Wicklow Day Trip: Powerscourt, Glendalough & Mountains

Three valleys and a monastery in one morning drive from Dublin

This small-group day trip from Dublin visits Powerscourt Gardens, Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains National Park with a local guide and live commentary. Pickup starts at 9:20am from the Molly Malone statue on Suffolk Street. The tour runs 8 hours and includes entry to Powerscourt at a reduced rate negotiated by the operator. Lunch is on your own in Enniskerry village. Children from age 2 are welcome. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended for the monastery and valley floor.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Molly Malone Statue5m
2. Powerscourt Estate1h 30m
3. Glendalough1h 30m

Visit Powerscourt, Wicklow and Glendalough

• Pickup from Dublin at Molly Malone statue
• Visit Powerscourt Gardens for 1.5 hours
• Shop and snack at Avoca shop
• Lunch in Enniskerry village
• Scenic drive through Wicklow Mountains National Park
• Stop at "P.S. I Love You" Bridge
• View Lough Tay (Guinness Lake)
• Stop at Sally Gap in Wicklow Mountains
• Visit Glendalough monastery and valley

The experience

The tour picks you up at the Molly Malone statue on Suffolk Street at 9:20am and heads south into County Wicklow. Your first stop is Powerscourt Gardens, ranked number 3 in the world by National Geographic. You spend roughly 90 minutes walking the grounds and have access to the Avoca shop for coffee or a snack before moving on. The reduced entrance fee is paid at the gate on the day of the tour.

After the gardens, the group stops in Enniskerry, a small Victorian estate village where you break for lunch on your own. The guide recommends Poppies Cafe for locally produced food that can handle different dietary needs. From there, a scenic drive winds through the Wicklow Mountains National Park, passing the "P.S. I Love You" bridge (a film location), Lough Tay (also called the Guinness lake because a member of the Guinness family lived on its shore and it's where Vikings was filmed), and Sally Gap, a high pass in the hills where you'll see running streams, meadows and sheep.

The day ends at Glendalough, where you visit the 6th-century monastery of St Kevin and have time to explore the valley and its two lakes before heading back to Dublin. Your guide provides live commentary throughout the route, and the small-group format means the pace stays manageable and stops are timed so the whole itinerary fits into the 8-hour window.

What’s included

• Local guide with live commentary throughout the day.
• reduced-rate entry to Powerscourt Gardens (paid at the gate on the day).
• pickup and drop-off at the Molly Malone statue on Suffolk Street.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:20

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (17 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Youth (13 to 16 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (2 to 4 years)

GroupUp to 19

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on site€ 10

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Hilltoptreks

Is this one for you?Spend a full day visiting Powerscourt Gardens, Glendalough, and the Wicklow Mountains with a local guide handling the route, timing, and commentary while you take in the landscape.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 16 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (2 to 4 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is Powerscourt Gardens and how much time do I spend there?

Powerscourt Gardens is a historic estate garden in County Wicklow, ranked number 3 in the world by National Geographic. You spend approximately 1.5 hours walking the grounds, and there's an Avoca shop on-site if you want coffee or a snack before moving on to the next stop.

What is Glendalough and what will I see when we get there?

Glendalough is a valley in the Wicklow Mountains that holds a 6th-century monastery built by St Kevin. When you arrive, you visit the monastery ruins and have time to explore the valley floor and its two lakes before the group heads back to Dublin.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included. You eat on your own in Enniskerry village during the midday break. The guide recommends Poppies Cafe, which serves locally produced food and can accommodate different dietary requirements.

What is the "P.S. I Love You" bridge and why do we stop there?

The "P.S. I Love You" bridge is a film location in the Wicklow Mountains that the tour passes during the scenic drive through the national park. It's one of several notable stops along the route through the mountains.

Do I need to be fit or experienced to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended because you'll be walking through Powerscourt Gardens and exploring Glendalough valley on foot, but no special fitness or experience is required.