Swansea is a sprawling capital of Welsh culture, and the second-largest city in Wales. Dylan Thomas, who was born here, and whose childhood home has been turned into a museum, described it as an “ugly, lovely town”. This description might have been influenced by the damage done to Swansea during WWII, when it was an industrial powerhouse and targeted by bombers as such. There’s not a lot left of Swansea’s old town, just a jumble of post-war tower blocks, but the suburbs closer to the marina and seafront have elegant rows of Georgian and Victorian houses - some of which have now been turned into guesthouses, and appear on our Gurus list of the best places to stay in Swansea. Along with some stylish larger hotel conversions, and a seafood restaurant with rooms.

Despite feeling an architectural world away, Swansea’s beach is only around ten minutes from the centre of town, and the city edges up against the beautiful wildness of the Gower Peninsula. A row of craggy cliffs alternating with soft, sandy beaches, the Gower Peninsula has a bucolic ad green interior, and the best places too tay in Swansea are also some of the best places to stay if you want to explore the peninsula on foot, or two wheels. It’s also a popular spot with beach-lovers: Oxwich Bay and Rhossili Bay frequently appear in lists of the best beaches in the UK. While Llangennith Beach is often listed amongst the UK’s best surf beaches. Swansea is a great pick for sailors, water skiers and other watersports-folk too. And for golfers.

Swansea’s man-made charms include a Grade One listed castle, now in 13th and 14th century ruins, but still extremely atmospheric; the Victorian-era pier in the seaside suburb of Mumbles; the National Waterfront Museum, which is close to both the children’s lido and the marina; and a whole Dylan Thomas Centre. Plenty of reasons to plan a family visit, booked into one of the best places to stay in Swansea.

The Best Places to Stay in Swansea

For a City Break

• Morgans Hotel is a hub, and stylish choice: a collection of 42 individually designed rooms and suites, in an elegant, historic, red-brick building. If you want a four-poster bed and a champagne bar, but it’s also for you of you prefer a spacious, contemporary option, with solid, square furnishings, good lighting, and access to a bacon buttie. Staff are friendly, and the restaurant is reassuringly buzzy.
• Morgans Townhouse is the contemporary annex to Morgans Hotel, a collection of 22 simply stylish rooms, with access to the slick champagne bar and stylish dining of the sister hotel. Decor in the townhouse features wood flooring, flat-screen TVs and suede-effect fabrics. The prices compete with the likes of a Premier Travel Inn, but each of the rooms has its own style.

For Water Views

• Patricks with Rooms is a fantastic seafood restaurant with rooms, with views that look out across Mumbles Bay. There are 16 rooms, all of them individually decorated, in a rainbow of colours - though just one colour to a room, please, and the excellent modern British restaurant, specialising in local seafood. ideal for families, as well as lovers of the ocean. And of golf - you’re just five minutes from the Clyne and Llangland Golf Clubs.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Swansea is just under an hour away from Cardiff by train, and a bit less again by car or taxi. Cardiff Airport is the closest airport, if you need to travel by plane, and is about an hour away by car or taxi, or close to two hours by rail. Bristol Airport is about an hour and a half away by car or taxi, or just under three hours by rail. If you’re travelling via London, you can leave from Paddington, and get a direct train, which will take you just under three hours.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• Surprisingly, Swansea is known for its celebration of Beaujolais Day, which is the third Thursday in November, the first day the new season of wine is sold - and in Swansea it’s taken seriously, with people booking restaurant tables up to a year in advance to ensure they taste the latest tipple first. Swansea has also hosted the National Eisteddfod multiple times, and supposedly will again. Swansea hosts a week long St. David’s Day Festival at the beginning of March, and several festivals celebrating the life and work of Dylan Thomas. The most popular time of year to visit Swansea is during the summer, when the majority of arts and music festivals are held, the Gower Peninsula is at its most inviting, and many people in the United Kingdom take a holiday. Swansea is a city break destination, though, and there’s plenty to do year round.

Still not sure where to stay?

• You could expand your search to include all the best places to stay in Glamorgan?
• or you could consider the best places to stay on the Gower Peninsula? or the the Brecon Beacons?
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.