Voted the No. 1 day tour on Tripadvisor, this full day out from Dublin takes you through some of Ireland’s most rewarding countryside. You’ll meander through the Wicklow Mountains into Wicklow National Park, spend time at the ancient monastic settlement of Glendalough, and finish in medieval Kilkenny City.
The coach is a 5-star award-winning luxury vehicle with free WiFi, USB charging, and live commentary throughout. A professional guide takes you on foot at both main stops, with a separate coach driver handling the road.
It’s a well-loved tour for good reason - the combination of Wicklow scenery, early Christian history at Glendalough, and the streets of Kilkenny gives you a real cross-section of Ireland’s Ancient East.
Meeting point: Arrive at least 10 minutes before departure to check in with the tour guide. Look for the COLLINS coach. Departure is at 8:45am sharp.
At Glendalough, take the walk between the lakes. Your guided hour covers the monastic city - the 30-metre round tower (doorway 3.5 metres off the ground, which tells you everything about why it was built that way), the cathedral, the Seven Churches. When free time begins, the Green Road path from the visitor centre to the Upper Lake is 3 km return, flat, and takes you past the best of the valley. If you only have 60 minutes, go at least as far as the Upper Lake - it’s quieter than the round tower area and genuinely worth it. Boots are better than trainers on the lakeshore path if the weather has been wet.
The Wicklow Gap photo stop is brief - be ready. The mountain pass is one of the finest viewpoints in Wicklow, and 15 minutes goes fast. Have your phone charged (USB ports are on the coach) and get off quickly when the driver pulls in.
In Kilkenny, use your free lunch time on High Street or Parliament Street. You have 3 hours in the city and lunch comes first. Foodworks on Parliament Street does a strong brunch that works until mid-afternoon. Rinuccini, opposite the castle gates, is a basement Italian that has been running since 1989 and won’t rush you. For something quicker, the Design Centre café in the old castle stables is two minutes from the coach drop.
The Medieval Mile is yours after lunch. Kilkenny Castle to St Canice’s Cathedral is about 1.5 km of medieval laneways - the Tholsel, Rothe House, the Black Abbey. The optional guided walking tour takes you through it; if you’d rather go at your own pace, the route is hard to miss. Climb the round tower at the cathedral (100 steps, not for everyone) for a view over the whole city. The Castle Park and Gardens behind the castle gates are free and a good place to sit for ten minutes before the coach back.
Skip the Smithwick’s Experience if time is tight. The brewery tour on Parliament Street is interesting, but with 3 hours in Kilkenny you’ll feel the pinch. The Medieval Mile and a proper lunch are better use of the afternoon.