Travellers who want to cover a difficult route without hiring a car.
day trips IrelandMe tour notes
Award Winning Private Tour of Glendalough, Powerscourt & Wicklow
6-hour private tour from Dublin into Wicklow - Glendalough's 6th-century monastery, Powerscourt Gardens and waterfall, with a local guide all to yourself.
From €830 starting price · live price may vary
Check dates & prices ↗ Free cancellation on most dates · Booked securely with Viator
Duration6 hours
PriceFrom €830
Rating4.8 from 46 reviews
BookingSecurely via Viator
The IrelandMe take
What stands out about this one
Our practical read of the published itinerary, traveller feedback and local context—not the operator’s sales description.
Wicklow - the Garden of Ireland - is only thirty minutes south of Dublin, but it feels like a world away. Mountains, hidden lakes, sandy beaches, bogs and quiet villages sit at the heart of Ireland's Ancient East, and this six-hour private tour gives you a proper look at three of its best spots.
You'll walk in the footsteps of St Kevin at Glendalough's 6th-century monastic site, explore the story of the 1798 Irish Rebellion at Wicklow Jail, and wander the beautiful gardens at Powerscourt. If time allows, there's also a photo stop at Powerscourt Waterfall - the largest in Ireland. Your guide is a natural storyteller who genuinely knows and loves this part of the country, and they'll help you make the most of the day.
The published itinerary is the deciding factor here. Check the current meeting point and stop timings before committing.
One practical detail
At Glendalough, the flat walk between the lakes is the one to do. The Green Road runs from the visitor centre along the Lower Lake, past the round tower, through the woods, and out to the boardwalk at the foot of the Upper Lake - about 3 km return and manageable for all fitness levels. It takes you past the round tower, the cathedral ruins and several of the smaller church sites in one easy loop. The dramatic Spinc ridge walk is 9 km and needs boots and a full morning - that's for another day.
How the experience works
Round-trip transfer from anywhere in Dublin is included. Free Wi-Fi is available on some vehicles.
What the price covers
- Round-trip private transfer from anywhere in Dublin
- Local guide for the full tour
- Bottled water
- Free Wi-Fi (on some vehicles)
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Additional fee applies for pickup from Dublin Airport
Local tips that make the day better
The round tower doorway is 3.5 metres off the ground. That is not a quirk of design - when the Vikings came up the valley looking for monastery silver, the monks pulled the ladder up after them. Your guide will have the full story, but it's worth knowing before you arrive so you're looking for it rather than past it.
At Powerscourt Gardens, allow more time than you think. The formal gardens cover roughly 20 hectares and the Italian terrace alone can eat half an hour. National Geographic ranked them third in the world behind Versailles and Kew - the Italian terraces, the Japanese garden, and the Triton Lake all need time. If a photo stop at the waterfall is on the itinerary, it's a separate 20-minute drive from the main gardens. Let your guide know in advance if Powerscourt Waterfall is a priority - on a short day the logistics matter. The village of Enniskerry is a five-minute drive from the estate gates: Poppies on the square has been doing proper soup and home baking since 1982, which makes it a better lunch than the estate café if the schedule allows.
Wicklow Gaol is currently closed for major renovation - check the tour operator's itinerary notes before booking if the Gaol is specifically the reason you want this stop. The town itself, with the Black Castle ruins on the headland and the harbour walk, is worth the stop regardless.
Good to know before booking
- This is a private tour - just your group
- Pushchairs and strollers are welcome
- Public transport options are available nearby
- Infant seats are available on request
- Suitable for all fitness levels
- Cruise ship passengers should provide ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time at the time of booking
- Conducted in English
Make more of the area
- Glendalough - a 6th-century monastic city at the bottom of two glacial lakes, where the round tower has stood for a thousand winters and the Upper Lake walk earns its silence
- Enniskerry - the estate village at the gate of Powerscourt, where a fire gutted the Palladian house the week after its restoration finished in 1974, and the waterfall 6km away is 121 metres of the Dargle River over granite
- Wicklow - the county town on the sea, where the Black Castle ruins sit on the headland and Captain Robert Halpin, who wired the world with telegraph cable, was born above a pub on Bridge Street
Questions before you book
How long is Award Winning Private Tour of Glendalough, Powerscourt & Wicklow?
The published duration is 6 hours. Allow extra time to reach the meeting point and for your onward plans.
How much does Award Winning Private Tour of Glendalough, Powerscourt & Wicklow cost?
The listed starting price is From €830. Live prices can change by date, group size and availability.
What should I know before booking?
The published itinerary is the deciding factor here. Check the current meeting point and stop timings before committing.
Ready to decide?
Check the live times before building the rest of your day.
From €830 · 6 hours Check dates & prices ↗
