Conwy is small enough to explore entirely on foot. The medieval town walls enclose almost everything a visitor wants to see, and you can walk from one side of the walled town to the other in about ten minutes. Zoom and drag the map below to explore, or open it full screen.
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Think of Conwy as a triangle of medieval walls on the west bank of the River Conwy estuary. Conwy Castle sits at the eastern point, right beside the three bridges that carry the road, the railway and Telford's old suspension bridge across the river. The quay runs along the northern side, between the walls and the water. High Street climbs from the quay up to Lancaster Square, with its statue of Llywelyn the Great, and the railway station sits inside the walls on the western side of town.
The town walls are about 1.3km long with 21 towers and three original gateways, and you can walk long sections of the wall top for free. Outside the walls, Bodlondeb's woods and the marina lie to the north-west, Conwy Morfa beach is beyond the marina, and Conwy Mountain rises steeply to the west.
| Place | Where it is | Walk from the castle |
|---|---|---|
| Conwy Castle | Eastern tip of the town, by the bridges | – |
| Aberconwy House | Corner of Castle Street and High Street | About 3 minutes |
| Conwy Quay | Along the river, below the north walls | About 5 minutes |
| Smallest House in Britain | On the quay, built against the town walls | About 5 to 7 minutes |
| Plas Mawr | High Street, near Lancaster Square | About 5 minutes |
| St Mary's Church | Centre of the walled town, on the site of Aberconwy Abbey | About 5 minutes |
| Conwy railway station | Inside the walls, western side of town | About 5 to 10 minutes |
| Conwy Suspension Bridge | Runs from the castle across the river | Next to the castle |
| RSPB Conwy | East bank of the estuary, near Llandudno Junction | About 30 minutes across the bridge |
Walking times are approximate and assume an easy pace. The streets inside the walls are steep in places and some are cobbled.
The main car parks sit around the edge of the walled town, so even the furthest is only a short walk from the castle. There is short-stay parking right outside the castle visitor centre, Vicarage Gardens is handy for High Street and Plas Mawr, and Morfa Bach on Llanrwst Road is the largest long-stay car park. See our Conwy parking guide for the full list and prices.
By train, Conwy station is inside the walls on the North Wales Coast line, with more services stopping at Llandudno Junction on the other side of the river. Drivers reach the town from the A55, which passes under the estuary through the Conwy Tunnel. See getting to Conwy by train and Conwy without a car.
Conwy is on the North Wales coast, at the mouth of the River Conwy, between Llandudno and Bangor. It is about 4 miles from Llandudno, about 15 miles from Bangor and about 45 miles west of Chester, and the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) begin just to the south and west. The town gives its name to the wider Conwy County Borough, which stretches from the coast at Llandudno and Colwyn Bay down the Conwy Valley to Betws-y-Coed.
Planning your time? Try our one day in Conwy route or the weekend itinerary, and see things to do in Conwy for the full list.
Day trips