High street
First-timersBy the railway and the lake.
Llanberis village guide
Things To Do In Llanberis
A village at the foot of Yr Wyddfa, Snowdon, with the mountain railway, the easiest path to the summit, a lake, slate quarries and the best walking base in Wales.
1,085 m
Yr Wyddfa
1896
The mountain railway opens
2021
The slate landscape joins UNESCO
The foot of Yr Wyddfa
Llanberis sits beside Llyn Padarn at the foot of Yr Wyddfa, Snowdon, at 1,085 metres the highest mountain in Wales. The Llanberis Path, the longest and gentlest route to the summit, starts in the village, and so does the Snowdon Mountain Railway, which has climbed the mountain since 1896.
Across the lake, the vast slate quarries of Dinorwig once employed thousands of men, and the slate landscape of north-west Wales is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Llanberis is a village, not a town, but it is where walkers and climbers base themselves. Two or three days is right.
Where to stay
Llanberis is small. Stay on the high street, near the railway.
Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Llanberis
Walk up Yr Wyddfa on the Llanberis Path, about six to seven hours return; it follows the railway and needs boots and a forecast check rather than technical skill. Or take the Snowdon Mountain Railway, and book ahead in summer. The summit café, Hafod Eryri, is open in season.
The National Slate Museum, in the old quarry workshops, is free, and Dolbadarn Castle, a thirteenth-century Welsh tower above the lake, is free too.
Swim or kayak in Llyn Padarn, and ride the Llanberis Lake Railway along its shore.
Zip World Velocity, one of the fastest zip lines in the world, runs across Penrhyn Quarry at Bethesda, twenty-five minutes away.
Free things
Free things to do in Llanberis
Walking up Yr Wyddfa is free.
The National Slate Museum and Dolbadarn Castle are free, and so are the lakeside paths.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Llanberis
Llanberis has cafés and pubs geared to walkers, with big breakfasts and hearty food. Pete's Eats is a famous climbers' café.
A pub meal is £12 to £16.
Nightlife
Going out in Llanberis
Llanberis is quiet at night, with a few pubs full of walkers and climbers.
A pint is £4.50 to £5.50.
Getting around
Getting around Llanberis
The village is walkable. Buses reach Caernarfon in about twenty-five minutes, and Bangor, the nearest station, in about forty.
In season, the Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses link the trailheads around the mountain. Parking at the trailheads fills early.
Costs
What Llanberis costs
Llanberis is mid-priced. A careful day is £40 to £55.
The Snowdon Mountain Railway is the big cost, from around £40 return.
The currency is the pound sterling. Cards work almost everywhere, including contactless on buses.
Safety
Staying safe in Llanberis
Yr Wyddfa is a real mountain. Cloud comes down in minutes, the summit is much colder than the valley, and mountain rescue is called out most weeks for people in trainers who started late. Take boots, layers, water and a paper map, and turn back if the cloud comes in.
Emergency number is 999 or 112; for mountain rescue, call 999 and ask for police, then mountain rescue.
Day trips from Llanberis
Eryri's mountains and quarries.
Caernarfon
The castle town.
Betws-y-Coed
A forest village and waterfalls.
Beddgelert
A mountain village.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The Snowdon Race runs to the summit and back in July.
July
Snowdon Race
Yr Wyddfa
A race to the summit and back.
May to September
Walking season
Eryri
The best months for the mountains.
When to go
May to September for walking. The railway runs to the summit in season.
Jan
Snow on the tops
Feb
Snow
Mar
Wet
Apr
Spring
May
Good walking
Jun
Long days
Jul
Snowdon Race
Aug
Busy
Sep
Good
Oct
Wet
Nov
Wet
Dec
Quiet
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs in the village. The summit is far colder.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in pounds.
Excludes the Snowdon Mountain Railway.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Llanberis travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
How long does it take to climb Snowdon from Llanberis?
About six to seven hours return on the Llanberis Path.
Can I take the train to the top?
Yes, on the Snowdon Mountain Railway; book ahead in summer.
Is Snowdon dangerous?
It is a real mountain. Go prepared, and turn back if the cloud comes in.
How do I get to Llanberis?
By bus from Caernarfon or Bangor.
Is the Slate Museum free?
Yes.
How many days do you need?
Two or three.
When is the best time to visit?
May to September.
Say yes to hostels, meet the world
Compare Llanberis hostels — live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.
Get the App.