Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough and Kilkenny Day Tour from Dublin

The Wicklow Mountains and the Wicklow Gap

Known as the Garden of Ireland, County Wicklow starts only a short drive south of Dublin and quickly changes the scenery to heather-covered hills, forest and open bog. The coach climbs through the Wicklow Mountains National Park and over the Wicklow Gap, a high mountain pass with wide views over glacial valleys and lakes.

The drive is a big part of the appeal of a Wicklow Mountains day trip from Dublin. Your guide explains the landscape, its role in Irish history and the film and television work shot in the area, while you watch for sheep, granite ridges and mountain streams. Bring a camera, since the light changes quickly and photo stops are part of the journey.

Glendalough, the valley of two lakes

Glendalough means the valley of two lakes, and the name suits the place. Saint Kevin settled here in the sixth century, and a monastery grew up that drew scholars and pilgrims for hundreds of years. On the guided walk you pass the 30-metre round tower, the ruined cathedral, the stone church often called St Kevin's Kitchen, and an old graveyard with Celtic crosses.

The Upper Lake and its wooded shore give the site a peaceful feel that visitors remember more than any single building. A Glendalough guided tour helps you make sense of the layout and the legends, and the walk is gentle enough for most fitness levels. Is Glendalough worth visiting? For the mix of history and landscape, it is one of the best places to go near Dublin.

Kilkenny, the medieval city

Kilkenny is one of Ireland's best-preserved medieval towns, laid out around the Medieval Mile that links its castle and its cathedral. In the Middle Ages it was a seat of government, and traces of that time remain in the slype passages, the stone facades and the shopfronts that line the lanes. The guided walking tour brings the streets to life with stories of merchants, monks and nobles.

The castle, founded in the 12th century and long associated with the Butler family, dominates the riverside, and you can admire it from the parkland outside. Entry to Kilkenny Castle is not included in this tour. The town also has craft shops and cafes, so a Kilkenny day trip from Dublin gives you both history and free time to browse.

Planning your Wicklow and Kilkenny day trip

Dublin to Glendalough is about an hour and a quarter by road, and Kilkenny is roughly another hour and a half further, so the tour runs for about nine hours with time on the road, on foot and in town. The coach leaves at 08:45 from a central meeting point, and the guides keep the pace relaxed.

The tour is a good alternative to hiring a car if you are not used to driving on the left or on narrow country roads. Lunch is not included, so plan to buy something in Kilkenny or bring a snack. Wear waterproof layers and comfortable walking shoes, because the weather in the hills can change several times in one day.