Day Trip to Waterford from Dublin: Things to Do & Itinerary

Located just under 2 hours from Dublin, Waterford is Ireland's oldest city and offers far more than famous crystal. Founded by Vikings in 850 AD, this historic gem in Ireland's “sunny southeast” combines centuries of Irish heritage with charming walkable streets, fascinating museums, and authentic local experiences that most travelers completely miss.

During our first Irish adventure, we made the classic mistake of assuming that the best things to see in Waterford began and ended with its crystal factory and chose to visit the Rock of Cashel instead (which turned out to be well worth the time).

How wrong we were! On our return visit (thanks to Failte Ireland, the tourism bureau), we discovered Waterford's incredible Viking Triangle, where you can “explore 1,000 years of Irish history within 1,000 paces.”

How to spend a day in Waterford: our itinerary

This one day Waterford itinerary is based on the plan they created for us. It includes

• The breathtaking treasures hidden in Waterford's award-winning museums
• A step-by-step walking itinerary that maximizes your time
• Insider tips for experiencing authentic local culture
• The best places to eat, shop, and stay if you extend your visit

Whether you're planning a day trip from Dublin or including Waterford in your Irish road trip itinerary, my goal is to ensure you don't miss this historic city like we nearly did. Let me show you why Waterford deserves a spot on your Ireland bucket list!

Before we begin, you should know that it takes about two hours to drive from Dublin to Waterford. Therefore, if you only want to do a day trip to Waterford from Dublin, plan to get an early start.

9:00 – Waterford Crystal factory and showroom

Glassmaking is a fine art, and the world-famous House of Waterford Crystal ranks as one of the best things to do in the city. Because the visitor center opens earlier than anything else in the Triangle, it makes sense to begin your day here.

The Waterford Crystal Visitor Center offers a one-hour tour of their factory, where you can watch the finest glass craftsmen create “prestige pieces” for special-order customers. You can see many of these lovely pieces in their showroom, even if you don't take the tour.

Conveniently, it's only steps from the Viking Triangle, making it easy to include in a one day Waterford itinerary.

Even though Waterford Crystal wasn't part of the plan, we still managed to squeeze in 10 minutes at the showroom just before closing. Up until then, we had considered Waterford crystal to be little more than a “name brand,” but after seeing the unique creations on display, we came to realize why so many people want to own it.

I even discovered a beautiful chandelier there that I wouldn't mind owning, for a mere €10,000.

Pocket change, right?

Visit the Waterford Crystal factory:

• Tickets: €18 for the general Waterford Crystal guided factory tour, €45 for the private VIP factory tour. The showroom is free. Purchase Waterford Factory tickets here.
• Hours: Factory Tour: Mon-Sat: 9:00 to 16:15; Sun: 9:30 – 16:15; Retail Store: Mon-Sat: 9:00 to 18:00; Sun: 9:30 – 18:00. These are from Apr-Oct. See website for rest of year.
• Expect to spend an hour on the tour and half an hour at the showroom.

10:30 – Bishop’s Palace: a Waterford must-see

💡 BUDGET TIP: Buy the Freedom of Waterford Pass before you arrive. The €18.00 ticket allows entrance to the Bishop’s Palace, Medieval Museum, Time Museum, Silver Museum, Epic Walking Tour, and Christ Church Cathedral. Plus, you'll avoid the ticket lines! (Free for children under 12)

Waterford's Bishop's Palace is a stunning Georgian building originally designed by Anglo-German architect Richard Cassels and completed by John Roberts, a prominent Waterford architect. The palace served as the residence of the Church of Ireland Bishop of Waterford from 1743 to 1919.

Actors in Georgian-era finery guide visitors through the period rooms, showcasing rare 18th-century Irish furniture, glass, silver, and paintings. The building, constructed in 1741 on the site of a medieval bishop’s residence, has been repurposed into a museum with rooms restored in 17th- and 18th-century style.

Highlights include the world's largest collection of historic Waterford glass and Willem Van der Hagen’s “View of Waterford” (1736), the oldest known landscape painting of an Irish city.

Visiting details:

• Admission: €10
• Open: Mon-Fri. 9:15 – 18:00, Sat. 9:30-18:00, Sun. and Bank Holidays 11:00 – 18:00. See the website for hours from September to May.
• Expect to spend about 1–2 hours here. The tour lasts 45 minutes, and you are free to roam the museum afterward.

12:00—Lunch at Bishop's Palace

Conveniently, the Bishop's Palace has a reasonably priced restaurant that is ideal for lunch. They offer a tasty variety of dishes, so even those on special diets should find something they will like.

This feature means you can pop in for a meal when you grow peckish and then return to explore the rest of the palace at your convenience.

13:00 – Waterford Treasures Medieval Museum

A two-minute walk from the Tower, directly behind the Bishop’s Palace, is Ireland's only medieval museum. This stunning modern building incorporates previous construction they found on site, including a 13th-century Choristers’ Hall and a 15th-century Wine Vault.

If have limited time at the museum, the best things to see are the 4-meter-long Great Charter Roll of Waterford (dated to 1373) and the 15th-century Cloth of Gold Vestments. It is the only full set of medieval vestments to survive in Northern Europe.

Other unique treasures include:

• The Relic of the True Cross
• Pilgrim badges
• Ring Brooch
• Sword of Edward IV
• King Henry VIII’s Cap of Maintenance
• The Great Parchment Book of Waterford
• The Luker Chalice
• Vestment Chest

This museum really explains a lot about the history of Ireland. If you’ve ever wondered why the battles continued between England and Ireland or why there's a divide between the Catholics and the Protestants, you will better understand after your visit.

Visiting details:

• Admission: €10
• Open: Fri. 9:15–18:00, Sat. 9:30–18:00, Sun. and Bank Holidays 11:00–18:00. Consult the website for September-May hours.

16:00—Take a guided Viking Triangle tour

This enjoyable 45-minute character-led walking tour gives an easy-to-understand overview of Irish history and a wonderful introduction to the city. Unfortunately, it's only available in the afternoon. Still, it helped us to tie all our varied impressions of Waterford together, so it was worth it, even after having seen so much.

Actors in period dress will tell you about the city’s history as they guide you to six national monuments:

• Reginald’s Tower (first mentioned in 1088)
• Greyfriars Medieval Franciscan friary (1240)
• Choristers’ Hall (1270)
• the Mayor’s Wine Vault (1448)
• the Bishop’s Palace (1743)
• and Christ Church Cathedral (1783), but only when no church service is in progress

Visiting details:

• Admission: €10
• Open: Epic Tours of the Viking Triangle are run daily from May through September at 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00 (military time).
• The Epic Tour of the Viking Triangle starts at the entrance to the Bishop's Palace.

FAQs about Visiting Waterford, Ireland

Plan your Waterford itinerary

Here are some details to help you plan your trip to Waterford.

• For additional things to see and do in the area, Visit Waterford is your best resource.
• This website shows how to get to Waterford by plane, train, bus, ferry, and car.
• If you prefer escorted tours, this 6-day tour from Dublin covers many of the highlights of southern and western Ireland. 
• For more sightseeing, see our gallery for more photos of Waterford.
• Get a bird’s-eye view of the Viking Triangle on Google Maps. Zoom, scroll around, and explore!

Other things to do in Waterford

If you can spend two days in Waterford (or longer), we recommend you add the following to your list:

• Irish Museum of Time
• Irish Silver Museum
• Waterford Castle
• Mount Congreve House and Gardens
• Dunmore East
• Comeragh Mountains

Where to stay in Waterford

If you plan to stay overnight, accommodation in Waterford ranges from budget to high-end. We stayed at the historic Granville Hotel, which is just steps away from all the locations I've mentioned. Irish nationalist Thomas Francis Meagher was born in this historic hotel, where they also flew Ireland's flag for the first time. It has also been the Georgina Campbell Hotel of the Year, which is a highly coveted award.

To learn more about the hotel's history, see one of its rooms, or read about its award-winning restaurant, check out our post on our stay at the Granville Hotel. It includes many photos of this impressive place.

If you aren't concerned about being in the city center, one of the most luxurious places to stay in Waterford is Waterford Castle Hotel & Golf Resort. Dating from the 16th century, it is the only island castle hotel in Ireland.

If those don't fit your taste or budget, here are some excellent apartment rentals and hotels in Waterford:

Where to eat in Waterford

All this touring is sure to increase your appetite. While Ireland offers a wide variety of food, there are two must-try items in Waterford. The first, of course, is Irish coffee. The other is the Waterford blaa, a local specialty. Ask for it in lieu of normal bread.

Waterford offers pubs all over town. Pop into a local pub to toast Sláinte with the friendly regulars. Order a Guinness or Kilkenny beer, or enjoy an Irish coffee if the weather is cold There's nothing quite like enjoying a local drink in a local establishment. If you time it right (after dinner), you might even enjoy some live music.

Further reading

These As We Saw It blog posts provide information about Waterford and southeast Ireland.

• The Waterford Viking Triangle—An Irish Treasure
• Why You Need to See Waterford’s Granville Hotel
• Try the Waterford Blaa—An Irish Specialty
• How to Make Jameson Irish Coffee
• 10 Things to Do in Kilkenny, Ireland in One Day
• 9 Things to Do in County Wexford
• Visit Dunbrody House, Kevin Dunston’s Wexford Hotel
• Lyrath Estate: Luxury in Kilkenny

Related books on Amazon:

• DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Ireland
• The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero

Related tours:

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