Fun things to do in Swansea

A vibrant waterfront city that was once home to poet Dylan Thomas, Swansea is a great place to start when exploring the Gower peninsula and beyond.

Why go there?

Swansea is a buzzing city that celebrates its rich industrial past while keeping up with contemporary fashions and making the most of its beautiful coastal setting. Once nicknamed ‘Copperopolis’, Swansea was the heart of the copper industry during the 19th-century and has also helped forge cultural figureheads such as Dylan Thomas, who was born here.

Where do I start?

Wind your way down to the maritime quarter and take a whistlestop tour through 300 years of Welsh industrial innovation at the National Waterfront Museum. Then go even further back in time with a visit to Swansea Castle, an impressive fortification founded in 1107 around which the city has grown up.

Where should I kip?

Stay at Morgans Hotel, a quiet boutique hotel in the heart of Swansea and the perfect base from which to explore the city.

What’s hip?

Swansea boasts some of the best beaches right on its doorstep, so take time to explore the golden sands that have made this part of the world famous. After taking in the sea air on a leisurely stroll or riding the waves on your surfboard, head back into the city and up Wind Street for cocktails, craft beers and tapas at The Perch.

If I do one thing?

Visit the Dylan Thomas Centre for an insightful exhibition about one of the 20th-century’s most revered poets.