Wicklow Mountains National Park

Wild Irish Peaks and Ancient Valleys

Wicklow Mountains National Park in Ireland showcases rugged hills, deep valleys and clear lakes. The landscape features ancient forests mixed with open grassland where sheep graze near stone walls built centuries ago. Hiking trails lead through heather-covered slopes and past waterfalls like Avondale Falls. Small villages nearby provide traditional food and music sessions. Weather changes quickly here, so rain gear is useful even in summer. The area holds historic sites such as monastic ruins from early Christian times. Wildlife includes red deer, golden eagles and native trees.

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National Park in Ireland

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$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.8

General Safety:	10
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	10

Read details

5/5

English is universally spoken, with all signage, guides, and visitor services in English. Staff at the information office are helpful and used to international visitors, so communication is easy.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Wicklow Mountains National Park Summary

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‘Best for’ scores:
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Excellent for green mountains and scenic drives. Hike valley trails, explore historic monastic ruins, cycle quiet roads and enjoy panoramic viewpoints.

Place score

7.8

Best at:

Natural sites

Spotless

Secluded

Guided tours

Waterfalls

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

👩 9

Solo

❤️ 9

Couples

Ireland – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type G Type G: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in Ireland, especially in urban areas. Contactless payments and mobile apps are commonly used. Smaller businesses might still prefer cash. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in Ireland, with 10-15% expected in restaurants. Tipping for taxi drivers is usually rounded up or 10-15%. For hotel staff, €1-2 is appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in many places, such as parks and during festivals, but local laws vary in specific areas.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited indoors in public spaces and in most enclosed areas. Designated outdoor smoking areas are common.

St. Patrick’s Day (March)	Expect large crowds and parades, especially in Dublin. Book accommodations well in advance.
Christmas (December)	Christmas markets and festive events are popular, with busy streets and higher accommodation rates.
Easter Monday (March/April)	Many places close or have limited hours, especially in smaller towns.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Free Now, Bolt
Other:	Ireland is known for its scenic landscapes, and rural areas may require more preparation for travellers, especially in terms of accommodation and transport.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Wicklow Mountains National Park, Ireland

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Mar

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Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Oct.
Crowdedness:	4 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Daylight lasts under 8 hours in December, over 17 hours in June

Heather blooms on the uplands late August to September

Weekends in summer very busy at Glendalough, arrive early to find parking

Don't miss

🥾 Hike the scenic Glendalough Spinc trail
⛪ Explore historic monastic ruins at Glendalough
🚶🏻 Walk peaceful Miners' Road alongside Upper Lake
🌊 Climb the steep Poulanass Waterfall path
🦌 Spot wildlife and birds in woodland areas

You've been here?

Why travel to Wicklow Mountains National Park?

If you love hiking, scenic drives or simply soaking up epic landscapes, Wicklow Mountains National Park is a must. The park is famous for its nine waymarked trails, ranging from gentle lakeside strolls to challenging mountain hikes like the Spinc Loop. Glendalough Valley is a highlight, with its 6th-century monastic ruins and twin lakes. The Sally Gap Drive offers jaw-dropping vistas and photo stops at Lough Tay and Glenmacnass Waterfall. Wildlife is abundant – keep an eye out for deer and sheep. Just be aware: parking can be crowded on weekends, the weather is famously changeable (rain gear is essential) and some trails can be muddy or strenuous. There are no large predators, but midges and ticks can be a nuisance in summer and wild camping is only allowed in certain areas. Swimming is at your own risk, as there are no lifeguards.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 St. Kevin's Church (ruins)
2 Lough Tay
3 Saint Kevin Cemetery
4 Upper Lake
5 Glendalough Round Tower
6 Lough Nahanagan

🎡Places for activities

1 Glendalough Visitor Centre
2 A.B.C. Fishing Tackle (Don't fall in - we need the business!)
3 Rock climbing access
4 Brockagh Resource Centre
5 Powerscourt Golf Club
6 Lough Dan Scout Centre

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Sally Gap
2 Lough Tay
3 Glenmacnass Waterfall
4 Poulanass Waterfall
5 Inchavore Valley

🎈Events

Guided Walks (seasonal)
Nature Conservation Days
Photography Workshops
Wildlife Monitoring Events
Heritage Week Activities
Environmental Clean-ups
Outdoor Education Days
Birdwatching Weekends
Special Permit Group Hikes
Local Food Stalls (occasional, weekends)

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Knowledge before you go

Wear sturdy boots; trails are rocky and often muddy after rain.
Start at Glendalough Visitor Centre for maps and trail advice from knowledgeable staff.
Check weather forecasts closely; sudden fog or rain can make navigation challenging in mountains.
Combine Spinc and Poulanass trails for stunning valley views and ancient monastic ruins nearby.

How to travel to Wicklow Mountains National Park

Wicklow Mountains National Park is about an hour’s drive south of Dublin via the M50/N11 and R755. St. Kevin’s Bus runs twice daily from Dublin’s St. Stephen’s Green to Glendalough Visitor Centre. Regional buses (Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann) reach nearby towns, but not all park entrances. Organized day tours are also popular.

Access summary

From Dublin Airport (DUB): Aircoach or bus into city, then bus/car ~1.5 hours.
From Dublin city: Drive via M50/N11 or N81, around 1–1.5 hours.
From Wicklow town: Local buses or car into hills, usually 45–60 minutes.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Wicklow Mountains National Park

There’s no camping allowed in Glendalough Valley, but wild camping is permitted in some remote park areas (permit needed for groups). Nearby towns and villages offer a range of B&Bs, guesthouses and hotels. Book ahead for weekends and summer. No serviced campsites are inside the park.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Powerscourt Hotel, Autograph Collection

9.5

Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort

8.4

Birchdale House B&B

9.0

Summerhill House Hotel

8.2

Knockree Hostel

9.6

Lettermore Country Home

Castlestone Holiday Cottages & Townhouses

A Cozy Studio Apartment

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Wicklow Mountains National Park

Most visitors start at Glendalough, where the National Park Information Office and main car parks are located. Nine waymarked trails begin here, with maps and helpful staff on hand. The Sally Gap and Lough Tay are best reached by car; local buses and the St. Kevin’s Bus from Dublin serve Glendalough. The park is huge, so a car or bike gives you the most freedom. Some paths and the Lower Lake boardwalk are accessible for wheelchairs, but many trails are steep or uneven.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

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+13 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 13% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Naas, Ireland - 19 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£63	£142	£378
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£23	£49	£105
🍝 Food per day	£32	£84	£245
🚕 Transportation per day	£8	£9	£28

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£37
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£16
🍟 Fast food combo	£9
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£11
☕ Cappuccino	£3.50
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£5.50

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.80
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£16
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£12
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£60
🤧 Cold medication	£8
💇 Basic haircut	£16

Safety information overview

General safety

The park is very safe, with low crime. Main risks are natural: slippery trails, sudden weather changes, ticks (rarely carry Lyme disease) and midges in summer. Always follow marked trails and bring a charged phone.

Health & Medical

Medical care is available in nearby towns, but not inside the park. Bring any prescription meds, a first aid kit and be aware of ticks and biting insects. Tap water is safe in towns, but lakes and streams are not for drinking.

Accessibility

Some paths and the Lower Lake boardwalk are accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, but most trails are steep, rocky or uneven. Visitor centers and main picnic areas are accessible.

Tap water

Tap water in nearby towns is safe and widely available. Carry a refillable bottle. Do not drink from lakes or streams. Public water points are rare in the park.