Glendalough and Wicklow Mountains Half Day Tour from Dublin
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Dublin, Ireland
- 5 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
For travelers short on time, this half-day tour is a convenient way to experience the beauty of the Irish countryside without having to rent a car or waste precious hours in transit. Enjoy the scenery extended out before you embark on the journey from Dublin to County Wicklow and wander around Glendalough at a pace that suits you.
- Soak up views of Wicklow Mountains National Park during the drive
- Hike around the monastic ruins of Glendalough at your leisure
- See filming locations from films like 'Braveheart' and 'P.S. I Love You'
- A choice of city center departure spots makes for a stress-free experience
What's Included
- Driver/guide
- Local guide
- Fuel surcharge
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- WiFi on board
- USB points at every seat
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Food and Drinks
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Gardiner Street Lwr, stop 1171North City, Dublin 1, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Meet at Bus Stop 1171, Lower Gardiner Street (at street number 42, beside Trinity Church)
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.8:00 am
Itinerary
Make your own way to the meeting point in the center of Dublin. Meet your guide and small group of fellow travelers and head south toward the Wicklow Mountains, passing by Great Sugar Loaf mountain and descending through Ireland's highest village, Roundwood on your way to Glendalough.
Make a short stop at one of the most photographed locations in Wicklow, Lough Tay, before continuing to Glendalough Monastic Settlement. You have plenty of time here to explore the Glendalough valley, its Celtic crosses, round tower, and scenic lakes, and to take a short walk on the Wicklow Way, which runs through the valley.
Your tour ends back at the meeting point in central Dublin.
Make a short stop at one of the most photographed locations in Wicklow, Lough Tay, before continuing to Glendalough Monastic Settlement. You have plenty of time here to explore the Glendalough valley, its Celtic crosses, round tower, and scenic lakes, and to take a short walk on the Wicklow Way, which runs through the valley.
Your tour ends back at the meeting point in central Dublin.
Dublin (Pass By)
1
Wicklow Mountains National Park
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Glendalough Monastic Settlement
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Dublin (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Infant seats available
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Stroller accessible
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Collapsible wheelchairs can be stored underneath the coach. These are the responsibility of the passengers.
- Booster/Baby seats are required for toddlers/babies and available in our offices. Please alert us at the time of booking.
- Bookings made through Viator will automatically be signed up for the pickup point and collection time specified in the booking.
- If you wish to change your reservation to one of the other pick-up locations offered by Paddywagon Tours, you will need to contact us by telephone or email not later than 17:00 the evening prior so that we can guarantee the change. Please note that changes are only guaranteed once confirmed in writing by us.
- You are welcome to take luggage with you if you wish to do so. Luggage can be stored in the storage compartment. Alternatively, hand luggage can be stored in the overhead compartment. Valuables are stored at your own risk and the company is not liable for damage or loss.
- This is a very popular route with those who have afternoon flights and wish to maximise their last hours in Ireland. The tour will typically end in central Dublin by 12:45. Even on rare occasions when the tour experiences delays due to severe weather and related traffic the tour should be back downtown by 13:20. Please advise the driver first thing in the morning if you are concerned about airport connections and he can provide some general advice. In normal circumstances it takes 40-60 minutes from the city to the airport by bus and between 20-30 minutes in a taxi. The timings of this tour are as published and cannot be modified.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 64 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Elina_S
Amazing trip with super friendly guide, very clear instructions and explanations, the views were spectacular, defo worth and recommend visiting if you haven't got much time for a nice trip out of Dublin.
Reviews
4.4
based on 934 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Jes_V, Jul 2026
Incredible site to see especially if you are short on time but want to get out of Dublin (but you have to strategically maximize your time when you get to the site as you only have a few hours and there’s quite a bit to see and a fair amount of walking). It was a very smooth drive and very peaceful seeing Irish farmland ans plenty of sheep!! Our driver was really funny and informative.
Jan_B, Jul 2026
Another excellent tour with a friendly and informative driver. Alan made it very interesting in the way he delivered the information even with his Dad jokes which made me laugh. Stunning views across Dublin bay and loved that the seals popped up to play in Howth harbour too. Would highly recommend this tour 🙂
ThomasDiego_J, Jul 2026
The half-day tour to the Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough was beautiful and well worth it. The scenery was stunning. You have two hours to explore on your own. While there's much more to see than you can fit into two hours, it's enough to enjoy the main highlights and get a great impression of this beautiful place. Paddywagon was very well organized, which made the whole experience easy and enjoyable. As a solo traveler, I felt comfortable throughout the trip. I would definitely recommend this tour.
Eddie_E, Jul 2026
The driver was very knowledgeable and gave a great tour including History and in depth information of cultural sites and traditional aspects. He truely turned what could have possibly been a short not so exciting visit into an enthusiastic experience and I commend him greatly for it. I definitely enjoyed it and recommend it.
Jessica_P, Jun 2026
It was beautiful and peaceful even in the rain. It was an easy walk around the lower reservoir. There was even a deer grazing close to the welcome center.
DenieceRhon_N, Jun 2026
The tour is worth it. The area is beautiful. The lake is breathtaking. Had a chance to go with Karl who is very good in his work a driver/guide. Will recommend this activity when visiting Dublin.
Sheahan_B, Jun 2026
The drive out was interesting, past farms and Irelands 'forty shades of green'. The WiFi on board wasn't working but bus driver and tour guide Declan gave me directions to my next stop, the Emigration museum, so that was nice. Glendalough was a little underwhelming - mostly what looked like modern reconstructions - but I probably should have paid the extra to go into the Visitor Centre there.
Anita_L, Jun 2026
The bus driver didn't have our tickets on his list, which was surprising; thank goodness I had a printed copy! The bus driver was very helpful and had great knowledge along the way there and back. The place itself, for me, was very boring but beautiful.
It was concerning that he had No Record of us on the tour list however.
Kaitryn_J, Jun 2026
Our driver, Declan, was very friendly and energetic in sharing his knowledge of the history of Ireland (plus some fun facts about the city too!). Come prepared with a raincoat, decent shoes for walking, and water! The monastic ruins and trails were beautiful!
Kate_M, May 2026
This trip was the perfect snapshot into the Irish countryside. We loved everything about it, Alex was an amazing guide. Everything was very well organised and expectations set from the start. He was warm, funny, told great stories and allowed breaks for us to absorb info too. The coach was immaculate and comfy. The scenery on the drive was spectacular of the Wicklow Mountains. Glendalough was picturesque and the walk to the upper lake was peaceful and rewarding with beautiful views.
Highly recommend for a glimpse of Ireland beyond Dublin if you are short on time. We had a 6pm flight and bags of time to spare.
Mahmoud_M, May 2026
This is my third time to go for this trip and it is really enjoyable one.
The breath there is amazing and having the walk which you will feel you are inside a jungle
Ashley_S, May 2026
Great trip out of Dublin City! Our driver/guide was great, very entertaining and full of historical knowledge.
Timothy_P, May 2026
Absolutely beautiful place and the perfect opportunity to escape the city for a while! 🌿✨ Fresh air, stunning scenery, and such a peaceful atmosphere — definitely worth the trip. A great reminder that sometimes the best part of traveling is slowing down and enjoying nature for a bit! ❤️
Bharati_J, May 2026
Kyle was informative. Started on time. Very good hike on flat trail to see 2 lakes. Also Glendalough Woollen Mills to shop at. Visitor center talks about the monastery. There is a fee to go into the visit center . But you can just walk on the trail.
Teresie_Z, May 2026
We really enjoyed the Glendalough and Wicklow Mountains tour. The scenery was absolutely beautiful . It was lush, green, and exactly what I imagined Ireland would look like. The two-hour self guided hike was a great way to see the area, and the view was stunning. A perfect day trip outside Dublin.
June_S, May 2026
I would have liked to have seen someone who walked with us to the lake and falls explaining things. As it was, we never got to see the Falls. Can’t remember how ole the stone was either. Alex was good as a driver.
mireille_m, May 2026
The Visitor Center is worth a visit, very good film on Monastries and exhibition.
Very good explanations from our driver
Mona_M, May 2026
Absolutely Beautiful! Lots of walking so be prepared and listen to guide’s instructions. They know how to make sure you get the most out of the experience.
PATRICIA_T, May 2026
Our driver, Michael, was also
Our tour guide! He was humorous as well as informative. This was my second trip to Glendalough in 14 years and I would do it again. Highly recommended!
Kevin_S, May 2026
If you are looking for a short trip with some serenity and solitude (2 hours), this is your trip. Book it.
Suzanne_S, May 2026
We really enjoyed the bus ride through the countryside. Glendolough was very peaceful and beautiful. Plan your time there so you can see the Upper and Lower lakes as well as the monastic city. Mike, our driver, was wonderful and full of lots of information.
Teri_F, Apr 2026
We had a wonderful half day trip to Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough. The park was beautiful and serene.
Elise_C, Apr 2026
Michael at Paddywagon Tours is a great host! Knows a ton of fun facts and is funny to boot! Highly recommend!
Fay_O, Apr 2026
Well worth doing but a bit difficult for us elderly folks. Most of the people on our tour seemed to have no trouble navigating the terrain but being older, we did. Still we enjoyed it very much and I would recommend the tour highly. Also, it was nice to have the opportunity to get out of the city for a change is scenery.
Andrew_C, Apr 2026
Bring hiking shoes. Fun hike but better if you bring the right shoes. I still need more characters but have nothing further to say.
vdaly, Apr 2026
We had a lovely morning with Aaron the driver as a guide, he was so funny & got us all speaking Irish.
Angela_C, Apr 2026
Easy to find tour guide and the bus driver was very informative ! Beautiful drive , lots of walking but so nice !
Patti_P, Apr 2026
Beautiful sites, comfortable bus with driver narrating sites for some of the trip. After a bus ride through the countryside we arrived for a self directed walk amongst beautiful scenery. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for bad weather!!! I enjoyed the trip but this is what you make of it—there is no guidance once you get to the location.
Delaina_W, Apr 2026
The destination was great. It is a lot to explore in a couple of hours but everything is within walking distance. The cemetery and the lakes are the highlight.
Half a day is more than enough. I just wish they would let people on the bus if they finish earlier than expected because it was very cold smh lol
Susana_S, Mar 2026
We had a great experience with Karl, our driver and guide. He was diligent with getting all of the passengers to their destination, and provided information about the areas we were driving through and going to. I especially loved how witty he was and kept everyone entertained.
Our short tour was an incredible experience. Ireland is a beautifully. We highly recommend this company and this tour.
From $38.36
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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