Wales Complete Guide 2026: Snowdonia (Eryri), Cardiff, Pembrokeshire and the Castles of Edward I
Browse more guides: United Kingdom travel | Europe destinations Wales Complete Guide 2026: Snowdonia (Eryri), Cardiff, Pembrokeshire and the Castles of Edward I TL;DR I came to Wales expecting a quieter sibling of England and left convinced it is one of the most concentrated outdoor and heritage countries in Europe. Inside a country roughly 20,779 km² I climbed Yr Wyddfa (1,085 m), walked four UNESCO Edward I castles inscribed in 1986, slept in a Cardiff Bay hotel a short walk from the Senedd, and watched bottlenose dolphins off New Quay in Cardigan Bay. Best window is May-June or September. Budget about £85-£140 per person per day for mid-range travel. A UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) at £10 has been required for most non-UK and non-Irish visitors since January 8, 2025. The country is bilingual by law since the Welsh Language Act of 1993, and the national park was officially renamed Eryri on November 16, 2022, with Yr Wyddfa now standard for the peak. Why I Picked Wale...