St David’s Day, without the dragon-sized price tag

The best Welsh destinations you can reach by coach

St David’s Day is that special time of year when Wales celebrates itself with leeks, daffodils, and a quiet sense of national pride that says, yes, we know it rains, but have you seen the views?

If you’re planning a Welsh escape on 1 March and would rather not wrestle with parking, petrol prices, or the existential dread of the M4 we have you covered. Comfortable seats, generous luggage allowances, and prices that don’t require a small bank loan make it an excellent way to reach Wales’ greatest hits.

Here are some of the best Welsh destinations you can travel to with National Express this St David’s Day.

Cardiff

The capital, with castles and cake

Cardiff is proof that a capital city doesn’t need to be enormous to be impressive. One minute you’re shopping, the next you’re standing inside a medieval castle, wondering how this was allowed to happen in the middle of town.

St David’s Day in Cardiff usually comes with parades, live music, and enough Welsh flags to make Google Maps briefly lose its sense of direction. National Express drops you right into the city, meaning you can focus on cultural enrichment rather than reverse-parking anxiety.

Why it works by coach:

• Direct routes from major UK cities
  
  
• No city-centre parking nightmares
  
  
• Enough legroom to recover from eating too much bara brith
  
  

Swansea

Dylan Thomas, dramatic coastlines, and chips by the sea

Swansea combines literary prestige with the very practical joy of being next to the sea. It’s a gateway to the Gower Peninsula, which regularly features in lists titled things like “How Is This Still the UK?”

Arrive by coach, stroll the marina, and enjoy the kind of coastal air that makes you feel healthier without requiring actual exercise.

Why it works by coach:

• Affordable fares that leave budget for seafood
  
  
• Relaxed travel, ideal for staring wistfully out of the window
  
  
• Easy access to both city life and wild coastline
  
  

Tenby

Pastel Houses, serious beaches, and very earnest ice cream

Tenby is the kind of place that looks like it was designed specifically to improve your mood. Colourful harbour houses, medieval walls, and beaches so good they feel faintly unfair to the rest of the UK.

St David’s Day in Tenby is less about large-scale spectacle and more about gentle seaside patriotism: flags fluttering, locals nodding approvingly, and a strong chance you’ll be eating chips while wearing a coat “just in case.”

Arriving by coach means you can admire the rolling Pembrokeshire scenery without the small but persistent worry of narrow coastal roads and optimistic parking spaces.

Why it works by coach:

• Easy access to a classic Welsh seaside town
  
  
• A relaxed journey that suits Tenby’s unhurried pace
  
  
• No need to drive, which feels correct when the destination is this charming
  
  

Aberystwyth

Seaside charm with a slightly academic edge

Aberystwyth is the kind of place where Victorian architecture meets sea spray, and the funicular railway exists purely because someone decided walking uphill was optional.

It’s quirky, scenic, and an excellent choice if you like your St David’s Day celebrations paired with sea views and the gentle hum of university-town life.

Why it works by coach:

• Reach remote-feeling places without remote-feeling logistics
  
  
• Comfortable seats for admiring increasingly dramatic landscapes
  
  
• Prices that make spontaneous trips feel sensible
  
  

Why travel with us this St David’s Day?

Let’s be practical for a moment, briefly.

• Excellent value fares: More money for Welsh cakes, fewer regrets
  
  
• Comfortable, modern coaches: Reclining seats, charging points, and legroom that respects personal space
  
  
• Generous luggage allowance: Ideal for souvenirs, coats, and emergency umbrellas
  
  
• Lower carbon footprint than driving: Sustainable travel, without needing to mention it loudly
  
  

In short, we let you enjoy Wales without the bits of travel everyone pretends to enjoy but secretly doesn’t.

Final thoughts (or: Iechyd Da, without the stress)

Wales does St David’s Day properly: warm, proud, and just understated enough. Whether you’re heading to a bustling capital or a windswept coast, travelling by National Express means getting there calmly, affordably, and with time to plan which pub you’ll visit first.

No dragons required. Just a ticket, a window seat, and a mild appreciation for efficiency.

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