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Historic Harbour Offices building with a clock tower and nearby shops

Travel tips

How to Get to Caernarfon Castle

Caernarfon Castle sits right on the town waterfront. You can reach it easily by car, bus, or train via Bangor.

Photo: tour listing on Viator

In short

  • No dedicated castle parking; use town pay-and-display lots.
  • Slate Quay and quayside car parks offer the closest access.
  • Take a mainline train to Bangor, then a bus or taxi.
In this article
  1. Where is the best place to park for Caernarfon Castle?
  2. How to get to Caernarfon Castle by train?
  3. How to travel from Bangor to Caernarfon Castle?
  4. Is the castle accessible on foot?
  5. Do guided tours include transport?
  6. How close is the bus stop to the castle?

Finding your way to the castle is straightforward. Because the site sits centrally on the waterfront, most visitors rely on public town car parks or local buses from Bangor.

Where is the best place to park for Caernarfon Castle?

The closest parking options are the quayside and Slate Quay car parks.

Caernarfon Castle does not have its own dedicated visitor parking. Instead, you must use public pay-and-display car parks located throughout the town. Standard town parking rates apply.

How to get to Caernarfon Castle by train?

Caernarfon does not have an active passenger train station.

You need to take a mainline train to Bangor Station first. From Bangor, the castle is a 15 to 20-minute drive by taxi. A taxi from the station costs approximately £25.

Tour photo
Photo: tour listing on Viator
Tour photo
From London: North Wales, Snowdonia, Caernarfon Castle Rail Tour10 h 5.0 (4)from $351

How to travel from Bangor to Caernarfon Castle?

You can take a local Arriva bus from Bangor to Caernarfon.

Buses like the T2 or 5C connect the two towns. The journey takes 30 to 40 minutes. Tickets cost roughly £2 to £4. The bus drops you near the town square, which is a short walk from the fortress.

TransportTime from BangorCost
Bus (T2, 5C)30-40 mins£2-£4
Taxi15-20 mins~£25

Is the castle accessible on foot?

Yes, the castle is easily accessible on foot from anywhere in the town centre.

It sits centrally on the waterfront. Once you park your car or arrive by bus, you will only have a short walk to the main entrance.

Tour photo
Photo: tour listing on Viator
A dark boat docked in front of the massive walls of Caernarfon Castle
Caernarfon And Its Castle: A Self Guided Walking Tour1 h 15 min to 1 h 30 min 5.0 (1)from $10

Do guided tours include transport?

Many day trips provide a minibus or coach from major cities.

If you prefer not to drive, you can book a tour. Options depart from places like Liverpool or London and handle all navigation and parking for you.

Inner courtyard of Caernarfon Castle surrounded by imposing stone towers and walls
North Wales and Caernarfon Castle day-tour from Liverpool10 h 4.8 (89)from $102

How close is the bus stop to the castle?

The local bus stops near the town square.

From the square, it is a very short walk down to the Castle Ditch entrance. You will not need secondary transport once you get off the bus.

Tour photo
Photo: tour listing on Viator

Questions travellers ask

Is there parking at Caernarfon Castle?

No, there is no dedicated parking. You must use nearby public pay-and-display car parks.

Does Caernarfon have a train station?

No, the town does not have an active passenger station. The nearest mainline station is in Bangor.

How much is the bus from Bangor to Caernarfon?

Local Arriva bus tickets cost approximately £2 to £4.

rail tour from londonfrom $351 on Viator
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