geocalia
The Upper Lake at Glendalough among the mountainsRob Hurson · CC BY-SA 2.0

What to do · Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains

Glendalough Visitor Centre

Exhibition and audiovisual · 45 min · adult €5 · how the monks lived, before you walk around the ruins

InformationFrom €5 adult
From
€5 adult
Duration
45 min
Season
All year; 9:30 to 18:00 from mid-March to 14 October and until 17:00 in winter
Who it's for
All ages

The Office of Public Works (OPW) visitor centre is at the entrance to the valley, next to the car park, a few minutes from the monastic city. It has an exhibition and an audiovisual presentation about St Kevin, the monks and what life in the monastery was like, and it is the place for the toilets before you set off.

It costs €5 (families, €13), and if you pay for parking at the centre itself you get a free ticket. In winter it is open from 9:30 to 17:00; from mid-March to mid-October, until 18:00.

As a familyWith teenagers

Opening hours and prices can change: check them before you go.

Round off the plan

Where to eat, where to stay and what else to do

To eat nearby

The sign for Casey's Bar at the Glendalough Hotel© The Glendalough HotelThe bistro next to the monastic city

Casey's Bar & Bistro, at the Glendalough Hotel

Bar · Glendalough · €€€€

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
The Wicklow Heather restaurant in Laragh© Wicklow HeatherRestaurant and pub in Laragh, from breakfast to dinner

Wicklow Heather

Restaurant · Laragh · €€€€

What to order: the slow-roasted Wicklow lamb.

Open every day from 9:00 or 9:30; bookings by email

To stay nearby

The façade of the Glendalough Hotel© The Glendalough HotelHotel

The Glendalough Hotel

At the monastery gate · bar and bistro · café · rooms with views

Why we like it: Hotel at the entrance to the monastic city, with rooms overlooking the valley, Casey's bar and the Barn Café. For waking up beside the ruins.

The Glendalough hostel© An ÓigeHostel

Glendalough International Hostel (An Óige)

En-suite dorms · private and family rooms · kitchen · terrace

Why we like it: An Óige hostel in the valley, a walk from the lakes and the ruins, with en-suite dorms, private and family rooms and a kitchen.

Itineraries

Features in these plans