Conwy Castle — Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Spring: March to May
Spring is arguably the best time to visit Conwy. The heritage attractions are open, the town has not yet reached peak summer crowding, and the surrounding landscape is at its most vivid with new growth, woodland flowers and the return of migratory birds to the estuary. The laburnum arch at Bodnant Garden — eight miles south down the A470 — typically flowers in late May or early June, at which point the garden extends its hours to 8pm Monday to Thursday and draws around 50,000 visitors in the three-week peak. It is one of the great horticultural spectacles in Wales, worth timing a visit around if you can. May and early June in general are quieter than summer but the weather is often at its best.
The weather in spring is variable, as it is throughout the year in North Wales. March and April can be cold and wet but also provide startlingly clear days when the mountains stand sharp against a blue sky and the estuary glitters in low sunshine. May tends to be drier and is often the month when the North Wales climate is at its most benign. The castle, town walls and outdoor attractions are fully accessible and the accommodation is not yet fully booked. Prices are lower than in summer and the town has a pleasingly relaxed character.
Summer: June to August
Summer is the busiest period in Conwy and the main heritage sites can be crowded, particularly on fine weekends in July and August. The castle and Plas Mawr attract significant visitor numbers, and the quayside and town centre are lively with day-trippers. This is not a reason to avoid summer — the town has the capacity to absorb visitors without losing its character entirely — but it does mean that arriving early, booking tables and accommodation well in advance, and managing expectations about crowds at the most popular sites are all important.
The rewards of a summer visit include long days (North Wales is far enough north that midsummer evenings are very long), warm quayside weather, pleasure boat trips on the estuary, and the full programme of events and activities that the area offers in its peak season. The castle floodlit on a warm summer evening, with visitors sitting on the quayside until late, is one of those experiences that the town does particularly well.
Autumn: September to November
Autumn is the other outstanding time to visit Conwy. September in particular combines warm temperatures, noticeably thinner crowds and the Honey Fair — a Saturday event in Conwy High Street and Lancaster Square with roots going back approximately 700 years to an Edward I charter. The combination of the fair, the woodland colour in the Conwy Valley and the generally fine September weather makes this month arguably the best-value time to visit. October sees the valley colours at their peak, and the shorter days and declining visitor numbers give the town a more intimate, local character that many visitors find more appealing than the busy summer months.
The weather in October and November can be very variable, from clear frosty days when the castle looks magnificent against a blue sky to grey wet periods when the outdoor attractions lose some of their appeal. This is when the indoor attractions — Plas Mawr, Aberconwy House, the castle's sheltered interiors — come into their own. Accommodation prices drop in autumn and the town is notably quieter, which for many visitors is a positive rather than a negative.
Winter: December to February
Winter in Conwy is atmospheric rather than comfortable. The castle and town walls take on a particular drama in the low winter light, and the near-absence of crowds means you can spend as long as you like in the castle towers and along the wall walk with the site almost to yourself. Some attractions have reduced hours or are closed in the depths of winter, so checking opening times before visiting is important. The Christmas period can be pleasant, with seasonal events in the town and the castle and walls lit in the evenings.
The weather in winter is often wet and cold, occasionally very cold, and the outdoor attractions — the mountain, the coastal walks, the valley — require appropriate clothing and footwear. But for those who do not mind the weather, a winter visit to Conwy offers an experience of the medieval town that is quite different from the summer version, and for photographers in particular the winter light can be exceptional.
Day trips