Wales is a country where centuries-old castles rise above green valleys and coastlines are marked by rugged cliffs and quiet coves. Its capital, Cardiff, combines modern architecture with historical landmarks like Cardiff Castle, which has Roman origins and a Victorian Gothic interior. Just outside the city, St Fagans National Museum of History offers a walk-through experience of Welsh life over the past 500 years, with original buildings relocated from across the country, including a working bakery and medieval church.
Wales offers dramatic natural settings, from the towering peaks of Snowdonia to the sea-carved Pembrokeshire Coast. Mount Snowdon, the highest point in Wales, can be reached by foot or via the Snowdon Mountain Railway, which first opened in 1896 and still runs today. In the south, the Brecon Beacons offer dark-sky areas for stargazing, while waterfalls like Sgwd yr Eira invite visitors to walk behind cascading sheets of water on marked forest trails.