Dublin to Glendalough, Wicklow & Kilkenny: Full Day Tour

Walk through 1,500 years of Irish history at Glendalough's monastic settlement.

A full-day guided tour from Dublin takes you through Wicklow Mountains to Glendalough's ancient monastic settlement and Kilkenny's medieval city, with walking tours, free time to explore on your own, and a photo stop at Wicklow Gap. The tour runs approximately nine hours, includes transport by air-conditioned coach with WiFi and USB charging, a professional guide and separate driver, and returns around 6pm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour Wicklow, Glendalough and Kilkenny

• Travel from Dublin to Wicklow National Park
• Guided tour of Glendalough monastic settlement
• Free walk in Wild Glendalough Valley
• Photo stop at Wicklow Gap mountain pass
• Arrive in Kilkenny for lunch
• Walking tour of Kilkenny city
• Free time for private sightseeing in Kilkenny
• Return to Dublin at approximately 6pm

The Experience

The day starts with a drive through country roads and valleys into Wicklow National Park, where a guided tour of Glendalough's monastic settlement walks you through the site's 1,500-year history and the legends attached to it. After the guided portion, you have free time to walk the Wild Glendalough Valley on your own — the landscape shifts as you move through it, and there's no fixed route. On the way out, the coach stops at the top of Wicklow Gap mountain pass, a viewpoint that's been used in film locations, so you can step out and take in the scenery without the pressure of a timed stop.

Kilkenny arrives in the afternoon. You'll have time for lunch when you get there, then a 45-minute walking tour of the medieval city included with the tour, followed by free time to explore on your own. Kilkenny Castle sits in the city center — the park and gardens are free to walk through, and if you manage your time well, you can pay separately to go inside the castle itself. The coach departs around 6pm for the return to Dublin.

The coach is a luxury air-conditioned model with WiFi and USB ports at each seat, so you can charge devices during the drive. A professional guide delivers live commentary on board, and a separate driver handles the route, which means the guide can focus on what you're seeing rather than navigating. The tour is rated the No. 1 day tour on Tripadvisor.

What’s included

• Transport by air-conditioned luxury coach with free WiFi and USB charging ports.
• professional guide with live commentary and separate coach driver.
• guided walking tours at Glendalough monastic settlement and Kilkenny city (approximately 45 minutes in Kilkenny, not compulsory).

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Collins Day Tours

Is this one for you?The guide delivers live commentary in English throughout the day, so you follow the story of each place as you move through it — no headsets, no translation lag, just the guide speaking to the coach. This works well if you want the history and context woven into the drive itself, rather than reading plaques on your own.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Glendalough monastic settlement, and why is it 1,500 years old?

Glendalough is an early Christian monastic site founded in the 6th century in a glacial valley in Wicklow. The settlement includes round towers, churches and stone crosses that survive from the medieval period, and the guided tour covers the history and the stories tied to the site.

How much free time do I get to walk around Glendalough and the valley on my own?

After the guided tour of the monastic settlement, you have free time to walk the Wild Glendalough Valley inside Wicklow National Park. The exact duration depends on the day's schedule, but it's built into the itinerary so you're not rushed.

Is lunch included, and where do we eat in Kilkenny?

Lunch is not included with the tour. When you arrive in Kilkenny in the afternoon, you have free time to find a restaurant or café in the city center — there are plenty of options within walking distance of where the coach stops.

Do I have to do the walking tours at Glendalough and Kilkenny, or can I skip them?

The walking tours are included but not compulsory. You can join the guide or explore on your own if you prefer — the coach waits for the group at each stop.

Can I go inside Kilkenny Castle, or is it just the park?

Kilkenny Castle's park and gardens are free and open during your free time. Entry to the castle interior is not included in the tour price, but you can buy a ticket separately if you want to go inside — just allow enough time before the coach departs around 6pm.

What's the Wicklow Gap photo stop like, and how long do we stay there?

Wicklow Gap is a mountain pass at the top of the route with views across Wicklow's landscape — the scenery is often used in film locations. It's a brief photo stop, so you step out, take pictures and get back on the coach without a long delay.