Major city · Ireland
ArklowAn tInbhear Mór
Treat Arklow as a 1-night rail stop between Dublin and Wexford, or skip it: the town is industrial, and the coast and hills need a car.
Arklow sits on the River Avoca in County Wicklow, midway between Dublin and Rosslare, and is still a working port and commuter town of about 13,000 people. The town itself is industrial rather than scenic; what earns it a stop is the rail line, the maritime museum and the Avoca valley 8 km inland. Most travellers pass through on the Dublin–Wexford train or use it as a cheap bed for Wicklow.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Nov–Feb (wet, short days)
- Airport
- DUB
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- Ireland ↗Ireland is in the EU but not in the Schengen area; it sets its own entry rules and a Schengen visa is not valid for Ireland. Check Irish immigration for your passport.
- Ireland ↗Ireland and the UK form the Common Travel Area, with no routine checks on the land border. Visitors who are not Irish or British must still meet UK rules (including the UK ETA where it applies) to enter Northern Ireland.
- Ireland ↗Driving is on the left; rural roads are narrow with hedges and few passing places.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Arklow112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Arklow, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR).Ireland-wide
- SIM or eSIMVodafone, Three and Eir run the networks; prepaid SIMs (also 48, Tesco Mobile, GoMo) sell in phone shops and newsagents, no registration fuss.Ireland-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe; occasional local 'boil water' notices are posted by Uisce Éireann.Ireland-wide
- TippingRestaurant with table service: 10–15% if service is not included.Ireland-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Ireland-wide
- SafetyArklow is a low-risk town; the real issues are weather, unlit roads outside the centre at night, and derelict or unsafe sites (Glenart Castle…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree in shopping centres, museums, pubs (as a customer) and many petrol stations; some public toilets charge 50c.Ireland-wide
- Emergency numbers112 police, ambulance, fire, coast guard · 999 Alternative emergency number
- Sundays & holidaysShops open Sunday afternoons in towns; rural shops and some attractions close in winter (November–March).Ireland-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckDUB Dublin Airport (Expressway Bus 2 and Wexford Bus 740 run from the airport to Arklow, about 1 h 30 min–2 h; check the current timetable.).
- Getting aroundThe town centre is walkable: station to Main Street is about 5 min on foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee€3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
- Sit-down mealPub main course€14–20 (≈ US$17–25)
- BeerPint of stout€5.50–6.50 (≈ US$7–8)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi across town€8–12 (≈ US$10–14) (check)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–20 (≈ US$12–25)
- Museum or sight ticketMaritime museum entryAdult €5 (≈ US$6), child/concession €3 (≈ US$4)
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room€150 (≈ US$180)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room€220 (≈ US$300)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €60 (≈ US$70) · Mid €100 (≈ US$120) · High €180 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- DUB Dublin Airport (Expressway Bus 2 and Wexford Bus 740 run from the airport to Arklow, about 1 h 30 min–2 h; check the current timetable.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Feb
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Mar
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Apr
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
May
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Jun
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Jul
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Aug
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Sep
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Oct
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Nov
Avoid
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Dec
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)), coolest Jan (3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C) low), wettest Jan (14 rain days), driest Jun (10). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Arklow: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
14 rd
Feb
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
12 rd
Mar
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
12 rd
Apr
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
11 rd
May
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
11 rd
Jun
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
10 rd
Jul
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
11 rd
Aug
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
11 rd
Sep
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
11 rd
Oct
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
13 rd
Nov
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
13 rd
Dec
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
14 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town centre is walkable: station to Main Street is about 5 min on foot. Buses are thin — Local Link 800 to Carlow runs a few times a day, and only a couple of public buses a day serve Avoca. For Brittas Bay, Clogga Beach, Glenart and Croghan Mountain you need a car or a taxi; Arklow Town Taxis is the local firm (+353 402 33400).
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1 h by car
Car via Rathdrum, about 40 min; public transport is awkward, check connections
Monastic site and valley walks; go early in summer.
Wicklow town
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Train north, about 20–25 min, or car on the N11/M11
Old jail museum and botanic gardens; pairs well with a half-day.
Avoca village and the Vale of Avoca
cautionDoor to door: About 30 min by car
Car on the R752, about 15 min; only a couple of public buses a day
Handweavers mill and the Meeting of the Waters; without a car the return trip is hard.
Brittas Bay
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Car north on the N11/M11, about 15 min
The nearest good beach; summer parking fills by late morning.
Door to door: About 2 h
Train from Arklow to Connolly, about 1 h 40 min
Doable as a long day, but Dublin deserves its own nights.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Town centre (Main Street and Bridge Street)
Walk to the station, museum, pubs and the bridge; the only area where you can leave the car parked.
Sea Road / north bank
The larger hotels with parking; about 15–20 min on foot to the station.
Avoca village (8 km inland)
One pub with rooms; only worth it if you have a car and want the valley, not the town.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €60–90 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
- Mid
- €90–150 (≈ US$110–180) excl. bed
- High
- €150 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 1 night × €150 | €150 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €100 | €200 |
| Train Dublin Connolly → Arklow, one way2 × €20 · check | €40 |
| Expressway Bus 2 from Dublin Airport, one way2 × €20 · check | €40 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15 | €30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €46 |
| Trip total≈ €253 per person per day, bed included | €506≈ US$600 |
2026 estimate in euro; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | €3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6) |
| Pub main course | €14–20 (≈ US$17–25) |
| Pint of stout | €5.50–6.50 (≈ US$7–8) |
| Maritime museum entry | Adult €5 (≈ US$6), child/concession €3 (≈ US$4) |
| Round of golf, Arklow Golf Links | About €50 (≈ US$60) (check) |
| Taxi across town | €8–12 (≈ US$10–14) (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €10–20 (≈ US$12–25) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The beaches beside town are industrial; go to Brittas Bay (about 10 km (6.2 mi) north) or Clogga (about 7 km (4.3 mi) south) instead.The beaches beside town are industrial; go to Brittas Bay (about 6.2 mi (10 km) north) or Clogga (about 4.3 mi (7 km) south) instead.
- Glenart Castle is derelict and often fenced off; do not plan a visit around it.
- Shelton Abbey is a working prison: no access.
- Old copper-mine buildings and shafts in the Avoca valley are unsafe and unfenced; stay on marked paths.
- Wexford Bus 740 stops at M11 junction 20, about 2 km (1.2 mi) north of town, not in the centre — check which service you booked.Wexford Bus 740 stops at M11 junction 20, about 1.2 mi (2 km) north of town, not in the centre — check which service you booked.
Emergency numbers
- Police, ambulance, fire, coast guard
- 112
- Alternative emergency number
- 999
Pocket card
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ArklowAn tInbhear Mór
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Chuig an seoladh seo, le do thoilTo this address, please
Emergency
- All emergencies112
- Alternative999
Embassy
No embassies in Arklow; the US Embassy and most others are in Dublin. UK citizens use the British Embassy in Dublin.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Train Dublin Connolly → Arklow: about 1 h 40 min; fare check with Irish Rail
- Expressway Bus 2, Dublin Airport → Arklow: about 1 h; fare check with Expressway
- Arklow → Avoca village by taxi: about 15 min; ask the fare before you get in (check)
Say or show
- Dia duit — Hello (jeea gwit)
- Go raibh maith agat — Thank you (guh rev mah agut)
- Le do thoil — Please (leh duh hull)
- Sláinte — Cheers (slawn-cha)
- Cá bhfuil an stáisiún? — Where is the station? (kaw will on staw-shoon)
- Cé mhéad é? — How much is it? (kay vade ay)
Garda station is in town; check the opening hours before you need it.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Arklow. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (wet, short days) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for DUB: last Expressway 2 and Wexford Bus 740 departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking cluster with rescue anchors: station, Main Street, the bridge and the maritime museum.
- Place pages with verified hours and prices (maritime museum, Avoca mill) and eat pages with last orders on Main Street.
- Car-needed flags on every coastal and valley sight so gate logic can route drivers and non-drivers differently.
Sources
- officialArklow Maritime Heritage
- officialAvoca Handweavers
- officialArklow Bay Hotel
- officialArklow Bridge Hotel
- secondaryWikivoyage: Arklow, revision 5324508 (CC BY-SA 4.0)