Casey's Bar & Bistro, at the Glendalough Hotel
What to order: the dish of the day from the daily menu after your walk around the lakes.
Kitchen open until 20:30 every day
geocalia
Day itinerary · 53.01° N · 6.33° W
Glendalough in a day, an hour and twenty minutes by bus from Dublin.
St Kevin's Bus or car to Glendalough, St Kevin's monastic city, the Green Road to the Upper Lake, Poulanass Waterfall and lunch in the valley.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Dublín fromBilbao 2 h 15Santander 2 h 15Madrid 2 h 30Barcelona 2 h 45Valencia 2 h 45Alicante 3 hMurcia 3 hSevilla 3 hMálaga 3 h 15Fuerteventura 4 h 30
Part of Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains
Add to my trip
Total time8 h 30
By car1 h 15 each way
From Dublin1 h 20 by bus · a little over 1 h by car
BusReturn €23
Walking2–3 h, flat or with climbs
DifficultyEasy
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Dublin 1 h 15 by bus
St Kevin's Bus from St Stephen's Green North · €23 return
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1
Glendalough Visitor Centre
exhibition · €5
- 5 min on foot
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2
St Kevin's monastic city and the round tower
round tower and St Kevin's cross · free
- 3 min on foot
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3
Casey's Bar & Bistro, at the Glendalough Hotel
at the entrance to the ruins · kitchen open until 20:30
The Glendalough Hotel, A98 X9C1 Glendalough · +353 404 45135
Bar €€Book - 5 min on foot
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4
Walk to the Upper Lake along the Green Road
Green Road and boardwalk · 45 min
- 5 min on foot
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5
Poulanass Waterfall and St Kevin's Cell
30 min with steps
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Back home 1 h 30 by bus
bus from the visitor centre · back in Dublin around 18:00
Approximate cost
About €20–35 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Glendalough Visitor Centre
A day trip from Dublin to the Wicklow Mountains: Glendalough is the valley of the two lakes, with the monastery founded by St Kevin in the 6th century and trails through the national park. Without a car, the St Kevin's bus leaves every day at 11:00 from St Stephen's Green and gives you four hours in the valley; by car, you can arrive earlier and stay until sunset.
The day, hour by hour
11:00 · Bus from St Stephen's Green. It stops at St Stephen's Green North, opposite Stephen Court. Return ticket €23, paid on the bus; the Leap Visitor card is not valid. By car, leave at 9:00 to park without queues.
12:20 · Visitor centre. The exhibition explains the monastery before you see it: €5, or free with your car park ticket.
13:00 · Monastic city. The round tower, the ruined cathedral and St Kevin's Cross. Free entry.
13:45 · Lunch at Casey's. The bar of the Glendalough Hotel, at the gate of the ruins, opens every day from 12:30.
14:30 · Green Road to the Upper Lake. A flat track among oaks and a boardwalk beside the Lower Lake: a 3 km circuit, 45 minutes.
15:30 · Poulanass Waterfall. Half an hour with steps up to the waterfall and a viewpoint over the lake.
16:30 · Return. The bus leaves from the visitor centre; you reach Dublin around six.
Time45 min
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Wicklow Heather
What to order: the slow-roasted Wicklow lamb.
Open every day from 9:00 or 9:30; bookings by email
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains
From April to October, with more daylight for the walks. At weekends, if you go by car, arrive before 10:00 to park. In winter the bus runs just the same, but it gets dark early.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Don't miss the 16:30 bus
It is the only one back on weekdays and at weekends.
- 2Wear shoes that can cope with mud
Even the Green Road gets waterlogged.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Dublin to Glendalough without a car?
On the St Kevin's bus, at 11:00 from St Stephen's Green, or on an organised tour.
How much time do I need?
The four hours the bus gives you are enough for the ruins, the Upper Lake and a short walk.
Where can I eat?
At Casey's Bar, at the entrance to the ruins, or at the Wicklow Heather, in Laragh.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/ireland/glendalough/itineraries/st-kevins-ruins-by-bus
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.