Hotel near Porthmadog | 10 Minutes Away

Looking for somewhere to stay near Porthmadog? The Lion Hotel is in Criccieth, the seaside town next door: about 10 minutes by car or a few minutes on the train, with a castle, two beaches and a quieter pace once the day trippers have gone home.

Many of our guests spend their days in Porthmadog, riding the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland steam railways, walking the Cob or heading to Black Rock Sands, then come back to Criccieth for dinner, a drink in the bar and a walk along the seafront.

You get the best of both: everything Porthmadog has to offer close by, and a hotel on The Green in the middle of a small, walkable seaside town.

5 milesto Porthmadog

10 minby car

Direct trainsCriccieth to Porthmadog

Freeparking at the hotel

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Why guests stay at The Lion

On The Green in the centre of Criccieth, a few minutes' walk from the castle and both beaches
Breakfast, our Llewelyn's Restaurant and The Mane Place bar under one roof
Rooms for couples, friends and families, plus self-catering apartments
Sea view rooms over Cardigan Bay
Free parking and an EV charger on site
10% off when you book direct on this website

Getting to Porthmadog from the hotel

By car it is a short, easy drive east along the coast road. If you would rather leave the car, Criccieth station is a few minutes' walk from the hotel and trains on the Cambrian Coast line stop at Porthmadog, the next station along.

From Porthmadog you can carry on to Portmeirion, Harlech or into the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia), so Criccieth makes a handy base for the whole area.

Things to do in and around Porthmadog

Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways: historic narrow-gauge steam trains from Harbour Station, up into the mountains towards Blaenau Ffestiniog or through Beddgelert to Caernarfon.
Black Rock Sands at Morfa Bychan: a long, wide sandy beach about 10–15 minutes' drive from the hotel.
The Cob and the harbour: a flat walk with views of the estuary and the mountains.
Portmeirion: the Italian-style village is just beyond Porthmadog, see staying near Portmeirion.
Golf at Porthmadog Golf Club and our own Criccieth Golf Club.

Why stay in Criccieth rather than Porthmadog?

Criccieth is smaller and right on the sea. From the hotel you can walk to the castle on the headland, to the beaches either side of it and to cafés, ice cream and fish and chips without getting back in the car. In the evening you can eat at Llewelyn's Restaurant or relax in The Mane Place bar downstairs.