Glendalough and Avoca Day Trip from Dublin

Dublin, Ireland

Take the scenic route out of Dublin, passing through the Wicklow Gap and Blessington Lakes to lovely Glendalough and the pretty village of Avoca. This scenic day trip is the perfect excursion from Dublin, filled with picture-postcard views of Ireland at its best.

The BBC series Ballykissangel was filmed in the lovely village of Avoca, and you will have time to check out the familiar sites such as Fitzgerald's pub and the Post Office. You'll also have time to visit the Avoca Handweavers and craft shop, reputed to be the oldest weaving mill in Ireland.

Then it's on to the tour's other highlight, Glendalough, the 'glen of the two lakes'. The ancient monastic settlement of Glendalough is a truly spellbinding place, home to the impressive 10th-century Round Tower.

USD $35.63

Traveler Reviews

Review by: Barbara G	March 2012
Great!! We had a wonderful guide and wonderful weather.

Review by: Patricia D	October 2011
The trip was great and our guide was especially good but the reservation through Viator created problems for us since it required a paper ticket and we were traveling. We had to go to a pay internet cafe to get it printed. I would not make this sort of reservation again.

Review by: Jennifer K	September 2011
Had a wonderful time,the Driver,Andrew was _br/_ friendly, funny and very informative and helpfull,_br/_ I loved the scenery and places we visited and would certainly do more trips with this company if I get the chance. Thanks Viator

Review by: Marguerite C	August 2011
We had a wonderful day, made so by the dialog and information from the guide. (Even with some of the worst jokes ever told!). The bus driver made the "back" roads of Ireland seem like straight runs.

Review by: janet S	August 2011
This trip was fabulous! The tour guide was on time, well-informed, kept everyone organized and was very entertaining to listen to. The coach was comfortable and cool (it was a hot day) and the stops were relevant and timed right. We especially enjoyed being able to wander through Avoca for a couple of hours on our own and found Glendalough to be completely worthwhile even though we had no idea what to expect there. We would highly recommend this tour to everyone.

Review by: Patricia N	July 2011
It was a lovely trip and the driver and guide were well suited to the job. Just one thing we found the visit to the Weaving Mill was just a bit too long. Would recommend this trip to all.

Review by: Jean R	July 2011
Our tour guide was not just informative; he was a comedian, a singer, a philosopher and left us feeling like friends.

Review by: Aidan D	January 2011
Avoca was lovely and the tour guide was very informative. Unfortunately we couldn't get to Glendalough due to snow, but the tour guide compensated with a trip to the Meeeting of Two Rivers.

Review by: Marcelo P	December 2010
Very pleasant scenery. Great guide. Very interesting monastery visit. Loved this tour. Gave 4 star because lunch stop at cafe at factory was not very good. If you take this tour, then just make the short walk to town instead and get lunch there but make sure the guide knows!

Review by: Grant M	October 2010
This was our first time taking a bus tour. We usually travel independently with our car. Information from the driver was helpful. Time allotted for Avoca was ideal, but we could have easily spent lots more time hiking around in Glendalough.

Review by: Barbara C	October 2010
Josehine was an expert driver and Geff was a fantastic guide making this tour memorable and a great day out. Would highly recommend this tour.

Review by: Catherine R	October 2010
This was a lovely trip and the driver and tour guide were excellent.

Review by: Colleen S	October 2010
wonderful trip, what a beautiful place. Lunch at Avoca was some of the best food in Ireland. Guide was well-informed with right amount of talk/nontalk

Review by: Alan B	October 2010
Very good experience. Well informed guide with lots of extra information. Only regret was that the Visitor Center at Glendalough was not available for simply wandering around rather than having to pay extra for a guided tour.

Review by: Ian A	September 2010
Glendalough segment was very entertaining, needed more time at the Abbey. Time at Avoca could have been better spent visiting the village rather than the weaving.

Review by: Eilis O	September 2010
This was an excellent tour. The route was beautiful and the tour guide gave excellent information en route. The coach driver was likewise excellent and the narrow roads very enjoyable due to his superb driving. We stopped at beautiful locations and had ample opportunity to tour Glendalough as well as spend time at Avoca Handweavers including a tour, shopping and lunch. The stop at the Wicklow Gap was spectacular. We departed and arrived in Dublin on schedule and the coach was very comfortable. This is a tour well worth taking. Very enjoyable, very pleasant tour operators and very pleasant group. Highly recommended!

Review by: Barbara M	August 2010
Trip was very good. Only problem was too many stops to pick up passengers which ate into time at the sites. Really need more time at Glendalough to walk to upper lake. Not enough time at Avoca to walk into village. Bottom line - make it a longer trip.

Review by: Armand L	August 2010
Wonderful trip! Even the weather cooperated, we had mostly sunshine seasoned with a sprinkle here and there. Good food at Avoca, knowledgable tour guide, lovely outing. Would recommend.

Review by: Anonymous	August 2010
By far the scenery on this day trip was the iconic Ireland we were seeking. Glendalough was just beautiful! Our guide took us on a short tour and explained some of the history of the setting. We had plenty of time to look around and take a long walk through a beautiful forest. Avoca was just charming. We enjoyed visiting the weaving shed, having lunch, and shopping for some of the crafts made in Avoca. The Wicklow Mountains are just beautiful. The trip itself made up for the fact that the air-conditioning on the mini-coach was broken. The driver's window fogged us repeatedly and he needed to stop to clear it. And the heat was unbearable on the ride home. Windows could not be opened. This was no fault of our driver and guide, who was professional and informative, and who also directed us to the correct bus to get back to our hotel for a lot less money than hiring a cab. Overall a great trip.

Review by: Anonymous	August 2010
By far the scenery on this day trip was the iconic Ireland we were seeking. Glendalough was just beautiful! Our guide took us on a short tour and explained some of the history of the setting. We had plenty of time to look around and take a long walk through a beautiful forest. Avoca was just charming. We enjoyed visiting the weaving shed, having lunch, and shopping for some of the crafts made in Avoca. The Wicklow Mountains are just beautiful. The trip itself made up for the fact that the air-conditioning on the mini-coach was broken. The driver's window fogged us repeatedly and he needed to stop to clear it. And the heat was unbearable on the ride home. Windows could not be opened. This was no fault of our driver and guide, who was professional and informative, and who also directed us to the correct bus to get back to our hotel for a lot less money than hiring a cab. Overall a great trip.

Review by: Cristofer B	July 2010
The tour was amazing and the guide was so wonderful and informative!

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	June 2010
Easy as pie to order tickets on-line. Tour was exactly as advertised, departed and returned precisely on schedule, great driverguide an overall good value for a day trip.

Review by: BARRIE T, Spain	May 2010
EXCELLENT DAY OUT. THE GUIDE WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND ALSO LIGHTHEARTED. MY WIFE HAS REDUCED MOBILITY AND THE DRIVER MADE IT VERY EASY TO GET ON AND OFF THE BUS. THE CONTENT OF THE DAY IS GREAT WITH GOOD SCENERY AND INTERESTING COMENTERY

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	April 2010
Trip was very good - great information from tour guide. Beautiful scenery....loved every minute of it!

Review by: Pat M, Canada	March 2010
The driver was excellent, he gave us so much info at the sight so that we could enjoy it. I also enjoyed Avaco as I used to watch Ballikissinangel on TV which was filmed there.

Review by: Patricia M	March 2010
The driver was excellent, he gave us so much info at the sight so that we could enjoy it. I also enjoyed Avaco as I used to watch Ballikissinangel on TV which was filmed there.

Review by: michael c, United Kingdom	October 2009
Glendalough was really good but i would have prefered to go to the village of Avoca rather than the weavers.

Review by: Michael C	October 2009
Glendalough was really good but i would have prefered to go to the village of Avoca rather than the weavers.

Review by: William B, United Arab Emirates	August 2009
The one tour that is a must! Guide was extremely informative and the scenery is beautiful-had a great day!

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	July 2009
We had such an amazing time. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, but also funny and entertaining, and we really enjoyed everything he had to say. The drive was so beautiful, and both stops were fun. I would definitely recommend the trip to anyone wishing to escape the city for a day.

Review by: Kay B, United States of America	July 2009
Very nice, especially Glendalough! And a great tour guide. Avoca Weavers had beautiful things for gifts!

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	July 2009
The Glendalough and Avoca Tour was a lot of fun, and the tour guide was very good!

Review by: Anonymous	May 2009
I wouldn't actually recommend this - there wasn't anything wrong with it, it's just that there are so many amazing things to see and do in Ireland that this tour felt kind of average. Glendalough was pretty, but that's it. And Avoca was a complete tourist trap.

Review by: Michael P, United States of America	April 2009
The tour guide/bus driver was very knowledgeable, and it was a very pleasant tour.

Review by: Anonymous, United Kingdom	December 2008
Most of the day what good, but the knitting mill was not really worth it for the final stop.

Review by: Richard R, United States of America	December 2008
A lovely day trip. Our guide was very informative. Although we had inclement weather, the scenery was still quite beautiful. The monastery/cemetery at Glendalough was teeming with history and had many photo ops. The mill at Avoca was delightfully quaint and the staff were very friendly. The lunch was great also. I would definitely recommend this trip.

Review by: Bart B, United States of America	May 2008
Good tour. The tour guide was very knowledgeable.

Review by: Marguerite B	May 2008
Good tour. The tour guide was very knowledgeable.

Review by: Anonymous, Australia	April 2008
Wicklow Gap is something to be seen. Very enjoyable day!

Review by: Noela T, Australia	October 2007
Again, the guide knew her stuff, the coach was clean and comfortable. Very pleasant way to spend a day and the scenery was out of this world.

Review by: Mare S	October 2007
It is a marvellous and mystical country - loved it and want to go back. Time at Glendalough should be longer - I worried from the beginning and had no courage to go to all the sites.

Review by: Sandeep H	October 2007
Nice cheerful driver/guide. A nicely planned trip. I will use Viator again.

Review by: Anonymous	October 2007
I had a wonderful time!

Review by: BRENDA K	September 2007
The tour should make a stop at Blessington Lakes and not Wicklow Gap - the views are far superior! Also, our coach driver guide wasn't very audible while doing the walking tour at Glendalough.

Review by: Lisa F	July 2007
The bus driver/tour director really made the trip especially enjoyable. His knowledge of local and national history and the delectable tidbits he added were wonderful. It made the bus ride short and educational. I felt enlightened by the wonderful views and history in which I learned.

Review by: Lorelei B	July 2007
The tour operators were good people who knew what they were talking about. It was a good, comfortable tour at a good price. I would do it again in a heartbeat.