CAERNARFON FAQ'S

How do I get to Caernarfon?

The closest train station to Caernarfon is Bangor, located about 20 minutes from Castle Square. It is located on the North Wales Main Line, between Llandudno Junction and Holyhead, and is also a stop on the first-class Transport for Wales Premier Service train running five days a week between Cardiff and Holyhead. There is a taxi rank located adjacent to platform 1, behind the ticket office building. The taxi fare to Caernarfon should cost somewhere between £25-£30, minus tip and baggage handling fees.

Driving directions to Caernarfon from Bangor, Conwy, Llandudno, etc.: Take the A55 motorway (the North Wales Expressway) and take exit 9 or exit 10 south of Bangor toward Caernarfon. Head straight at the roundabout to join the A487 (Y Felinheli Bypass). After about six miles, turn right at the Pool Side roundabout to enter the city center.

Driving directions from Aberystwyth: Take the A487 motorway (Fishguard to Bangor Trunk Road) 17 miles, and pass through the roundabouts in Machynlleth, heading north. After 12.8 more miles, turn left onto the A470 (Cardiff to Glan Conwy Trunk Road) and drive north 18 miles, passing through such towns as Dolgellau and Trawsfynydd. After 18 miles, turn left onto the A487 and NOT right, which would continue to take you on the A470 to Conwy. Keep right and then straight at the two roundabouts near Porthmadog (six miles from the A487/A470 junction). The next 19 miles from Porthmadog are a straight shot on the A487 to Caernarfon.

Driving directions from Betws-y-Coed: Drive 18 miles on the A5 motorway (London-Holyhead Trunk Road) for 18 miles, and then merge onto the A55 motorway (North Wales Expressway) near Bangor. Take exit 9 or exit 10 south of Bangor toward Caernarfon. Head straight at the roundabout to join the A487 (Y Felinheli Bypass). After about six miles, turn right at the Pool Side roundabout to enter the city center.

How do I get around Caernarfon and environs using public transport?

Caernarfon is served by buses, as is Gwynedd and the entire Snowdonia region, by the private company Gwynfor Coaches (www.gwynforcoaches.co.uk). The area`s bus service connects the many towns and cities of northwestern Wales, and while it does make stops in Caernarfon`s city center, buses run from the main bus station to Victoria Dock only once an hour. It`s faster to simply walk. A taxi is also a good option. Here are some of the lines that will be of most use to tourists:

-The Snowdon Sherpa: An experience that can be customized into a hop-on, hop-off tour of Snowdonia. Buy the day pass (£5 return/£2.50 one way) and you can pick and choose where to get off. The bus picks up in Llanberis and takes people to Nant Peris, Pen-y-Pass, Pen-y-Gwryd, Capel Curig, Rhaeadr Ewynnol/Swallow Falls, Betws-y-Coed, and Llanrwst.

-Route 88: This route connects three different stops in Caernarfon (bus station, Morrisons, and Campbell Road/Bethel Road) with Llanberis, allowing you to connect with the Snowdon Sherpa as one of the three stops in Llanberis is the Interchange where you need to meet the Sherpa. Tickets start at £2 one-way. Eight buses Monday-Saturday and four buses on Sunday.

-Route 5/X5: This route connects Caernarfon with Bangor, Conwy, and Llandudno. Over 30 buses Monday-Saturday and over 20 buses on Sunday. (8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily except to 8 p.m. on Sunday).

How do I call/hail a taxi?

There is one taxi rank in Caernarfon, in Castle Square. Taxis in Caernarfon, unlike other Welsh cities, tend to be all different colors, including black, white, blue, and red. They are easily hailed from any street if the light is on, signifying a vacancy. A taxi company that has been operating in the community for 30 years and has been recommended is Ivan`s Taxis (www.ivanstaxis.com, 01286 881590). Flagfall in Caernarfon is £3 and £1.55 is added with every 0.6 miles. An extra £1.50 is added to the flagfall if the taxi is taken between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

I will have a car in Caernarfon. Where can I park?

There are three public multi-story car parks in Caernarfon: the Penllyn park at Pool Hill adjacent to Castle Square, and two (Balaclava and Shell Site) next to Victoria Dock. Parking is available for up to 12 hours at the Victoria Dock sites starting at £4 (open 24 hours), and the Penllyn park allows for 3 hours of parking starting at £3 (open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily).

Can I pay/tip in U.S. dollars?

The currency of Wales, like all constituent nations of the United Kingdom, is the pound sterling (£). U.S. dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for pounds upon arrival. ATMs can be found at many locations in Caernarfon.

Where are the best places to enjoy food and drink in Caernarfon?

Lots of food and drink options, ranging from cafés and pubs to tapas restaurants, can be found in the area north of Caernarfon Castle up to High Street. Bridge Street is another great place for food options, ranging from local establishments to well-known UK and international chains. There are a couple of bars that sit to the west-southwest of Castle Square. (Note: With Wales in varying degrees of coronavirus-related lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, businesses have opened and closed -- and opened again -- with varying hours. Modified hours may continue through at least 2021.)

What are some of the must-see sights in Caernarfon?

Caernarfon Castle, situated just off Castle Square, overlooks the River Seiont and is the top attraction in town. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and should be the thing you visit first. Castle Square is a key landmark, sitting to the east of the castle, and the Presbyterian Church sits on the square`s eastern edge. Segments of the town walls, which used to encircle the city, can be seen just north of the Castle on Cei Banc above High Street. Victoria Dock sits to the northwest of that specific portion of the walls and was built in the 1860s; while the original dock is preserved today, much of the old site is now a first-class marina. The Church of St. Peblig in Llanbeblig and the ruins of the Segontium Roman fort are less than two miles outside of town, on Constantine Road.