Travellers who want to cover a difficult route without hiring a car.
day trips IrelandMe tour notes
Glendalough and Wicklow Mountains Afternoon Tour from Dublin
A five-hour afternoon escape from Dublin into the Wicklow Mountains, with 1.5 hours to explore Glendalough's monastic ruins and two beautiful lakes.
From €33 starting price · live price may vary
Check dates & prices ↗ Free cancellation on most dates · Booked securely with Viator
Duration5 hours
PriceFrom €33
Rating4.1 from 547 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.
County Wicklow is often called the Garden of Ireland, and once you've driven through it you'll understand why. This afternoon tour heads south out of Dublin into a landscape of beautiful lakes, dense forests, and quiet mountain valleys.
You'll pass through scenery used in films like Braveheart and P.S. I Love You before arriving at Glendalough - the valley of the two lakes. You get at least 1.5 hours here to take a relaxing walk to the Upper Lake and explore the ruins of St Kevin's monastery, including its round towers, Celtic crosses, and the remnants of an extraordinary early Christian settlement.
The published itinerary is the deciding factor here. Check the current meeting point and stop timings before committing.
One practical detail
Your 1.5 hours at Glendalough is enough for the monastic ruins and the Lower Lake, and just about enough for the Green Road walk out to the Upper Lake - 3km return, flat and easy, taking you past the round tower, the cathedral, and most of the surviving early Christian buildings on the way. That's the route to prioritise: it's the most efficient use of the time and the most rewarding path through the valley.
How the experience works
It's a genuinely lovely half-day out, and good value for how much ground you cover.
What the price covers
- Local guide
- Driver/guide
- Fuel surcharge
- Lunch
- Gratuities
The published itinerary
Use this to judge the pace and where your time actually goes. Operators can adjust stop order for traffic, weather or opening times.
- Dublin City departure - Your guide introduces Dublin as you leave the city and head south into the Wicklow Mountains. You'll pass Sugar Loaf mountain and descend through Roundwood, Ireland's highest village, on the way to Glendalough. (pass by)
- Glendalough - You'll have 1.5 hours to explore this celebrated valley. Walk along the river bank through the woods, past babbling brooks and through to the two lakes. The ruined Monastic City - with its Celtic crosses, round towers, and ancient churches - is one of the most atmospheric heritage sites in the country. Fans of Braveheart will recognise the wedding location, and P.S. I Love You was filmed here too. (120 min)
- Return to Dublin - A scenic drive back through the Wicklow Mountains before returning to the city. (20 min)
Meeting point: Paddywagon Office at The Spire - 34 O'Connell Street Lower, Dublin 1.
Local tips that make the day better
The round tower is 30 metres tall, with the doorway three and a half metres off the ground - built that way so the monks could pull the ladder up when Vikings came up the valley. The conical roof was rebuilt from the original stones after a lightning strike in 1876. It's one of the best-preserved round towers in Ireland, and you can walk right to its base.
On the way from Dublin, the coach passes through Roundwood - officially Ireland's highest village at 238 metres - which you'll see from the road. It's a proper village with two good pubs: the Roundwood Inn (17th century, Hungarian goulash on the menu since the 1980s, open fire from October) and The Coach House (in the Michelin Guide since 2024). Neither is on this tour's itinerary, but if you ever return with more time, Roundwood is a 15-minute stop between Glendalough and Dublin that most people skip and shouldn't.
If you find 1.5 hours isn't enough at Glendalough - and many people do - the morning full-day tour options give you a longer stop and the option to walk the Spinc ridge above the Upper Lake (9km loop, about 4 hours). This afternoon tour is the right call if your morning is already committed; the full-day options are worth knowing about if you can plan ahead.
Good to know before booking
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; infant seats are available
- Public transport options are available nearby
- Suitable for all fitness levels
- Maximum group size of 64
- Conducted in English
- Your booking through Viator will automatically include the pickup point and time shown in the booking confirmation
Make more of the area
- Glendalough - St Kevin's 6th-century monastic city in a glacial valley, with two lakes, a 30-metre round tower, and forest paths that thread through the ruins and out to the quieter Upper Lake
- Roundwood - Ireland's highest village on the R755 between Glendalough and Dublin, with the 17th-century Roundwood Inn and the Michelin-listed Coach House across the street
Questions before you book
How long is Glendalough and Wicklow Mountains Afternoon Tour from Dublin ?
The published duration is 5 hours. Allow extra time to reach the meeting point and for your onward plans.
How much does Glendalough and Wicklow Mountains Afternoon Tour from Dublin cost?
The listed starting price is From €33. 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 €33 · 5 hours Check dates & prices ↗
