Dublin and Wicklow Mountains Pub Tour

About This Tour

This is a six-hour private guided pub tour through four genuinely different pubs, starting in Dublin city and finishing in Wicklow town on the coast. Because the vehicle and guide are yours alone, the pace is relaxed and the conversation is real - no competing with strangers for your guide’s attention.

The route threads south from Dublin’s city quays through the foothills of the Dublin Mountains, down to the coast at Bray, and on to Wicklow town before looping back. Each pub has its own character, and your guide provides the context that turns a pint into something more than a drink. It suits anyone who wants to see Wicklow beyond the usual Glendalough day-trip - the pubs south of Dublin are older, quieter, and carry more history per square foot than most tourist stops in the city.

What’s Included

• Private vehicle with air-conditioning and WiFi on board
• Knowledgeable local guide for the full six hours
• Snacks and bottled water
• Parking fees at all stops

What’s Not Included

• Alcoholic beverages (purchased separately at each pub)

Itinerary

1. Drive along the Dublin Quays, taking in the River Liffey and its bridges, then head south
2. First pub stop in Dublin city
3. South through the Dublin Mountains foothills toward the coast
4. Coastal drive into Bray for the second stop - 60 minutes here, with time for a short walk along the Victorian promenade
5. On through Wicklow countryside to the final pubs, including a stop at Wicklow town

Good to Know

• Private tour - no shared vehicle with other groups
• Wheelchair accessible transportation; service animals welcome
• Conducted in English; not recommended for pregnant travellers
• Public transport options nearby at most stops
• Port pickup available - confirm meeting point at booking

Local Tips

The Quays section is more interesting than it looks. Driving Dublin’s Liffey quays gives you Ha’penny Bridge - a cast-iron pedestrian crossing from 1816 that replaced a halfpenny ferry service - plus the Custom House and a row of bridges that each mark a different chapter of the city’s story. Your guide’s commentary here tends to set the tone for the whole day.

The Bray stop is 60 minutes - use them. Bray has a proper Victorian promenade running 1.6km along the seafront, built when the town was nicknamed the Brighton of Ireland. If the weather is decent, walk toward Bray Head after the pub for coastal views south toward the Wicklow hills.

The Bridge Tavern in Wicklow town earns its pint. The pub on Bridge Street in Wicklow dates to 1702. Robert Halpin was born in the rooms above it in 1836 - the man who later captained the Great Eastern and laid the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable in 1866, linking Valentia Island, Kerry to Newfoundland. Knowing that before you order adds something to the experience.

Alcoholic drinks are not included, but the guide knows each pub well. Four stops over six hours can add up if you’re not watching. A word with your guide at the start about what you want from the day keeps things comfortable.

Nearby on IrelandMe

• Wicklow - the county town with a working harbour, Black Castle ruins on the headland, and the Bridge Tavern where Robert Halpin was born
• Bray - Victorian seaside town at the foot of Bray Head, with a promenade and easy DART links back to Dublin
• Roundwood - a quiet village in the Wicklow uplands on the road between the mountains and the coast