Llanberis Voyage Tips and guide

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Llanberis is easily reachable by bus. Sherpa busses (prefixed S) from Betws-y-Coed is the most reliable possibility, but Sherpa bus from Porthmadog or local buses from Caernarfon are other alternatives.

Bangor is the closest station to Llanberis. Hiring a cab from there costs around £20. Caernarfon is closer, but the only train to Caernarfon is the narrow-gauge heritage railway Welsh Highland Railway from Porthmadog. If you're in Porthmadog it is easier to catch a direct bus to Llanberis.

Llanberis is on the A4086 Caernarfon to Betwys-y-Coed road. The B4547 branches off just west of town for Bangor, Conwy and the A55.

There are large car parks all along the A4086 road inside Llanberis, with the price rising steadily as you get closer to the Snowdon Mountain Railway. The closest car park costs £6 per day (and no discount for shorter stay), 100 m up the road it is £4 per day and further west beyond the Electric Mountain Visitor Center it is £2 per day.

On foot easily. You may also want to take a ride on Llanberis Lake Railway (£6.00)

• 53.1165-4.114151 Dolbadarn castle ruins. One of the finest of the Welsh castles  
• 53.121-4.11512 National Slate Museum (Welsh Slate Museum).  
• 53.118458-4.1032233 Dinorwig Power Station, Llanberis, Gwynedd, LL55 4TY, ☏ +44 1286 870166, [email protected]. Tours of this power station are, despite the somewhat outdated multimedia presentation at the beginning, a must-see. A huge cavern was carved out of the mountain and six turbines installed which sit in tunnels between two lakes, one high up, the other at close to sea level. When Britain switches on the kettle during the advert break in Coronation Street, water is released from the upper lake and the most expensive electricity in Britain is generated to cope with demand. Later at night, when demand is low and electricity is cheaper, water is pumped back up to the top lake from the lower one. Wheelchairs are exceptionally well catered-for, and the cafe is not a bad place to stop in whilst waiting for the tour to begin.  

• Hike up Snowdon. 
• 53.0998-4.10451 Snowdon Mountain Railway (Rheilffordd yr Wyddfa), LL55 4TT, ☏ +44 1286 870223, [email protected]. Take to the summit and walk back down.  
• 53.1186-4.113892 Electric Mountain (Dinorwig Power Station), LL55 4UR, ☏ +44 1286 870636, [email protected]. A tourist attraction built around Dinorwig Hydroelectric Powerstation. Built inside a mountain, Dinorwig's turbines are housed in the largest cavern in Europe. Good fun trip.  
• 53.13102-4.133243 Llanberis Lake Railway, Gilfach Ddu, LL55 4TY, ☏ +44 1286 870549, [email protected].  
• Padarn Country Park. and Padarn Walk, walking through the slate history. 
• 0-4.1337234 Snowdonia Watersports (Surf-lines), Unit 2 Y Glyn (on A4086, turn onto Ystad Ddiwydiannol Y Glyn, drive west towards car park; Snowdonia Watersports is on the left-handside), ☏ +44 1286 879001, [email protected]. 9AM-5PM. Supplying a range of water sports equipment and activities from their base in Snowdonia, North Wales. Activities and equipment rental are available with changing facilities. (updated Mar 2022)

• 53.118752-4.12271 Llanberis Art and Craft, Station Road, ☏ +44 1286 870597. A selection of arts, crafts, souvenirs and Welsh confectionery and preserves. Full parking and disabled access. 

• The Coffee Pot (at Llanberis Art and Craft). A wide choice of food from breakfasts to a variety of lunches and snacks. Ideally located for Snowdon Mountain Railway and the Electric Mountain. Full parking and disabled access. 
• 53.121399-4.1275691 Pete's Eats (renowned climbers café), 40 High Street, Llanberis, LL55 4EU, ☏ +44 1286 870117. 8AM-8PM (95pm in high summer). A destination for walkers and climbers since 1978. Serves a wide range of food from traditional breakfasts to modern European dishes, all prepared fresh on the premises. The café also has a resource centre for climbers and walkers. filled baguette or baked potato from £3.30, main meals from £6.30, full breakfast £4.80.  
• Lone Tree Café (Snowdonia Watersports Café), Unit 2 Y Glyn, LL55 4EL (on A4086, turn onto Ystad Ddiwydiannol Y Glyn, drive west towards car park, on the left-handside), ☏ +44 1286 879001. Cafe with home-cooked food. Nice views from the rooftop terrace/balcony over the lake and mountains. (updated Mar 2022)

There are several B&Bs and hotels in Llanberis.

• 53.128751-4.1445831 Lake View Hotel & Restaurant, Tan y Pant, Llanberis, LL55 4EL (just outside Llanberis on the A4086 road to Caernarfon), ☏ +44 1286 870422. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Rustic hotel & restaurant overlooking Lake Padarn outside Llanberis from £35. 
• 53.118033-4.1275492 The Royal Victoria Hotel, Llanberis, LL55 4TY (Just 100 metres from the Snowdon Mountain Railway terminus in Llanberis on the A4086 road to Caernarfon), ☏ +44 1286 870253. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. 3 Star Hotel next to the Mountain Railway terminus and set in 30 acres of grounds which include Dolbadarn Castle from £39 including breakfast. 
• 53.083-4.0023 Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel, Nant Gwynant LL55 4NT (A4086 at junction with A498), ☏ +44 1286 870211. 1953-mountaineering themed hotel, Hillary and Tenzing trained here for their Everest ascent. Open Mar-mid Nov, booking only by phone. B&B double £100. (updated Jun 2020)

• Caernarfon - Bus number 88 goes directly to Caernarfon city center. Can be caught from Llanberis Maes Padarn
• Capel Curig