Swansea, Wales' second-oldest town, extends as far as the lovely Gower Peninsula. A port at the mouth of the River Tawe, the city grew in size thanks to the export of iron, Cthe city is also a big draw for tourists thanks to its vibrant cultural life.

Sights in the city include an attractive indoor market, a vast glass building offering everything from ice cream to antiques and laverbread (containing seaweed) to carpets, and, in the former Guildhall on Somerset Place, the Dylan Thomas Centre which celebrates the life of the city’s most famous son. To the west, a tree-lined sea wall skirts the 4-mile bay to the Victorian pier at The Mumbles, a popular sailing centre and small exclusive resort.