Independent guide — this is not the official Caernarfon Castle or Cadw website. Official visiting information, live at cadw.gov.wales (opens in new tab).

Explore Caernarfon on foot — a self-guided audio walking tour of the town and castle exterior with our tour partner. Free cancellation, instant mobile voucher.

Inside the Castle

Caernarfon Castle: a visual guide

We've illustrated the castle's key features as line drawings rather than reusing other people's photography — see below for where to find official, high-resolution photos.

A note on the images below

As an independent guide, we don't have rights to reproduce professional photography of the castle, so the illustrations on this page are our own original line drawings — sketched to help you recognise key features before you visit, not to substitute for the real thing.

The King's Gate

The main entrance and most heavily fortified part of the castle, facing Castle Square.

The Eagle Tower

The tallest tower, once topped with carved stone eagles, housing the grandest royal apartments.

The wall walk

A largely intact circuit connecting the towers along the northern curtain wall.

Banded masonry

Bands of grey and purple-toned stone, a deliberate echo of the walls of Constantinople.

Where to find real photographs

Official gallery

Cadw's official photo gallery

Cadw publishes an official gallery of the castle, including the King's Gate, Lower Ward and interpretation displays, on their site.

View Cadw's gallery ↗
Historic images

People's Collection Wales

An archive including historic photographs of the castle and the 1969 investiture, credited to Cadw and other contributors.

Visit People's Collection Wales ↗

Taking your own photos

Photography for personal use is permitted inside the castle. If you're a commercial photographer, filmmaker, or want to fly a drone, Cadw has specific policies covering venue hire, filming and drone use — check with Cadw directly before your visit rather than assuming.

Sources for this page

Cadw official gallery and visitor information; People's Collection Wales. See Sources & Citations.