The best time to visit Wales for food, hiking or bog snorkeling

When to book a trip to Wales depends on a few factors – namely your budget, your tolerance for rain and whether you have an unquenchable desire to try bog snorkeling.

Adventures that suit all types of travelers can be had year round in Wales, but it’s worth timing it right for an experience that best fits your preferences.

Find the best season to visit with this guide on when to go Wales.

Shoulder season: September to October and April to June

Best time for culture vultures

Savvy travelers book their trips for shoulder season. You’ll find fewer crowds and cheaper accommodations (excluding Easter and October school holiday breaks) as well as milder – if still unpredictable – weather.

Cultural events abound, from wool- and sheep-based celebrations to one of the UK’s best food festivals.

High season: July to August

Best time for beach breaks

Wales’s warmest months mean inevitable crowds and hiked up accommodation prices, but if you’re dead set on blazing blue skies and ice cream by the sea, it’s all worth it. With hundreds of beaches to choose from – sheltered bays and pebbled shores to wild, windswept stretches of golden sand – it’s easier than you might think to find a spot to lay your towel.

Ready to party? Pride marches, the National Eisteddfod and Green Man Festival (among others) all amplify the feel-good atmosphere over this season.

Low season: November to March

Best time for pub crawls

From light drizzle to torrential downpours, a Welsh winter has no shortage of rain. If you have the right wet-weather gear and a positive attitude, you can still enjoy the great outdoors. However, it’s best to avoid mountain hikes in snowy conditions unless you’re an experienced winter climber.

Either way, nothing beats warming up by an open fire with a pint in a country pub. Crowds – and accommodation prices – are at their lowest now, excluding Christmas and New Year.

January

Pack your thermals: January is one of Wales’s coldest months. Days are short, but you can still find time to catch a glimpse of snow-capped mountains or brave a chilly coastal walk.
Key events: Saturnalia, Barry Island New Year’s Day Swim, St Dwynwen's Day (Welsh Valentine’s Day)

February

Another cold and quiet month, February is the time to visit Wales’s towns and cities, where rugby fans bring a lively atmosphere to the local pubs.
Key events: Six Nations

March

Kicking off with a celebration of Wales’s patron saint on St. David’s Day, March marks the coming of spring. Daffodils – the country’s national flower – bloom in their thousands, bringing a burst of sunshine yellow to the nation, even if the weather hasn’t quite warmed up yet.
Key events: St. David’s Day

April

April is the time to get outdoors and soak up some of Wales’s best natural attractions, including its many waterfalls, which have been replenished by the winter rains. Popular destinations can get crowded over the Easter break, especially on sunny days.
Key events: Wonderwool

May

Literature, comedy, folk music: take your pick of cultural exploits this month, as the first slew of the year’s big festivals draw crowds from across the UK and beyond.
Key events: Hay Festival, Urdd National Eisteddfod, Fishguard Folk Festival, Machynlleth Comedy Festival

June

This relatively sunny and dry month is ideal for hiking a portion of the Wales Coast Path or enjoying a visit to one of the country’s three national parks – without the summer vacation crowds.
Key events: Gŵyl Gregynog Festival, Three Peaks Yacht Race

July

With summer in full swing, Wales’s fabulous beaches and seaside towns welcome oodles of families, surfers, swimmers and walkers. Meanwhile, Welsh culture comes into focus at some of the country’s biggest festivals.
Key events: Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Royal Welsh Show, Cardiff International Food and Drink Festival, The Big Cheese Caerphilly, Pride Cymru

August

The summer peak is busy, with families making the most of the weather and long school break, especially on the bank holiday weekend at the end of the month. August in Wales is soundtracked by a medley of music festivals.
Key events: National Eisteddfod of Wales, Green Man Festival, World Bog Snorkelling Championship, Brecon Jazz Festival and Fringe

September

Summer is coming to an end, but the occasional day of blazing sunshine often staves off the fall vibes until later in the month.
Key events: Abergavenny Food Festival, Tenby Arts Festival, Llandovery Sheep Festival

October

October is one of Wales’s wettest months. Visitors can find pockets of joy at music and comedy festivals, and across the country, runners tackle half and full marathons, come rain or shine!
Key events: Sŵn Festival, Aberystwyth Comedy Festival

November

Chilly temperatures and plentiful rain usher people indoors, often to the pub for a pint of Welsh ale.
Key events: Mid Wales Beer Festival

December

Winter festivities reach their peak as shoppers flood fairy-lit shopping streets in preparation for Christmas.
Key events: Christmas markets in many towns and cities, including Cardiff, Swansea, Conwy and Narbeth; Tenby Boxing Day Swim

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