The Welsh city of Swansea is a lively place with plenty to offer visitors on a shoestring budget. A large student population ensures Swansea is a vibrant and young city offering plenty of great activities and eating opportunities at competitively cheap rates.

Swansea’s proximity to the sea means it inhabitants often pursue sports such as surfing and volleyball. The Gower peninsula next to Swansea is a perfect seaside destination for those looking to relax when the weather is good. Sport is big in Swansea and there is a famous rivalry with Cardiff meaning local derbies are always exciting to watch. The poet Dylan Thomas was born and lived in Swansea and admirers of his work enjoy locating areas of Swansea mentioned in his poetry. Swansea is located in a bay which includes some great beaches and villages that are well worth exploring. The industrial era has certainly had a profound effect on the city and the city celebrates this rich heritage with some great museums.

The Maritime Quarter of Swansea offers numerous attractions to visitors. The aforementioned Dylan Thomas has a museum dedicated to his work (The Dylan Thomas centre) which offers an exhibition of his life and work. The centre hosts year-round literary events, book launches and plays and is well worth investigating. Entry is free and is great both for Dylan fans and curious visitors alike.

The Swansea Museum, which is situated in four locations, offers a great glimpse into Swansea and gives an insight into Swansea life past and present. The main museum is the oldest in Wales and houses great collections and an impressive stone building. The museum also has many boats in it collections which can be found down at Swansea marina. Some of the boats include a tug boat, a warning boat and various smaller vessels. The Tramshed, located on the marina has a wonderful display of memorabilia from the street trams of Swansea including the Mumbles tram which ran from Swansea to Mumbles pier. The fourth location of the Swansea museum is The Collections Centre. Open on Wednesdays, the Collections Centre houses the museums reserve collections of maritime and industrial memorabilia. Some of the most memorable artefacts in the centre are the old vehicles and boats on display. All four locations are free of charge and will provide visitors with a great idea of Swansea’s eventful and colourful past.

Swansea is also home to Wales’ youngest museum – The National Waterfront Museum, located in the Maritime quarter. Housed inside an innovative slate and glass building, the museum focuses on Wales’ history of industrial revolution and innovation. The museum continues the theme of innovation by using interactive touchscreens and multimedia to tell the story of industrial era Wales in great detail. There are many artefacts on display that will interest many visitors. The industrial era shaped Wales enormously and it might come as a surprise to hear that Welsh iron and steel was sent around the world to be used in countries such as New Zealand and India. Such an amazing heritage is celebrated in the free to enter National Waterfront Museum and it is highly recommended.

Swansea nightlife is legendary. The centre has a large range of pubs, bars, clubs, restaurant and even two casinos. Most of the well-known nightspots can be found on Wind Street and not only do they offer visitors good value food and drinks but also a glimpse into how locals view the world. There is plenty of great seafood to be eaten in Swansea and local cockles and laver bread are the local specialities.

There are several beaches around Swansea bay that are promoted to visitors and are among some of the most beautiful in Britain. Langland Bay, Caswell Bay and Llangennith all offer surfing possibilities for visitors looking to ride the waves or just admire others doing it. The seaside village of Mumbles, a 5 mile walk from Swansea along the coast, is highly recommended and there are many great shops, restaurants and cafes that are ideal for those visiting on a budget.

Swansea is a delightful city to investigate and one that will certainly not break the bank in doing so. The seaside attractions, as well as its rich cultural heritage mean it offers something for everyone.

	Written by :
	Jemma is a news & research reporter for compareandsave.com.Having worked as a journalist on a number of personal finance websites; she now spends time researching and commenting on UK personal finance stories and investigating new ways to help our readers save money.For press enquiries, please visit our Media Centre page.