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Caernarfon Castle

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Favorite Moment
Check out Guidester’s favorite Caernarfon experience.
The Land of Dragons
Spending nearly two years living and studying in Wales left an indelible impression on me. I just can’t say enough good things about this enchanting land. Called ‘Cymru’ in Welsh, this small country attached to the hip of England is often disregarded when considering the popular destinations in Britain.
Steeped in mystic history stretching back before even antiquity, Wales has some unique attributes; more castles per square mile than any country in the world, more sheep per person than anywhere in the world, and home to the real life Stairway to Heaven. That last part might surprise you but it’s true. Led Zepplin wrote their famous song ‘Stairway to Heaven’ while staying in Snowdonia National Park. Looking out onto the dramatic Mt. Snowdon covered in fog and mist, you can imagine their inspiration to write a song leading to the heavens.




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It’s difficult to decide where to begin as I had so many adventures in Wales, but I think the most interesting for you would be focusing on the north country. This is where the greatest fortresses lay, the most dramatic scenery, and the strongest outpost of official Welsh speakers. I was here in 2019 meeting up with my Dad fresh from leading a tour group in Italy. We hit some of our favorite spots in England, saw some new things, and then headed over to spend a few days exploring North Wales. We based ourselves in Caernarfon on the northwest coast which is a perfect base to discover the wider region and the legendary Snowdonia. Putting ourselves here had a double bonus in addition to its stunning medieval castle and quaint town; Caernarfon has the highest percentage of local Welsh speakers than any city in Wales. The royal town of Caernarfon has deep roots in Welsh history, stretching back to pre-history and upwards of 90% of the city’s population count Welsh as their first language. This was none more apparent than in the hotel/restaurant we were staying. ‘The Black Boy Inn’ (not making this up) is THE place to stay in Caernarfon for its charming historic character and epicenter of local Welsh nightlife. Everywhere we turned people were hanging out in little nooks, drinking pints at the bar, and sitting next to a fireplace chatting in Welsh. If you haven’t heard Welsh spoken before I HIGHLY recommend taking a moment after reading this story to hear it for yourself. Just type in ‘Welsh speakers’ in Youtube and a few videos will popup. It’s one of the most ancient languages in the entire world going back, in one form or another, more than 5,000 years. Our first stop was exploring the absolutely gigantic and picturesque Caernarfon Castle. Caernarfon Castle is recognized around the world as one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages. Full stop. I’ve been here twice now and the second time was even more exhilarating than the first. The north of Wales was always a vestige of Welsh culture and it was here that one of the last Princes of Wales defied the English King, Edward I, which led to his execution and the building of Caernarfon Castle. The mighty castle sits right along the coast, which offers great views of the town, the sea, and surrounding landscape. Nearly the entire castle is open to wander and explore. I walked, strolled, and strutted around that entire castle and it was glorious. You can climb just about every tower and most of the interior is still in tact which gives you a real feeling of what life would have been like in its heyday. Another fun side note; this is the place where Prince Charles, and all prior future Princes of Wales, officially received their title. The small market town of Conwy just a few miles from Caernarfon on the northern Welsh coast is another gem worth seeing. We went here to enjoy the beautiful coastal landscape while admiring yet another giant castle and walled city. Another of Edward I’s attempts to quell the unruly Welsh, Conwy Castle isn’t quite as grand and well preserved as the one at Caernarfon but it’s still just as imposing. We took in the castle, flew our drones around, walked the town walls, and then got a pint and bite to eat at the waterfront pub ‘The George and Dragon.’ This is Wales. Next, we headed over to the Isle of Anglesey. A place of unparalleled beauty and amazing adventures, Anglesey is a place that inspires and appeals to all the senses. We discovered a rich history, vast sweeping landscapes, tasty local foods, and a fun cultural heritage. This was some of the best drone flying we did during the trip and it really allowed us to get a unique perspective of the area. Desolate lighthouses, coastal cities like Holyhead, wide beaches, more castles, and five thousand year old stone circles were all part of the experience. The Isle of Anglesey is also home to one of the longest place names anywhere in the world – ‘Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch’ which is a train station in the village of ‘Llanfairpwllgwyngyll’…try pronouncing that name! Last, but certainly not least, is the mythical Snowdonia National Park. In northern Wales lies the large tract of protected land that has inspired poets and song writers for centuries. The dramatic and rugged terrain dotted with tiny charming villages is like something out of a storybook. There are many ways to enjoy this spectacular terrain, but the true rite of passage is of course climbing to the top of Mt. Snowdon. If you’re not feeling up to the challenge you may take the local steam train most of the way, but if you’re physically able don’t cheat yourself of the climb up. The trick is finding the right weather to not only make the climb but also enjoy the views once at the top. We took one of the more difficult paths up, Miners Way, and luckily had mostly clear weather all the way until we reached the summit. Unfortunately, once we reached the summit the views were clouded over by a thick layer of fog. It was still worth the climb, and we were able to stand on the highest peak in both England and Wales. Beautiful.

Jack Baumann
Hi, my name is Jack Baumann, and I have a passion for helping independent travelers unlock the wonders of Europe. I founded Guidester - we build personal mobile guidebooks sourced from local experts - so travelers could cut through the noise and dive deeper into the wonders of Europe. I hope you enjoy my stories and tips!

Jack Baumann
Hi, my name is Jack Baumann, and I have a passion for helping independent travelers unlock the wonders of Europe. I founded Guidester - we build personal mobile guidebooks sourced from local experts - so travelers could cut through the noise and dive deeper into the wonders of Europe. I hope you enjoy my stories and tips!
Play Around
Explore Caernarfon with interactive maps.
Explore the streets around the castle
Discover Conwy Castle
Wander around the town of Conwy
Video Tours
Discover Caernarfon through virtual walks and tours.
Start Planning
Begin planning your next adventure to Caernarfon.
Local Tips
Best views of this part of Wales is from the top of Mt. Snowdon in Snowdonia National Park.
Tip:
If you’re not feeling up to the challenge you may take the local steam train most of the way, but if you’re physically able don’t cheat yourself of the climb up.
Wales has more castles per square mile than any country in the world and more sheep per people than any place.
Wales has its own language which is one and one of the oldest spoken languages on earth.
Snowdonia serves as the place where Led Zeppelin wrote the famous song Stairway to Heaven.
Welsh love spoons are decoratively carved wooden spoons that are often presented as a gift of romantic intent. The love spoon is normally decorated with various symbols of love and were traditionally intended to showcase the skills of the carver.
Where To Stay
Caernarfon is the perfect base from which to explore northern Wales. Stay inside the historic center at the famous ‘Black Boy Inn’ which is a stone’s throw from the castle with easy in and out access to explore the wider region.
Guidester Favorites

Climbing Mt Snowdon
The dramatic and rugged terrain dotted with tiny charming villages in Snowdonia National Park is like something out of a storybook. There are many ways to enjoy this spectacular terrain, but the true rite of passage is of course climbing to the top of Mt. Snowdon. The trick is finding the right weather to not only make the climb but also enjoy the views once at the top.

Caernarfon Castle
Recognized around the world as one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages, Caernarfon has always been vestige of Welsh culture and it was here that one of the last Princes of Wales defied the English King, Edward I, which led to his execution and the building of Caernarfon Castle. The mighty castle sits along the coast, offering great views of the town, the sea, and surrounding landscape.

Conwy
The small market town of Conwy just a few miles from Caernarfon is another gem worth visiting. Enjoy the beautiful coastal landscape while admiring yet another giant castle and walled city. Another of Edward I’s attempts to quell the unruly Welsh, Conwy Castle isn’t quite as grand and well preserved as the one at Caernarfon but it’s still just as imposing.

Isle of Anglesey
Desolate lighthouses, coastal cities like Holyhead, wide beaches, more castles, and five thousand year old stone circles are all part of the experience around the Isle of Anglesey. And the Isle of Anglesey is also home to one of the longest place names anywhere in the world - ‘Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch’ which is a train station in the village of ‘Llanfairpwllgwyngyll'
Local Eats

Welsh cuisine

A local favorite...
Caernarfon By Interest
This is just a small taste of what Wales has to offer. For a full and complete personal guide see ‘Get your Guidester guide’ below.
- Art & History
- Foodie
- Outdoorsy

Borghese Gallery
This building is one of Rome’s renowned museums because of the vast number of Bernini statutes it houses; it is the biggest collection in the world. It is situated in the grounds of Villa Borghese and was first constructed in the 17th century by Cardinal Borghese.
Tip: Only those with a pre-paid admissions ticket will be let in. You can find the booking/ticket office in the basement.

Piazza del Popolo
Literally meaning ‘People’s Square’, this is one of the most famous squares in Rome. In addition to an Egyptian obelisk of Ramses II, Piazza del Popolo is famed for its twin churches: Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto.
Tip: Another must see is the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo, famous for its Renaissance art by some of the greatest artists ever to work in Rome: Pinturicchio, Raphael, Carracci, Caravaggio, and Bernini.

Baths of Caracalla
These ancient baths were opened in the 3rd century as a bathing complex that spread over 11 hectares. They were named after Emperor Caracalla and at one point could hold 1,600 guests bathing inside. The building used to be highly decorated with decorative mosaics and rich bricks, many of which are displayed within.

Day Trip to Tivoli
These ancient baths were opened in the 3rd century as a bathing complex that spread over 11 hectares. They were named after Emperor Caracalla and at one point could hold 1,600 guests bathing inside. The building used to be highly decorated with decorative mosaics and rich bricks, many of which are displayed within.

Horseback Ride Ancient Rome
If you love horses, nature and history, a walk on horseback along the spectacular Appian Way and surrounding Park will be an experience you will never forget.
With expert guides and horsemen, Sandro Bernardini and Andrea, you will see archaeological treasures, some of which would be difficult to reach except on horseback. 1hr, 2hr, 3hr riding tours.

Ziplining
Situated 730m above sea level in the small medieval town of Rocca Massima, the world’s fastest and longest zip line course is only an hour’s drive from central Rome. Travelling from sweeps from the Lazio coast in the Alban hills to the mountains of Abruzzo, the route passes through vast olive groves and karst areas gliding up the slopes of Monte S. Angelo Cradle of Falco Pellegrino.