12 BEST Things To Do In Snowdonia (Unmissable Activities!) 🏞️

What’s not love about Snowdonia?

Universally hailed as one of the UK’s finest National Parks, the tourist hotspot is absolutely teeming with amazing things to discover.

From epic peaks, dramatic valleys and shimmering lakes, to ancient woodlands, idyllic villages and crystal-clear waterfalls; it’s not really surprising why Snowdonia attracts a whopping 10 million day-trippers and holiday goers each & every year.

With so many must-visit activities to choose from however, sometimes it can be quite difficult to whittle down all these options!

Nevertheless – while there are a multitude of incredible things to see & do in the National Park – we’ve thought long and hard to compile a list of what we consider the absolute cream of the crop.

As recurrent visitors of Snowdonia you can trust us – if you head out on any one of the unmissable activities listed below, then you’re pretty much guaranteed a cracking time.

Without further ado, let’s get to it 👇

The Best Things to do in Snowdonia National Park

Climb Mount Snowdon

Let’s cut to the chase and start with the main attraction of the National Park – Snowdon is the primary reason why most people visit Snowdonia.

Standing head and shoulders above the landscape, Mount Snowdon comes in at a whopping 1,085 metres and is officially the tallest peak in Wales.

Famed as part of the National Three Peaks Challenge, this grueling trial involves summiting Snowdon, Scafell Pike (tallest mountain in England) & Ben Nevis (tallest mountain in Scotland) in the space of just 24 hours!

Fun fact – the mountain of Snowdon is also rich in mythology. It’s fabled that King Arthur fought tooth and nail with an ogre at the summit of the peak. Defeating the gruesome beast, the large pile of stones located at the top of the mountain is said to be the make-shift grave Arthur and his men created to bury the formidable monster. See if you can spot it on your way up!

With such a variety of routes to choose from when climbing Snowdon, which trail you take will largely come down to your hiking ability and how daring you’re feeling.

It’s important to choose the which is right for you. For a comprehensive breakdown of the different routes winding up Snowdon’s mountainside, be sure to read through our ‘Mount Snowdon Guide’.

For less experienced hikers, I’d recommend the Llanberis Path (largely considered the easiest trail), while more daring types who enjoy some scrambling can always head straight for the notorious Crib Goch or Watkin Path routes!

Take a dip in Watkins Path Waterfall & Pools

Speaking of the Watkin Path, for fans of wild swimming you absolutely NEED to check out the Watkins Pools & Waterfall.

Situated towards the beginning of the trail, the cascading falls are worth a visit even if you don’t fancy climbing all the way to the top of Snowdon.

Home to a series of breath-taking turquoise plunge pools and waterfalls, there’s nothing quite like taking a refreshing dip after a hiking around in the hot weather.

Top tip – Quickly growing in popularity over the last few years, we’d recommend visiting early doors if you’re wanting to avoid the crowds.

For a detailed guide on how to reach this stunning spot, head on over to our Watkins Path Waterfall & Pools blog post!

Track down Snowdonia’s Secret Infinity Pool

Another hidden gem of the National Park, the Secret Snowdonia Infinity Pool has equally grown in prominence as of late.

Built by local farmer Wyn Mostyn Jones in 2016 as a green energy project, his £400,000 pool soon caught the attention of both locals & tourists alike and has quickly rose in fame to become one of Snowdonia’s key attractions.

Despite the surge in fame however, people in the know have always remained rather tight-lipped when it comes to sharing the infinity pool’s location, so you’ll have to get your detective hats on and track this spot down for yourselves I’m afraid!

While I’m by no means going to spill the beans and publicly advertise the location of this secret beauty spot, I will leave a link to my blog post which does share some key clues which’ll certainly aid in your search.

Interested? Then check out my ‘How To Find Snowdonia’s Secret Infinity Pool’ post.

Take a ride on the Snowdon Railway

For those who don’t fancy the arduous hike up Snowdonia’s most famous mountain, why not simply take the Mountain Railway instead?

Located in the heart of Llanberis, the historic railway has been lugging tourists up the mountainside for over 100 years. It’s estimated that the train continues to carry over 140,000 visitors to the summit annually.

Once you chug your way to the top, enjoy a brew at Summit Café and take in the splendidly glorious views from high above.

Explore Llanberis

Whether you decide to hop on the mountain railway or not, Llanberis village (the home of the mountain railway) is also well worth a visit for its variety of activities and sights on offer.

In addition to the railway, Llanberis is home to the National Slate Museum, Llyn Padarn Lake, direct hiking access up Snowdonia via the Llanberis Path and even a hidden waterfall.

While the village is charming and well worth a peruse, my favourite bit of here is the lake. An amazing spot to take a dip, the lake is also often dotted with paddle boarders floating along the water all Zenlike.

Top tip – For those who’d like to spend the night in Llanberis, we couldn’t recommend the ‘Camping in Llanberis Campsite’ enough. Sat on the hills just above town and conveniently situated next to Snowdon’s Llanberis Path, for those interested in our experience camping here, be sure to click through to our blog post above.

Try your hand at camping

Staying on the topic of camping, sleeping in a tent has always been my favourite form of accommodation in Snowdonia. There’s just no better way to plug out from the usual 9-5 and really connect with the beauty & wonder of the Great Outdoors.

Personally, I’ve always chosen to camp in the heart of the National Park beside Mount Snowdon. It feels quite freeing being able to head straight up the peak from the campsite on foot – no car required!

For a detailed breakdown on my favourite campsites in Snowdonia, then feel free to head on over to my ‘BEST Campsites Near Snowdon’ blog post.

Spend the day in Betws-y-Coed

Of all the quaint towns and villages dotted around Snowdonia National Park, Betws-y-Coed may just be my favourite.

With much of the village dating back to Victorian times, as you walk around town to soak in the old-fashioned architecture, you’ll come across a whole host of independent shops, café’s, pubs & art galleries dotted all around.

We had such great fun grabbing some tasty pastries from the local bakery and having a casual mooch round the historic town & the local park.

Often dubbed as the gateway to Snowdonia, the Welsh name of Betws-y-Goed actually name translates to ‘the prayer house in the woods’.

For some particularly scenic panoramas, we’d certainly recommend visiting the highlight of the town – Pont-y-Pair Bridge.

Take a moment to appreciate the riverside views and peer over the bridge down at the rocky gorge below. For more adventurous types, you can even have a clamber on the rocky landscape beside the water. The perfect spot to enjoy some greasy grub from the chippy next door!

Stroll around Gwydir Forest Park

For keen-hikers visiting Betws-y-Coed, then rambling through Gwydir Forest Park is a must.

With 4 colour-coded routes on offer which all vary in difficulty, there’s a ramble here suitable for everyone.

Home to ancient woodlands, steep hillside trails, stunning lakeside views and gentle boardwalk strolls, the forest is full of variety and also attracts many keen mountain bikers.

A great activity to break up your day in Betws-y-Coed, all 4 circular trails can be easily accessed from Pot-y-Pair bridge.

Full more details, click through and check out our detailed ‘Gwydir Forest Park Guide’.

Hike one of Snowdonia’s numerous peaks

While Snowdon is the daddy of fell hikes in the National Park, there are plenty of other peaks which are also well worth your time.

Depending on which route you take, Snowdon can also get extremely busy during peaks periods, so by opting for alternate mountain hike you’ll also be swerving the droves of crowds.

There are loads of peaks to choose from and many of them I’m still to tackle for myself.

One peak I’m planning to summit on my next visit is Glyder Fawr. Located just next to Mount Snowdon, this peak is known for the unique craggy formations which sit on its summit. I’ll include a video of it below so you can see for yourself.

Try surfing at Adventure Parc Snowdonia

Situated in the north-east of the National Park, did you know there is a surfers paradise nestled 7 miles inland from Conwy?

While it’s typically the coast which is known for its waves, Adventure Parc Snowdonia is home to the world-first man-made surf lagoon, which means you are always guaranteed amazing surf breaks!

Suitable for surf beginners, wave-riding fanatics and everyone in-between, lessons and equipment are all available on-site and is a perfect activity for those wanting something a little different during their time in the National Park.

Make a stop-off at Beddgelert

An idyllic stone-built village surrounded by spectacular countryside, Beddgelert is often touted as one of Snowdonia’s most enviable locations.

With a population of just 455, the serene village is a popular tourist spot and is particularly well-known for its picturesque bridge running over the River Colwyn.

Did you know? – The 2003 blockbuster hit ‘Tomb Raider 2: Lara Croft and the Cradle of Life’ used the town of Beddgelert as a key filming location.

Likewise, with Snowdon to the north, Aberglaslyn Pass to the south & Nant Gwynant to the east, the village is a perfect hub for hiking enthusiasts who’d like to venture a little further afield.

Just a 3-minute drive or 20-minute stroll from the village centre you’ll also uncover Sygun Copper Mine – A Victorian landmark which offers riveting audio-visual tours around the historic underground site. Guaranteed fun for all the family!

Discover the scenic Isle of Anglesey

Ok, this isn’t technically in Snowdonia but I couldn’t not include Anglesey in this list.

With so much to see and do, there probably won’t be much reason to leave Snowdonia during your visit. However, if you do fancy venturing a little further afield then Anglesey is my number one choice.

For more information in this iconic Welsh island, you can read all about our recent stay in Anglesey here.

Map of things to do in Snowdonia

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We really hope you enjoy your time in Snowdonia!

For more information on the local area, be sure to check out the Wales section of our blog.