PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripMy TripsCommunityMerchandise
PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripMy TripsCommunityMerchandise
B
Destinations
Home›Destinations›Bala
EuropeUnited KingdomWales

Bala

Wales, United Kingdom · Europe

About Bala

Bala works well as a base: 15 minutes from Llangwm, 17km from Evo Triangle.

Bala is a town located in Wales, United Kingdom. With a population of 1,974, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Bala sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Bala to your route.

About Bala

Bala (Welsh: Y Bala) is a town and community in Gwynedd, Wales. Formerly an urban district, Bala lies in the historic county of Merionethshire, at the north end of Llyn Tegid. According to the 2021 census, Bala had a population of 1,999 and 72.5 per cent of the population could speak Welsh.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Bala

Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.

Filter presets

Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.

Booking.comExpediaTripAdvisorHotels.comAgodaAirbnb

Compare before you book!

Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Bala.

Explore the Area

Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Bala.

Loading map...
Open in Google Maps

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Bala?

Bala offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Bala?

Plan your road trip to Bala with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Bala as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Bala located?

Bala is located in Wales, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 52.9111 latitude, -3.5972 longitude.

What is the population of Bala?

Bala has a population of approximately 1,974 people, making it a town in United Kingdom.

Plan a Road Trip

Add to your itinerary

Start planning your road trip with Bala as a destination. Create a custom route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Start Road Trip

What's Nearby?

Discover destinations like Tinder

Swipe through stunning destinations near Bala. Save your favourites and add them to your trip.

Explore now

Quick Information

Population
1,974
Continent
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
Region
Wales
Timezone
Europe/London
Coordinates
52.9111, -3.5972

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United Kingdom

Police
999
Ambulance
999
Fire
999
Non-emergency police
101
Driving side
left

112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.

Full driving guide for United Kingdom

Tags

EuropeUnited KingdomWalesTown

Worth the detour from Bala

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

waterfall

Pistyll Rhaeadr

Wales's tallest single-drop waterfall at 73 metres, cascading through a natural rock arch in a remote Berwyn Mountains valley.

16 km · about 30 min drive

famous road

Evo Triangle

Legendary 20-mile loop of the A5, A543 and B4501 across the empty Denbigh Moors, made famous as evo magazine's road-test circuit. Fast, open sightlines past Llyn Brenig make it a pilgrimage for keen drivers.

17 km · about 20 min drive

national park

Snowdonia National Park (Eryri)

Wales's premier mountain landscape, home to Mount Snowdon and dramatic peaks, lakes, and coastline.

20 km · about 25 min drive

mountain pass

Crimea Pass

The A470's dramatic 385m crossing between Dolwyddelan and Blaenau Ffestiniog, threading slate-strewn peaks at the heart of Eryri. One of the highest and most scenic main-road passes in Wales.

25 km · about 30 min drive

waterfall

Swallow Falls

Wales's most-visited waterfall, where the Afon Llugwy cascades over rocky steps in a wooded gorge near Betws-y-Coed.

26 km · about 30 min drive

cafe

Ponderosa Cafe

A legendary biker stop high on the Horseshoe Pass above Llangollen with panoramic views across the Welsh valleys.

29 km · about 35 min drive

mountain pass

Horseshoe Pass

Sweeping A542 mountain pass curling above Llangollen in a giant horseshoe, climbing to 417m past the Ponderosa Cafe with wide views over the Dee Valley. A classic North Wales driving and biking road.

29 km · about 35 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Pen-y-Pass Viewpoint (Snowdonia)

The starting point for Snowdon summit trails at 359 metres, with views down the Llanberis Pass flanked by towering slate mountains.

33 km · about 40 min drive

Driving roads near Bala

  • 17 kmEvo TriangleLegendary 20-mile loop of the A5, A543 and B4501 across the empty Denbigh Moors, made famous as evo magazine's road-test circuit. Fast, open sightlines past Llyn Brenig make it a pilgrimage for keen drivers.
  • 25 kmCrimea PassThe A470's dramatic 385m crossing between Dolwyddelan and Blaenau Ffestiniog, threading slate-strewn peaks at the heart of Eryri. One of the highest and most scenic main-road passes in Wales.
  • 29 kmHorseshoe PassSweeping A542 mountain pass curling above Llangollen in a giant horseshoe, climbing to 417m past the Ponderosa Cafe with wide views over the Dee Valley. A classic North Wales driving and biking road.
  • 33 kmPen-y-Pass Viewpoint (Snowdonia)The starting point for Snowdon summit trails at 359 metres, with views down the Llanberis Pass flanked by towering slate mountains.
  • 36 kmAberglaslyn PassA gorgeous wooded gorge where road, river and steam railway thread beneath steep crags near Beddgelert.
  • 36 kmLlyn OgwenA roadside glacial lake cradled by the Glyderau and Carneddau, with Idwal Cottage as a hiker's gateway.

Driving in United Kingdom

Drives on
the left
Petrol
~€1.73/litre
Motorway tolls
None

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Bala.

Llangwm

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

9 km away

Llandrillo

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

11 km away

Llangynog

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

16 km away

Derwen

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

19 km away

Trawsfynydd

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

22 km awayPop. 628

Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

22 km awayPop. 408

Ffestiniog

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

23 km away

Bryneglwys

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

24 km away

Plan a trip around Bala

Wales road trip planner

Plan a Road Trip from Bala

Create your perfect itinerary with our calendar-based planner. Add stops, discover attractions along the way, and share your trip with friends.

Start Planning
PYRT

The ultimate road trip planning platform. Discover 150,000+ destinations worldwide, plan scenic routes, and create unforgettable adventures.

Inspiration

  • Discover Trips
  • Travel Guides
  • Community

The Product

  • Calendar Planner
  • Integrations
  • How It Works
  • Collaboration Mode
  • Get the App
  • Merchandise: PYRT Supply Co.
  • Become a Creator
  • Trip Marketplace

Plan Your Trip

  • Road Trip Planner
  • Famous Routes
  • Planners by Country
  • Best Road Trip Planner App
  • Discover Road Trips
  • Events
  • Travel Guides
  • How It Works
  • My Trips
  • Community Groups

Company

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Support
  • Contact Us
  • Sign In
  • Create Account

© 2026 Plan Your Road Trips. All rights reserved.

•[email protected]
Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence