Travellers who care more about the story of a place than simply photographing it.
cultural IrelandMe tour notes
Glendalough Day Tour from Dublin: Including Kilkenny City
Full-day coach tour from Dublin taking in Glendalough's monastic ruins, the Wicklow Gap, and 2 hours in medieval Kilkenny city. Returns around 6pm.
From €40 starting price · live price may vary
Check dates & prices ↗ Free cancellation on most dates · Booked securely with Viator
Duration9 hours
PriceFrom €40
Rating4.4 from 169 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.
This is a solid full day out from Dublin - two counties, two very different types of history, and a lot of good scenery in between. You'll visit Glendalough in County Wicklow in the morning, cross the Wicklow Gap in the afternoon, and spend two hours in medieval Kilkenny before heading back to Dublin around 6pm.
Your guide is a 100% Irish tour guide who knows both counties well and brings the history to life on the coach as well as on the ground.
The published itinerary is the deciding factor here. Check the current meeting point and stop timings before committing.
One practical detail
At Glendalough, go straight to the round tower. You have 90 minutes, which is enough for the main monastic city and a walk along the river toward the Lower Lake, but not enough to reach the Upper Lake and back. The green road from the visitor centre is flat, well-signed, and gives you the full sweep of the ruins: St Kevin's Church (the one that looks like it has a chimney), the cathedral, the round tower with its doorway three and a half metres off the ground. Don't spend the time in the visitor centre café - get straight out to the ruins.
What the price covers
- Professional guide with live commentary on board
- WiFi on board
- USB ports at every seat
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Pick-up and drop-off in Dublin (refer to your voucher for details)
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Entrance to Kilkenny Castle (optional extra)
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 to Glendalough via the Wicklow Mountains - You head south out of Dublin and into County Wicklow, passing the Sugar Loaf Mountains on your way towards Glendalough. (pass by)
- Glendalough - You'll have 1.5 hours to explore this remarkable early Christian monastic settlement. Walk the river banks through the woods to the two lakes, and take in St Kevin's Cross and the 10th-century round tower. Glendalough is well known as the location for the Braveheart wedding scene, and fans of P.S. I Love You will recognise it too. (90 min)
- The Wicklow Gap - You cross the Wicklow Gap, a high mountain pass with panoramic views over the Wicklow landscape. Along the route you'll see traditional Irish boglands - a classic feature of the Irish countryside - and pass Turlogh waterfall, one of Ireland's most dramatic and sitting beside Ireland's highest reservoir. (pass by)
- Kilkenny City - Two hours in one of Ireland's most enjoyable medieval cities, sitting on the banks of the River Nore. The Norman castle dates to the 1100s and you can explore its gardens freely - or pay a small optional fee to tour the palatial interior. Kilkenny's cobblestone streets are perfect for wandering: the Black Abbey, the Cathedral of Saint Canice with its round tower, plenty of pubs and restaurants for a relaxed lunch. (120 min)
- Return to Dublin via County Kildare - A leisurely drive back, arriving into Dublin around 6pm. (pass by)
Meeting point: Paddywagon Office at The Spire - 34 O'Connell Street Lower, Dublin 1.
Local tips that make the day better
In Kilkenny, the two hours go fast. The castle gardens are free to enter and worth a walk-through. For the castle interior, buy your ticket early - queues build through the lunch hour. The cobbled lane behind the castle (the Butter Slip) leads up to the High Street and the Black Abbey without backtracking. St Canice's Cathedral at the top of the town has a round tower you can climb - 100 steps, 9th century, and a view over the whole medieval city.
For food in Kilkenny, Foodworks on Parliament Street does a good brunch and lunch, or try Rinuccini in the Parade basement opposite the castle - Italian, daily-made pasta, a relaxed room for a quick meal. Both are a short walk from the castle gates. Avoid the main tourist-facing spots on the castle parade if you want somewhere a local would go.
The Black Abbey is free and takes ten minutes. It's a 13th-century Dominican friary with original medieval stonework and an unusual rose window. Easy to miss if you stick to the castle-to-cathedral route - it's just off the High Street, a two-minute detour.
Good to know before booking
- Infant seats are available; infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transport options are available nearby
- Suitable for all fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Maximum group size of 58
- Conducted in English
Make more of the area
- Glendalough - A 6th-century monastic city in a glacial valley, with a 30-metre round tower, seven churches, and a river walk between two lakes that feels genuinely different from the rest of Ireland.
- Kilkenny - Ireland's smallest city, with a Norman castle, a medieval mile connecting it to a 13th-century cathedral, and a pub culture that the locals take as seriously as their hurling.
Questions before you book
How long is Glendalough Day Tour from Dublin: Including Kilkenny City ?
The published duration is 9 hours. Allow extra time to reach the meeting point and for your onward plans.
How much does Glendalough Day Tour from Dublin: Including Kilkenny City cost?
The listed starting price is From €40. 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 €40 · 9 hours Check dates & prices ↗
