We are only a few days in to the new year and perhaps many of us have a list of things we want to do within 2025. While some of us are already dreaming about our next holiday abroad, perhaps others are looking for things to do a bit closer to home.
Wales is filled with activities and places to try and visit. 2024 was a busy year, with many establishments receiving well-deserved accolades, while quaint little villages and tourist destinations were also given recognition for their beauty.
With this in mind, we’ve taken a look at all the best things that should be on your bucket list this year – places to visit, places to stay, places to dine out or merely go for a walk. Some options may mean you’ll have to save up for a special treat, while others are for free. Either way, all options show how lucky we are to call this country our home, a nation brimming with opportunities and experiences. Find out about the latest events in Wales by signing up to our What’s On newsletter here.
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1. Dine at these restaurants
Gorse restaurant made it onto the Michelin guide a matter of months after opening -Credit:Will Barker
Four restaurants have made it onto the Michelin Guide within the past few months. In 2024, tiny Pontcanna restaurant Gorse made it onto the list mere months after first opening its doors. Meanwhile, in June of last year, The Shed also made it onto the guide.
We are only a few days into January, and already two additional restaurants have made onto the guide. Dishes in Prestatyn and The Fanny Talbot in Barmouth have been listed as some of the best restaurants by the Michelin Guide. Dishes opened last summer, while gastro pub The Fanny Talbot opened in 2023. Impressive much? If you live or are heading for a visit near these areas soon, then book a place for a fantastic dining experience at one of these four restaurants.
2. And this gastro pub
The Black Bear Inn near Usk in Monmouthshire is a multi-award winning gastropub and was named among the best restaurants in the UK recently by the prestigious Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs -Credit:WalesOnline/Rob Browne
While The Fanny Talbot made it onto the Michelin Guide this month, other amazing gastropubs in Wales have been making their mark too. In December of last year, it was revealed that gastro pub The Black Bear Inn in Bettws Newydd had made it to the 2025 Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list of contenders, making it the only Welsh pub to do so.
Couple Josh and Hannah Byrne moved from Bristol to Bettws Newydd to run the pub back in 2018. Since then, the venue has garnered huge success, despite the couple causing uproar by ditching the Sunday roast. Instead, the cosy village inn has become one of the best in Wales. You can read more about their story here. If you want to look for a pub that is a bit closer to you, then head over to our article on the best pub food in Wales here.
3. Relax at a sauna spa
Wildwater Sauna at Nolton Haven, Pembrokeshire -Credit:Wildwater Sauna
Sauna spas are definitely becoming a trend this year and you’ll be glad to know there are many spots that have them. These small wooden huts with smoke spiralling from their chimneys can be found near the sea or lake. Many are dotted around Wales’ spectacular coastline. If you’re in south Wales, you can try out the Wildwater Sauna at Nolton Haven, Pembrokeshire or Sandy Bay in Hi-Tide’s Car Park, Porthcawl. Up north, you can also find sauna spas in Rhosneigr on Anglesey and Llanberis in Gwynedd. To find out more about these interesting spas, click here.
4. Visit Aberffraw on Anglesey
Traeth Mawr, a large but secluded sandy beach near the village of Aberffraw -Credit:Steve Williams
Last year, the Telegraph named Aberffraw as one of the “greatest” villages in the UK, and in 2023, the rural village was voted the best place to live on Anglesey in a poll conducted by North Wales Live. Aberffraw has been described “a huddle of pretty stone and pastel-painted cottages peeking above the tidal waters of the River Ffraw”. The Telegraph added: “With the first glimmer of sun, you’ll race with childlike joy over wind-whipped dunes to its gorgeous sweep of powdery sand, Traeth Mawr.”
5. Visit Beddgelert in Gwynedd
The beautiful village of Beddgelert in Gwynedd -Credit:Ian Cooper/North Wales Live
And Aberffraw wasn’t the only village to make it onto the Telegraph’s list. Beddgelert in Gwynedd was also named one of the “greatest” villages in the UK. The newspaper wrote: “Nestled deep in the heart of Snowdonia’s wildest mountains, riverside Beddgelert is a heart-warming glimpse of a bygone era, with its sprinkling of stone cottages, humpback bridge, pubs with roaring fires and singing locals, and a highland railway puffing on by. In summer everything blooms, while in winter chimney smoke hangs in the air.
“The village’s quirkiest feature is a statue of a famous hound. Myth has it Beddgelert (“Gelert’s grave”) was named after Prince Llywelyn the Great’s dog, though in reality a local landlord made the whole thing up a couple of centuries ago to boost tourism.” Head over there, go and find out about Gelert the dog, grab a pint from Prince Llewelyn Hotel’s pub and drink it near the river Afon Conwy, before having a meal at Y Bistro yn yr Hebog.
6. Go and see these music acts in Cardiff
There are plenty of gigs to enjoy in the Welsh capital this year -Credit:DEPOT LIVE
Perhaps the Oasis gig in Cardiff has sold out, but there are other music acts you can see in the Welsh capital! There are some amazing gigs coming to Wales in 2025 including Lana Del Rey, Kings of Leon, Scissor Sisters and more. And there are still some tickets available for these highly anticipated shows, which you can read more about here.
7. Have a relaxing stay at one these hotels
Rhosyn restaurant at Penally Abbey Hotel -Credit:Instagram / @penallyabbeyhotel
In December, three stunning Welsh hotels have been named among the best in the whole of the UK after scooping prestigious awards at the ‘Oscars of the hotel world’. The coveted prizes are handed out every year to 20 hotels, inns and B&Bs across England, Wales and Scotland to honour the very best in the industry.
The Cesar Awards are organised by the Good Hotel Guide, which was first published almost 50 years ago, offering people “impartial advice on finding a good place to stay”. Only 20 establishments are given the accolades each year, and for 2025 three from Wales have made the cut. They are: Penally Abbey near Tenby in Pembrokeshire, Tŷ Mawr in Brechfa, Carmarthenshire, and Bodysgallen Hall and Spa, near Llandudno in Conwy county. You can read more about these hotels here.
8. Travel on the ‘world greatest train route’
This route was named one of the “world’s greatest” railway route in 2024 -Credit:Ben Salter
The Heart of Wales line, which is a 121-mile rural railway between Swansea and Shrewsbury going through Carmarthenshire, Powys and Shropshire, was named one of the “world’s greatest” railway route last year. And with breath-taking views of the glorious Welsh countryside it’s easy to see why. The beloved line offers a scenic, slower way to take in stunning views and take something of a step back in time. You can read more about this railway line here.
9. Stay in a luxury safari tent
The safari tents all blend together just the right amount of rustic charm alongside those little luxuries -Credit:David Wagstaffe Photography
These luxury safari tents in Bedwas, Caerphilly, are the perfect escape for anyone who loves a bit of adventure mixed with cosy home comforts on a real working farm. So whether you’re planning a fun family getaway, a weekend to recharge with friends or a romantic retreat, these unique stays tick all the boxes. You can read more about these luxury safari tents here.
10. Spend 48 hours in St David’s
Majestic and impressive Cathedral in St Davids, Pembrokeshire.
In November 2024, St Davids in Pembrokeshire, which is the smallest city in the UK, was named among destinations perfect for a weekend break, according to experts at holidaycottages.co.uk. And it makes perfect sense why St Davids would be the ideal location for a 48-hour getaway. Tucked away on the coast, the destination boasts a charming village-like atmosphere with plenty to explore.
If you want to spend a weekend here, you can have a gorgeous lunch at St David’s Gin and Kitchen, experience fine dining at Blas restaurant or a slice of pizza with a pint at GRAIN. For lovely walks, you can take a stroll to the cathedral, or a bit further away, a good hike on Wales Coast Path from Porthgain to Abereiddy, which is approximately a 1.9 mile walk.
11. Take a stroll down these beaches on a crisp winter day
A bench overlooking the boats in the rocky cliffs of Porthdinllaen on the North Wales coast in October 2021.
This time of year can be a bit dark and dreary, which is why it’s so important to make the most of the day when it is clear and dry. There is nothing better than getting out in the winter sunshine on a cold morning. and thankfully, Wales is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world that are the perfect place to spend a crisp winter’s day.
If you are in the north, head over to Traeth Porthdinllaen near Morfa Nefyn, in the west, you can head over to Llansteffan in Carmarthenshire or Whitesands Beach near St David’s. In the south, you have the spectacular Rhossili Bay in the Gower, as well Monknash Beach in Cowbridge and many more beaches, which you can read more about here.
12. Camp at this beautiful site
The stunning Nantcol Waterfalls campsite near Llanbedr, Gwynedd -Credit:Campsites.co.uk
This stunning Welsh campsite named Nantcol Waterfalls is located near a waterfall and was named as the best in the UK in November of last year. The stunning retreat has been described as “like from the pages of a fairytale”, and is nestled amongst the wild beauty of the Rhinog mountains and a stone’s throw from Shell Island.
The idyllic location is beside Afon Nantcol, and just 100 metres from the waterfall after which it gets its name. This site not only offers traditional tent pitches but also boasts charming glamping pods resplendent with modern comforts like TV, WiFi, firepits, and underfloor heating. You can read more about this site here.