All you need to know to visit Glendalough, Co. Wicklow. What to see in Glendalough, how to get there, why it is worth seeing this beautiful natural and historical site.
Glendalough is one of my favorite places in Ireland and one I never tire of visiting, no matter how often we go.
I first visited Glendlaugh 25 years ago: it was the first stop on my Ireland road trip and I got there as the sun started to set.
The place was empty, silent and still and I still remember that first around the lakes as a magical time.
Since then, I have been to Glendalough more times than I can recall (I happen to have married someone from around the corner from there!) and while the popularity of the place has made some of our visits very different from that first, solitary one, is it still one of the most beautiful places in Ireland to me and one I highly recommend visiting
These are my top tips for visiting Glendalough. You can learn how to include Glendalough in your Ireland itinerary here.
Table of Contents
What is Glendalough and what is special about it?
Glendalough is a locality in Country Wicklow, on the East Coast of Ireland, famous for an ancient monastic site, dating back to the Middle Ages, and for two lakes, nestled in a beautiful valley (Glendalough actually means= the valley of the two lakes).
It is a place of unique natural beauty and historical significance.
The Glendalough Valley is stunning and rich with walking routes, some very easy.
The loop around the lakes is mostly flat and even accessible to children and buggies and offers lovely views of the water and the mountains nearby but if you feel like more demanding pursuits, you can easily venture up to the mountains and catch beautiful views.
It is a favorite destination for local families and tourists and indeed, if you are looking for an easy walk near Dublin, this is a wonderful one.
The real gem in Glendalough, however, is its monastic site or the ‘monastic city’.
This is a small settlement with ancient dwellings including a round tower, chapel, cemetery and the so-called St Kevin’s Kitchen.
In the early Middle Ages, it was a thriving center for Christianity and still nowadays Glendalough is important for the insight it gives us about life in Ireland at the time and Irish monasticism.
It is an evocative place, with ancient grey stones and graves dotting the green grass of this beautiful valley and the backdrop of the mountains make it unique and one of the most beautiful locations in Wicklow, if not in the whole of the country.
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How to get to Glendalough from Dublin
Glendalough is located in the Wicklow Mountains, close to the town of Roundwood. There is no train service to the monastic site and the best ways to get there are by private car, bus or coach tour.
How to get to Glendalough by car + where to park
Getting to Glendalough from Dublin by private car is easy.
The distance is a little over 50Km and due to the nature of the roads, part motorway, part mountain road, it usually takes about 1 hour to get there.
The most straightforward way goes via Bray and Roundwood however, if the weather allows, you can also go the scenic way, which is absolutely stunning as allows you to see the Sally Gap, which is simply breathtaking.
There are two parking lots on-site, one at the Visitors Center and one at the Upper Lake.
The parking at the Visitors Center, the lower one, is the closest to the monastic site and costs 5 Euro for the day.
This is the most convenient parking to the ruins and the Visitors Center and is just beside the Glendalough hotels which has a restaurant and bar open to non-guests too.
Toilets are available both in the hotel and at the back of the Visitors’ Centre.
The parking at the upper lake is a few minutes farther up the road by car and costs 4 Euro for the day. Here you have street food (hamburger and ice cream, the last time we were there) and toilets.
This car park is convenient to the upper lake: the walk from here to the Monastic site is, however, easy and not too long.
Please note that both car parks get VERY busy at weekends especially.
Getting to Glendalough by bus / coach
By bus – If you don’t have your own car, you can also get to Glendalough with the St Kevin’s bus, a private bus service connecting Dublin to Glendalough.
This Glendalough Bus leaves Dublin every day at 11.30 and brings you to the Glendalough Visitors center via Bray, Roundwood and Laragh and comes back at 4.30 pm.
Need to know. While this is a tempting option if you do not have your own car, it is only good if you are happy to spend the whole day in Glendalough. Once you are here, there is not much you can reach on foot so if you do not think the local walks and the visitors center will keep you occupied long enough, then an organized coach tour is probably a better option.
By coach tour – The easiest way to get to Glendalough from Dublin if you do not have your own car is with one of the excellent coach tours from Dublin to Glendalough. There are a few to choose with, usually mixing time in Glendalough with additional interesting stops along the way.
You can find our favorite Dublin to Glendalough bus tours below.
The best day tours from Dublin to Glendalough
Dublin, Glendalough, Kilkenny day tour – which also allows you to visit the pretty city of Kilkenny, famous for its stunning medieval castle, cathedral and pretty colorful houses
Glendalough and Wicklow half day tour from Dublin, which also shows you lovely corners of County Wicklow that starred in some of the many movies filmed in Ireland such as PS I love you and Braveheart (yes, it was supposed to Scotland but it was filmed here!)
Wicklow National park small group day tour from Dublin – a lovely day trip from Dublin to Glendalough that will also bring you to admire the fantastic Lough Tay (Aka the Guinness Lake) and the Wicklow Mountains.
Wicklow Mountain Hike and drive tour – a particular tour that allows you also to stretch your legs hiking in the Wicklow mountains as well as exploring the Glendalough monastic site with a dedicated guide
Best time to visit Glendalough
Glendalough can be visited all year round, however, you will have a very different experience depending on the time of the year and even the day of the week you pick.
The best time to go to Glendalough for a chance of good weather and hiking are the spring and the summer.
However, these are also the times that see the highest amount of visitors, both local and foreign, especially at the weekend. If you are planning on visiting Glendalough in spring or summer, I recommend trying to come during the week or later in the day, when crowds tend to subside.
Autumn can also be a lovely time to visit Glendalough.
This is when the native trees change color and while this can be a time of chilly or even cold weather, it is usually a quiet time in Glendalough, when it is easy to tap in the most mystical side of the site.
Glendalough in winter is nice yet cold.
This is the best time to visit the monastic site if you are keen on avoiding crowds however, you must be cautious before taking to the mountain roads in the winter: the drive here must be avoided in case of snow or storm – always keep an eye on weather warnings and reschedule your visit should the roads be deemed unsafe.
What there is to do in Glendalough
The best things to do in Glendalough are as follows.
Visit the Glendalough Monastic site
The monastic site is the jewel in the crown. Free to access, it is a small site with a dwelling from the 6th century AD and a place with incredibly evocative power.
You reach it with a very short walk from the visitor center and you immediately find yourself surrounded by grey stone buildings.
There is a well-preserved round tower, the so-called’ St Kevin’s kitchen’, remains of a chapel, and beautiful tombstones.
You do not need any special equipment to visit the site however, the terrain is uneven and it can get slippery in the rain so good walking shoes are mandatory.
Good to know: the Glendalough round tower is said to have been the campanile and bell tower of early Irish monastic settlements and were used to call the monks to prayer. It is 100 ft tall and has several floors, accessible by a small door. Noticeably, the door is not at ground level but about 12ft above ground. Most likely, it was accessed by a removable ladder that would make the tower a safe refuge in case of attack. The tower seems to date back to about 900-1200 AD.
Take a walk along the Upper and Lower lake
Glendalough has two lakes, both easy to admire and enjoy.
Glendalough’s lower lake is easily accessible from the car park and has a lovely walk looping around it.
The walk is mostly flat and doesn’t require any special level of fitness: parts of it are unpaved and parts are now equipped with wooden boardwalks that make them easy to tackle not just walking but even with strollers and children scooters!
The walk leads you to the upper lake which has lovely views towards the bottom of the valley and has some nice lawns for a picnic or a rest.
The best way to enjoy the lakes is to take the time to visit both. You can start from one of the other and good signage will lead you easily where you want to go.
In 2020, health regulations have meant that some of the paths have been arranged to be one way only: this doesn’t create any problems for your visit and still allows you to visit both lakes.
Do however pay attention to the signs so you can be sure you follow the loop in the right direction!
Go to the Visitors’ center
Beside the main car park, there is a Visitors’ center with good information materials about the area.
You do not need to go through here if you just want to see the monastic city and the lake, however, it is a good stop if you want to put into context what you are about to see.
Once you are at the monastic settlement, no information is provided so while the place is stunning, it may leave you a little bit at a loss should you not have any hints on what it is that you are looking for or why it is significant.
2020 update: please note that due to health regulations, the visitors center is currently closed.
Climb up Poulanass Waterfall
Glendalough has been carved by the rivers that still come rolling down the Wicklow mountains and a nice walk to get to admire them is the short climb up to the Poulanass waterfall.
This is a short, easy hike that loops around the Poulanass waterfall and then leads you back to the car park. It is not a difficult hike and you can easily do it with kids too however, it is steep and unpaved so you want to wear good shoes (good runners are ok).
This is a nice, easy walk that allows you to see the waterfall but also the nice forests of this area.
Tips for visiting Glendalough with kids
We bring the kids to Glendalough often and while there is nothing specifically for them here (no playground etc), we always find there is plenty to come up between the walk, the lake and the monastic city.
The lower lake loop is easy for kids and we have found scooters are a good option here.
When the kids were toddlers, we mostly stayed around the lakes and the monastic city but we find that now that they are little older, the hikes are nice and come across as pretty adventurous for them, even when not dangerous as such.
The one to St Kevin’s cell for instance, just above the upper lake, climbs up pretty steeply and gets quickly to a viewing point. Our kids loved it and felt quite a sense of accomplishment!
Some of the hikes are loops and current regulations mean they are one way only.
If you don’t feel your kids are up for them, just select those with paths that are accessible both ways so you can just turn back when needed (the signs are everywhere and easy to follow).
Strollers and buggies are easy to push on this terrain too and there are plenty of opportunities to sit for a picnic.
Restrooms and changing facilities are available beside the Visitors’ Center and the Glendalough Hotel has a restaurant with a family-friendly menu too.
The last time we visited, this September, there were also hot food carts at the Upper lake car park, ice cream trucks and souvenirs stands near the monastic site entrance, fun for kids to have a snoop around!
I hope you enjoyed these quick tips for visiting Glendalough and they helped you plan your day. Happy travel planning!
