Shore Excursion from Dublin: Including Dublin highlights and Glendalough

About This Tour

This 8-hour shore excursion picks you up at Dublin Port and takes you through two of the best things within reach of the city - the ancient monastic site at Glendalough in the Wicklow Mountains, and a panoramic tour of Dublin’s city highlights.

The day runs with a professional driver-guide in a comfortable, air-conditioned coach with WiFi and live commentary throughout. Collection is at 07:30, with departure at 08:00. If your ship docks later, the tour begins 30 minutes after disembarkation starts.

At the end of the day, you’ll be back at the dockside after approximately 8 hours. If your ship is departing earlier, the itinerary is adjusted accordingly. Maximum group size of 58.

What’s Included

• Port pickup and drop-off at Dublin Port Cruise Ship Terminal
• Professional driver-guide
• Air-conditioned luxury coach
• WiFi on board
• Live commentary throughout

What’s Not Included

• Gratuities
• Lunch

Itinerary

1. Collection at Dublin Port - your guide meets you at the cruise terminal with a sign, walks you through the day’s highlights, lunch options, and where to find good Irish crafts and arts along the way. Departure at 08:00 (or 30 minutes after disembarkation if your ship arrives later). (pass by)
2. County Wicklow and Glendalough - the route takes you through County Wicklow, known as the Garden of Ireland, with its rolling hills and wooded glens. You’ll arrive at Glendalough, the Valley of Two Lakes, where St Kevin founded his monastery in the 6th century. The site has Ireland’s finest round tower, and the tradition is to try to get your hands around St Kevin’s Cross - legend has it you’ll be married within a year. (90 min)
3. Wicklow Mountains return route - as you head back towards the city, you’ll pass through some of Wicklow’s finest mountain scenery, with its lakes and turf hills. (pass by)
4. Dublin city highlights - a panoramic tour of the city covering O’Connell Street, Ha’penny Bridge, Temple Bar, the Molly Malone statue, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Christchurch Cathedral, Trinity College, and time for shopping on Grafton Street. (120 min)
5. Return to Dublin Port - back at the dockside in time for departure. (pass by)

Meeting point: Dublin Port Cruise Ship Terminal. Collection at 07:30, departure at 08:00. If your ship arrives later, the tour begins 30 minutes after disembarkation starts.

Good to Know

• Conducted in English
• Maximum group size of 58
• All timings are approximate and subject to change based on cruise liner schedule
• Infant seats available
• Suitable for prams and strollers
• Service animals allowed
• Public transport nearby
• Suitable for all fitness levels

Local Tips

Your 90 minutes at Glendalough is enough to walk the Green Road from the visitor centre along the Lower Lake to the Upper Lake - about 3 km return, flat, and it takes you past nine of the major monastic ruins including the round tower, the cathedral, and St Kevin’s Church. Don’t spend all your time in the visitor centre; the stones in the open air are the reason you’re here.

The round tower at Glendalough is about 30 metres tall, built around the 10th or 11th century, with the doorway three and a half metres off the ground - the monks pulled the ladder up when the Vikings came. On a shore excursion you won’t have time for the Spinc ridge walk above the Upper Lake, but the flat lower path is genuinely beautiful and easy for all fitness levels.

Lunch isn’t included, so listen when your guide points out food stops. If you get any free time near the monastic site, Laragh - the actual village, 1.5 km east of the ruins - is where locals eat. Trinity Mountain Bothy does good soup and sandwiches, and Lynham’s is the village pub if you’d rather a hot plate and a drink. The visitor centre café is fine but Laragh is better and quieter.

When you’re back in Dublin city for the panoramic section, the guide will point out the highlights from the coach. If you want to stretch your legs on Grafton Street, keep one eye on the time - the group holds the departure schedule tightly, and the port is not a short stroll from the city centre.

Nearby on IrelandMe

• Glendalough - a 6th-century monastic city at the bottom of a glacial valley in the Wicklow Mountains, with a round tower, seven churches, and two lakes that are worth every minute of the walk between them