Best Things To Do In Portmeirion, Wales – A Colourful Fairytale!

Getting to Portmeirion

By car: Enter LL48 6ER into your satnav. There’s a large parking area right beside the ticket kiosks.

By bus: Between March and October, you can catch the daily service from Porthmadog. Check Traveline.Cymru for timetables.

By rail: It’s not easy to take the train to Portmeirion but it can be done. An express service travels between London Euston and Llandudno Junction or Bangor. From here, you can transfer to the Conwy Valley line to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Taxis can pick you up here or you can travel closer still to Minffordd (1.5 miles to Portmeirion) aboard the scenic Ffestiniog Railway.

On foot: You can walk from Minffordd by following the footpath beside Castell Deudraeth.

As any self-respecting Italian village would, Portmeirion has a gorgeous Central Piazza at its heart. Here you’ll find a fountain and giant chessboard.

The Central Piazza is the optimum spot for sitting back and soaking up all the colours of the village. I doubt there’s a shade you can’t see. Even the benches are a sunny turquoise.

This Portmeirion attraction is best accompanied with an…

Well, it wouldn’t be a holiday without an ice cream, right?

Seconds from the Central Piazza, Caffi’r Angel is Portmeirion’s answer to an Italian gelateria. Homemade flavours include salted caramel and raspberry ripple, as well as a few Welsh-inspired offerings like bara brith.

On a sunny day, they often sell out of the best flavours so visit early, lest you get stuck with vanilla!

They also serve tasty coffee and cakes. Keep reading for more Portmeirion food options…

One of the first places you see after entering Portmeirion is Battery Square. This colourful corner of the village has a few Portmeirion attractions worth checking out. Stop at Caffi’r Sgwâr for coffee, tea and cake, or browse art at Rob Piercy Gallery.

Battery Square is also where fans of The Prisoner can find a plaque commemorating the show. For those not in the know, this 1960s TV show was a cult classic around the world. The main actor, Patrick McGoohan, plays a British intelligence agent trapped in a coastal village. Although the destination was fictional, it was filmed here in Portmeirion.

Quayside

Even if you’re not dining at the Portmeirion Hotel, head down to Quayside where it’s located. This is one of the prettiest areas, halfway between the colourful village and Dwyryd Estuary. You’ll get a full view of the village skyline, as well as the ocean and forest.

Thought Portmeirion was an idyllic village and nothing more? So did I prior to my visit.

One of the top things to do near Portmeirion is take the short coastal walk to Dwyryd Estuary. This stretch of coastline where the Dwyryd River meets the ocean is only accessible to those with a Portmeirion ticket. All the more chance of having the beach to yourself!

We had spectacular weather during our September visit and kept seeking out pagodas to catch some shade and sip water (something I can now barely believe as I write this two weeks later wearing three layers and a scarf!).

The temple with the blue roof above can be seen from the village, up on the hillside. It offers some of the best views around. The other pagoda (above right) is found halfway between the Japanese Garden and the village.

Foodies wondering what to do in Portmeirion need look no further. There are several places to eat and drink. Given Portmeirion’s popularity, prices are unsurprisingly inflated so be prepared to pay more than you would in surrounding North Wales towns and villages.

Related read: UK budget guide & cost break down

Some of the best places to eat and drink include:

• Castell Deudraeth – eat lunch at the upmarket restaurant between 12pm and 2.30pm.
• Hotel Portmeirion – this is another upmarket option serving food from 12-4pm. Lunch is served from 12-2.30pm and afternoon tea is served from 2.30-4pm.
• The Town Hall – this restaurant and bar is open from 9.30am-4.30pm during the summer months and closed from 31 October throughout the winter.
• Caffi Glas – eat outside in the village at this cafe open until the end of September. Pizza, paninis and other Italian treats are on the menu.
• Caffi’r Angel  – get your ice creams here!

If you manage to tick off all the activities in Portmeirion, get immersed in the local area. A few places to visit near Portmeirion include:

Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways – from nearby town, Porthmadog, take the once-in-a-lifetime chance to see North Wales by locomotive. Travel from Porthmadog to Canaerfon or take a loop around Snowdonia on a traditional steam train. Book your tickets from Porthmadog.

Snowdonia – from Portmeirion, you’re not far from Snowdon, the most famous national park in North Wales. Climbing Mount Snowdon steals the show but there are plenty of other things worth doing in Snowdonia.

Harlech Beach – this is one of North Wales most beautiful and secluded beaches, just 10 miles from Portmeirion. Overlooking the beach is World Heritage Site, Harlech Castle, built by Edward I during his invasion of Wales between 1282 and 1289. Building the whole thing cost £8,000 – probably less than a night’s stay if they ever let it out on Airbnb!