Wicklow and Glendalough day trip guide

Why Wicklow is Dublin’s best backyard

The Wicklow Mountains begin almost immediately south of Dublin city — within 20 minutes of the M50 ring road you are on open moorland, and within 50 minutes you are deep in a glacial valley that feels entirely removed from the capital. This proximity, combined with the quality of what’s here — Glendalough, Powerscourt, the Sally Gap, the Wicklow Way — makes it consistently the most popular day trip from Dublin.

The destination anchor is Glendalough (Glen of the Two Lakes): a 6th-century monastic settlement founded by St Kevin, with a round tower, a cathedral and several smaller churches arranged beside two lakes in a glacial valley. It is one of the finest early medieval sites in Ireland and is in remarkably good condition. The surrounding woodland and mountain walks extend the visit well beyond the monastic site itself.

Choosing the right kind of day

Before you pick a transport option, decide what kind of day you want. Wicklow rewards three quite different travellers. The first is the history-minded visitor, who wants the monastic site explained properly and is happy with a guide and a fixed schedule. The second is the walker, who would rather spend most of the day on the valley paths and treats the monastery as a pleasant start. The third is the scenery-and-photography traveller, who cares most about the moorland road, the viewpoints and the freedom to stop when the light is good.

A guided tour suits the first group, the bus or a rental car suits the second, and a self-drive day suits the third. None of these choices is wrong, but mixing them up is the usual source of disappointment: walkers on a tight coach schedule feel rushed, and history lovers wandering alone often walk past the details that make the site interesting. If you are still weighing Wicklow against other options, best Dublin day trip: which one compares the main contenders side by side, and day trips without a car explains how the public-transport options stack up.

For a deeper look at the valley itself, the dedicated Glendalough guide and the wider Wicklow Mountains guide go into more detail than this page can. Think of this guide as the planning layer: how to get there, how to structure the day and what to avoid.

How to get there

Organised day tour (most popular)

The Wild Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough tour is consistently the most praised Wicklow day tour — award-winning, small-group format (typically a minibus of 20 or fewer), departing from Dublin around 08:30 and returning by around 17:30. The route covers the Sally Gap moorland, a stop at Lough Tay (the Guinness Lake, famously dark) and about 2 hours at Glendalough. About €35.

The Glendalough and Wicklow Mountains guided trip is a similar full-day format at around €28, a slightly larger group but good value if the Wild Wicklow tour is sold out.

For those who want to combine Wicklow with Powerscourt estate, the Wicklow, Powerscourt and Glendalough day tour includes a 1-hour stop at the Powerscourt estate gardens.

If you want to combine Wicklow with Kilkenny in a single day, the Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough and Kilkenny tour does both — a long but efficient 9-hour day covering the mountains and Ireland’s best-preserved medieval city.

Driving independently

The most flexible option. From Dublin: take the N11 south, then the R762 via Roundwood to the Wicklow Gap road or the R115 via the Sally Gap. Glendalough is signposted from Laragh. Total: about 50–60 minutes without stops.

A self-drive day might include: Powerscourt Waterfall (signposted from Enniskerry, €8 per car), the Sally Gap moorland road, Lough Tay viewpoint, Glendalough, and the return via Avoca and Rathdrum. About 6–7 hours with relaxed stops.

Parking at Glendalough costs €4–€6 per car and fills quickly on summer weekends. Arrive before 10:00 or after 15:00 for manageable parking.

Bus from Dublin

St Kevin’s Bus departs from Dawson Street twice daily, stopping at Roundwood and Glendalough. One way takes about 1.5 hours; cost around €15. Check current timetable at stkevinbus.com. Good for independent walkers who want to do the Wicklow Way sections.

What to see at Glendalough

The monastic site

The core of Glendalough is the walled monastic city, entered through a double-arched gateway — the only complete medieval monastic gateway surviving in Ireland. Inside: the Cathedral (the largest church, with a fine carved west doorway from the 12th century), St Kevin’s Kitchen (a small church with a round tower rising from its nave), and the main Round Tower — 33 metres high, used as a belfry and place of refuge. The tower was completed around the 10th century; it is still in excellent condition.

There is no admission fee to the monastic site itself. The Glendalough Visitor Centre (entrance €5) has exhibits on the monastic history and is worth visiting for context.

The lakes

The Lower Lake is immediately adjacent to the monastic site; a gravel path runs along its south shore. The Upper Lake, about 1.5 km further into the valley, is longer and more dramatic. St Kevin’s Cell — a hermit’s beehive hut dating from the 8th or 9th century — sits on a ledge above the upper lake and can be reached by a short scramble.

Walking routes

• Lower Lake path: 30 minutes, flat, suitable for all ages
• Upper Lake loop: 1 hour, mainly flat, good views
• Poulanass Waterfall: 45 minutes each way from the upper lake, through forest
• Wicklow Way section: From Glendalough, the Wicklow Way long-distance trail heads into the mountains; sections of 2–3 hours are accessible without needing the full route

Pacing your time in the valley

The simplest way to structure a visit is to do the monastic site first, while you are fresh and the light on the stonework is good, and then head up the valley toward the Upper Lake. Most people do the reverse, or never leave the area around the Lower Lake, and so miss the quieter part of the valley. Even a short walk beyond the first lake changes the feel of the place: the crowds thin quickly, the sound of the water takes over and the valley sides close in.

If you are travelling with children or with anyone who finds uneven ground difficult, the flat lakeside paths are the best choice, and the monastic site itself is easy to enjoy at a slow pace. Our family day trips from Dublin guide covers how Wicklow compares with other options for younger travellers. Walkers who want something more demanding can use the valley as a gateway to the Wicklow Way and longer routes; the Wicklow Mountains destination page gives the broader picture of what lies beyond the valley.

Pack for changeable weather whatever the forecast says. The mountains make their own conditions, a sunny start in Dublin can turn into mist and drizzle on the high ground, and the valley floor can be damp underfoot even when it has not rained that day. Sturdy shoes matter far more than a fancy rain jacket on the gravel and forest paths. For general guidance on what to bring, see Dublin weather and what to pack, and for timing the trip across the year, best time to visit Dublin.

The Sally Gap and Wicklow moorland

The drive through the Wicklow Mountains — whether via the Sally Gap (R115) or the Wicklow Gap (R756) — is one of the most atmospheric roads in Ireland. Both routes cross high moorland: brown heather, blanket bog, scattered granite boulders, no trees, and views that can extend 40 km on a clear day.

The Sally Gap route passes Lough Tay (the Guinness Lake), named for the dark colour of the water caused by peat. Guinness once used the lake in an advertisement; a replica Guinness label fits perfectly over the view. The estate at the lake’s edge is private property; the viewpoint is from the road.

Stopping at Lough Tay and the viewpoints

Lough Tay is best treated as a short, deliberate stop rather than a place to linger. The view is from the roadside, so the visit is about the panorama and a few photographs, not a walk. Light matters here: a bright, clear morning shows the contrast between the dark water and the pale sand at the lake’s edge, while flat grey cloud makes it look rather plain. The Lough Tay and Sally Gap destination page has more on what to look for. Bring a layer even in summer, as the exposed road is windier than the valley.

If your tour or drive also takes in the gardens at Powerscourt, the Powerscourt gardens and waterfall guide and the Powerscourt destination page explain what to see and how long to allow, so you can decide whether a combined route is worth the extra time on your particular day.

Food, drink and small practicalities

Plan lunch before you arrive, not after. The options near the monastic site are limited and get busy at midday, so a packed lunch eaten by the lake is often the most pleasant and least stressful choice. If you prefer to sit down, the pub near the visitor centre is the obvious option, and arriving slightly before or after the peak lunch rush makes it more relaxed. For a wider sense of Irish dishes you might want to try afterwards back in the city, see traditional Irish food, and for an evening pint after a long day outdoors, best pubs in Dublin is a good place to start.

Bring water, a small bag and something to keep your phone dry. Mobile signal can be patchy in the valley and on the high road, so download any maps or tickets before you leave Dublin. If you are driving, check fuel before you leave the city and keep a little cash for parking.

If you are unsure whether to book ahead or decide on the day, booking attractions in advance in Dublin lays out a sensible approach, and Dublin scams to avoid is worth a glance if you are buying tours from street sellers rather than online.

What’s included and what costs extra

Organised tours typically include:

• Coach transport and guide
• Stops at the Wicklow moorland (Sally Gap or Wicklow Gap)
• 1.5–2 hours at Glendalough
• Sometimes a sheepdog demonstration (adds 30 minutes)

Not usually included:

• Glendalough Visitor Centre admission (€5)
• Meals and refreshments
• Optional Powerscourt entry

There is a café and a pub near the Glendalough visitor centre; the pub (The Wicklow Heather) is good for lunch.

Combining Wicklow with other destinations

Wicklow + Kilkenny: The Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough and Kilkenny tour covers both in 9 hours — one of the best-value day tour options for seeing two very different types of Irish landscape and heritage.

Wicklow + Powerscourt: Add Powerscourt estate (gardens and waterfall) to the route — either on an organised tour or when driving independently.

Wicklow alone: If you love walking and want most of the day at Glendalough and in the mountains, the full-day trip focused purely on Wicklow gives the best experience.

For context on all available day trips, see best day trips from Dublin and the family day trips from Dublin guide for younger travellers.

Tour vs self-drive vs bus

If this is your only Wicklow visit, the organised tour is the easiest choice — no navigation, no parking search, and a guide who explains what you’re looking at along the Sally Gap. If you already have a rental car for a wider driving in Ireland from Dublin trip, self-drive costs a fraction of the tour price and lets you linger at the Upper Lake or Lough Tay as long as you like.

Fitting Wicklow into a longer Dublin stay

Wicklow slots neatly into most itineraries because it asks for a single day and no overnight bag. On a short visit it works well as the day that balances a heavy schedule of museums and pubs: the Dublin 3-day itinerary and the Dublin 4 days with a day trip both leave room for a countryside day, and the Dublin 5-day plan gives you the slack to choose a good-weather day rather than a fixed one.

Weather is the main reason to stay flexible. If the forecast for your planned Wicklow day looks poor, swap it with a city day and keep the mountains for a clearer morning; the rainy day in Dublin guide has plenty to fill the gap. You will enjoy the valley much more in good visibility, and the high road is safer too.

If you want a personal account of the area in a quieter season, the blog post on Glendalough in spring shows how different the valley feels outside the busiest months, and the best day trip I ever took from Dublin is a good companion read when you are deciding where to spend your single free day.

Where to stay if you want more than a day trip

Most visitors base themselves in Dublin and treat Wicklow as a day out, which works well given the short drive — see where to stay in Dublin for choosing a base. If you want a slower two-day version with an overnight in the valley, Wicklow Town and Avoca makes a good second-night base before returning to Dublin via the coast.

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