Swansea
Explore For Less: Best 13 Free Things to do in Swansea Today
Explore For Less: Best 13 Free Things to do in Swansea Today
Swansea, the capital of West Glamorgan and a coastal city with plenty to see, offers some amazing attractions. From beautiful beaches to great shopping and interesting museums it has something for everyone! With attractions like the National Waterfront Museum, the Dylan Thomas Centre and Swansea Marina, there are lots of great options to experience. For more blog posts from this area, you can find them via the following button below:
In this blog post we:
- List the best places to visit for no charge at all
- Show all places on an interactive map to help you locate each place easily.
Swansea has many options for things to do today on your visit to this beautiful Welsh city. There are museums like Swansea Museum or the National Waterfront Museum and if you fancy some time on your feet in the sunshine, you could check out Clyne Gardens or the beautiful Gower Peninsula, the Botanic Gardens and Cave Hill Country Park.
The table above lists the free things to do in Swansea. Click on each place name to be taken to the area of the blog post for that place!
Quick Heading Links
We write lots of blog posts from each individual area and have a few more from the city of Swansea. Have a look at our other blog posts by clicking the buttons below:
Museums and Galleries
Swansea Museum by Jaggery under license CC BY-SA 4.0
National Waterfront Museum
The National Waterfront Museum tells the story of industry and innovation in Wales. It's a place where you can explore, discover and be inspired by the country’s rich maritime heritage. Explore its vast collection of artifacts that tell the story of Wales’ rich past! Visitors can soak up the history with a breathtaking mix of old and new in the city's rapidly developing maritime quarter.
Swansea Museum
Swansea Museum is the perfect place to learn about the history of Wales. It’s packed with artifacts, exhibits, and interactive experiences that bring this fascinating country’s past alive. You can explore everything from Egyptian artifacts to interesting nautical objects, and learn about the hardship experienced during the second world war in Swansea! The museum is a great way to learn more about Swansea’s past and how it became what it is today.
Glynn Vivian Art Gallery
Glynn Vivian Art Gallery is one of the most popular galleries in Wales. It has been showcasing some of the best contemporary art from around the world since it opened its doors in 1909. The gallery also hosts regular events including talks and workshops. The gallery went through a major refurbishment in 2016 which included a new lecture space and café.
Egypt Centre
The Egypt Centre in Swansea is the one of only a few museums in Wales dedicated to Ancient Egyptian history and culture. It’s an immersive experience that will take you back through time with items from the British Isles, Cyprus, Rome, Greece and of course Egypt. The museum is based upon a selection of items brought together by the pharmacist Sir Henry Wellcome. You can see over 5,000 objects on display including mummified animals, jewellery and offerings to the gods from the Egyptian populous.
Dylan Thomas Centre
The Dylan Thomas Centre is a museum dedicated to the life and work of Welsh poet, writer, and author, Dylan Thomas. The centre features an exhibition about his life and works as well as a permanent collection of original manuscripts, photographs and memorabilia from the period when he lived in Swansea. There are also regular temporary exhibitions featuring items from the centre's own collections or loaned from other institutions.
History and Culture
Swansea Marina
Swansea Marina
The Swansea Marina is a great place to spend your day. You can enjoy the beautiful views of the marina and watch all of the boats coming in and out. There are also many restaurants, shops, and cafes for you to explore while you’re here.
Swansea Community Farm
Walks and Nature Trails
Cliffs and beaches in the Gower Peninsula
Three Cliffs Bay and Pennard Castle
Three Cliffs Bay is a beautiful beach known for its striking three-cliff formation and stunning views of the Gower Peninsula. It is one of the most photographed area on the peninsula due to its picturesque features. The bay is also home to an abundance of wildlife including gannets, seals and dolphins! You can take a walk to the ruin of Pennard Castle which has a history going back to 1107 and has stunning views across the bay.
Gower Peninsula
The Gower Peninsula is a beautiful peninsula close to the city. It projects westwards into the Bristol Channel and it is surrounded by Swansea Bay to the east, and Rhossili Bay to the west. The coastline has many beaches and cliffs as well as the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which covers most of the peninsula. The Gower Peninsula is a rich and varied environment which is as ecologically diverse as it is beautiful, from open, wild moors and dramatic limestone cliffs to golden, sandy beaches. Gower is a geological goldmine with inspiring landscapes and a captivating coastline.
Oxwich Bay
Oxwich Bay
Oxwich Bay's landscape features sand dunes, salt marshes and woodland. Oxwich Bay includes a 4 km long sandy beach, accessible from the village of Oxwich. It is a popular spot for swimming and watersports including diving, sailing, water skiing and windsurfing. There is a public footpath along the cliffs from Oxwich Bay, around Oxwich Point, and to Port Eynon Bay.
Penllergare Valley Woods
Penllergare Valley Woods is a community woodland managed by a local charity, The Penllergare Trust. With 7 miles of footpaths and 12 square acres of woodland, it's a beautiful place to visit for all the family. There are lots of different trails that you can follow through the woods which take in some fantastic views along the way. You'll also find areas where you can stop and have a picnic lunch before carrying on your journey around the woods. It's a great place to walk and enjoy nature and is one of Swansea's best kept secrets!
Clyne Gardens
Clyne Gardens is the perfect place to visit if you’re looking for a lovely, relaxing space. The gardens contain varied national collections of plants set in beautiful parkland which have been recognised internationally. You can explore the paths through the gardens or enjoy a picnic with friends and family on one of our many benches. The park has green flag status and shouldn't be missed.
Lower Lliw Reservoir
The Lower Lliw Reservoir situated north of Swansea has a walking route that takes around 1-2 hours to complete. It's a circular route with plenty of opportunities for pictures of the reservoir and the stunning surroundings.
Map
Use the map below to locate all the best things to do in Swansea mentioned above. We've also listed some of the best restaurants/places to eat in the area that won't cost much for a good meal!
Open Google Maps to see distance information between locations and directions on how to get to each of the best things to do in Swansea listed above.