Conwy Castle — Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Rain is No Reason to Stay In
Wales has a well-deserved reputation for rain, and visitors to Conwy should arrive expecting the possibility of at least one grey or wet day. The good news is that Conwy is remarkably well-equipped for rainy weather: the town's concentration of indoor historic attractions, its warm cafes and pubs, and the general intimacy of the medieval street plan make it an unusually pleasant place to spend a rainy afternoon. The atmospheric mist and rain that can settle over the castle and estuary actually enhances the sense of being in a genuinely ancient place.
The key to enjoying Conwy in the rain is to prioritise the indoor attractions rather than trying to push on with outdoor plans. The town has three substantial indoor heritage sites, a commercial gallery, several good cafes and a collection of independent shops, all within a few minutes' walk of each other. A rainy day in Conwy spent methodically working through these, with generous coffee stops between, can be one of the most satisfying ways to experience the town.
The Indoor Heritage Attractions
Plas Mawr on High Street is the ideal rainy-day destination. The finest Elizabethan townhouse in Wales, built 1576–1585, it has a sequence of richly decorated rooms to explore over about 90 minutes, with an audio guide included in the admission price. Aberconwy House, the 14th-century National Trust property, is smaller but equally evocative.
Conwy Castle is predominantly outdoor, but the towers and gateway passages offer significant shelter. Walking the wall walks in light rain with the mist hanging over the estuary is actually a memorable experience, and the absence of summer crowds in wet weather means you can take your time.
Cafes and Warm Retreats
Conwy's cafes are generally good and there are enough of them within the walled town to provide welcome shelter between heritage visits. Many have the kind of character that comes from occupying old buildings — low beamed ceilings, thick stone walls, the smell of coffee and baking. See our cafes guide for detailed recommendations on the best places for coffee, light lunches and cake.
The pubs of Conwy are similarly well-suited to a rainy afternoon. A pint of local ale and a bowl of mussels while listening to the rain on the window is one of the simpler pleasures of a Welsh town visit.
Day Trips by Car on a Rainy Day
If the rain is heavy and persistent, the indoor attractions of nearby towns and villages are within easy reach by car. Llandudno, four miles away, has the excellent Oriel Mostyn gallery, the Victorian pier and the Great Orme Tramway. Bodnant Garden, eight miles south, has a large visitor centre and cafe that provide good shelter. Betws-y-Coed has outdoor equipment shops, cafes and Swallow Falls which is particularly dramatic in heavy rain.
Day trips