Pembrokeshire Itinerary: How to Spend 3 Perfect Days (2026)
Walk the stunning Pembrokeshire Coast Path, explore Bosherston Lakes, eat fish and chips, swim in the striking Blue Lagoon and relax on one of the many beautiful beaches. Here’s the perfect 3-day Pembrokeshire itinerary and everything you need to know before you go.
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Pembrokeshire is arguably the most beautiful area in Wales, and you could easily spend a couple of weeks here lapping up the sunshine on the beaches, walking the incredible Welsh coast, eating fresh seafood and enjoying the outdoors while getting back to nature.
If you don’t have a couple of weeks, no worries! Pembrokeshire is also great for a long weekend, as part of a road trip or as part of a larger trip before going on to somewhere else. We spent 3 days in Pembrokeshire before meeting friends in the Wye Valley for a few days, which was a great little Wales road trip.
Pembrokeshire has largely managed to stay off the tourist trail as much as places like the Lake District, Devon or Cornwall. It often slips under the radar, so the beaches are quieter and landscapes still remain unspoiled. Which is why it’s definitely worth visiting.
This Pembrokeshire itinerary is exactly how we spent our 3 days in Pembrokeshire. Yours doesn’t have to be done in this order; it can be switched around depending on what suits you or the weather.
Contents
Pembrokeshire at a Glance
- 📍Where: South-West Wales
- 🌊 Known for: Coastal walks, beaches, beautiful scenery and wildlife
- 🗓️ Ideal trip length: 3-4 days minimum
- 🚗 Getting around: Car is the easiest as buses are infrequent and often require multiple changes
- ☀️ Best time to visit: Late spring-early autumn
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3-Day Pembrokeshire Itinerary
Below is a map of everywhere included in this Pembrokeshire itinerary.
Day 1 - Walk the Pembrokeshire Coast Path
You’ll start your 3 days in Pembrokeshire by walking some of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, which was our main reason for visiting. Plan it for your first day so if the weather’s bad, you can swap it with another day’s plans. Ideally, it’ll be dry and clear so you can enjoy the incredible views over the countryside and ocean.
Lonely Planet describes the Pembrokeshire Coast Path as one of the best long-distance trails in the world! And it’s easy to see why.
Huge golden beaches, limestone cliffs plummeting into the ocean, volcanic headlands, red sandstone bays and flooded glacial valleys dominate the landscape.
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path was the first national trail in Wales. It opened in 1970, and runs from Saint Dogmaels in the north to Amroth in the south for 299 kilometres. It’s part of the Wales Coast Path, also known as the Welsh Coastal Path, which spans 1400 kilometres around the country!
You’ll find the Pembrokeshire Coast Path inside Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Completing the trail in one go would take between 10 and 15 days, and one day we hope to complete it.
In the meantime, there are many shorter walks, ranging from 1-kilometre loops to longer, full-day hikes. If you’re up for a challenge, hike between Whitesands and Porthgain.
This 16-kilometre route takes you past picture-perfect golden beaches, secluded bays, dramatic limestone cliffs, rolling red sandstone bays and volcanic headlands. You get to see a wide range of the diverse landscapes in the national park.
A great swimming stop along the way is the Blue Lagoon in Abereiddy. This is a former slate quarry with piercing blue-green water that honestly doesn’t look real.
Once you reach the small coastal hamlet Porthgain, you have the choice of two restaurants. For a traditional pub meal, head to The Sloop Inn, or, if you’re after some very highly-rated fish and chips, check out The Shed (book in advance as this place is very popular).
For our full Whitesands to Porthgain hiking guide, head to the link below.
Day 2 - Visit Stackpole, Pembroke and Freshwater West
For day 2 of your 3 days in Pembrokeshire, drive south to Stackpole, where a 9-kilometre walk through a National Nature Reserve takes in some of the best things to see and best views in Pembrokeshire.
Roughly half of the walk is along a coast path with amazing cliff-top scenery, jagged limestone peaks, secluded sandy beaches and vast open grassland.
You’ll pass Barafundle Bay, one of Pembrokeshire’s most popular beaches despite being a half mile walk from the nearest car park at Stackpole. Arrive as early as possible to enjoy it while it’s quiet.
For the second half of the walk, you’ll head inland where the trail meanders around Bosherston Lily Ponds, over tiny stone bridges and up to viewpoints of the ponds.
Stackpole is teeming with wildlife year-round, especially by the ponds. Bats, butterflies, herons, buzzards, wrens, owls, otters, and so many more, so keep your eyes peeled.
For our full guide to the Stackpole Wildlife Walk, visit the link below.
If you don’t fancy a walk, especially after yesterday’s big hike, one of the most fun ways to explore Stackpole is on the water, and there are a couple of ways you can do this.
Jump off cliffs, explore hidden sea caves, scramble across rugged coastline and swim in tidal pools on a coasteering adventure. Or, for a calmer adventure, paddle board from Stackpole Quay to Barafundle Bay and discover hidden caves and spot wildlife.
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After Stackpole, visit Freshwater West: a wide sandy beach with the best surfing waves in Wales.
A huge system of sand dunes backs the beach, and tucked away amongst them is Dobby’s grave from the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows films.
The memorial continues to grow with fans leaving their own contributions such as messages on rocks, socks or other items of clothing. Although it’s a memorial for a fictional character, you can’t help but get a bit choked up!
Now it’s time for some fish and chips!
We’d recommend Rowlies in Pembroke, as you’ll probably drive back through Pembroke anyway and the fish and chips are delicious. You can also have a wander round Pembroke while you’re here.
There are some seats and tables overlooking the River Pembroke and Pembroke Castle, so come down here to eat.
Day 3 - Explore St Davids
For the last day on your 3-day Pembrokeshire itinerary, spend some time exploring St Davids, the UK’s smallest city. You’ll hardly believe it’s a city as you wander through its tiny streets and square. It definitely feels more like a village.
First, head to St Davids Cathedral, which dates back to the 6th century when St David founded a monastery and trained missionaries to spread Christianity to Ireland.
Over the next four centuries, the monastery was raided numerous times; however, due to its religious and intellectual importance, King Alfred summoned the monastic community in St Davids to help rebuild it.
The cathedral seen today was constructed in 1181 and is thought to be the 4th to stand on this site. One of the first things you’ll notice as you enter the cathedral is the sloping ground and pillars due to the swampy ground the site is built on.
If you time your visit to St Davids on a Thursday, visit St Davids Market. It’s in the centre of the city at Cross Square, or in the winter it’s held in City Hall.
The stalls are full of locally produced crafts, souvenirs, food, drinks, artwork, plants and more. We bought a lovely photograph of the Blue Lagoon taken by a local photographer, which hangs in our living room.
St Davids is full of cosy pubs serving fresh, seasonal and local food, so you absolutely must have at least one pub meal on your Pembrokeshire itinerary.
The Farmer’s Arms has a beer garden sun trap with a view of St Davids Cathedral; The Bishops is a cosy year-round spot, and The Grove Hotel has a lovely garden and serves a range of beers and fine wines.
For the rest of the day, head to one of the beaches to relax as it’s been a busy couple of days. Whitesands and Newgale Beach are two of the best Pembrokeshire beaches, so catch some rays (hopefully) before you head off.
That’s your 3-day Pembrokeshire itinerary at an end. Now let’s jump into everything you need to know before you visit Pembrokeshire.
Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Pembrokeshire
Where should I stay in Pembrokeshire?
Wherever you stay, you can explore the whole area as it’s not massive. However, for this 3-day Pembrokeshire itinerary, we’d recommend staying in or near St Davids as you’ll visit it anyway. It’s a lovely little city with great food and drink and easy access to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
We stayed at Hendre Eynon Campsite, one of the best campsites in Pembrokeshire. It’s lovely and clean and only a 5-minute drive from St Davids.
If camping isn’t your thing, some great accommodation options in St Davids are:
- Luxury: Twr Y Felin Hotel – a gorgeous property in a former historic windmill. It’s adults only and has a spa – perfect after a long walk along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
- Mid-range: Crug Glas Country House – a charming, historic hotel with a lush garden and sun terrace.
- Budget: The Waterings – lovely outdoor garden, family rooms and a great location in the centre of town.
How do I get around Pembrokeshire?
A car is the easiest way to get around Pembrokeshire as this gives you complete freedom and flexibility, although you can use the Coastal Bus Service.
Buses will take more planning and flexibility, as often there are only a few buses a day. You may also need to take a couple of buses, as they tend to go via the main towns, so depending on where you’re going, you may have to change.
Even if you have a car, you’ll need to use the bus for hiking between Whitesands and Porthgain. We took the Celtic Coaster from St Davids to Whitesands at 8:25am. From Porthgain, we took the last Strumble Shuttle at 17:11 back to St Davids (check the times on the link above as they may change).
Buses can be paid for either by cash or card. For an exact cost, you’ll need to contact the bus operator Richard Bros. It was £1.50 when we were there in 2021; it shouldn’t be much more than this.
When’s the best time to visit Pembrokeshire?
Late spring – early autumn is the best time to visit Pembrokeshire, when it’s warm and hopefully sunny. School holidays will be the busiest, so if you can avoid this, then do.
You can absolutely visit Pembrokeshire in the winter for crisp coastal walks and to explore the towns, but some of the pubs, restaurants, cafes and seasonal activities either close or have reduced hours.
How many days do I need in Pembrokeshire?
Three full days for this Pembrokeshire itinerary. This gives you a good amount of time exploring and also resting and enjoying the beaches.
We wouldn’t recommend any less, as you’ll be rushing around. You could easily spend a week or two and mix your days with exploring and relaxing on the beach.
Do I need to book activities in Pembrokeshire in advance?
Yes, 100%. Many of the most popular Pembrokeshire activities get booked up weeks in advance, so book ahead to avoid missing out. Check out some of the best activities below and click on one of them to visit the Get Your Guide page for more.
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We had an amazing 3 days in Pembrokeshire and can’t wait to get back to explore more and hopefully hike the full Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
If you have any questions or just want to say hi, then leave a comment, and we’ll get back to you.
If your Pembrokeshire road trip is part of a larger UK trip, check out some of our other UK guides below.
And if you want to follow along with us in real time, our life in London, behind-the-scenes chaos and for more guides and travel inspo, then find us on Instagram.
