One of the most common questions visitors ask is: where should we stay? The answer depends entirely on what sort of experience you want. Do you want Snowdon on your doorstep, a quiet lakeside retreat, a luxury escape, a family holiday base, or a walkers’ hostel? The beauty of Eryri is that all of these options exist. Choosing the right base can completely transform your visit.
Choosing Your Area
Before choosing accommodation, choose your area. Eryri divides roughly into several zones, each with a different character.
Snowdon heartland: Llanberis, Beddgelert and Rhyd Ddu. Best for Snowdon walking, mountain railways, lakes, and direct access to the most dramatic scenery. This is the right zone if climbing Yr Wyddfa is your primary goal. Llanberis is the most practical base: large enough to have shops, restaurants and plenty of accommodation, small enough to feel like a proper mountain village.
Betws-y-Coed and the Conwy Valley. Best for first-time visitors, families, a central location and good road connections. Betws-y-Coed has more accommodation options than any other Eryri village and rail connections via the Conwy Valley Line from Llandudno Junction. It is not the closest base to Snowdon but it is well placed for exploring the national park generally.
Ogwen Valley. Best for serious walkers, climbers and scramblers. Accommodation options are limited (mainly hostels, bunkhouses and a few campsites), which keeps it off the mainstream visitor radar. Capel Curig and the Ogwen area suit those whose primary aim is the Glyderau or Carneddau.
Southern Eryri: Dolgellau, Bala and the Mawddach Estuary. Best for Cadair Idris, quieter landscapes, Welsh culture, and a less touristy version of Eryri. This area is often overlooked by visitors focused on Snowdon and is all the better for it.
Coast and castles: Harlech, Criccieth and Barmouth. Best for beaches, the great Edwardian castles, and a combination of coast and mountain. Harlech in particular is exceptional: a small town with a vast castle, views across to the Rhinogydd, and good beach access.
Types of Accommodation
Hotels
Hotels in Eryri range from comfortable country house properties to modest roadside establishments. The Royal Victoria Hotel in Llanberis and the Royal Oak Hotel in Betws-y-Coed are well-established options with good facilities. For something more distinctive, the area around Dolgellau and the Mawddach Estuary has some excellent country hotels and converted historic buildings. Book well ahead for summer weekends, as popular properties fill months in advance. If you would rather stay on the coast, see 10 of the best hotels in Caernarfon.
Self-Catering Cottages
The most flexible option for families and groups. Eryri has an exceptional stock of stone cottages, farmhouses and converted farm buildings, many in spectacular settings. A week in a self-catering cottage with a mountain view is what many repeat visitors come back for. Book through the national cottage agencies, Airbnb or local agencies, and check the details carefully for practicalities like parking and access. For something more rural, see our guide to farm stays and agritourism.
Hostels
YHA Snowdon Ranger and YHA Idwal Cottage are among the best-placed mountain hostels in Wales, practical and popular with walkers. YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass sits at the top of the Llanberis Pass and is perfectly positioned for the main Snowdon routes. Book ahead, particularly for weekends and school holidays.
Campsites
Camping in Eryri can be exceptional. The campsites in Nantgwynant, near the foot of the Watkin Path, have some of the finest positions in the national park. Sites around Beddgelert are popular with families, and there are campsites in the Ogwen valley. Wild camping is not a legal right in Wales: it needs the landowner’s permission, so use an official site unless you have arranged otherwise, and follow Leave No Trace principles. Fires are not permitted. Touring in a van? Our guide to campervan hire, campsites and the rules covers the basics.
Glamping and Luxury
Glamping has grown significantly in Eryri over the past decade. Bell tents, shepherd’s huts and yurts in scenic settings provide a middle ground between camping and a hotel, and our guides to winter glamping and Ffynnon Beuno’s farm huts have specific ideas. Luxury accommodation options are relatively limited compared to some national parks but improving, with several country house hotels and converted historic buildings offering genuine quality.
Best Bases by Activity
- For Snowdon walking: Llanberis (most practical).
- For the Horseshoe, Pyg Track and Miners’ Track: the Pen-y-Pass area, or Llanberis with the Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus.
- For the Glyderau and Tryfan: Capel Curig or the Ogwen area.
- For Cadair Idris: Dolgellau.
- For photography: Beddgelert or Nantgwynant (superb reflections).
- For heritage railways: Porthmadog (Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland) or Llanberis (Snowdon Mountain Railway).
- For families: Betws-y-Coed or Beddgelert.
- For solitude: southern Eryri, the Rhinogydd area, or anywhere away from the Snowdon circuit.
Booking Advice
July and August are the busiest months and popular accommodation books up months in advance. September, October and May offer good walking conditions with significantly less competition for beds and often lower prices. Winter accommodation is rarely a problem to book, but check that your chosen accommodation is open, as some seasonal properties close from November to March.
Related reading: caravan holidays around Eryri, lodge holidays in Eryri, lodge holidays near Caernarfon, choosing a holiday park near Eryri and West Point Beach Resort.