Day trip from Dublin Glendalough
A 6th-century monastic settlement with a round tower and two lakes in the Wicklow Mountains, 1 h 20 south of Dublin by bus.
Is Glendalough worth a day trip from Dublin?
Go. The bus sets your day.
Yes, go, and plan on the whole day because the bus decides it for you. St Kevin's Bus leaves St Stephen's Green North at 11:00 and reaches Glendalough at 12:20. The only afternoon return is 16:30 on weekdays and 17:40 at weekends from March to October. That gives you 4 to 5 hours, enough for the monastic site and the walk to the Upper Lake. The ruins are free and the visitor centre costs € 5. Short on time? The € 35 coach tour gives you 2 hours here and 2 in Kilkenny, and is back by 18:30.
The decision sheet
- Travel time
- 1 h 20one way · St Kevin's Bus Service
- Transport
- St Kevin's Bus
- Self-guided cost
- € 23–28St Kevin's Bus return (€ 23); the monastic site is free, the visitor centre is € 5 extra · St Kevin's Bus Service
- Tour price
- From € 35Civitatis catalogue
- Time needed
- 7–8 hDaytripo editorial
- Closed days
- Visitor centre closed 23-29 Dec; the monastic site is open air
- Best time
- Apr-Oct; weekdays are quieter than SundaysDaytripo editorial
- Verdict
- Worth a full dayDaytripo editorial
What to see and do in Glendalough
- 01
Round tower
About 30 metres high and built roughly 1,000 years ago as a bell tower and refuge. It stands in the graveyard, five minutes from the bus stop. You cannot go inside.
- 02
St Kevin's Church
A small stone-roofed church with a round belfry that looks like a chimney, which earned it the nickname St Kevin's Kitchen. It sits just below the round tower.
- 03
Lower Lake path
A flat boardwalk and gravel path of about 1.5 km links the monastic site to the Upper Lake through wetland and oak wood. It takes 25 to 30 minutes each way.
- 04
Upper Lake
The larger of the two lakes, closed in by steep valley walls. There are picnic tables and toilets at the near end, and the path continues along the shore to a ruined miners' village.
- 05
Poulanass Waterfall and the Spinc
A 10-minute climb from the Upper Lake reaches the waterfall. The full Spinc boardwalk above the lake is a 9 km loop of 3 to 3.5 hours, which only fits at weekends.
How to spend the day
Be at the stop on St Stephen's Green North by 10:45 for the 11:00 bus. Arrive 12:20. See the round tower and St Kevin's Church first, then follow the signed path past the Lower Lake to the Upper Lake and back. Eat what you brought, the valley has few options. Be back at the visitor centre stop 10 minutes before the 16:30 bus on weekdays, 17:40 at weekends. You reach Dublin at 18:00 or 19:00.
Glendalough in summer and in winter
Summer
June to AugustFrom March to October the afternoon bus leaves at 16:30 on weekdays and 17:40 at weekends, so a Saturday or Sunday gives you an extra hour. The visitor centre is open until 18:00. Sunday afternoons in July and August are the busiest time of the year around the round tower. Midges gather by the lakes on still evenings.
Winter
December to FebruaryThe monastic site is open air and the valley is quiet, with the visitor centre open until 17:00 except 23-29 December. The bus runs a different timetable from November to February, so confirm the return time before you go. It is dark soon after 16:00 in December and paths can be icy. Go on a dry day or wait for spring.
How crowded it gets
Busy- Busiest
- Sundays and bank holidays Jun-Aug, 12:00-16:00
- Quietest
- Weekdays, and any day from November to March
Coach tours stay around the round tower and rarely go further than the Lower Lake. Walk on to the Upper Lake and the numbers drop sharply. The 11:00 bus can fill on summer weekends, so queue by 10:40.
How do you get to Glendalough from Dublin?
St Kevin's Bus
- Travel time
- 1 h 20
- Frequency
- 1 useful departure a day (11:00)
- Cost
- € 23 return, € 14 single
- Departs from
- St Stephen's Green North
Pay the driver by card, cash or Leap (Leap Visitor cards are not accepted). The return is valid for 30 days. There is a second bus out at 18:00, 19:00 at weekends, but it is useless for a day trip. Miss the afternoon bus back and you need a taxi.
Organized tour
- Travel time
- 9 hours door to door
- Frequency
- Daily
- Cost
- From € 35
- Departs from
- Hugh Lane Gallery, Parnell Square North
Leaves at 08:00 and returns between 18:00 and 18:30. You get a photo stop in the Wicklow Mountains, 2 hours at Glendalough, a sheepdog demonstration and 2 hours in Kilkenny. Cheaper than doing the two places separately, with less time in each.
Practical: clothes, food and money
What to wear
Walking shoes or trainers with grip, as the lake paths are gravel, boardwalk and mud. Waterproof jacket all year: the Wicklow Mountains get more rain than Dublin. Insect repellent in summer, warm layers and gloves in winter.
What to eat
Bring lunch from Dublin and eat at the picnic tables by the Upper Lake. Food in the valley is limited to seasonal snack stalls at the Upper Lake car park and a few places in Laragh, about 2 km back down the road. Carry water too.
What you will spend
The bus is nearly the whole budget: € 23 return, or € 14 single. The monastic site and all the walking trails are free. The visitor centre exhibition is € 5 and optional. With a packed lunch, the day costs little more than the bus fare.
How to get the most out of the day
- Buy picnic food before you reach St Stephen's Green. The bus makes no food stop on the way to the valley.
- Toilets at the visitor centre close at 16:15 from mid October to mid March. Use them before your walk, not after.
- Photograph the trail board outside the visitor centre before you set off. The walks are colour coded and phone signal fades in the valley.
- Set a turnaround time. If you are still at the Upper Lake 50 minutes before the bus, start walking back then.
How long do you need in Glendalough?
Plan 7–8 h on site, plus 1 h 20 of travel each way from Dublin.
When is Glendalough closed?
Visitor centre closed 23-29 Dec; the monastic site is open air. Best time: Apr-Oct; weekdays are quieter than Sundays.