Photo: Aqwis (CC BY-SA 3.0)St Davids
Tyddewi
Britain's smallest city — a cathedral in a hollow, Whitesands Bay up the road, and the wildest, most beautiful corner of the national park all around.
St Davids is a city by virtue of its cathedral and a village in every other respect: one main square, a handful of streets, and the magnificent 12th-century cathedral of Wales's patron saint hidden in the river hollow below, beside the romantic ruin of the Bishop's Palace. Pilgrims have come for 1,400 years; two pilgrimages here were once worth one to Rome.
The setting outdoes even the building. The St Davids peninsula is the national park at its best — Whitesands Bay (surf, sand, Blue Flag), the rocky mini-mountain of Carn Llidi, St Non's clifftop chapel and well, and boat trips from St Justinians across Ramsey Sound, where the tide races past seal colonies and seabird cliffs. Coasteering was invented on this coast, and the outdoor centres in town will take you scrambling, jumping and swimming along it.
The city itself has more food, galleries and life than its size has any right to support — seafood, good pubs, Really Wild produce — but it stays calm in the evenings. This is the base for the north coast: wilder, quieter and, on a summer evening on Whitesands with the sun going down behind Ramsey, arguably the most beautiful place in Wales.
Where to stay in St Davids
In the city for walk-to-dinner ease; the lanes towards Whitesands and Caerfai for sea air and paths from the door; Solva (ten minutes east) if you want a harbour village. Book far ahead for summer — supply is small and demand is not.
Stays in St Davids by feature
Places to stay in St Davids
St Davids · Sleeps 4 · 2 beds
Walk to beach
A delightful property where you can stroll down to the stunning coastal path just a short walk away. Amble to the picturesque Porthclais harbour where you can kayak or boat straight out to sea. Also a short walk taking in lanes and fields or the coastal path to the pebble beach a
from £598/week
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St Davids · Sleeps 4 · 2 beds
The property is located in Britain s smallest city - St Davids. The centre boasts an impressive collection of shops cafes restaurants and galleries. Fans of history should visit the wonderful 12th century St Davids Cathedral or the Bishops s Palace. For a day at the beach head to
from £613/week
View stay →Bookable via holidaycottages.co.uk
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St Davids · Sleeps 2 · 1 bed
Walk to beachEV chargerLog burner
A delightful location set just a short walk from the renowned coastal path the jewel of the Pembrokeshire National Park. One of five superior properties for the more discerning guest and is well placed for enjoying the best that the county has to offer. Take an amble down to Port
from £687/week
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St Davids · 3 beds
Walk to beachEV chargerLog burner
A fantastic setting where you can join up with the picturesque coastal path and is one of five properties that are well placed for enjoying the very best that the UKs only coastal National Park has to offer. Walk down to the super Porthclais harbour taking your own boat or kayak
from £859/week
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St Davids · Sleeps 4 · 2 beds
EV chargerLog burner
A delightful retreat where you can stroll down to the stunning coastal path just a short walk away. One of five impressive properties well placed for experiencing the best that the coastal and rural landscape has to offer in the UKs only coastal national park. Amble to the pictur
from £917/week
View stay →Bookable via holidaycottages.co.uk
St Davids · Sleeps 6 · 3 beds
Log burner
The cottage is located just outside St Davids Britain s smallest city. There is a 12th-century cathedral cafes pubs and restaurants plus a selection of independent shops to browse at your leisure. On a warm day head to Caerfai Beach with its sheltered bay the perfect spot for swi
from £961/week
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St Davids · 3 beds
Sea viewWalk to beachEV charger
A wonderful location within walking distance from the ever-popular Pembrokeshire coastal path. One of five fantastic properties that is well placed for enjoying the best that coast and country has on offer. Stroll down to the pretty Porthclais harbour where you can kayak straight
from £1,136/week
View stay →Bookable via holidaycottages.co.uk
St Davids · Sleeps 10 · 5 beds
Walk to beachEV chargerLog burner
A super spot where you can amble to the stunning coastal path that stretches for 186 miles. One of five superior properties this is well placed for enjoying the very best of coastal and rural life. A short walk takes you to the pebble beach at Porthllisky and a slightly further w
from £1,517/week
View stay →Bookable via holidaycottages.co.uk
Read the full guide: Where to Stay in St Davids: The Peninsula, Area by Area
Not after a cottage? 7 hotels, 8 b&bs & guest houses, 11 campsites and 3 caravan & holiday parks in and around St Davids — every one we hold a record for, from open data.
Hotels, B&Bs and inns in St Davids
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Our hand-picked stays above are cottages and holiday homes. For a hotel, a guesthouse, a B&B or a pub with rooms, this search covers what is bookable in and around St Davids.
- Search hotels, B&Bs and inns in St Davids on Booking.comvia Booking.com
Opens Booking.com's search for St Davids — add your dates to see live prices and what is actually free. Hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs and pubs with rooms, which the cottage agencies don't list.
We earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. We have not been paid to place them and no partner can buy a position here — they are on this page because the page is where the question comes up. Prices, availability and terms are the provider’s, not ours; check them before you book.
Beaches near St Davids
Dogs all yearCaerfai Bay
St Davids' walk-to beach: purple-tinged sandstone cliffs, a steep flight of steps and clean sand at low water.
Dogs all yearPorthclais Harbour
St Davids' medieval harbour inlet — lime kilns, kayaks and a sliver of low-tide sand in a rocky creek.
Dogs all yearPorthselau
The small sandy cove at Whitesands' southern end — campsite above, Ramsey sunsets ahead.
Dogs all yearCaerbwdi Bay
A small, stony, Coast-Path-only cove east of Caerfai — quiet, geological, and no use at all for sunbathing.
Whitesands Bay (Porth Mawr)
St Davids' big Blue Flag surf beach beneath Carn Llidi — sand, swell and sunsets at the end of Wales.
Dogs all yearPorthmelgan
The quiet cove ten minutes north of Whitesands — sand at low tide, no facilities, and currents that deserve respect.
Compare all 8 beaches near St Davids — distance, dogs, lifeguards, parking →
Eating out and things to do in St Davids
Pubs, restaurants, cafés, attractions and activities in and around St Davids.
Everything to do in and around St Davids, in one place →
Attractions (4)Parking (9)Hotels (7)Pubs (4)Activities (9)Dog-friendly pubs (2)B&Bs & guest houses (8)Toilets (5)Restaurants (9)Cafés (13)Hostels & bunkhouses (1)Museums (1)Fuel (1)Bars (2)Campsites (11)EV charging (2)Ancient sites (10)Caravan & holiday parks (3)Pharmacies (1)GPs (1)Butchers & bakers (3)Sweets & ice cream (1)Shops (1)Post & cash (2)Defibrillators (4)Emergency points (1)
Celtic Quest Coasteering
ActivitiesCoasteering-only specialists at Abereiddy — scramble, swim and jump around the Blue Lagoon coast with a company that does nothing else.
- Website
- celticquestcoasteering.com
Dr Beynon's Bug Farm
AttractionA working research farm about invertebrates outside St Davids — tropical bug zoo, trails, museum, and the UK's first insect-eating restaurant attached.
- Website
- thebugfarm.co.uk
Thousand Islands Expeditions
ActivitiesThe St Davids operator running landing trips to Ramsey Island's RSPB reserve, plus offshore whale-and-dolphin expeditions towards Grassholm and The Smalls.
- Website
- thousandislands.co.uk
Blas at Twr y Felin
RestaurantArt-hotel restaurant in a converted windmill in St Davids — serious modern Welsh cooking.
Coast Path: Whitesands to Abereiddi
Coast PathWild and rocky: St Davids Head, Coetan Arthur, heather ridges and the Blue Lagoon finish — 7 tough, brilliant miles.
Coasteering (St Davids operators)
ActivitiesThe sport was invented on this coast — guided scramble-swim-jump sessions around Abereiddi and St Non's with licensed operators.
Coastal walks near St Davids
Abereiddi to Porthgain and the Blue Lagoon
A short, spectacular cliff walk between two abandoned quarry harbours, past the flooded slate pit everyone photographs.
3 miles · 1½ hours each way · Easy
St Davids Head from Whitesands Bay
Round the headland at the far west of Wales, past an Iron Age fort and a 5,000-year-old burial chamber, with Ramsey Island offshore.
4 miles · 2–3 hours · Moderate
Whitesands Bay to Solva
Right round the tip of Wales past the Ramsey lifeboat station, Porth Clais and the cathedral's own quarry, finishing in a drowned-valley harbour.
13 miles · 6½–7½ hours · Strenuous
Every walk starting near St Davids — distance, ascent, parking →
Parking in St Davids
9 car parks within about 3 km of the centre — 2 recorded as free, 4 as charging. Space counts and operators where they are recorded, and no invented prices.
Experiences to book in St Davids
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Tours and activities you can book ahead through a partner, with the live price and cancellation terms shown before you pay.
- Book the St Davids comedy walking tourvia Viator
An hour and a half of heavily embellished local history around Cross Square and the cathedral, guided by “the actual St David”. From £10 when we checked (Aug 2026).
- Book a guided city and coastal path walk from St Davidsvia Viator
Britain's smallest city and a stretch of the coast path with a local guide, in just under two hours. From £22 when we checked (Aug 2026).
- Book the Ramsey Island Experience RIB tripvia Booking.com
Aquaphobia's fast boat around Ramsey — seals, seabirds and the cliffs from sea level. From £35 on Booking.com when we checked (3 Sep 2026); the listing shows the meeting point.
We earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. We have not been paid to place them and no partner can buy a position here — they are on this page because the page is where the question comes up. Prices, availability and terms are the provider’s, not ours; check them before you book.
St Davids: common questions
Which beaches are closest to St Davids?
Caerfai Bay is the nearest we list, about 1.2km (0.8 miles) away, followed by Porthclais Harbour (1.6km (1.0 miles)) and Porthselau (1.7km (1.1 miles)). Distances are straight-line from the centre of the village, so allow more by road.
Are there good pubs in St Davids?
We list 4 pubs in and around St Davids, including The Sloop Inn, The Bishops and The City Inn. There are another 24 places to eat and drink nearby — cafés, restaurants and bars.
Is St Davids dog friendly?
2 of the pubs we list around St Davids say they welcome dogs. Beach dog rules change with the season: most Pembrokeshire beaches restrict dogs between May and September, so check the individual beach page before you go.
Where can I park in St Davids?
We map 9 car parks in and around St Davids, 6 of which charge. Coastal car parks fill early in July and August — arriving before 10am or after 4pm makes a real difference.
Can I walk the Coast Path from St Davids?
Yes — we have 3 written-up routes starting at or passing through St Davids: Abereiddi to Porthgain and the Blue Lagoon, St Davids Head from Whitesands Bay and Whitesands Bay to Solva. Each one has distance, ascent, parking and the bits that catch people out.
Is there a shop in St Davids?
We list 1 shop in and around St Davids — Nisa Extra. Village shops keep short winter hours, so don't rely on one for a late arrival.
Where should I stay in St Davids?
We currently list 14 places to stay in and around St Davids. We show prices and availability from the booking provider rather than holding our own, so what you see is what they have.
Answers are generated from what we actually hold in our database and refreshed as it changes. Opening hours, dog rules and prices move — check with the venue before you travel.
Also consider
Tenby
Pembrokeshire's postcard town: pastel Georgian houses above three superb beaches, a working harbour and medieval walls — the classic Welsh seaside holiday.
Saundersfoot
Big sandy beach, busy little harbour and a proper seaside village centre — Tenby's more relaxed neighbour, three miles up the coast.
Solva
A perfect natural harbour winding between green hills — pastel cottages, galleries, two good pubs and boats on the tide.