Wales, tucked into the southwestern corner of Great Britain, charms visitors with a wild, wind-swept coastline, craggy mountain parks and a living Celtic culture voiced in the lilting sounds of the Welsh language.

Cardiff, the capital, feels like a delightfully compact seaside town: stroll its sunlit Victorian and Edwardian arcades, explore the medieval castle with surprisingly lavish Gothic Revival interiors, then linger over coffee in a cozy café before a modest evening of local pubs and music.

Further northwest lies Snowdonia National Park — a drama of lakes, glacial ridges and hiking routes that thread up toward Snowdon’s summit, where a nostalgic mountain railway climbs through ever-changing views.

Wales also wears its history boldly: more than 600 castles dot the landscape, some raised by Welsh princes, others by later occupiers, each with stories to tell.

Finish the day on the coast in towns like Tenby, where pastel houses, sandy (and occasionally soggy) beaches and salt-tinged air complete the picture of a small country with a large, enduring spirit.