Discover Amazing Things To Do In Waterford, Ireland

Here is a fun fact about County Waterford in Ireland, it has one of the oldest cities in the country and is thought to have been founded by Vikings in the 9th Century. They called it “windy fjord''. Here are other things to know about the stunning County. It has plenty of beaches, breathtaking scenery, delicious food, and extremely friendly people (no joke! They are sweet as pie).

In this blog post, you will discover the best scenic routes to take, great restaurants to eat in, and where to find spectacular cliffs that should be on everyone's bucket list. 

Things to do in Waterford:

1. Cycle the Waterford Greenway:

The Waterford Greenway is a 46km cycling and walking trail running from Waterford City to Dungarvan. It was opened in March 2017 and is a route on a former railway track.  You don’t have to do the full length. You can start from either end, cycle halfway, or whatever you desire. If you decide to cycle it halfway then I would suggest cycling from Dungarvan to Kilmacthomas.

On your journey, you will experience amazing views of Clonea Beach and will cycle through an underground railway tunnel. You can bring your own bike if you would like but there are plenty of places to rent a bike. Over the years the Greenway has become a popular trail and one of the many unique things to do in Waterford so definitely give it a go.

2. Spot a Pirate Ship off Ardmore Cliff Walk (okay not exactly)

This 4km cliff walk is an amazing place to take photos but one of the coolest things is that you will pass a shipwreck called Sampson. The cliff will take you along the magnificent Waterford coastline and it is here you will see Sampson. The ship was left here on a stormy night in 1988 and it gives off Pirates of the Caribbean vibes. 

The walk takes about an hour to complete. At the start of the walk, you will come to Early Christian St Declan’s Well and as you go along the path you will also see Ardmore Round Tower, a coast guard station from 1867, and a castle from 1987. As you can tell it is a walk full of history but something also special about this walk is the nature and wildlife. There is a variety of flora, fauna, and coastal birdlife. You may even spot white Butterflies.

3. Hike the Comeragh Mountain:

The Comeragh Mountains is a glaciated mountain range. It takes 4 hours to hike so proper hiking shoes are advised. This is tough work but the views are also worth it once you have reached the top. The mountain has become a famous Instagram picture in recent years. If you don’t opt to do the hike then another option is the Comeragh drive which has spectacular views. Most people will add this to their number 1 list of things to do in Waterford. 

4. Take a wander around the Japanese Gardens in Tramore

These gardens can be found in the seaside town of Tramore. The concept for these gardens came about in 2012 when Professor Bon Koizumi, the great-grandson of Lafcadio Hearn, visited Tramore to retrace the steps of his famous ancestor who spent many summers as a child in this seaside town.

The visit to the grounds of Tramore House led to the idea of developing a memorial garden in honour of Lafcadio Hearn. The gardens tell the great story of the life journey of Lafcadio Hearn. The gardens reflect traditions of the countries and cultures Hearn transversed through his lifetime. 

It begins in a Victorian Garden which relates to Hearn’s childhood summers in Tramore. You will then come to an American Garden and a Greek Garden, followed by a series of Japanese landscapes. One of the wonderful things to spot there is a Japanese Tea House and Tea Garden; followed by a Stream Garden which leads to ponds and a waterfall. 

5. Smell some flowers at Lismore Castle and Gardens:

Some more unique places to go in Waterford, Ireland are Lismore Gardens which are said to be one of the oldest gardens in Ireland. What is great about these Gardens is that they offer fantastic views of Lismore Caste and Blackwater Valley. Lismore Castle was built by King John in 1185 and was later owned by Sir Walter Raleigh and Richard Boyle, before passing to the Fourth Duke of Devonshire in 1753.

Visitors will find that the best thing about the castle is the collection of pretty flowers such as magnolias, camellias and so much more. It is important to mention in April 2014 the Castle and Gardens were awarded an Eco-Merit, an award that recognizes the castle team's environmental policy and improvement. 

6. Discover a hidden gem: Trá Na Mbó

Trá Na Mbó is a hidden gem not only in Waterford but in Ireland as well. It can be found along the Copper Coast and in my opinion, is one of the best beaches along that route. (Plus one of the best things to do in Waterford). It is a bit of a challenge to find so make sure to have Google Maps on. The beautiful beach can be found near Bunmahon beach and it is a great place to be on a sunny day.  You will feel like you are Holidaying in the Mediterranean rather than Ireland. In English, “Trá Na Mbó” means “Strand of the Cows.” Interesting name for a strand that has no Cows around. 

Other things to do in Waterford:

Visit Dungarvan town:

Dungarvan is a coastal town and harbour. There are many things to do there. One of the main things that have already been mentioned is the Waterford Greenway. You can hire your bike from any bike store and start the cycling route from Walton Park. 

Best places for bike hire in Dungarvan:

1. O’Mahoney Cycles 

2. Waterford Greenway Bike Hire

3. Abbeyside Rent a Bike

4. Waterford Greenway| Dungarvan Bike Hire & Cycle Tours

Bike hire Dungarvan prices:

Most places will cost €25 to rent a bike.

Shop til you drop:

Shopping is a popular thing to do in the town and Dungarvan Shopping Centre is a great place to go in Waterford. Outside of the Shopping Centre, there are craft shops, book shops, and Jewelers. 

Dungarvan is a foodie Haven and here are the best places to eat.

Dungarvan Restaurants:

1. 360 Cookhouse

2. The Moorings

3. The Interlude

4. The Tannery

5. Indian Ocean

6. The Anchor Bar

Dungarvan Cafés

1. Ormond’s Cafe

2. Meade’s Cafe

3. Gourmet House

4. Café Bliss

5. Jitter beans

Dungarvan Takeaways:

1. And chips by Eunice Power

2. Tony’s

3. Dungarvan Kebabish

4. Genoa’s Takeaway

Ireland can be expensive to visit but a great thing to know about Waterford is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money. Some of the places I have mentioned above are free things to do in Waterford. It has the perfect blend of beaches, cliffs, lakes, mountains, shops, food, and friendly people. A holiday destination that everyone should visit in their lifetime 

If you are thinking of taking a solo trip then I would highly recommend Waterford. Other cool places to take solo trips in Ireland are Dublin and West Cork.

Check out our Audio tour guide to help you around:

Dublin Audio Tour Guide

West Cork Audio Tour (This is a brand new tour)