Aberaeron is a little harbour town on the Welsh coast, between Aberystwyth and Cardigan. Until the 19th century, there was nothing much here but green hills dipping down to the mouth of the Aeron river, and a natural harbour with shingle covering the sand. But one man saw the area’s potential and built a port and shipbuilding industry, plus the town to go with it, around a central square. Because so much of Aberaeron was built at the same time, it’s got an unusually uniform Recency look, with an elegant Town Hall, and neat rows of houses — now painted in cheerful colours. Some of the best places to stay in Aberaeron occupy these charming old buildings, though the town also has some great pubs-with-rooms.

Aberaeron is pretty well suited to families looking for a classic bucket-and-spade holiday; walkers who love the coastline, but also want to be close to Snowdonia National Park; artists, photographers, novelists; indeed anyone wanting an escape from busy lives. It is on the route of the West Coast Path and The Coastal Way, so it’s a stop off for many walkers. It’s also on the route of the Cardigan Bay bottle nose dolphin pods, so it’s a great place for wildlife watching.

The best places to stay in Aberaeron make idea bases for setting out on relaxed strolls along the coastline, exploring the town’s little independent shops and boutiques, sitting on the beach enjoying the view, and following it up with a hearty meal — the seafood is understandably good. Expect homemade honey ice cream, Carmarthenshire mussels, and locally reared lamb and pork. When it comes to sightseeing there’s John Nash’s Llanerchaeron, several local farms, a silver mine turned tourist attraction, and the lush landscapes of the Hafod Estate, also owned by the National Trust.

The Best Places to Stay in Aberaeron

For Harbour Views

• The Harbourmaster Hotel has 11 rooms and suites, spread through three harbour-side buildings. The main building also has a cheerful bar and elegant, but informal, restaurant, which specialises in local produce and plenty of seafood. The rooms are simply decorated, in a range of different colour schemes, which match with the colourfully painted rows of houses in Aberaeron. The main building is the tallest, and the seven rooms here have some of the best views — including the top floor rooms, from where the Harbourmaster of the name was able to see all of the three harbours under his control.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

• If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private villa we recommend you visit our online partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Cardiff Airport is Aberaeron’s closest airport, around two hours away by car or taxi. It’s possible to catch a train from Cardiff Airport to Carmarthen, but you still have to use a car or taxi to get from there to Aberaeron. Liverpool John Lennon Airport is probably your second closest airport, at around two hours and 45minutes away by car or taxi, or six hours away by train, though again, you have to get a car or taxi for the final stretch from Aberystwyth. If you’re traveling via London, from there it’s around five and a half hours by train to Aberystwyth, and then a car from there.
• If you would like the freedom of your own car we recommend you visit our online partner Rentalcars.
• Aberaeron is a beach town, but it’s not a hot beach town. Even in the summer months the average high hovers around 20°C. The coastal position keeps things mild, but the pay off is the humidity, and the regular rain and showers. The summer is drier, but there’s still enough rain to keep the landscape looking lush and green. If you decide on an August visit, try to time your stay to coincide with the annual festival of Welsh ponies and cobs — it’s usually around the August Bank Holiday.

Still not sure where to stay?

• Expand your remit to include all our recommendations in Ceredigion
• Consider options in neighbouring Aberystwyth or our pick of the best hotels in Snowdonia National Park
• Alternatively you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.