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 bases below cover the main options, each with a distinct character and set of advantages. For more ideas, see the best towns and villages to stay in, or consider Llandudno as a coastal base.
Llanberis
Llanberis is the functional heart of Snowdon tourism: the Snowdon Mountain Railway and the Llanberis Path both start 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 landscape dominates), but it’s extremely practical: good cafés, several pubs, outdoor gear shops, and good bus links.
Accommodation ranges from hostels and numerous B&Bs to the Royal Victoria Hotel, a substantial Victorian hotel near the lakes. YHA Llanberis is on the edge of the village. For those planning multiple Snowdon days, Llanberis is the obvious choice.
Betws-y-Coed
The most visited village in Eryri, where the Llugwy joins the Conwy close to its confluence with the Lledr. It works as a hub for car-based exploration of the whole park: the A5 through the village connects west to Capel Curig and Ogwen, while roads lead north up the Conwy Valley and south towards Blaenau Ffestiniog. The village has the best concentration of restaurants, cafés, outdoor gear shops and accommodation in the park.
The Royal Oak Hotel, a historic coaching inn, is the most characterful of the larger hotels. Swallow Falls, a short drive 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
Often called the most beautiful village in Eryri, Beddgelert sits at the confluence of the Glaslyn and Colwyn rivers above the Aberglaslyn Pass. The slate-roofed stone cottages, the bridges over the rivers, 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 limited accommodation, and fills completely in summer.
Sygun Copper Mine is on the doorstep, the Aberglaslyn gorge is a short walk away, and Nantgwynant (the start of the Watkin Path) is a few kilometres east. The Tanronnen Inn is the social hub. Book months in advance for July and August.
Capel Curig
A small settlement at the junction of the A5 and A4086 in the Llugwy valley, surrounded by some of the finest mountain scenery in Wales. Plas y Brenin (the National Outdoor Centre) is here, along with walkers’ pubs and cafés. 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, lie just west of the village. In winter, Capel Curig can be bitterly cold, as cold air drains into the valley 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 a good independent food scene for a town its size, with several good independent cafés and restaurants in and around the town.
The Precipice Walk, a few miles north of the town, is one of the most spectacular easy walks in Wales. Barmouth, at the river mouth, is about 10 miles west along the estuary. The nearest railway stations are on the Cambrian Coast line at Barmouth and Morfa Mawddach.
Harlech
Dominated by its UNESCO-listed castle, Harlech sits on a rocky shelf above a vast expanse of dune and beach. The castle views, seaward to the bay and landward to the Rhinogydd and Yr Wyddfa, are extraordinary. The town itself is small and relatively undeveloped for tourism.
Harlech is well positioned for exploring the southern half of the park and the Llŷn Peninsula across the bay. The Cambrian Coast railway serves the station, with connections to Machynlleth and Pwllheli. 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 few places in Wales can match. RSPB reserves lie along the estuary, and the Rhinogydd rise directly behind the town. The beach is excellent. Barmouth Bridge, a Victorian timber viaduct stretching some 800m across the estuary mouth, carries the Cambrian Coast railway and a footpath.
Livelier than the purely mountain-focused villages, Barmouth has more amenities, a proper high street, and a more seaside-holiday character. A good choice for families or those who want beach options alongside mountain days.
Find and book accommodation across Eryri at Booking.com’s Snowdonia collection: hotels, B&Bs, holiday cottages and hostels.