Explore art and culture in Wales with this three-day gallery tour

One of the especially good things about Wales is its size – you can technically drive the length of this beautiful country in around four to five hours. This means that even on a short trip you can cover a variety of landscapes and, as in this case, experience a remarkable, wide-ranging collection of art.

This three-day itinerary is designed for art lovers, no previous knowledge required. It's for those who want to explore a mix of galleries, landscapes, and local food across Wales.

The galleries in this itinerary are all part of Wales’ National Contemporary Art Gallery network. And they’re all – incredibly – free to enter.

Morning
Start your day in Llandudno with a coffee at Providero, a local favourite. Take a stroll along the picturesque Victorian promenade before heading to Mostyn, the town’s standout contemporary art gallery – you’ll recognize it by its distinctive spire. Mostyn, first opened in 1901 thanks to Lady Augusta Mostyn, was designed to be both a gallery and a learning space for the local community. After an award-winning refurbishment between 2007 and 2010, the gallery is now a harmonious blend of Victorian facade and strikingly modern interior. Unlike the other galleries on this trip, Mostyn doesn’t have a permanent collection. Instead, it focuses on new and exciting contemporary art, with exhibitions rotating every three months or so.

There are six gallery spaces, as well as educational spaces, a popular cafe and a shop stacked full of produce by Welsh and international artists and makers.
 

Lunch can be enjoyed at the cafe here, surrounded by artworks and glimpses of the sea, or back on the promenade at Dylan’s, known for its fresh, locally sourced seafood and local Welsh ingredients.

Afternoon
The drive from Mostyn to Storiel in Bangor takes around half an hour – enjoy the view of Bangor University’s grand Main Arts Building on the hill as you arrive. Storiel, a local history museum as well as a contemporary art gallery, is housed in the old Bishop’s Palace, which dates back to late medieval times. 

This is the place to absorb the history and culture of the area – North Wales, in particular the region we’re in now, Gwynedd. The gallery spaces here hold temporary exhibitions, often featuring Welsh artists and themes, and the museum has a permanent collection that explores life in Gwynedd through the ages. The shop is a good stop for locally-made gifts.

Evening
Head for dinner at the popular Llofft down the road in Y Felinheli, open on weekends. Alternatively, treat yourself to Michelin-grade cuisine at Sosban & The Old Butchers, a stone's throw away on Ynys Môn (Anglesey).

Morning
Fill up on breakfast at The Swellies in Felinheli, or alternatively further along the route (and right next to a castle no less) at Caffi Maes in Caernarfon.

The Llŷn Peninsula is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and as you drive towards Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, it’s easy to see why.

This Gothic mansion, built in 1857 for Lady Elizabeth Love Jones-Parry (the word ‘weddw’ means widow in Welsh), originally housed her private art collection. Today, it continues to be an ornate celebration of art and beauty, featuring a rotating programme of exhibitions, a beautiful sculptural cafe, and an outdoor amphitheatre set in the surrounding woodlands.

Lunch at the cafe is delicious, with a selection of fresh sandwiches and homemade cakes. If the weather’s good, take your post-lunch drink out to the picnic tables and enjoy views over Cardigan Bay.

Afternoon
The drive from Plas Glyn-y-Weddw to Aberystwyth Arts Centre takes about two and a half hours, but the journey is scenic, with plenty of green mountains to admire along the way.

Completed in the '70s, Wales’ largest multi-disciplinary arts centre is a brutalist building, all blocks and different levels, and is part of Aberystwyth University. The buzz of students learning and people of all ages milling about is palpable – some here for the visual art, others for classes, shows, a pit stop at the cafe or for cinema screenings. Here, most high-profile, large-scale exhibitions are held in Gallery 1, opposite the entrance from the car park. Other exhibition spaces include a second gallery for works by emerging artists, and the cafe and piazza, showing works from the local community. There’s also a dedicated ceramics space to enjoy, with a rotating collection of 20th century studio pottery.

Evening
For dinner, unwind at deli and small tapas bar Ultracomida. Fancy a pub instead? Y Ffarmers is about a 10-minute drive away, popular for its homemade dishes and warm Welsh hospitality.

Morning
Enjoy a leisurely brunch at The Observatory in Swansea marina – an old observatory built in 1988. Sit by the window if you can (it gets busy), and take in views of the bay.

Afternoon
The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery is in Swansea city centre, built originally in 1911 and redeveloped and restored in 2016, with a new extension now connecting the older buildings together. It’s one of Wales’ largest art exhibition spaces, and has a permanent collection of over 12,000 artworks from around the world, given by Richard Glynn Vivian (1835-1910) to the people of Swansea. 

The gallery spaces here are grand and impressive, with ten exhibition spaces, as well as an atrium, a garden room and learning spaces, utilised for as many as 12 exhibitions a year. Alongside contemporary work by Welsh and international artists, the gallery also invites individuals from the art community to work with the permanent collection, reinterpreting a selection of the artworks for a modern audience. It’s a varied and beautiful space – you could spend hours here.

Finish your trip with a drink at The Secret Beach Bar & Kitchen in nearby Mumbles, overlooking Swansea Bay. It’s a good spot to relax and reflect on your art-filled adventure through Wales.

You’ll want to use a car to complete this itinerary in three days. Alternatively, split the trip into two, using trains to get from Llandudno to Bangor and then to Pwllheli to visit Mostyn, Storiel and Plas Glyn-y-Weddw. All galleries are accessible from the train stations aside from Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, which is a bus journey or 8-minute taxi ride from Pwllheli station. Aberystwyth and Swansea are also well connected by trains.