Caernarfon Castle (Carnarvon Castle) Tours and Tickets

The fortress complex was built in the Middle Ages by Edward I of England. The fiery leader conquered Wales in the 13th century, and the region fell under English control. A costly undertaking, Caernarfon Castle was a symbol of Edward’s dominion—and a prime target during Welsh revolts.

For a visit to both Caernarfon Castle’s interior and its grounds, count on spending anywhere from one to two hours there. Housed inside two towers of Caernarfon Castle is the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum, with multimedia exhibits dedicated to Wales’s oldest infantry regiment. Admission tickets are included along with your castle entry.

No, not necessarily—simply come during opening hours to visit Caernarfon Castle. With that said, there’s a lot of history to unpack, and most travelers find it helpful to listen to explanations from a guide while visiting the castle. Small or private groups give you a chance to ask questions, too.

That depends. Conwy Castle lets you walk around the castle walls as they loop through the picturesque town of the same name, and it has immaculately preserved royal apartments. Caernarfon Castle is larger and boasts the Fusiliers Museum. They’re both stunning and historically significant, so if you can, visit both.

The town of Caernarfon has its own regional Welsh dialect, known as Cofi. (That’s also what people from the waterfront town are called.) In fact, Caernarfon is a great destination for anyone hoping to hear the Welsh language, as many native speakers live there. But don’t fret—everyone knows English, too.