Historically in Caernarfonshire, it lies in the heart of Snowdonia, on the River Llugwy, and has a population of 226,[1] reducing slightly to 206 at the 2011 census.

Capel Curig takes its name from the little St Julitta's Church in the ancient graveyard by the river bridge on the Llanberis road.

[3] Approximately one kilometre from Pont Cyfyng, on the farm of Bryn Gefeiliau, there are the remains of a Roman fort (c.90–100 AD) and named Caer Llugwy by its excavators.

One mile east of the village on the A5 is Tŷ Hyll, home of the Snowdonia Society Capel Curig is mentioned in the song Bottleneck at Capel Curig by cult UK band Half Man Half Biscuit on their album Trouble Over Bridgwater.

[9] As with much of the rest of the British Isles, Capel Curig experiences a temperate maritime climate (Cfb), with warm summers and cold winters, little extremes of temperature and high humidity year round.

[14] Roberts lived at Gelli, from where he explored all of Snowdonia, and compiled an unparalleled knowledge of the plant life of North Wales.

of the University of Wales, in 1956, at the same ceremony as the architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and his portrait was painted by Kyffin Williams.