Llandudno has two beaches of its own, back to back across the isthmus.
North Shore is the resort bay under the promenade and the pier: mostly shingle, with a smaller run of sand at the town-centre end and the paddling pool, café and toilets at Craig-y-Don. West Shore looks the other way, over Conwy Sands to Anglesey, with gently sloping sand, a play area and the sunset, but it sits at the mouth of the Conwy estuary, where the council warns that tides are unpredictable and currents strong. Both were classed Good for bathing water in 2025, and neither has lifeguards: no beach in Conwy county is on the RNLI's lifeguarded list.
For the most sand and the best water, go east to the Bay of Colwyn. Rhos-on-Sea and Porth Eirias were widened with sand pumped from offshore during the waterfront rebuild, and both were classed Excellent in 2025. Porth Eirias, between Colwyn Bay pier and the watersports centre, has toilets, showers and a bistro in one building and bans dogs all year, which makes it the obvious dog-free family beach. West of Conwy, Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan are quieter, mountain-backed and also Excellent; both are shingle at the top, with the sand showing only at low tide.
Conwy Morfa, across the estuary from Deganwy, is the wild option: dunes, a big sandy bay at low water, a small free car park and almost nothing else, and the council advises against paddling or swimming there. Dog owners have it easiest there and in winter. Llandudno's two shores, Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan each close one marked stretch from 1 May to 30 September and open the whole beach from October to April; the bans at Porth Eirias and Rhos Point run all year; Conwy Morfa has no restriction zone at all.
Lifeguards: the 2026 season. Water: the latest official bathing-water classification. Every fact links to the page it came from, checked 27 October 2026.
Summer dog ban No lifeguards Good water (2025)
The Victorian resort bay, a long curve of shingle between the Great Orme and the Little Orme, with a smaller sandy stretch near the town centre where rock pools show at low tide. This is the classic seaside day of pier, donkey rides and Punch and Judy, with the paddling pool, play area, café and lifeboat station at the Craig-y-Don end. Hundreds of tonnes of rock added to the flood defences now front parts of the beach, protection for the town at some cost to its looks.
Surface
sand and shingle
Dogs
Banned 1 May to 30 September from the pier to the first slipway; allowed on the rest of the beach then, and anywhere on it from 1 October to 30 April Source
Lifeguards
Not lifeguarded: no Conwy county beach is on the RNLI's list of lifeguarded beaches for the 2026 season; the nearest patrolled beaches are Rhyl and Prestatyn Source
Facilities
Paddling pool, play area, café and public toilets at the Craig-y-Don end, beside the lifeboat station; the council toilets there are free, with disabled and baby-changing facilities Source
Access
Wide, flat promenade the length of the bay, with jetty access down to the foreshore from the pier; Blue Badge parking on the road and an accessible toilet at the Craig-y-Don paddling pool Source
Parking
Council pay-and-display along the promenade (The Parade, 340 spaces): from May to July and in September £5.50 for up to four hours or £8.50 for longer, more in August, cheaper October to April; free 4pm to 10am. No 24-hour ticket Source
Water quality
Good in 2025, the Natural Resources Wales's classification for Llandudno North Shore. Source
Summer dog ban No lifeguards Good water (2025)
The quieter side of town, facing south-west over Conwy Sands to Anglesey and the Carneddau, a level walk of about a quarter of an hour from the centre. Gently sloping sand below a stony upper beach and a short promenade, with a play area, outdoor gym, miniature railway and the Victoria boating lake behind. It is Llandudno's sunset beach, and because it lies at the mouth of the estuary the council asks visitors to stay close in rather than walk far out across the sand.
Surface
sand and shingle
Dogs
Banned 1 May to 30 September between the two stone groynes, from the promenade to the low-water mark; allowed beyond the groynes then, and anywhere on the beach from 1 October to 30 April Source
Lifeguards
Not lifeguarded: no Conwy county beach is on the RNLI's list of lifeguarded beaches for the 2026 season; the nearest patrolled beaches are Rhyl and Prestatyn Source
Facilities
Council toilets at West Shore (50p, with disabled and baby-changing facilities); seasonal beach café, play area, outdoor gym and miniature railway Source
Access
Wide, flat promenade with accessible picnic tables, Blue Badge parking at the beach car park and a disabled toilet Source
Parking
Free parking at the beach, plus a pay-and-display car park next to the West Shore Beach Café Source
Tides
Where the Conwy estuary meets the Irish Sea the tides are unpredictable and the currents strong; the council asks visitors to check tide times and not wander far out on the sand Source
Water quality
Good in 2025, the Natural Resources Wales's classification for Llandudno West Shore. Source
No dogs No lifeguards Excellent water (2025)
The western half of the Bay of Colwyn, a wide, shallow sandy beach running from Rhos-on-Sea to Colwyn Bay pier beneath the grass slope of the Cayley Embankment. Sand pumped in from offshore during the waterfront rebuild widened it, and the new promenade has play areas, crazy golf, kiosks and a cycle path. Rhos has the cafés, shops and watersports hire; dogs are kept off the beach at Rhos Point all year but can use the rest.
Surface
sand
Dogs
Banned all year at Rhos Point, on the small patch of dry sand the tide does not reach and on the beach from Rhos Point to the promenade access in line with College Avenue; the council lists no other restriction on this beach Source
Lifeguards
Not lifeguarded: no Conwy county beach is on the RNLI's list of lifeguarded beaches for the 2026 season; the nearest patrolled beaches are Rhyl and Prestatyn Source
Facilities
Free council toilets on Rhos on Sea promenade, with disabled and baby-changing facilities, plus seasonal toilets at the paddling pool (Easter to early September); kiosks and crazy golf on the promenade Source
Access
Wide, flat promenade with ramps down to the sand at several points; beach access tracks laid from May to September; Blue Badge parking on and off the road Source
Parking
Pay-and-display along the whole promenade; the council's Colwyn Avenue car park in Rhos has 64 spaces, with a 24-hour ticket Source
Tides
The imported sand was placed to protect the sea wall and to leave a beach at every state of the tide Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the Natural Resources Wales's classification for Colwyn Bay. Source
No dogs No lifeguards Excellent water (2025)
Colwyn Bay's central beach, east of the pier, rebuilt with sand dredged from a bank far offshore and gently shelving into the bay. The Porth Eirias building at its centre holds Bryn Williams' bistro and café, public toilets and showers and a watersports shop, with a play area beside it. Dogs are banned from this stretch all year, which makes it the pick for families who want sand without dogs.
Surface
sand
Dogs
Banned all year between Colwyn Bay pier and Porth Eirias Source
Lifeguards
Not lifeguarded: no Conwy county beach is on the RNLI's list of lifeguarded beaches for the 2026 season; the nearest patrolled beaches are Rhyl and Prestatyn Source
Facilities
Public toilets and showers in the Porth Eirias building, which also has a bistro and café; kiosks along the promenade Source
Access
Wide, flat promenade with jetty access to the sand, Blue Badge parking in the Porth Eirias car park and an accessible toilet in the building; beach access tracks from May to September Source
Parking
Council pay-and-display on Colwyn Bay Promenade (300 spaces): from May to September £5.50 for up to four hours or £8.50 for longer, cheaper October to April; free 4pm to 10am. No 24-hour ticket Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the Natural Resources Wales's classification for Colwyn Bay Porth Eirias. Source
Dogs allowed No lifeguards Not a bathing water
A large sandy bay backed by dunes on the west side of the Conwy estuary, under Conwy Mountain and a short drive from Llandudno. There is a shingle strip at the top and wide sand at low tide, and almost no facilities: the nearest pub and shop are at Conwy Marina. A beach for a long walk with or without a dog, not for a swim; the council advises against paddling and swimming here.
Surface
sand and shingle
Dogs
No restriction zone: Conwy Morfa is not on the council's list of beaches with dog restrictions, so dogs may go anywhere on it all year Source
Lifeguards
Not lifeguarded: no Conwy county beach is on the RNLI's list of lifeguarded beaches for the 2026 season; the nearest patrolled beaches are Rhyl and Prestatyn Source
Facilities
Few facilities at the beach; the nearest pub and shop are at Conwy Marina Source
Access
Reached by paths through the dunes, which the council says may not suit people with mobility problems, wheelchairs or prams Source
Parking
Limited free parking at the beach, reached from the A55 Source
Tides
Estuary mouth: unpredictable tides and strong currents; read the safety signs at the entrance. Paddling and swimming are not advised Source
Water quality
Not a designated bathing water, so it is not sampled.
Summer dog ban No lifeguards Excellent water (2025)
A long, level beach where the mountains drop to the sea west of Conwy, looking out over the Menai Strait, with shingle and rock at the top and a broad sandy shore at low tide. The promenade has a paddling pool, play areas, a skate park and a seasonal café, and the sailing club launches from here. In summer the sun sets over Puffin Island; out of season the toilets and café close.
Surface
sand and shingle
Dogs
Banned 1 May to 30 September between the slipway by the sailing club and the promenade by the café; allowed elsewhere then, and anywhere on the beach from 1 October to 30 April Source
Lifeguards
Not lifeguarded: no Conwy county beach is on the RNLI's list of lifeguarded beaches for the 2026 season; the nearest patrolled beaches are Rhyl and Prestatyn Source
Facilities
Free council toilets by the paddling pool, open only from Easter to the first week of September (disabled and baby-changing facilities); seasonal café, paddling pool, play areas and skate park Source
Access
The jetty at the sailing club gives step-free access onto the beach; seating along the promenade Source
Parking
A large pay car park beside the promenade, reached from the A55 Source
Tides
Shingle and rock at high water; the sand is only uncovered as the tide drops Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the Natural Resources Wales's classification for Penmaenmawr. Source
Summer dog ban No lifeguards Excellent water (2025)
The westernmost beach in Conwy county, a small Victorian resort under the Carneddau with views back towards Llandudno and across to Anglesey. A shingle shore gives way to wide sands at low tide, behind a broad promenade with a paddling pool, play area, boating pond and the Beach Pavilion café. The flat coast path carries on west to the Glan y Môr Elias saltmarsh reserve, an easy extension for birdwatchers.
Surface
sand and shingle
Dogs
Banned 1 May to 30 September between the main slipway and the river mouth; allowed elsewhere then, and anywhere on the beach from 1 October to 30 April Source
Lifeguards
Not lifeguarded: no Conwy county beach is on the RNLI's list of lifeguarded beaches for the 2026 season; the nearest patrolled beaches are Rhyl and Prestatyn Source
Facilities
Beach Pavilion café (in season) and toilets in the middle of the promenade; the council toilets there are 50p, with disabled and baby-changing facilities Source
Access
Broad promenade the length of the beach with a gently sloping jetty onto the sand; the level coast path west to Glan y Môr Elias (tarmac promenade and grass) is suitable for wheelchairs, though a RADAR key is needed Source
Parking
Council pay-and-display promenade car park: £1.00 for an hour up to £6.50 for 24 hours, £2.00 overnight; buses stop at the car park entrance Source
Tides
Shingle at high water; a wide sandy beach opens up at low tide Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the Natural Resources Wales's classification for Llanfairfechan. Source