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Major city · Ireland

GlendaloughGleann Dá Locha

Go for one day, arrive before 10:00 or after 16:00, and sleep in Laragh 3 km away: summer weekend midday parking is the whole trip.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug weekends (crowds), Nov–Feb (short wet days)
Airport
DUB
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
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.

Glendalough is a 6th-century monastic city in a glaciated valley inside Wicklow Mountains National Park, 40 km south of Dublin. The ruins are free and open 24 hours; you pay only for parking. Most people come as a day trip from Dublin, which works if you start early. Sleeping in Laragh or at the one valley hotel buys you the quiet hours at either end of the day.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Glendalough, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

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 mealMain course in Laragh€16–26 (≈ US$19–35)
  • BeerPint€6–7 (≈ US$7–9)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–20 (≈ US$12–25)
  • Museum or sight ticketVisitor Centre admissioncheck; the ruins themselves are free€5 (≈ US$6) per person
  • Budget bedHostel bed, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room€160 (≈ US$190)
  • High-end bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room€240 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €45 (≈ US$55) · Mid €85 (≈ US$100) · High €150 (≈ US$180)

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 →

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.

The Round TowerSt Kevin's monastic cityThe two lakes and the Wicklow WayDay trips from Dublin
Airports
DUB Dublin Airport (About 1 h 15 min by car via M11/N11 and R755; no direct bus from the airport.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Glendalough: 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

8°C

2°C

14 rd

Feb

8°C

2°C

11 rd

Mar

10°C

3°C

12 rd

Apr

12°C

4°C

11 rd

May

15°C

6°C

11 rd

Jun

18°C

9°C

10 rd

Jul

19°C

11°C

11 rd

Aug

19°C

11°C

12 rd

Sep

17°C

9°C

11 rd

Oct

13°C

7°C

13 rd

Nov

10°C

4°C

13 rd

Dec

8°C

2°C

14 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Walk. The monastic city sits by the Lower Lake; the Upper Lake is 1 km west on a lane with its own car park and a separate parking ticket. Local accommodation may offer lifts. Cycling is allowed on hard-surface roads and the marked green, purple and orange routes around the lakes; off-road mountain biking is not.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Wicklow town

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Local Link bus 183 from Laragh, or 25 min by car on R755

Two botanic gardens and a distillery; quieter than Powerscourt.

Enniskerry and Powerscourt

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Car via R755 and N11, about 45 min

Gardens and a waterfall; go at opening to beat the coaches.

Blessington

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Local Link bus 183 over the Wicklow Gap, or 50 min by car

Russborough House and its art collection; the bus is the scenic route.

Roundwood

caution

Door to door: About 20 min

R755 east, 15 min by car; buses stop on the way

Useful for beds and a shop, not a sight in itself.

Bray

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Car via R755 and N11, about 45 min; St Kevin's Bus stops here

DART trains to Dublin and the cliff walk.

Arklow

skip

Door to door: About 1 h

Car via R755 and N11, about 50 min

Too far for the payoff on a short trip.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Laragh

Service village 3 km down the valley: most beds, most food, buses stop here.

Glendalough valley

One hotel, one hostel and a B&B next to the site entrance; walk to the ruins before the coaches arrive.

Roundwood

About 12 km east on R755; cheaper beds if you have a car.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€45–70 (≈ US$55–85) excl. bed
Mid
€70–120 (≈ US$85–140) excl. bed
High
€120 (≈ US$140)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
B&B or hotel double room1 × 1 night × €160€160
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €85€170
Car parking, one day1 × €4 · check€4
Visitor Centre admission, one person2 × €5 · check€10
St Kevin's Bus, Dublin return2 × €30 · check€60
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15€30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€43
Trip total≈ €239 per person per day, bed included€477≈ US$600

2026 estimate in euro; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee€3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Soup and brown bread€7–10 (≈ US$9–12)
Main course in Laragh€16–26 (≈ US$19–35)
Pint€6–7 (≈ US$7–9)
Car parking, one daycheck€4 (≈ US$5)
Visitor Centre admissioncheck; the ruins themselves are free€5 (≈ US$6) per person
eSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–20 (≈ US$12–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe for a rural site: the real risks are car break-ins at the Upper Lake car park, wet granite on the lakeside paths, and mountain weather that turns on the ridge. Tell someone your route before a hill walk.
  • Summer weekend parking fills by mid-morning; the car parks close overnight.
  • No ATMs or banks in Glendalough or Laragh: bring cash.
  • No camping in the valley, and no swimming in the lakes.
  • Upper and Lower Lake car parks are run separately, so a ticket does not transfer.
  • Parts of the upper Glenmaclure valley are army training ranges: check before hiking.
  • Mountain weather changes fast; the ridge paths are boggy and unmarked in places.

Emergency numbers

Police, ambulance, fire, mountain rescue
112
Alternative emergency number
999

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

GlendaloughGleann Dá Locha

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Chuig an seoladh seo, le do thoilTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, ambulance, fire, mountain rescue112
  • Alternative emergency number999

Embassy

No embassies in Glendalough or Laragh; the US embassy and most others are in Dublin.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • St Kevin's Bus, Dublin (St Stephen's Green) → Glendalough: about 90 min, twice daily; fare check
  • Local Link bus 183, Wicklow → Laragh: 4–5 times daily; fare check
  • Taxi Laragh → Glendalough: short hop, about €10–15 (≈ US$12–18) (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)
  • Cá bhfuil an charrchlós? — Where is the car park? (kaw will an kharr-khlohs)
  • Cé mhéad é? — How much is it? (kay vade ay)
  • Sláinte — Cheers (slawn-che)

No ATMs in Glendalough or Laragh: bring cash for parking and small cafés.

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 Glendalough. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug weekends (crowds), Nov–Feb (short wet days) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Bus and car-park timing fixtures for the summer weekend crush, with a Laragh fallback.
  2. Walking clusters: monastic city and Lower Lake, Upper Lake and Poulanass, the mining village ridge, Laragh and Glenmaclure.
  3. Place pages with verified opening and last-entry cutoffs (Visitor Centre, Wicklow Heather, Woollen Mills) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Mountain-weather and rescue fixtures so the ridge hikes can go green or red.

Meanwhile

Back to Ireland

Sources