Dublin & Wicklow
Ireland
Combining Ireland’s enticing capital and glorious garden county
The beguiling city of Dublin is a compact amalgamation of medieval churches and Georgian splendour with a Viking past. Once the second city of the British Empire, today this dynamic Irish capital hums with a cosmopolitan vibrancy. Rich with history and heritage, there is plenty to do – Dublin has a wealth of restaurants, shops and museums. Yet, a short distance to the south, the Wicklow Mountains provide a dramatic and enchanting backdrop. The countryside of County Wicklow, the ‘Garden of Ireland’, is packed with history, from ancient settlements to elegant stately homes and lush gardens, which perfectly balances the hustle and bustle of city life.
DUBLIN & WICKLOW
City splendour and the ‘Garden of Ireland’
- Wicklow Mountains National Park – a scenic drive through breathtaking landscapes
- Glendalough – a verdant jewel of Ireland’s Ancient East
- Powerscourt Estate – Georgian splendour in County Wicklow
- Dublin – explore the vibrant Irish capital. See ‘Alternatives’ below for suggested attractions
- National Museum Dublin – the archaeological treasures of the nation
- Mount Usher – glorious and natural gardens bursting with flora
- Avondale House - guided tour
- 4 nights half board accommodation
- Return flights included
- This tour is also available as a coach tour if you don’t want to travel by air
From £969 per person
based on two sharing in a twin/double room, with a minimum of 30 passengers travelling by air in a specific month. Coach tour from £779 per person.
Best time to go
April, May, June, September, October
Suggested Hotel
Parkview Hotel, Newtownmountkennedy
- Located at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains
- Just one hour from Dublin, it offers the comfort of the countryside but is close to the city
- Modern hotel with its own bar & restaurant
- Outdoor terrace with riverside views
- Bright bedrooms with modern amenities
Not the hotel for your group? Other hotels are available, contact us.
Hotel Photos
Attractions:
Wicklow Mountains
Wildly beautiful, the Wicklow Mountains dramatically intrude on the landscape as you head south from Dublin. Deep, glacier-formed valleys and bold granite protrusions create a magnificently bleak topography, which harbours wildlife and rare plants in its bogs, lakes and moorland.
Glendalough
The serene Glendalough Valley is a glacially formed sweep of tranquil beauty. Glendalough means ‘valley of the two lakes’, and besides its expansive views and stunning scenery it is also home to an atmospheric, early medieval monastic settlement. Begun in the 6th century, it thrived for centuries despite sackings by the Vikings, until it was finally destroyed by the Normans in the 12th century.
Powerscourt Estate
The grounds surrounding this Palladian mansion are simply stunning. Home to Ireland’s highest waterfall, impeccable formal gardens, elegant statues and ornamental lakes, the backdrop of the beautiful Sugarloaf Mountain completes the picture.
Dublin
Old and new sit side by side in Dublin: from contemporary shops, restaurants and lively pubs to grand old townhouses, the ancient cathedrals of Christ Church and St Patrick, and a wealth of attractions thrumming with history. From the Little Dublin Museum, the National Museums and Kilmainham Gaol to the Guinness Storehouse and the Old Jameson’s Distillery, Dublin has plenty to keep you busy!
National Museum of Ireland
The National Museum on Kildare Street is a hoard of archaeological treasures house in a late 19th century building with an elegant rotunda. This fascinating museum has collections of ancient Celtic crafts, including pre-historic gold and ornate ecclesiastical metalwork, as well as mummified Iron Age bodies which were preserved by the peat bogs and sections on Viking and medieval Ireland. The sister museums, which exhibit decorative arts and natural history, are also in the city.
Mount Usher
Mount Usher offers 20 acres of beautiful, informal gardens which have been developed over 150 years. One of Ireland’s loveliest gardens, it boasts a unique variety of trees and plants in a sheltered, valley setting. It’s an excellent example of a ‘Robinsonian’ style of garden – wild and natural, yet managed.
Avondale House Guided Tour
The historic 18th century Avondale House, County Wicklow, is set in a 500 acre estate and was the birthplace of Charles Stewart Parnell (1846-1891), one of the greatest political leaders in Irish history. Dating back to 1777, this Georgian house is notable for its fine plasterwork and still contains many original pieces of furniture.
Alternatives
Don't fancy the flight?
This tour is also available by coach and ferry, from £459 per person.
Book of Kells
This stunning illuminated manuscript from the 9th century is formed of the gospels of the New Testament. A world famous medieval document, the Book of Kells is one of Ireland's greatest cultural treasures and displays the Hiberno-Saxon style, with its complex patterns, elaborate letters and intricate details which glow with rich colour. The manuscript can be found in Trinity College's Old Library, a beautiful building in Dublin dating back to the 18th century.
Trinity College
Dublin University’s Trinity College is widely considered to be the most prestigious university in Ireland, and was founded by Elizabeth I. With an extensive history stretching back over 400 years, a tour here takes in the ancient buildings and traditions, and explores the beautiful college’s four major squares.
Dublin Castle
A medley of architectural styles, Dublin Castle was originally an Anglo-Norman fortress dating back over 700 years – although much of its façade as seen today was built in the 18th century. A stronghold of British power in Ireland for centuries, today the castle is used by the Irish government and it has fine State Apartments.
EPIC The Irish Immigration Museum
EPIC The Irish Immigration Museum traces the influence of the Irish people all across the world. Interactive and immersive, the exhibits connects the descendants of Irish emigrants around the globe and looks at their reasons for leaving the island, looking at what it means to be Irish from the outside in.
National Gallery of Ireland
Founded in the 19th century, Ireland’s National Gallery in the heart of Dublin holds an impressive collection of over 12,000 works of European art. Strongly representing Irish painting, it also has notable exhibitions of the Dutch masters and the Italian Baroque.
Dublin Bay Cruise
Take to the water for a unique view of the city. This relaxing cruise takes in the beautiful Dublin Bay, and passes some of Dublin’s iconic buildings, bridges, the Docklands, several islands and lighthouses.
Summerhill House Hotel, Enniskerry
The tranquil Summerhill House Hotel is a lovely country house just 45 minutes south of Dublin. Near the pretty village of Enniskerry, it sits within 5 acres of peaceful grounds. The classic bedrooms are both spacious and comfortable with modern amenities. The hotel also has its own elegant restaurant serving seasonal produce, and a cosy bar.
Wicklow's Historic Gaol
This atmospheric gaol experience gives a taste of what life was like for inmates of this 18th century prison. Renowned for its harsh conditions, this thought-provoking attraction tells the story of its prisoners and their fates.
Russborough House
Built in the mid-1700s, Russborough is widely regarded as one of Ireland’s most beautiful stately homes. Its fine interiors recreate the grandeur of life in the 1740s, and the house also has several tales regarding the robberies – and subsequent recoveries – of its extensive art collection, which includes pieces by Velázquez, Vermeer, Goya and Rubens.
Got a question?
Need some advice?
Talk to us!
We love to talk travel! If our site has inspired you, please do get in touch to discuss your group's specific requirements on the phone number below. Alternatively, drop us an email and we'll get back to you.
Our office hours are 09:00 – 17:00 (UK time), Monday to Friday. If you are on tour and need to contact us outside of office hours, please call the 24hr on tour assistance number.
(If calling from abroad, please remember to add 0044 and drop the first 0 from the below numbers.)
Call:
01225 764205
Email:
enquiries@successtours.com
24hr On Tour Assistance Number:
07957 838280