A day trip to Portmeirion is the perfect seaside destination to visit in North Wales. Full of colourful buildings, great food and amazing coastal views. On a warm sunny day, walking into Portmeirion feels like you’ve stepped straight into an Italian village in the Mediterranean. The only difference is, you’re in the middle of Wales! Portmeirion is the perfect place to visit if you are missing European city breaks and want to get that sense of being abroad without leaving the country. This is the ideal place to visit for a UK Staycation this year!
This blog post is an in-depth guide about how to have a day trip to Portmeirion. Including a brief history as well as everything you need to know about your visit here so you can make the most of what’s on offer at this quirky and unique Italian Village in Wales.
Whether you are visiting North Wales for a day trip or a long weekend, this is a location worth visiting! It combines the charm of the traditional Welsh countryside with the exciting and colourful architecture of an exquisite Italian village. These combine together to create an experience like no other! This private peninsula overlooks the tranquil coastline of Snowdonia and on a warm summers day, it is so easy to forget where you are!
A Day Trip To Portmeirion Travel Guide
History of Portmeirion
Overlooking the Dwyryd Estuary, Portmeirion is the result of an architect called Sir Bertram Clough Williams-Ellis. It is one of Wales’ most popular tourist destinations and it’s easy to see why! Featuring scenic views, award-winning restaurants and colourful buildings, there is nothing else like it in the UK. This place has become one of the most successful British architectural projects of the twentieth century.
Construction began in 1925 on an abandoned plot of land called Aber Iâ meaning “Ice Estuary” or “Frozen Mouth.” Williams-Ellis spent 20 years searching for the perfect spot to create what he envisioned. Once he found the dream section of land he took a loan out for £3,500 and the project began.
Over the next 50 years, he turned this once-forgotten patch of land into a colourful, unique and wonderful coastal village. He renamed the land to Portmeirion – ‘port’ because of the coastal location and Merion after the old county of Merioneth.
This village is also known as “home for fallen buildings”. Williams-Ellis collected bits and pieces of historic buildings that were due to be demolished. These endangered buildings and unwanted artefacts were mixed together with Williams-Ellis’ own creations. The combination of everything blended together works so well and is such an experience to walk around.
This location has inspired many artists, musicians and writers over the years. This village was used for various films and TV series, including The Prisoner that really put Portmeirion on the map. This show was about a former secret agent held captive in a mysterious village and known only as ‘Number 6’.
Things To Do In Portmeirion
With coastal views, incredible architecture and acres of woodland, there are plenty of places to explore. You can easily spend a few hours to a whole day here soaking in the views and amazing scenery. Here are some of the main things to do in Portmeirion.
Walk the Coastal Path
The white sandy beaches of the Dwyryd Estuary is a great place to start on the coastal walk around this peninsula. There’s plenty of coastal paths to explore as the path hugs the cliffside. It takes you down to the lighthouse, which is the most southern point of Portmeirion and offers lovely views over the Estuary. From there you can make your way up the hill and back around to the village.
Visit the Stone Boat – Amis Reunis
No trip to Portmeirion is complete without visiting the Stone Boat of Portmeirion. As you make your way along the coastal path towards the end of the peninsula you will see a boat called the Amis Reunis, when translated it means “Friends Reunited”.
When the village opened in 1926, Clough brought and converted an old ship that he kept moored alongside the quay. However, a large gale carried the ship away from the shore and towards the island, Ynys Gifftan, where it was stranded. The remains can still be seen off the coast during low tide.
Clough was unable to bring the boat back to repair, so he salvaged what he could. Sections of the mainmast were used as pillar supports for the Hotels Dining Room flat roof. He later decided to build a stone boat along the coastline to pay homage to the original Amis Reunis.
Explore the Forest Trails
One of the best viewpoints is from the forest trail, it offers incredible views over Portmeirion and the Estuary. They have a lovely Oriental garden, featuring a classic temple overlooking the Chinese bridge and lake. The forest here is known as The Gwyllt (Wildwood in Welsh).
It features some of the UK largest trees, a secret garden, a derelict castle as well as rare flowers. During the Victorian period, Sir Williams Fothergill Cook, a celebrated botanist, planted a mixture of monkey puzzle trees, magnolias, camellias, giant redwoods as well as over 70 varieties of rhododendrons on the estate.
There are 70 acres of woodlands here with 19 miles of pathways that cut through these forest and coastal coves. Hidden in these woodlands are secret sites including the Dog Cemetery, tangle Wood, Ghost Garden and Shelter Valley.
 |
 |
Admire the Architecture
The incredible architecture begins from the moment you walk through the entrance. With brightly coloured buildings and coastal views. It feels like you’ve walked straight out of Wales and into Italy. The memorable trip begins at the Gate House as you walk through the building. It features a deep arch, with a ceiling mural created by Hans Feibusch.
Clough wanted to prove that you didn’t need to destroy an environment in order to create something beautiful. Instead of demolishing cliff faces, he builds around them and incorporated them into the village. The Gate House entrance is a perfect example of that. As you walk around Portmeirion take a closer look at how the buildings blend in with the rocks in perfect harmony.
How to get to Portmeirion?
The best way to get to Portmeirion is by car, it is easy to find and the location is well signposted. The postcode – LL48 6ER will take you straight to the car park then it’s easy to navigate to the entrance from there. The car park has larger spaces for those with caravans and campervans so there is plenty of room to park.
If you are not able to get here by car then public transportation is another alternative. If you catch a train to Blaenau Ffestiniog you can hire a taxi to take you to Portmeirion. Or you can catch a bus that runs daily from Porthmadog between the months of March to October.
I’ve included ‘Information At A Glance’ at the end of this blog post which includes everything you need to know from entry prices and the location in one condensed section.
Best Time to Visit Portmeirion?
The first time I went to Portmeirion it was midweek at the end of August. I arrived first thing in the morning and was able to enjoy the area without too many people being around. The weather was also amazing so it truly felt like you were walking around the streets of Italy! It got a bit busier towards lunchtime and the early afternoon. By then I had seen the whole village.
My recommendation on the best time to visit for a day trip to Portmeirion would be in the middle of the week. Most people are at work or school so it is usually is a bit quieter. If you are planning on visiting on a weekend, I would get here early and try visiting out of the super busy Summer months. This means you will get to enjoy exploring the place without too many people around.
Places To Eat At Portmeirion
You are spoilt for choice for places to eat at Portmeirion! Here are all of the places to eat around the village and what they sell.
Caffe No. 6 | This is the first cafe that you see when you go into the town, located on the left. It is great for a more affordable choice of food with quick takeaway bites to eat. They sell soft-serve ice cream, freshly made sandwiches, pasties, snacks and toasted paninis. So there is plenty to choose from!
Caffi’r Sgwâr | Caffi’r Sgwâr is a coffee lover’s dream! Located in Battery Square, this is the place to go if you are looking for a hot drink and cakes.
Caffi Glas | If you’re looking for something a bit more filling and hearty, Caffi Glas is the place to go. They sell freshly made pizza, pasta and salads. Whilst you’re waiting for the food, you can watch the chefs prepare your meal in their gallery-style kitchen.
Caffi’r Angel | No day trip to Portmeirion is complete without cold ice cream or gelato on a warm sunny day. They make their own gelato on-site and it tastes incredible! With flavours including salted caramel, creamberries and bara birth!
Hotel Portmeirion | For a more fine dining experience, a meal at Hotel Portmeirion is certainly a treat! The Dining Room at this hotel has incredible views over Dwyryd Estuary. They offer two and three-course meals, with prices starting at £42. As well as a Sunday Roast that includes free access into Portmeirion if pre-booked. The Hotel also features a Terrace and Bar. They sell sandwiches, main meals and desserts for a more relaxed and slightly cheaper option here.
 |
 |
Places To Stay
There are plenty of places to stay around Portmeirion as well as the surrounding towns and villages. If you want to enjoy Portmeirion before the day-trippers arrive then booking accommodation on site is the best option. You can wander around as early or as late as you want to really make the most of the place.
Accommodation here gets booked fast. I would recommend booking in advance so you can get the dates you would like. There are 15 self-catering places sleeping from three to eight people. The cottages are a bit more expensive, but the cost can be split, making it a more affordable option.
If you are looking for a cheaper stay in this area of North Wales, my recommendation would be to book a place in the neighbouring coastal town of Porthmadog. It’s just 6 miles and a short 10-minute drive away. It’s a lot cheaper than staying in Portmeirion and the drive with views over to Snowdonia are one of my favourite things about this area.
There are easy transportation routes between Porthmadog and Portmeirion as you can visit by car, bus or taxi. I love visiting Porthmadog and exploring the harbour. There’s plenty of accommodation here and a wide selection of places to eat and cafes. Other attractions in Porthmadog include the Maritime Museum, crabbing from the harbour as well as catching the steam train. Not to mention the endless amounts of places to visit across Snowdonia National Park. If you want some inspiration on places to visit in North Wales I’ve published a blog post on How to Spend a Day in North Wales?
Click the map below to look for affordable accommodation in the area.
Ticket Prices
There is a small admission to get into Portmeirion, but it’s worth every penny! They offer discounts rated for family ticket bundles which you can view on the website. The prices for general admission are the following –
Adult | £13.00
Concessions | £11.00
Children | £9.00
Under 5’s | Free
They also offer Annual Passes if you want to visit this location multiple times throughout the year. The prices begin at £15 for children and £30 for adults. There’s free entry into Portmeirion if you stay at the hotel, book a treatment at the spa or have dinner at Hotel Portmeirion or Castell Deudraeth.
INFORMATION AT A GLANCE
Name | Portmeirion
Price | Adult – £13.00 | Concessions – £11.00 | Children – £9.00 | Under 5 – Free
Open Times | Open daily from 9.30am | Closes at 6.30pm
Postcode | LL48 6ER
Location | Portmeirion Ltd. Minffordd, Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd, LL48 6ER
What3Words for Parking | ///remote.wheat.code
Have you been to Portmeirion or are you planning your trip to North Wales? I would love to know what places you are looking forward to visiting. I hope this Day Trip To Portmeirion Travel Guide has helped to inspire your travels. Remember to be respectful to the locals and have a wonderful time exploring!
Here are a few books that I can recommend if you are looking for great places to visit and photograph around North Wales.
 |
 |
 |
If you are looking for more blog posts on places to visit in North Wales feel free to click on any of the links below to read more travel guides for North Wales.
Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall | Location and Travel Guide
lifeofanearthmuffin
This looks amazing – such a gorgeous place to visit!
Jenna ♥
Stay in touch? Life of an Earth Muffin
May Lee
Thank you Adele. Loved your blog on Portmeirion. Very informative. Love your photography too. We visited last week again, I couldn’t wait to get back.and get my camera busy again. Your mum saw my pix on the ‘Love North Wales’
group and suggested I look at your blog. I’m 81 years old and still very fit, living in Marford. Wrexham. Due to my hobby and love of photography, my cameras goes everywhere with me, dragging my husband with me too.
Would you mind if shared your blog to my friends on Facebook?
Thank you.
May Lee.