Tenby gets overshadowed by Edinburgh and the Lake District in UK travel conversations, but this coastal Welsh town offers similar charm at better prices without the crushing tourist crowds.
First-time visitors to Wales recently spent a sunny weekend in Tenby and came away convinced they'd discovered something special. "I genuinely think it might be one of the most unexpectedly pleasant places we've been in the UK," they wrote on r/travel, noting they visited before peak tourist season hit.
The timing mattered. Visiting in early spring meant beautiful weather, manageable crowds, and the authentic feeling of a town going about its business rather than one performing for tourists. "We had beautiful sunny weather ALL weekend," noted the travelers, who live in the Netherlands and appreciate sunshine accordingly.
What makes Tenby stand out? Colorful seaside buildings, medieval stone walls from the 1200s, tiny winding streets, abundant pubs and local shops — and seemingly everyone has their dog with them. The town offers postcard-worthy aesthetics without feeling manufactured.
The couple took a 1.5-hour boat trip around St. Margaret's Island to see breeding puffins. They recommend bringing binoculars since the boat can't get extremely close to nesting sites, but they did spot one puffin floating near the boat. Bucket list item: checked.
Other highlights included wandering the old town walls, visiting Harbwr Brewery for tasty local beers, and walking up Castle Hill for panoramic water views. The castle itself is mostly ruins, but the vistas justify the walk.
Food-wise, they discovered Welsh cakes for the first time at Loafley, where the cakes are made fresh to order. they noted.
