Eryri has accommodation to suit every budget and style — from bunkhouses close to the Snowdon trailheads to country house hotels on the Mawddach Estuary. Choosing the right base makes a significant difference to your experience. The seven villages below cover the main options, each with a distinct character and set of advantages.
Llanberis
Llanberis is the functional heart of Snowdon tourism — the Snowdon Mountain Railway starts here, the Llanberis Path starts here, and the village has the widest range of accommodation of any base in the northern park. It's not the most atmospheric village (the old slate quarrying infrastructure dominates), but it's extremely practical: good cafes, several pubs, outdoor gear shops, and excellent transport links.
Accommodation ranges from the Pen-y-Ceunant Isaf (a bunkhouse with basic facilities, close to the Llanberis Path start) through numerous B&Bs to the Royal Victoria Hotel, a substantial Victorian hotel at the lake shore. The Snowdon Youth Hostel is on the outskirts. For those planning multiple Snowdon days, Llanberis is the obvious choice.
Betws-y-Coed
The most visited village in Eryri, at the confluence of the Llugwy, Conwy, and Lledr rivers. It functions as a hub for car-based exploration of the whole park — the A5 through the village connects west to the Llanberis Pass and Capel Curig, east to the Vale of Conwy, and south toward Blaenau Ffestiniog and Dolgellau. The village has the best concentration of restaurants, cafes, outdoor gear shops, and accommodation in the park.
The Royal Oak Hotel (dating to 1640) is the most characterful of the larger hotels. Swallow Falls Hotel, 3km west of the village, is convenient for the falls and the main walking areas. Numerous B&Bs line the main road. The railway station (Conwy Valley Line from Llandudno Junction) makes Betws-y-Coed accessible without a car.
Beddgelert
The most beautiful village in Eryri, sitting at the confluence of the Glaslyn and Colwyn rivers beneath the hills of the Aberglaslyn Pass. The slate-roofed stone cottages, the twin bridges over the confluence, the woodland above the village, and the proximity to Yr Wyddfa from the south make this a deeply desirable base. The downside: it's very small, has very limited accommodation, and fills completely in summer.
The Sygun Copper Mine is on the doorstep, the Aberglaslyn gorge is a 30-minute walk, and Nantgwynant (the start of the Watkin Path) is 5km east. The Tanronnen Inn is the social hub. Book months in advance for July and August.
Capel Curig
A tiny settlement at the junction of the A5 and A4086, at the head of the Nant Ffrancon valley, surrounded by the finest mountain scenery in Wales. Plas y Brenin (the national mountain centre) is here, as is the Bryn Tyrch Inn — one of the best walkers' pubs in north Wales. There are few shops and limited accommodation options, but the Glyderau, Carneddau, and Snowdon are all within easy reach.
The twin lakes of Llynnau Mymbyr, which provide the classic reflection view of Yr Wyddfa from the A4086, are directly in front of the village. In winter, Capel Curig regularly experiences the lowest temperatures in Wales — its position in the valley funnel concentrates cold air draining from the surrounding summits.
Dolgellau
The handsome, somewhat austere grey-stone market town at the head of the Mawddach Estuary is the best base for southern Eryri: Cadair Idris, the Rhinogydd, the Mawddach Trail, and the coastal villages. It has an excellent independent food scene for a town its size — the Mawddach Restaurant and several good independent cafes make it one of the better places to eat in the park.
The Precipice Walk (starting 5km north of the town) is one of the most spectacular easy walks in Wales. Barmouth, at the river mouth, is 15km west. The Cambrian Line railway station at Morfa Mawddach (4km) allows car-free access.
Harlech
Dominated by its UNESCO-listed castle, Harlech sits on a coastal shelf above a vast expanse of dune and beach. The castle views — seaward to the bay, landward to the Rhinogydd and Yr Wyddfa — are extraordinary. The town itself is small and relatively undeveloped for tourism. Castle Cottage Restaurant is one of the finest restaurants in the national park.
Harlech is well positioned for exploring the southern half of the park and the Llŷn Peninsula. The Cambrian Coast railway serves the station (connections to Machynlleth and the Cambrian Line). Royal St David's Golf Club below the castle is one of the great links courses in Wales.
Barmouth
A Victorian seaside town at the mouth of the Mawddach Estuary, combining mountain and sea in a way that is unique in Wales. The RSPB's Mawddach estuary reserve stretches eastward; the Rhinogydd mountains rise directly behind the town. The beach is excellent. The Barmouth Bridge — a Victorian timber viaduct stretching 800m across the estuary mouth — carries the Cambrian Coast railway and a footpath.
More lively than the purely mountain-focused villages, Barmouth has more amenities, a proper high street, and a slightly more seaside-holiday character. A good choice for families or those who want beach options alongside mountain days.
Find and book accommodation across all of Eryri at Booking.com's Snowdonia collection — hotels, B&Bs, holiday cottages, and hostels.
Independently written — Snowdon.com