Major city · United Kingdom
Caernarfon
Stay one night inside the walls: the castle, a Welsh-speaking town and Snowdonia and Anglesey within 30 minutes by car.
Caernarfon is a walled town of about 9,600 people in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, built around Edward I's castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Over 80% of residents speak Welsh, so it is one of the best places in Wales to hear the language in daily use. One night covers the castle and the old streets; two nights let you add Snowdonia or Anglesey without a car change.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- GBP
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Nov–Feb (short days, many closures)
- Airports
- MAN · LPL · VLY
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Caernarfon999 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Caernarfon, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £).United Kingdom-wide
- SIM or eSIMEE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines…United Kingdom-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere.United Kingdom-wide
- TippingcheckRestaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.United Kingdom-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United Kingdom-wide
- SafetyA small, low-crime town; the real risks are uneven castle steps, fast A487 traffic and wet slate pavements.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 (≈ US$2) or are card-only.United Kingdom-wide
- Emergency numbers999 emergency (police, fire, ambulance) · 112 emergency (eu-wide) · 111 NHS non-urgent
- Sundays & holidaysShops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 or 11:00–16:00 or 17:00).Shops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 AM or 11:00 AM–4:00 PM or 5:00 PM).United Kingdom-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportMAN Manchester (About 98 miles via the M56, A55 and A487; roughly 1 h 45 min by car.).
- Getting aroundThe walled centre is small and walkable; most sights sit within 10 minutes on foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee£3–4 (≈ US$4–6)
- Sit-down mealPub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
- BeerDraught beer, pint£4–6 (≈ US$6–8)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week£8–15 (≈ US$11–20)
- Museum or sight ticketCastle admission, adultabout £16 (≈ US$25) (check)
- Budget bedHostel or B&B bed, a night, per person£30 (≈ US$40)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, inn or guesthouse, a night, per room£110 (≈ US$150)
- High-end bedDouble room, inn or guesthouse, a night, per room£180 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget £55 (≈ US$75) · Mid £95 (≈ US$130) · High £160 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MAN Manchester (About 98 miles via the M56, A55 and A487; roughly 1 h 45 min by car.) · LPL Liverpool John Lennon (About 90 miles via the M56, A55 and A487.) · VLY Anglesey Airport (About 24 miles via the A55; limited weekday links.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Feb
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Mar
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Apr
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
May
Best
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Jun
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Jul
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Aug
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Sep
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Oct
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Nov
Avoid
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Dec
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)), coolest Jan (3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C) low), wettest Nov (17 rain days), driest Apr (12). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Caernarfon: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
16 rd
Feb
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
13 rd
Mar
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
14 rd
Apr
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
12 rd
May
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
12 rd
Jun
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
12 rd
Jul
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
12 rd
Aug
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
13 rd
Sep
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
13 rd
Oct
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
16 rd
Nov
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
17 rd
Dec
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
17 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The walled centre is small and walkable; most sights sit within 10 minutes on foot. Buses run from the Penllyn bus station, with Bangor every 15 minutes (about 30 min). The nearest train station is Bangor, about 8 miles away. A car helps for Snowdonia and Anglesey; parking sits behind the castle.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Snowdonia National Park
goDoor to door: About 30 min to the park edge
Car via the A4085/A4086; buses also run from Caernarfon
Mountain walks and the highest peak in Wales; start early.
Anglesey
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Car via the A55 across the Britannia Bridge
Beaumaris Castle and coast; a full day with a car.
Bangor, Wales
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Bus from Penllyn, about every 15 min
Nearest railhead; useful for onward trains.
Harlech
goDoor to door: About 50 min
Car via the A496
Castle and coast; pair with the Welsh Highland Railway.
Barmouth
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Car via the A496
Better as an overnight or a rail day out.
Dolgellau
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Car via the A470
Long for a return day; combine with Snowdonia.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Inside the town walls
Old inns and guesthouses a few minutes' walk from the castle; the pick for one night.
Around Y Maes (town square)
Central, close to cafés and the bus station; short walk to the castle.
Outside the walls / A487 edge
Larger hotels and holiday parks with parking; 10–15 min walk in.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- £45–75 (≈ US$60–100) excl. bed
- Mid
- £75–130 (≈ US$100–180) excl. bed
- High
- £130 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, inn or guesthouse1 × 1 night × £110 | £110 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £95 | £190 |
| Castle admission, adult2 × £16 · check | £32 |
| Bus Bangor ↔ Caernarfon, both ways2 × £8 · check | £16 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10 | £20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | £37 |
| Trip total≈ £203 per person per day, bed included | £405≈ US$550 |
2026 estimate in pounds; travel and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | £3–4 (≈ US$4–6) |
| Pub main course | £12–18 (≈ US$16–25) |
| Bistro main (Old Courthouse) | from £18 (≈ US$25) |
| Draught beer, pint | £4–6 (≈ US$6–8) |
| Castle admission, adult | about £16 (≈ US$25) (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | £8–15 (≈ US$11–20) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Serving hours in small restaurants can be short and irregular: book or eat early.
- The nearest railway station is Bangor, not Caernarfon: plan the bus link.
- Castle hours shorten in winter and it closes 24–26 Dec and 1 Jan.
- Summer accommodation fills fast: reserve ahead.
Emergency numbers
- Emergency (police, fire, ambulance)
- 999
- Emergency (EU-wide)
- 112
- NHS non-urgent
- 111
- Police non-urgent
- 101
Pocket card
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CaernarfonCaernarfon
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
I'r cyfeiriad yma, os gwelwch yn ddaTo this address, please
Emergency
- Emergency999
- Emergency (EU-wide)112
- NHS non-urgent111
- Police non-urgent101
Embassy
No embassies in Caernarfon; the nearest consulates are in Cardiff and Manchester (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Bangor → Caernarfon: about £4 (≈ US$6), about 30 min (check)
- Castle admission, adult: about £16 (≈ US$25) (check)
- Taxi in town: £5–10 (≈ US$7–14) (check)
Say or show
- Helo — Hello (HEH-lo)
- Diolch — Thank you (DEE-olch)
- Bore da — Good morning (BOR-eh dah)
- Os gwelwch yn dda — Please (os GWEL-ooch un thah)
- Iechyd da — Cheers (YEH-khid dah)
- Ble mae'r castell? — Where is the castle? (bleh mire KAS-teth)
Welsh is widely spoken; a few words go a long way.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Caernarfon. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (short days, many closures) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for MAN and LPL: last bus and train times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: castle and walls, Y Maes, Doc Fictoria and the harbour, Segontium.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (castle, Segontium, Welsh Highland Railway) and eat pages with last orders.
- Hostile arrival fixtures (rain, late bus, full hotels) so gates A–D can go green.