Tenby Pembrokeshire travel guide: things to do, food and drink, hotels

Pastel-coloured houses above Tenby’s harbour

(Image credit: Lukasz Pajor/Shutterstock)

Why you should visit Tenby

One of the most iconic seaside destinations in Wales, the original town of Tenby was called “Dinbych y Pysgod” in Welsh, which translates as the “little town of fishes”. Established by the Normans as a fortified town, said Visit Pembrokeshire, most of Tenby’s old town walls remain, “enclosing the medieval town behind them”.

Tenby is the “jewel” in Pembrokeshire’s crown, said Travel About Britain, with golden beaches and a picturesque harbour backed by “fine” Georgian and Regency buildings and “gaily” painted cottages. The town’s narrow mediaeval streets, which run back inland from the harbour, are “rich in character and charm” and “outstanding” examples of historic architecture include its castle and stone walls.

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If you visit only one seaside town in Wales, it should probably be Tenby, said Wandering Welsh Girl. The town is “blessed” with several sandy beaches, including the blue flag Castle Beach which was voted “beach of the year” in 2019 by The Sunday Times. North Beach, one of the most photographed in the UK, said Around Tenby, is a golden sandy beach “dotted with rock pools” and the “imposing” Goscar Rock. The other beaches to visit are Harbour Beach, South Beach and Penally Beach.

A historic fortress dating back to the Norman period, said The Castles & Historic Houses of Wales, Tenby Castle has “captivating ruins and captivating views” which stand as a testament to the town’s “rich heritage and strategic significance”. Perched on top of Castle Hill, the remains include the smallest “great tower” of any castle in Wales, said Britain Express, and “may have been inspired by the great tower at Pembroke Castle”.

One of the three national parks of Wales, alongside Eryri (Snowdonia) and Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), Pembrokeshire Coast National Park (Arfordir Penfro) is the only UK national park that’s primarily designated for its coastal landscape. Tenby is located on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, a spectacular national trail spanning 186 miles, and the town has “wonderful coastal walks right on the doorstep”, said Visit Wales. One of the “most enjoyable routes” on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path takes you north to Saundersfoot. This “up and down” 4.5-mile stretch has “fabulous” views of Saundersfoot Bay from the headland at Monkstone Point.

Set above the sea in the village of Penally, just a 30-minute walk from Tenby, Penally Abbey is probably Pembrokeshire’s “loveliest bolthole”, said The Telegraph, which gives the hotel a 9/10 rating. Other hotels in Tenby to be rated highly by the paper include the family-run Trefloyne Manor, which offers “rustic-chic bedrooms in a converted Victorian farmhouse and coach house”, and The Broadmead, a boutique property offering a “thoroughly modern bed and breakfast experience”.

Dining in Tenby is more than “soggy sarnies on the beach and pub crawls”, said Kathryn Williams on WalesOnline, there are some “cracking” places to eat. Whether it’s “fab” fish and chips, cockles on the harbour, fine dining, sushi or pizza, Wales’s beautiful seaside town “has it all covered”. Tap & Tân, a collaboration between Tenby Brewing Co and Feast, offers open-fire cooking and a “mouth-watering” dining experience while the “gorgeous” Loafley Bakery & Deli is the place to go for “a heck of a lunchtime treat”. Indie Burger is a “friendly and popular place”, said Williams, “we had to book in just to get a takeaway when we visited”. The patties are made daily from Welsh beef and the choice is “plentiful”.

For fresh and locally-sourced seafood dishes, Plantagenet House is a “perfect” place, said Wanderlog, and the restaurant’s “unique and charming” interior will leave a “lasting impression”. Top pubs include the “nautical themed” Lifeboat Tavern, with its “boat-shaped bar”, and Harbwr Brewery Tap & Kitchen, which serves a range of its own beers as well as wine, gin and Welsh spirits.

While there are currently no Michelin-starred restaurants in Tenby itself, nearby you’ll find three eateries that get a mention in the Michelin Guide. Located at Penally Abbey, the kitchen team at Rhosyn Restaurant offer “modern, flavoursome” cooking demonstrating an “accomplished touch”. Coast on Coppet Hall Beach in Saundersfoot is a “striking” beachfront restaurant with a menu featuring “assured dishes” that focus on “quality ingredients and are carefully crafted”. And The Fernery Restaurant in Narberth presents “elaborate” and “eye-catching” dishes full of “freshness and natural flavours”.