Things to do in Pembrokeshire at a glance
Pembrokeshire sits in the far southwest of Wales. Most of the best-known sights lie inside the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, which covers roughly 615 km² of coast, offshore islands, the Daugleddau estuary, part of the Preseli Hills and the Gwaun Valley. The park was designated in 1952. There is no single regional ticket, so every island landing, castle, car park and bus is paid for separately.
The list below sorts the sights by type. If you want something to book, start with the tours and day trips or the coasteering page. If you would rather plan your own days, the beaches, towns and coast path need nothing but a good pair of shoes and a look at the tide.
What to see, by type
Five groups cover almost everything on the map.
Beaches and bays
The coast alternates between wide sands and small coves. Tenby has separate North, Castle and South beaches. Saundersfoot has a flat sandy beach beside its harbour. Barafundle Bay needs a half-mile walk down steep steps from Stackpole Quay, and Freshwater West is a big open beach with strong currents that make swimming a poor idea there.
All beaches →Islands
Skomer is the puffin island, open for landings from 1 April to 30 September in 2026, though not on every day. Caldey Island is reached by boat from Tenby Harbour, about 20 minutes, in a season from 4 April to 30 September 2026. Ramsey Island needs a booked crossing, and Grassholm, home to a large gannet colony, can be circled by boat but not landed on.
Skomer Island →Castles
Pembroke Castle is the birthplace of Henry VII, born there on 28 January 1457. Carew Castle sits beside a tidal mill. Manorbier and Picton complete the set, and Cilgerran is the free one, open daily 10:00–16:00.
Castles in Pembrokeshire →Towns and harbours
Tenby is a walled harbour town with a Norman castle site on Castle Hill. Saundersfoot grew around a harbour finished in 1834. St Davids is a small cathedral city, and Fishguard has a lower town, a ferry port and a famous 1797 landing in its history.
Tenby →Walking
The coast path runs the whole length of the park. Most visitors walk a section and use the summer coastal buses to get back. A common planning figure for the full route is about 12 days at roughly 15 miles (24 km) a day.
Coast path sections →Our pick: a guided walk in St Davids
It combines the small city with a stretch of the coast path, so you see two of the main sights in one outing.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in British pounds (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Pembrokeshire tours and day trips
Boat trips, island visits, coasteering and guided days out, with live prices and availability.
Costs and seasons compared
Adult prices and opening in 2026. Each place sets its own rules.
| Place | Adult price | Season or hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pembroke Castle | £13.00 (£11.70 online) | April to August 09:30–17:30, September to October 10:00–17:00 |
| Carew Castle | £9 (17 and over) | 23 March to 1 November 10:00–16:30 |
| St Davids Bishop's Palace | £6.80 (tariff 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2027) | November to February 10:00–16:00, March to June and September to October 09:30–17:00 |
| St Davids Cathedral | Donation, £5 suggested | Monday to Saturday 10:00–16:00, Sunday 13:00–15:00 |
| Skomer Island landing | £46 from 16 April to 31 July, £32 in August and September | 1 April to 30 September, plus a 6 percent booking fee |
| Caldey Island | £24.95 (ages 16–64) | 4 April to 30 September 2026, Monday to Saturday |
| Tudor Merchant's House, Tenby | £7 | Check the calendar before you go |
| Cilgerran Castle | Free | Daily 10:00–16:00 |
For most first visits, pick one island, one castle and one stretch of coast path, and keep the rest of the days free for beaches and weather. Island landings and boat trips depend on the sea, so leave one spare day in the week.
Plan your Pembrokeshire days
Each place has its own page with prices, hours and how to get there.
Tenby
Harbour, town walls, three beaches and the boat to Caldey Island.
Saundersfoot
A flat sandy beach, a small harbour and the coast path to Tenby.
St Davids
The cathedral, the Bishop's Palace and the cliffs nearby.
Skomer Island
Puffin season, landing tickets and the crossing from Martin's Haven.
Barafundle Bay
The walk from Stackpole Quay, parking and what to expect.
Pembroke, Carew and more
Entry prices and hours for four castles.
Rules that apply almost everywhere
Four points save trouble on the coast.
Dogs on beaches
From 1 May to 30 September dogs are banned completely at Tenby North and Whitesands, and partly at Tenby Castle and South, Saundersfoot, Newgale, Broad Haven North, Dale, Amroth, Poppit Sands and Lydstep. Barafundle Bay allows dogs all year.
Swimming
Lifeguards are seasonal and only some beaches have them. Swim between the red and yellow flags, and if there are no flags, do not assume a lifeguard is on duty. In an emergency call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
Seals
Pups rest on quiet beaches from August to November. Keep your distance, never touch or feed them, and from a boat stay at least 20 m away, preferably 50 m.
Parking
National Trust car parks such as Stackpole Quay and Marloes Sands charge £4 for up to 3 hours or £8 for a day. At Stackpole car parks, buses, coaches and motorhomes are not allowed because the lanes are narrow.
Things to do in Pembrokeshire: frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Pembrokeshire in one day?
Pick one base. Around Tenby you can combine the harbour, the walls and a beach, with a boat to Caldey Island on days in its season. Around St Davids you can pair the cathedral and the Bishop's Palace with a cliff walk. Do not try to cover both in one day.
Do I need to book Skomer in advance?
Yes. The landing ticket includes the crossing, is booked online, and costs a 6 percent fee on top. Pick up at Lockley Lodge an hour before departure. Skomer has 87 steep steps up from the landing.
Is there one ticket for all attractions?
No. Every castle, island, car park and bus sets its own price, so add them up for your route.
Which things to do suit rainy days?
Castles such as Pembroke and Carew, the cathedral at St Davids and the Tudor Merchant's House in Tenby work in poor weather. Boat trips and island landings depend on the sea as well as the rain.
Do I need a visa to visit?
Visitors from Europe, including Germany, and from the USA usually need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) rather than a visa. It costs £20 from 8 April 2026 and covers several trips for up to two years or until your passport expires.