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The stunning beauty of Portmeirion, Wales
Photograph: chrisdorney / ShutterstockThe stunning beauty of Portmeirion, Wales

The best things to do in Portmeirion right now

Feel like you're in Italy without leaving the UK, and check out our best things to do in Portmeirion

John Bills
Written by
Sarah Gibbons
&
John Bills
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So, you’re craving a trip to an Italian island, to feast on pasta and stroll through cobbled streets. Aren’t we all? But perhaps your bank account won’t allow it, or you accidentally used up all your annual leave. Hey, we get it. But if that is the case, we’ve got the perfect antidote. The beautiful village of Portmeirion, in Wales, brings Italy right to your door. 

Celebrated architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis dreamt up this marvellous marriage of Italian style and Welsh charm back in 1925, but it took many years to come together. Now, Portmeirion is one of the most beautiful places you can visit in Wales (if not the UK), and it’s full of great stuff to do too. For everything from fishing village tours to ancient railways and perfect spots for a pint, check out our list of the best things to do in Portmeirion. 

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Best things to do in Portmeirion

When in Portmeirion, do as you would in any other Mediterranean fishing village dreamt up by a beloved architect. Amble! Entry to Portmeirion is £18 (£11 for kids) and includes a 20-minute guided walk along the cobbles. The guided tour is an excellent way to get your bearings before diving in deeper on your own feet, peeking around corners to find quirky details in every nook and cranny.

Soak up the vibes
Matt Gibson / Shutterstock

Soak up the vibes

Wander along the stunning coastal path at the edge of the village and soak up the scenery of the Dwyryd Estuary before circling back through a subtropical forest dubbed The Gwyllt. Don’t miss the elegant Japanese Garden, with a pagoda and lily pad-carpeted lake. Portmeirion really is different…

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Stop for lunch
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Stop for lunch

Grab a hearty hot roast bap from Caffi No 6, or enjoy a dollop of homemade gelato – the bara brith flavour is dangerously good – at Caffi’r Angel. For a sit-down affair, head to Hotel Portmeirion and its art deco restaurant. Try the roast skate or the duck breast, or splash out on its nine-course tasting menu.

Go on an adventure
D. Pimborough / Shutterstock

Go on an adventure

Portmeirion isn’t a place where adrenaline thrives, but it does find itself a stone’s throw away from some classic North Wales excitement. For a quirky day out, check out Snowdonia’s mining history at Llechwedd Slate Caverns, a fascinating site buried deep under the mountains, where brave explorers go 500ft underground on the steepest cable railway in Britain.

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Drink like a local
Photograph: Booking.com

Drink like a local

Within Portmeirion itself, the aforementioned Caffi No 6 or Hotel Portmeirion are the best places for a crisp ale, but there are plenty of options in nearby towns and villages. Beddgelert is right around the corner, and it just so happens to be bursting with olde-worlde charm. The Saracens Head is a good old-fashioned pub and hotel with a darling location and no shortage of beers, wines and spirits. Excellent pork scratchings, if you’re into that sort of thing.

If you do only one thing
Photograph: Shutterstock

If you do only one thing

When it comes to Portmeirion itself, the highlight of the trip will be the gorgeous views and conveyer belt of photographic opportunities. The village’s proximity to Snowdonia almost makes scaling the mountain an absolute must. Stand at 3,560ft and be blown away by the landscape of craggy peaks and deep valleys dotted with lakes. On a clear day, views stretch as far as Ireland. Don’t fancy the hike? Take the heritage Snowdon Mountain Railway. We won’t judge.

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And if you stay the night, wake up here
Photograph: Booking.com

And if you stay the night, wake up here

One shouldn’t expect a plethora of accommodation options in a fairytale village devised in a dream, but Portmeirion has a couple that more than make up the numbers. The village has two luxury four-star hotels that live up to that billing. Hotel Portmeirion ticks a lot of boxes, but there’s something about waking up in a Victorian-style castellated mansion that appeals, making Castell Deudraeth the optimal accommodation option in Portmeirion. The rooms are beautiful, the beds are magnificent, the Victorian garden is a delight.

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