Porthmadog is a small coastal town with a picturesque harbor.
The Ffestioniog Railway and the Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog - not to be confused with another section of the former Welsh Highland Railway from Caernarfon, further north) are two narrow gauge tourist railways. While the Welsh Highland is currently very short, the Ffestiniog runs through several miles of attractive terrain to Blaenau Ffestiniog. From Bleanau you can either proceed north to the coast at Llandudno or you can return to Porthmadog. A round trip (Porthmadog - Blaenau - Porthmadog) will take approximately 4 hours (more if you break the journey along the route) and it is therefore an excellent way of occupying a day.
The town has a good selection of Bed and Breakfast guest houses and makes a good base for exploring North-West Wales.