waterfall
Swallow Falls
Wales's most-visited waterfall, where the Afon Llugwy cascades over rocky steps in a wooded gorge near Betws-y-Coed.
3 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomWales
Betws-y-Coed
Wales, United Kingdom · Europe
About Betws-y-Coed
Betws-y-Coed works well as a base: 10 minutes from Llanrwst, 3km from Fairy Glen, Betws-y-Coed.
Betws-y-Coed is in Wales, United Kingdom, with about 1,200 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Llanrwst, about 5 km away.
Betws-y-Coed (Welsh: [ˈbɛtʊs ə ˈkoːɨ̯d] ) is a village and community in Conwy County Borough, Wales. The village is located near the confluence of the River Conwy and the River Llugwy and is on the eastern edge of Snowdonia. The population of the community as of the 2021 census was 476, a decline on the previousRead more
census.
The name of the village means "prayer-house in the woods", and a monastery is known to have existed in the area in the sixth century. The oldest parts of St Michael's Church, which lies to the north-east of the village, date to the fourteenth or fifteenth century. Betws-y-Coed remained a small agricultural community until the nineteenth century, when a lead mining industry developed and part of Thomas Telford's London to Holyhead road (the present A5) was constructed through the village in 1815, followed by a railway station in 1865. These new transport links encouraged new developments to serve tourists, such as the Church of St Mary, and the area became popular with landscape artists.
Where to Stay in Betws-y-Coed
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.
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 Betws-y-Coed.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Betws-y-Coed.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Betws-y-Coed?
Within an hour or so of Betws-y-Coed: Swallow Falls (3 km), Swallow Falls (Rhaeadr Ewynnol) (3 km), Fairy Glen, Betws-y-Coed (3 km), Conwy Falls (4 km).
Are there any good drives near Betws-y-Coed?
The nearest famous roads are Crimea Pass, A5 Betws-y-Coed to Bangor (Telford's Holyhead Road) and Llanberis Pass.
Where is Betws-y-Coed?
Betws-y-Coed is in Wales, United Kingdom, about 5 km from Llanrwst.
Road trip
Drive to Betws-y-Coed
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Betws-y-Coed. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 1,200
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Wales
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 53.0938, -3.8067
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Betws-y-Coed
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
waterfall
Swallow Falls (Rhaeadr Ewynnol)
The Afon Llugwy tumbling through a wooded rock staircase on the A5 near Betws-y-Coed, Wales's best-known roadside waterfall.
3 km · about 5 min drive
natural wonder
Fairy Glen, Betws-y-Coed
A narrow, mossy gorge on the Conwy where the river squeezes between water-worn rocks - a favourite of Victorian tourists and photographers.
3 km · about 5 min drive
waterfall
Conwy Falls
A powerful fall where the Afon Conwy drops through a gorge near Betws-y-Coed, with a historic salmon ladder.
4 km · about 5 min drive
natural wonder
Llyn Geirionydd
A lake above the Conwy Valley in the Gwydir Forest, the only Snowdonia lake permitting powered watersports, with a monument to the poet Taliesin.
5 km · about 10 min drive
natural wonder
Llyn Crafnant
A tree-fringed lake in a quiet valley above Trefriw, with a lakeside path and cafe and a fine view to Crimpiau.
6 km · about 10 min drive
natural wonder
Llyn Cowlyd
Snowdonia's deepest lake, a remote reservoir in a stark trough between the Carneddau and Creigiau Gleision, reached only on foot.
8 km · about 15 min drive
natural wonder
Llynnau Mymbyr
Twin lakes at Capel Curig giving the classic reflected view of the Snowdon Horseshoe, one of the most photographed scenes in Wales.
8 km · about 15 min drive
Driving roads near Betws-y-Coed
10 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 60km.
- Right hereCrimea 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.
- Right hereA5 Betws-y-Coed to Bangor (Telford's Holyhead Road)Thomas Telford's engineered coach road through the Ogwen Valley beneath Tryfan, a masterclass in gradients and one of Britain's great drives.
- Right hereGlyder Fach and the Cantilever StoneA 994m summit crowned by a shattered field of rock spikes and the famous balanced Cantilever slab.
- Right herePen-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.
- Right hereLlyn OgwenA shallow ribbon lake on the A5 in the Ogwen Valley beneath Tryfan, said in legend to hold Excalibur; the gateway to Cwm Idwal.
- Right hereCarnedd LlewelynAt 1,064m the third-highest peak in Wales, at the heart of the wild, rolling Carneddau plateau with its wild ponies.
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 Betws-y-Coed.
Plan a trip around Betws-y-Coed
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Betws-y-Coed.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.