Attractions in Swansea

There can’t be many better views in Wales than from Oystermouth Castle overlooking the stunning Gower Peninsula near Mumbles. There might be nearly 600 castles in Wales but this is one of the best, as the impressively preserved Norman stone castle offers stunning coastal views. Built around 1106, the castle is open for visitors from April to September, with guests able to check out 14th-century graffiti art and take in the castle’s vast banqueting halls via a 30-foot-high glass bridge.

Once you’ve explored the castle, head down to the coast and the Mumbles Pier. Opened in 1898, the 255-metre-long Victorian pier is home to a wide range of activities, including a bowling alley, cafés, gift shops and more. Open year-round, it’s a great place to take in the sunset or to find yourself with an ice cream in hand walking down the pier watching the fishermen reel in their catches.

With a theatre and arts centre – and various cafés and pubs – named after him, Dylan Thomas fans will love Swansea. To complete the set, head to the Dylan Thomas Birthplace on the edge of the city centre. Restored to its former glory, the semi-detached house is now a living museum dedicated to the poet, with guests able to check out his writing study, living room, kitchen and his bedroom that’s so compact, it would give sardines claustrophobia.

A stunning white stone building, The Guildhall is home to the city’s local government and is less than a mile down the coast from the Maritime Quarter. With its large art deco clock tower and echoes of a Viking longboat in its design, it’s become a landmark in Swansea and is open for visitors and tours four times a year.

You won’t find a greener land than Wales, and wandering through Penllergare Valley Woods will ably remind you of that. On the northern edge of the city centre, it’s an enchanting slice of woodland that’s perfect for discovering, whatever the season. With wildflowers, exotic plants and roaming wildlife, the woods are open daily with all proceeds from the pay-and-display car park and coffee shop going back into preserving the woodlands. If you’re staying in our Swansea North hotel, you’ll find these remarkable woods just a 15-minute drive away.

Bordering the university and hospital, Singleton Park is a sprawling 250-acre expanse of large, grassy banks that make the ideal setting for summer picnics and impromptu games of football. It’s also home to the Botanical Gardens; three well-kept hot and humid houses full of exotic plants, a herb and rock garden, as well as a plant shop. There’s also a large children’s play area, crazy golf and pedalos on the small lake.

Literally over the road, you’ll find the much smaller but just as well equipped Brynmill Park. The area has undergone extensive rejuvenation in recent years and is now a great place to bring young families. There’s a playground for toddlers and younger children, a large duck pond and a small shop selling drinks, snacks, ice creams and duck food in case you forget.

No trip here is complete without visiting Swansea Marina. Having undergone a vast improvement since the 60s, the marina is now a hotbed of cool apartments, bars, cafés, restaurants and museums. And of course, if you’re a boat fan, there are thousands of vessels moored in the docks. Plus, it’s now home to the LC, Wales’ biggest indoor waterpark featuring an indoor surf machine, the boardrider, a 30-foot climbing wall and a four-storey soft play area.

We’ve rounded up all the info on the Liberty Stadium on our dedicated page.