Wales is not known as a Winter destination, and for one good reason – the weather!
However, with the buzz of Christmas and a plentiful supply of indoor and outdoor winter activities, it’s still possible to enjoy a visit to Wales during the off-peak season.
In this guide, I’ll share some of the best things to do in Wales during Winter, from reindeer safaris to tobogganing.
Should You Visit Wales During Winter?
Wales hasn't traditionally been a Winter destination. It’s known for outdoor activities such as mountains, coastlines, castles, and waterfalls, all of which are best experienced when the weather is good.
With this in mind, I would recommend that you try to plan your trip between April and September which is the best time to visit Wales.
However, if you’re willing to wrap up warm and be flexible with how you spend your days, you can certainly still enjoy a visit to Wales in Winter. The towns and cities will be lit up with Christmas lights and you can expect winter markets and festivals across the country.
(Top Tip: In Winter, I recommend trying to get a holiday cottage with a hot tub as there’s something special about evenings in a nice warm tub when the weather is cold.)
1. Watch the Botanic Gardens bloom
The National Botanic Gardens of Wales is a huge complex with both indoor and outdoor areas including rare plant species, themed areas, waterfalls, birds of prey, and more.
The Great Glasshouse is the largest single-span greenhouse in the world, home to plants from all over the world. If you visit in January, this is the best time to visit to see the plants from South Africa blooming into life.
As for the outdoor areas, look out for tons of winter flowers including jasmines and viburnums. The extra rainfall that the winter brings will also ensure the lakes are brimming and the waterfalls are flowing.
There’s also the Birds of Prey Centre which is home to Golden eagles, Red kites, Peregrine falcons, and more. There are free-flying shows each day where you can see the birds in action. These shows continue throughout the Winter, although not all species can take part during the colder months.
The Botanic Gardens are open year-round but the closing time is at 4pm instead of 6pm. During December, look out for the Luminate Winter Light Trail which is a ticketed event with interactive lights and music along a 60-90 minute trail.
2. Visit Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital city of Wales and home to enough activities to keep you busy throughout the year.
Right at the heart of the city is Cardiff Castle which is Wales’ most visited attraction. You can enter the courtyard for free but I would advise going into the paid areas and taking one of the guided tours around the house.
Some of the other things to do in Cardiff include exploring the Victorian arcades, learning about Welsh culture and history thanks to several free museums in Cardiff, eating local cuisine at Cardiff Market, and exploring the city’s vast parks.
My favourite area of Cardiff to spend time is down at Cardiff Bay. Although the boat trips don’t run during Winter, you can still visit the Senedd (home of the Welsh government), and enjoy a variety of restaurants and bars at Mermaid Quay.
Don’t forget to check out some of the festive events happening in Cardiff including Winter Wonderland with a huge pop-up ice rink and the Cardiff Christmas Market.
See my full guide to the best things to do in Cardiff for more activities in the capital.
3. Go husky sledding in North Wales
Husky sledging is one of those activities you might associate with the Arctic, but, did you know you can go husky sledging in Wales too? It might be a little bit different without the snow, but thanks to a handy set of wheels, it’s close enough.
Just outside Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park near Llyn Brenig and Alwen Reservoir, you’ll find Mynydd Sleddog where Joe and the team have Siberian Huskies which have been bred for racing.
During the winter months, you can hop in the passenger cart and be drawn through the Welsh countryside by six dogs.
4. Enjoy winter activities at Pembrey Country Park
Pembrey Country Park is a family-friendly parkland, woodland, and beach near Llanelli. It’s a great day out for all of the family with activities that are suitable year-round.
Winter activities at the park centre around the dry ski slope where you can go skiing, snowboarding, tubing, or, my favourite, tobogganing. Note that for tubing, you will need to have at least 6 people in your group.
When the weather allows, you can also cycle along the coast or enjoy walks around the park and through the dunes at Cefn Sidan Beach.
If you happen to visit Wales in December, they also have a Christmas light trail through the park’s woodland area which is best when visited in the evening.
It’s free to visit Pembrey Country Park, although you have to pay a parking charge. Luckily, this is cheaper in Winter, costing £4.50 per vehicle for the whole day between October and March.
5. Visit Swansea
Swansea is another great Welsh city to visit in Winter, not least because there are lots of indoor things to do where you can stay warm and dry.
First of all, there are lots of great museums in Swansea including the National Waterfront Museum, the Swansea Museum, and the Dylan Thomas Centre, all of which are totally free to visit.
There’s also the LC which is Swansea’s indoor waterpark with wave machines, slides, and a lazy river.
From November to December, the city hosts Waterfront Winterland with an outdoor ice rink, a fun fair including a Ferris Wheel, and lots of festive food and drink (mulled wine is essential). Look out for the Swansea Christmas Market too which is a great place for picking up gifts.
You can also head out around Swansea Bay to visit the adorable little town of Mumbles where you’ll find Oystermouth Castle and Mumbles Pier. They hold markets on the pier each weekend in the lead-up to Christmas.
6. Plummet down the longest toboggan in Wales at Llandudno Snowsports Centre
The Llandudno Snowsports Centre in North Wales is full of year-round activities including a ski and snowboard slope, alpine golf, and snow-tubing where you can go down the slope in an inflatable rubber ring.
The highlight is tobogganing down the longest Cresta Toboggan run in Wales. You control the speed as you plummet down the 575m long track.
The centre is open year-round (except Fridays) although keep in mind that the toboggan won’t run when the track is wet or when it’s dark so plan accordingly and don’t wait until the end of the day.
Aside from the ski centre, there isn’t much else worth doing in Llandudno in Winter since most of the pier and the Great Orme are closed.
So, I recommend staying over in Conwy which has a nicer vibe and more indoor activities such as Plas Mawr, Conwy Castle, the town walls, and Conwy Nature Reserve.
7. Enjoy a coastal Christmas in Saundersfoot
Saundersfoot is a small village in Pembrokeshire that’s often overlooked in favour of its larger neighbour, Tenby. But Saundersfoot is making a name for itself as a popular winter destination with thousands descending to the coastal village.
Throughout December, they run the Saundersfoot Coastal Christmas which promises a whole month of events and festivities. The cabins around the newly developed harbour area offer the chance to buy street food whilst local restaurants get in on the action with festive menus.
You can also expect local businesses to be selling gifts whilst the entire village will be decorated from head to toe.
8. Go on a safari at the Reindeer Lodge
At North Wales’ Reindeer Lodge, you can drive around their illuminated lakeside and woodland trail on a reindeer safari as you spot herds of reindeer across the fields and stables.
They also have elf villages, toy workshops, and a Christmas village you can visit on foot after the safari. Plus, I’m told the big man himself, Santa, will be kicking about.
The safari opens mid-November and the drive-through part of the experience lasts about an hour – you do need to book ahead. Although it runs during the day and night, I recommend going at night so that you can enjoy the light displays too.
9. Go surfing
Believe it or not, the cold winter is the best time for surfing in Wales, at least as far as the waves go. Increased activity in the North Atlantic results in better swells and waves towards the coastlines.
However, keep in mind that this is also the coldest time of the year to be in the ocean so a 5mm wetsuit is advised.
Some of the best surf spots in Wales can be found along the Llyn Peninsula (most notably the spot known as Hell’s Mouth) and down in Pembrokeshire in West Wales.
If you’re looking for lessons, my recommended surf school is Outer Reef who use Freshwater West Beach among others in the area. They operate year-round including throughout Winter.
10. Visit the Christmas markets across Wales
The only two Christmas markets that open every day are the ones in Cardiff and Swansea, whilst most others are one-day or two-day events.
Here is a list of some notable markets you might want to visit:
11. Hunt our waterfalls in Waterfall Country
One of my favourite places to visit in Wales is the area of the Brecon Beacons National Park known as Waterfall Country.
Here, you’ll find some of the best waterfalls in Wales where several rivers run through gorges in the national park. There are up to six waterfall trails to take, from moderate to more challenging routes.
During Winter, the waterfalls are even more impressive as rain makes its way into the rivers and causes a greater flow of water.
Of course, you’ll have to balance this with the fact that it’s colder, wetter, and muddier during the Winter so you’ll need to pack appropriately and hiking shoes are a must.
The most popular route is the Four Falls trail, where you’ll experience four unique waterfalls that are linked by a path. The most stunning of these is the fourth waterfall Sgwd-yr-Eira where it’s possible to walk behind the thunderous wall of water to take stunning photographs.
You can also check out the Elidir Trail or visit Henrhyd Falls which is a famous waterfall that featured in the Batman movies as the entrance to the Batcave in the Dark Knight Rises.
12. Take on an underground assault course at Go Below
The beauty of underground adventures is that they can take place year-round and there’s none better than Go Below, based in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.
Here, you’ll find three underground assault courses that involve abseiling, zip lines, boating across underground lakes, and freefall jumps.
The courses last anywhere from 5 to 7 hours with one medium difficulty and two tough courses on offer. But don’t be too scared, this is a super fun activity and the highly skilled guides will ensure everyone is kept safe.
13. Tour the breweries and distilleries across Wales
Arguably one of the best ways to endure the winter chill is with a craft beer or Welsh gin to warm your heart and spirit.
You can make the experience even more comforting by seeing exactly how it’s made on a tour of a Welsh distillery or brewery.
Here are a few of the best breweries and distilleries to visit in Wales:
- Aber Falls Distillery – Daily tours. Found near the North Wales coast. I recommend combining it with a visit to Aber Falls.
ㅤ - Penderyn Distillery – Daily tours. They offer tours at the original site in the Brecon Beacons and a new location in Llandudno.
ㅤ - Tiny Rebel Brewery – Located in Newport, check here for tour availability. Even without a tour, the brewery is a great place for food and drink any time of year.
ㅤ - Gower Brewery – Tours once per week on Fridays, need to book ahead.
14. Walk around the Winter Trail at Bodnant Gardens
Bodnant Gardens is an impressive 80-acre garden and woodland site with a collection of plants and flowers from around the world.
Although the gardens are undeniably better during the summer, they have done a great job of ensuring this is a year-round attraction with plants for all seasons.
During January and February, you can visit the Winter Trail, a dedicated section filled with seasonal plants such as hellebore, snowdrops, iris, and crocus, which bring splashes of colour even in winter. There are also interesting trees with colourful bark, like the paperbark cherry.
Bodnant Gardens is part of the National Trust so, as a member, I was able to enter for free. However, if you’re not a member, I think the price is quite steep for what you get, especially if you’re paying for a whole family.
15. Visit a Welsh Castle
No trip to Wales would be complete without stopping off at a Welsh castle. Most of the best castles in Wales are open year-round, but there are a few that are better to visit in Winter due to having lots of indoor areas and putting on festive activities.
Here are a few to consider:
- Carew Castle – Expect 6 weeks of free festivities including Sanat’s Grotto, an elf trail, delicious Christmas treats, and a walled garden filled with lights and decorations – using pedal power to generate the energy.
ㅤ - Caernarfon Castle – Probably the most impressive fortress in North Wales, you can visit Caernarfon Castle any time of year. They have two museums inside spanning multiple floors and you can climb up the towers for great view of the town.
ㅤ - Pembroke Castle – This is a great family day out with activities for all of the family. There’s a huge museum, guided tours, and lots of ruins to explore. Look out for their annual Christmas market which is a big event for the town.
ㅤ - Powis Castle - The 13th-century castle is transformed into a Christmas haven with lights and decorations in the State Rooms, wintry walks in the castle gardens and a Hedgehog Trail.
16. Try underground golf and trampolining at Zip World Llechwedd
If you’re looking for a spot of Winter adventure, you’ll be pleased to know that all of Zip World’s sites across North and South Wales are open year-round.
Their most iconic site is Zip World Penrhyn, best known for the Velocity 2 zipline which is the world’s fastest zip line, reaching speeds of up to 100mph. Whilst this is a bucket list activity and open year-round, keep in mind that adverse weather can cause it to be cancelled.
The best Zip World site to visit during Winter is Zip World Llechwedd where many of the activities take place underground.
This includes Bounce Below, their underground trampoline park, and their new underground crazy golf experience. Of course, they have some outdoor ziplines for your adrenaline rush.
But what makes this place extra special at Christmas, is Zipmas, a Christmas grotto located in the mine. You’ll ride down into the historical caverns where you’ll meet Santa and enjoy mince pies and mulled wine.
17. Go stargazing in the national parks
Winter is the best time to experience the dark sky areas around Wales, particularly in Eryri (Snowdonia) and Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) which are both designated dark sky reserves and some of the top destinations in the world for stargazing.
Thanks to the shorter daylight hours and crisp black skies, you don’t need to stay up quite so late to see the Milky Way in all its glory. However, you will need to ensure you avoid the cloudy evenings which are plentiful during Winter.
If you can, try to coincide your visit with a meteor shower where you can enjoy up to 150 meteors each hour. The biggest ones that can be seen In Wales during Winter are the Geminids in November or the Quadrantids in January.
If you’ve not been stargazing before, I recommend booking this Brecon Beacons stargazing experience where an astronomy expert will provide all of the equipment and tips to get you on your way.
If you'd rather go it alone, here are some great stargazing spots in the Brecon Beacons.
18. Enjoy a magical visit to Margam Country Park
Margam Country Park is a huge garden and parkland nestled in scenic surroundings around Margam Castle. Entry to the park is free although there is a parking charge for each car.
The park is open year-round with varying activities throughout the different seasons so you can come back time and time again.
Some of the best things to do during winter are visiting the castle and abbey, visiting the children’s adventure playground, exploring the fairytale village, and wandering the farm trail where you can see goats, alpacas, rabbits, and more.
Every December, Margam Country Park is transformed by Luminate Wales who create a mile-long trail of lights and interactive displays with fairies, dragons, and mazes that weave around the historic gardens.
If you want to add an extra element of fun, the park is featured on the free Love Exploring app which contains an interactive map of the park and fun challenges to do.
Published: 3 September 2023 · Last updated: 7 October 2023