Tenby is by far and away one of the most popular tourist destinations in Wales, offering sandy beaches, historical spots and eateries galore.
The town’s been a popular holiday resort since the turn of the 19th Century and has retained this popularity ever since, evolving with the times and affording lifelong memories ever since.
To celebrate this beautiful town, we’ve put together our definitive guide of things to do in and around Tenby for when you next make your pilgrimage to the west coast!
Indulge in Tenby’s beautiful beaches
Spending a day playing and relaxing on the town’s gorgeous beaches is by far and away one of the best things to do in Tenby.
The unique shape of the coastal head in Tenby means that there are four beautiful strips of sand to choose from, with South Beach, Castle Beach, Harbour Beach and North Beach all providing great opportunities to enjoy some quality time on the sea front.
The size of the beaches and the relatively flat conditions due to the town’s coastal position also mean that there’s the opportunity to take in some stunning sunsets, too. With loads of great fish and chip shops dotted around Tenby, it’s the perfect way to end any visit to the town.
There are also some beautiful spots to take in, including the historic St Catherine’s Island Fort and the three Tenby Life Boat Stations that span from the Victorian era to the modern day.
Beautiful views, space to play and plenty of adjacent restaurants and cafés, a day on a Tenby beach is something enjoyable to do for all of the family and have some memorable times together.
Explore Tenby Castle
The Tenby Castle is a beautiful Grade II listed ruin on the headland of the town that deserves exploring when you visit!
The history of the headland being utilised as the sight of a fort can be traced as far back as the 12th Century, with it passing hands between Norman, Welsh and English forces over the course of its nine centuries of existence.
Alongside the fort, beautiful gateways lead up to the castle entrance – allowing for you the opportunity to imagine what life in the castle might have been like, whilst also presenting the opportunity to capture some great snaps of this historic site.
Take in the town walls
Equally impressive as the fort are the immense town walls.
The Grade I listed structures date back to the medieval period and remain in beautiful condition to this day.
There were initially four walls in place to protect the town from external parties but these have largely been removed or collapsed over time.
Consisting of a myriad of beautiful towers and arches, the town walls are one of the structures that add to the distinctive nature of the town that draw people from all over the country and further afield to explore this highly popular town.
Go Stand-up Paddleboarding
For those looking to explore some of the great water sports that our coastline has to offer, then taking some time out to enjoy the amazing people at Good Trails Paddleboarding is easily one of the best things to do in Tenby.
Based at Coppet Hall Beach, Caroline and Alain – the couple who runs the organisation – chose the spot due to the bay’s unique east-facing location that provides it with shelter from the westerly Atlantic winds.
The friendly couple provide entertaining lessons for beginners upwards, making this a great opportunity to explore life on the waves and create some unique memories.
Or try your hand at coasteering
A test of your bravery, mental and physical fortitude – coasteering pits you against the elements as you leap from cliffs up ten metres high, scramble over rocks, traverse sea level and swim between locations.
The sport’s popularity derives from its intrinsically diverse nature, with the changing of the tides and elements meaning that a spot that is a choppy body of water could be a sea of blue tranquillity on another.
Though coasteering is largely associated with displays of bravery and testing your physical capabilities but the activity also affords participants with the opportunity to get at one with nature and spot wildlife from a unique vantage point as they explore little coastal gems that would otherwise be inaccessible.
With the Pembrokeshire coast world famous, coasteering is definitely one for you tick list when you next come to Tenby!
Here’s TYF Adventure showing us what it’s all about…
Have a day of relaxation
If you’ve gone paddleboarding or coasteering then you’d be more than within your right to feel a bit stiff and sore the next day.
Fortunately, Tenby has you well covered for this eventuality, affording plenty of places that you can take in a full day of relaxation.
One such place is the award-winning Celtic Haven Spa and Resort, that provides holistic leisure club facilities at their coastal resort.
Alongside a menu of spa treatments and therapies that include soothing massages, facials, hydrotherapy and beauty therapies, their leisure facilities also include a well-reviewed cliff-top restaurant with gorgeous views over Lydstep beach and sport facilities including nine-hole golf course.
If a chilled out day sounds like your sort of thing then you can check out their coastal resort that’s a stone’s throw from the town!
Take a Tenby History Tour
If the waves aren’t for you then you can check out some of Tenby’s vibrant history via the ghost tours operated by Marion Davies.
A town with royal history via Henry VII – who is alleged to have hidden in an underground chamber in the town of during the Wars of the Roses, before making his escape to Brittany – taking the time to explore Tenby’s sites of interest is a treat that will tantalise the intrigue of any history buff visiting the county.
Davies utilises her 20 years of guiding experience and passion for Wales and Welsh history to deliver exceptional, informative tours across a variety of themes – the Story of Tenby and the Ghost Walk of Tenby being the most popular walks among visitors to the county.
Enjoy the great array of restaurants Tenby has to offer
No list of things to do in Tenby would be complete without highlighting the amazing array of restaurants and cafes that the town has to offer.
Home to some of the best restaurants that the county has to offer, visitors can choose from food from a variety of cultures.
From the authentic pizza of Top Joe’s to the gourmet burgers of Indie Burger and the fine dining of the Lighthouse Kitchen, there’s a huge amount on offer for visitors to the beautiful seaside town.
Make sure to hit up Upper Frog Street when you visit, which is the home of many of the town’s favourite eateries.
