The region at a glance: Sure, this ancient land is steeped in myth and legend. But don't let Wales remain a mystery to you. With charming cities and a whopping 641 castles, Wales is about a lot more than daffodils.

Where is it? By train, Wales is a mere two hours from London, 40 minutes from Manchester, and half an hour from Bristol.

Population: Almost three million people. Ratio of sheep to people: 4:1.

Language: Wales has two official languages: Welsh and English.

Hungry? Beer, lamb, cheese, and spirits are excellent places to sample exciting regional differences.

Famous for: Welsh national parks such as Snowdonia, the coast of Wales, golf, adventure sports, daffodils, Cardiff, Conway Castle, seeing a traditional Welsh male voice choir, the up-and-coming city of Swansea, having a go at the daredevil sport of coasteering—scrambling up a cliff and then jumping off.

Travel easier: Buy special passes—like the Great British Heritage Pass—as well as train tickets and other items that will help you make your trip easier at our Online Shop.

Wales in depth: Be sure to check out the official site.