A weekend in St Davids

Britain's smallest city, with a cathedral in a hollow and the coast on its doorstep

Independent UK guide
Free to use
Affiliate links clearly labelled
Updated October 2026

St Davids is the smallest city in Britain, a village-sized place with a magnificent cathedral hidden in a hollow beside the ruins of the Bishop's Palace. It sits on the Pembrokeshire coast, within a mile or two of beaches, cliffs and the sea.

It is a pilgrimage site, a base for walking the coast path and the departure point for boat trips to wildlife islands such as Skomer.

Best forHistory lovers, Walkers, Wildlife lovers, Beach days

Best time to goMay to September for boat trips and puffins. Spring wildflowers and autumn walks are lovely, and winter is quiet.

Typical budget (2 people, 2 nights)£320–£560, excluding travel

Getting thereCardiff: About 2 hours 15 minutes by car.

Check prices for a weekend in St Davids

Plan your weekend in St Davids

Top attractions in St Davids

St Davids Cathedral

A beautiful medieval cathedral with a carved oak ceiling and the shrine of St David.

The Bishop's Palace

The ruins of a grand medieval palace beside the cathedral.

Whitesands Bay

A fine sandy beach a short distance away, popular with surfers and families.

Skomer and Ramsey Islands

Wildlife islands reached by boat, home to puffins and seals.

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path

Dramatic cliff walks starting a short distance from the city.

Best things to do in St Davids

Guides to the activities most people plan a weekend around.

Coasteering in Pembrokeshire

Coasteering means travelling along the rocky coastline by swimming, scrambling and jumping into the sea, with a guide, helmet and wetsuit. Allow 2 to 3 hours.

Pen y Fan walk

Pen y Fan is the highest peak in southern Britain at 886 metres. Allow 3 to 4 hours.

A day on Tenby's beaches

Tenby is a walled harbour town in Pembrokeshire, with pastel-coloured houses and four sandy beaches including North Beach, South Beach, Castle Beach and Harbour Beach. Allow a half day to a full day.

More things to do near St Davids

Skomer puffin boat trip Martin's Haven, Pembrokeshire
St Davids Cathedral visit St Davids, Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire seafood Pembrokeshire coast
Skomer puffin watching Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire

Best areas to stay in St Davids

The city centre

Compact, with cafes, galleries and pubs.

Near Whitesands

Beach stays with sea views.

Solva

A pretty harbour village a few miles away.

Best hotels in St Davids

Prices for a double room in St Davids typically fall around £90–£150 a night in this price band. Guesthouses and B&Bs are usually the best value, while boutique hotels and inns with rooms suit a treat. Read recent guest reviews and use the filters on the booking sites for the things that matter to you.

Compare places to stay in St Davids

Prices change daily, so check a few sites. These are affiliate links.

Best time to visit St Davids

May to September for boat trips and puffins. Spring wildflowers and autumn walks are lovely, and winter is quiet.

Seasons that suit St Davids well: spring, summer, autumn.

Estimated budget for a weekend in St Davids

Hotel or B&B, per night for two	£90–£150
Food and drink, per day for two	£55–£85
Activities and extras for the weekend	£30–£90
Estimated total, 2 people, 2 nights, excluding travel	£320–£560

Mid-range destination. These are rough 2026 estimates and vary by season and room type. Add the cost of getting there. For a personalised figure, use the BritBreaks finder.

Getting to St Davids

From Cardiff: About 2 hours 15 minutes by car.
From Bristol: About 3 hours by car.
From Haverfordwest: About 30 minutes by bus from the nearest railway station.

Journey times are rough guides. Check live train and road times before you travel.

A sample weekend in St Davids

Friday evening: Arrive, settle in and have dinner in The city centre.
Saturday: Start with St Davids Cathedral, then The Bishop's Palace. In the afternoon, head to Whitesands Bay.
Sunday: Visit Skomer and Ramsey Islands or The Pembrokeshire Coast Path, then head home.

Packing list for St Davids

Handy things people often forget. These are Amazon links, so prices and availability are set by Amazon.

More kit guides: Beach and coast gear Walking gear Wet-weather gear

Good to know

There is no railway station, so most visitors drive.
Boat trips to the islands depend on weather and tides.
Beach car parks are busy in summer.

St Davids weekend FAQs

Is St Davids worth a weekend?

Yes. It has a cathedral, beaches, walks and wildlife trips in a small area.

Why is it called a city?

It has a cathedral, and was granted city status because of its long religious history, even though it is very small.

More weekend ideas

PembrokeshireWales

A rugged coast of golden beaches, seabirds and a famous coast path

TenbyPembrokeshire

A colourful walled harbour town with sandy beaches

Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog)Powys

Mountain ridges, waterfalls and some of the darkest skies in Wales

Gower PeninsulaSwansea

Britain's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with golden bays and cliff walks

Explore more: Best weekend breaks in Wales · Best UK city breaks for a weekend · Best romantic weekend breaks in the UK · Best family weekend breaks in the UK

Browse popular weekend activities or use the BritBreaks finder to match a weekend to your budget and travel time.

Last reviewed October 2026. Please check opening times and prices with each attraction before you go. Report an error or share a tip.