is a 20-minute drive away and you will need about an hour for the tour.

If you are looking for more places to go in Conwy or around it, check out the sections below. We have compiled an exhaustive list of all the different types of attractions and activities to enjoy when you visit Conwy.

Things to do in Conwy, Wales

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Conwy, Wales

Conwy Castle
The Smallest House in Great Britain
Plas Mawr
Conwy Town Walls
Aberconwy House
St. Mary’s Church
Deganwy Castle
Valle Crucis Abbey
St. Tudno’s Church
Cefn Coch Stone Circle
Penmaenmawr Museum
St. Trillo Church

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Conwy, Wales

Conwy Mountain
Mynydd y Dref Peak
RSPB Convoy
Great Orme Country Park
Bodlondeb Wood
Pensychnant Conservation Centre
Porth Dyniewaid
Bryn Euryn Nature Reserve
Little Orme
Tal y Fan Peak
Bodafon Fields
Cadair Ifan Goch
Afon Dulyn River

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Conwy, Wales

Bodnat Garden
Welsh Mountain Zoo
The Royal Cambrian Academy of Art
Llechwedd Zip World
Bodlondeb Park
Llandudno Ski and Snowboard Centre
Great Orme Summit Complex
Snowdonia Adventure Park
Summit Cable Car Station
Gwinllan Vineyard
Great Orme Tramway
The Owls Trust

Shopping in Conwy, Wales

Castle Street
Rose Hill Street
High Street

Beaches & Islands in Conwy, Wales

Conwy Morfa Beach
Deganwy Beach
Rhos on Sea Beach
Penmaenmawr Beach
Penrhyn Bay Beach
Ormes Bay

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Conwy, Wales

Hiking
Cable Car Ride
Boating
Surfing
Mountain Biking
Kayaking
Paddleboarding
Zipline

Sightseeing in Conwy, Wales

Llandudno Pier
Conwy Suspension Bridge
Sychnant Pass Road
Tubular Railway Bridge
Conwy Bay
Pen Trwyn Peninsula

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Conwy, Wales

Amelies
Castle Hotel
Alfredos
Watsons Bistro
The Erskine Arms
Carlo’s Restaurant
Home Cookin
Paysanne
Kings Head Pub
La Taverna
The Galleon
Signatures
Nikki Ips
The Cottage Loaf

Where to Stay in Conwy?

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

Custom Tours Package in Conwy

How to Reach Conwy, Wales?

By Air

The Liverpool and Manchester airports are the closest air travel destinations to reach Conwy, Wales. They are respectively about 67 km and 104 km away from the town. You would then have to take trains, buses, or cabs to travel to Conwy from either of these cities.

By Road

While there is no train station within the town, there are quite a few nearby. The closest one to visit Conwy is Llandudno Junction. This station sits on the Transport to Wales line. It receives direct trains from several major cities and towns in the UK including Liverpool, Chester, Shrewsbury, Newport, Cardiff, and many more. Once you reach Llandudno Junction, you are only a 15-minute road journey and a bridge away from Conwy town.

You can also easily get buses to reach Conwy. However, not all bus lines have a direct connection to the town. It is much easier to get to use the rail network. If you are planning to get to Conwy by road, you should head for route A55 of the National Wales Expressway. This road directly passes through Conwy town.

By Water

There are no direct water routes to reach Conwy. However, you can take boat trips for sightseeing or exploring nearby towns and nature reserves.

Image Reference

The Smallest House In Great Britain – Nilfanion / Wikimedia Commons
Conwy Town Walls – Mig Gilbert / Flickr
Conwy Castle – PublicDomainPictures / PixaBay
Conwy Suspension Bridge – Roman Grac / PixaBay
National Trust – Aberconwy House – Steve Knight / Flickr
Plas Mawr Elizabethan Town House – Steve Knight / Flickr
Conwy Mountain – Justin Meissen / Flickr
RSPB Conwy Nature Reserve – ianpreston / Flickr
Conwy Boat Trip – James Petts / Flickr
Cable Car Tour (Llandudno Cable Car) – Scouse Smurf / Flickr
Welsh Mountain Zoo – Terry Kearney / Flickr
Adventure Parc Snowdonia – Richard Hoare / Geograph.org.uk
Conwy Morfa Beach – David Martin / Geograph.org.uk
Gwrych Castle – Llywelyn2000 / Wikimedia Commons