The ‘jewel in the crown’ of the ‘Welsh Riviera’, Tenby’s long been a tourist hotspot
With pictureqsue beaches just a short stroll from the lively town centre, quaint cobbled streets that could rival those in Italy or the French Riviera, and a collection of eye-catching, brightly-coloured houses that many towns across Britain would envy, it’s hardly surprising that this coastal jewel consistently tops the list of the “best” seaside towns in the UK.
The ‘jewel in the crown’ of the ‘Welsh Riviera’, Tenby has long been a tourist hotspot and is one of Wales’ most popular seaside towns. Here, you’ll find a picturesque harbour, Victorian houses, sandy beaches, independent cafes and coastal walks along the charming shorelines. Here’s our guide on how to have a lush weekend in Tenby.
What to do in Tenby
Stepping beyond its historic 13th-century walls, You’ll be greeted by sun-drenched beaches and dramatic cliffside vistas over the sea towards the mesmerising Caldey Island.
Tenby also has a vibrant food and pub scene, its very own brewery, and enchanting cobbled lanes where one can enjoy a pint or sample local treats.
There are plenty of independent shops to keep you occupied – it’s definitely worth taking a look around Tenby High Street and St Julian’s Street to find a decent selection of stores.
You’ll also find plenty of local walks, sandy beaches and lots of foodie options that feature the very best of Pembrokeshire produce.
Tenby History
The colourful town has a long timeline stretching back to the Iron Age and began to develop following the Norman Conquest when the county was invaded and colonised in around 1093. A surprising amount of the imposing medieval castle walls, built by the Pembrokeshire Earls in 1264 to fortify the town from Welsh rebellion, have survived intact to the present day.
According to Coflein, Tenby was a major merchant and shipping town up to the Elizabethan period, but fell into decay after the English Civil War due to its remoteness and a dramatic population decline after a plague outbreak.
The seaside town’s fortunes returned with the rise in popularity of sea-bathing and the development of the coastal resort towards the end of the eighteenth century.
Elegant hotels and fashionable bathing houses were also built, and Georgian and early Victorian designs still dominate the town’s architecture. The town has continued to draw visitors from all over for bucket-and-spade holidays by the sea.
You can still spot many historical buildings and features, including Tenby Castle, Tudor Merchant’s House and St Mary’s Church. Find out more about the town’s evolution at the Tenby Museum and Art Gallery.
Relax on Tenby’s beautiful beaches
Tenby is blessed with several sandy beaches where you can take a bracing dip or eat an ice cream on the postcard-pretty shoreline.
South Beach is a dune-backed sandy beach close to the town and has the added accolade of being a Blue Flag Beach.
Beach amenities include deck chairs and an ice cream van, and Lifeguards are on duty from the end of May until early September. For food options, check out Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant, located right on the beach.
Nearby, Castle Beach was crowned the UK’s best beach in 2019 and currently holds a 4.8 out of 5 rating on Google. Uniquely, unlike most places in the UK, it’s just a few steps from the town centre.
North Beach in the Pembrokeshire town has previously come top for the most photogenic in the UK, beating other stunning sites like Durdle Door in Dorset and Brighton seafront.
Pretty Harbour Beach is the smallest but has a backdrop of colourful houses, bobbing boats, and a road leading back to town.
Visit Tenby Museum and Art Gallery
Tenby Museum and Art Gallery is the oldest independent museum in Wales. Established in 1878, this retro Museum has a wide-ranging collection of local geology, biology, archaeological and maritime artefacts to discover.
Many of the exhibits also relate to the culture and heritage of South Pembrokeshire, giving you an insight into local history and art. A small gift shop near the entrance also sells local books and gift items.
The admission price to the museum is £6.50 for adults and £3.50 for children. They also operate a reusable ticket scheme whereby all tickets can be used for one year after purchase, so you can make as many return visits within that time at no additional charge.
Take a trip to Caldey Island
A must-visit on any trip to Tenby has to be the holy Caldey Island. This monastic island is a 20-minute boat journey from either the harbour or Castle beach, depending on the tides.
The small island has a rich history dating back to the 6th century when St. Pyro established a hermit’s cell, which later grew into a monastic community. The island has been inhabited since the Old Stone Age, and various monastic orders have resided there, including Benedictines and Cistercians.
You’ll find a shop, a post office, a lighthouse here, and short walks offering beautiful views of the Pembrokeshire coastline.
Owned and run by a community of Cistercian monks, it’s open to the public on summer weekdays and Saturdays, and tickets can be obtained from the Caldey Island Kiosk at the top of Tenby Harbour.
Try a local tipple
There are two local breweries in Tenby, both producing quality beers and supplying local bars and restaurants.
Tenby Brewing Co., which took over from Preseli Brewery, has multiple stockists in Tenby and is one of the leading craft breweries in Wales.
The award-winning brewery was born when two friends decided (over a pint) to quit the rat race and start their own brewery. ‘The Yard’ is their hip venue here at the brewery with 150 capacity and an exciting rotating food offering from awesome pop-up food vendors and draft beer lines from their range and some of their favourite brewers
The newer brewery on the scene, Harbwr, is a craft brewery and taproom, brewing up their range of cask and bottled ales just above Tenby harbour.
Photograph Tenby’s pretty harbour
Tenby has the most photogenic harbour built into the corner of North Beach, between the old medieval walled town and Castle Hill. Pro photographers will love the array of colours, seascape and the historic buildings that make for the perfect shot.
Try visiting the harbour at sunset to get the most glorious, golden hour shots of the harbour and watch the ocean become bathed in golden light and the rich hue of sunset colours.
Get adventurous at Heatherton World of Activities
Not far from the centre of Tenby, you’ll find the hugely popular, award-winning Heatherton World of Activities, a family attraction in Pembrokeshire offering a superb day out for all ages.
You’ll find a range of activity zones and wet weather attractions to keep the kids entertained even if it’s raining. Check out the adventure golf, go-karts, archery, hedge maze and escape rooms.
Learn about Carew Castle
This Norman castle’s origins date to around the year 1100. In the middle of the 12th century, an enclosure with stone walls was built, incorporating the original keep and a Great Hall. The current structure was created by Nicholas de Carew around 1270
Carew is around a 15-minute drive from Tenby town centre, it’s now a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its bat population and several locally or regionally rare species of plants.
Go paddleboarding on North Beach
Learn how to paddleboard on Tenby’s north beach and get stuck into everyone’s favourite watersport.
Adventure specialist Outer Reef is the only approved ALAA licensed water sports centre and school running from the North Beach in Tenby.
This is a stunning location to SUP in and is Pembrokeshire’s best Blue Flag beach by far. They offer Kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding lessons, and hire for solo travellers, families and groups of friends. What are you waiting for? Get your SUP on!
Take the family to the Dinosaur Park
This place will win you serious cool-parent points if you’re with the kids.
There are rides and playgrounds, various activities, a dinosaur trail, and an information centre where your youngsters can learn something about the beasts that used to roam our planet.
Have a spa day at St Brides Spa Hotel
Why not spoil yourself with a spa day at St Brides, a modern spa hotel looking out over beautiful Saundersfoot Bay from its position on the hill up towards Tenby.
Unparalleled sea views can be found at the award-winning clifftop hotel, where you can gaze over Saundersfoot Bay from their amazing swimming pool and elevated rooms.
This privately owned hotel is a few minutes from the beach, allowing for ocean therapy before indulging in the many spa treatments.
Bright and airy rooms are thoughtfully styled with hints of coastal chic and feature quality bedding and furnishings.
Guests can also get a flavour of Pembrokeshire produce and locally landed fish at their Cliff restaurant, with seasonally informed dishes.
The main attraction is the dreamy infinity pool and marine spa offering. Unwind in a full thermal suite with a rock sauna, ice fountain, steam room and marine hydro pool.
Individual treatments featuring marine-sourced products and spa packages can be booked. Choose from massages, facials, and holistic therapies expertly delivered by excellent therapists.
Where to stay
You’re a little spoilt for choice with accommodation in Tenby.
There’s something for all types of getaways, whether you want something luxurious or just a caravan by the beach.
With hotels on the seafront looking out over the beach, there are loads to choose from, but the Panorama Hotel is a great choice. This boutique hotel is family-run and looks out over Tenby’s South Beach.
If you’re looking for more of a family-friendly holiday, Kiln Park is perfect for a break with the kids.
The caravan site, which is just a few minutes walk from the beach, also features an entertainment complex, with live shows and arcade rooms as well as offering on-site activities such as mini-golf.
If you’re staying in the town, the Tenby House also makes a great base and is located in Tudor Square near the main beaches. It boasts eighteen en-suite bedrooms, which have all recently undergone modern refurbishment.
The Heywood Spa hotel would be a good choice if you want something more relaxing. It’s partly built around a Grade II-listed building that dates back to the early 19th century and has been built up, while keeping the original character of the building.
And there’s a sun terrace outside if you don’t fancy walking to one of Tenby’s beaches.
Over in Saundersfoot, you’ll find Ty Gwyn, a modern holiday home perfect for a quieter getaway near Tenby.
This stylish holiday home has the added luxury of a Lazy Spa for a lush hot tub holiday with your faves. Nearby, you’ll find local beaches, the Wales Coast Path, and plenty of local shops, pubs, restaurants, and cafes to visit.
What to eat and drink
Tenby’s cluster of tiny streets and pastel-coloured buildings hides its best restaurants and cafes down the narrowest of alleys.
One of these more secluded dining finds is Plantagenet House, a warren of flagstone floors, exposed beams, and a 40-foot medieval Flemish chimney. Booked early enough, you can bag a table by the fireplace.
Diners are spoilt for choice by the menu, making the most of the fish from the harbour every day. A recommended dish would be their Vegan Thai Coconut Curry, with squash, chargrilled spring onion, spiced rice and roasted almonds.
Links restaurant is located on the ground floor of Tenby Golf Club and is a great Michelin-star dining choice if you’re planning a foodie weekend in Pembrokeshire.
Led by a talented local chef, the menu is about simple yet incredibly tasty dishes made with the best Welsh produce. Start your meal with their freshly baked ale bread served with whipped marmite butter—trust us, it’s the perfect opener.
The atmosphere is relaxed but refined, with a menu that strikes the perfect balance between unpretentious and exciting. From hot smoked salmon with cucumber and buttermilk to heritage tomatoes paired with buffalo mozzarella, there’s something to tempt every palate.
For mains, enjoy locally sourced delights like Pembrokeshire beef or Cornish cod in a bisque sauce, or tuck into a tender rump of Welsh lamb served with all the right accompaniments.
And don’t forget to save room for dessert—whether it’s a rich dark chocolate fondant with tarragon ice cream or the tangy lemon meringue with almond cake and blueberry sorbet, you won’t go home hungry.
D. Fecci and Sons possibly serve the best fish and chips in Wales and have been serving visitors and locals since 1935.
With potatoes grown up the road in Pembrokeshire, and groundnut oil making haddock, cod and calamari fantastically light, the chippy also serves up fresh mackerel in the summer.
For sweet treats, pop into Môr Tenby, a swish family-run coffee shop and gift shop that sells their own blend of coffee (“Coffi Môr”), along with chocolate products, deli items, home fragrances, homeware, gifts, and Welsh produce.
A beloved institution in Tenby, Top Joe’s is the go-to spot for pizza lovers.
This former ’60s diner has transformed into an artisan pizzeria serving freshly made pizza, pasta, and salads with the finest Italian ingredients. Located in the heart of this picturesque beach town, it’s a firm favourite with locals and visitors.
Chef Giovanni Recchia, recently named one of the best in the world at the Pizza World Championships, brings his expertise to the menu, crafting pizzas using locally milled flour and top-notch ingredients like cured meats from Trealy Farm Charcuterie.
For picnic and lunch options, swing by Loafley Bakery and Deli. This gorgeous deli is the place for a heck of a lunchtime treat. Big, meaty sausage rolls, salad boxes, frittatas, scotch eggs and, if you’re lucky, get there in time to bag a slice of homemade cake.
They also sell colourful graze boxes at Loafley, packed with goodies. No two grazes are the same, so you’ll never know what you’ll get.
Typical box contents include a Loafley sausage roll, quiche and bread, seeds and nuts, fresh and dried fruit, olives, cheese and charcuterie.