The southeast corner of Ireland is the country's sunniest region and one of its most overlooked. While international visitors rush west to Kerry and Galway, the Waterford and Wexford coast offers long sandy beaches, dramatic headlands, the oldest intact lighthouse in the world, and a city that has been making crystal glass for over 200 years.
Waterford city is one of the oldest in Ireland — founded by the Vikings in 914 AD. The medieval quarter around Reginald's Tower on the quayside is compact and walkable. The Waterford Crystal visitor experience on The Mall shows master craftspeople at work; the glass-cutting and blowing on the hour-long guided factory tour are extraordinary to watch. The showroom and its world's-largest crystal display are free to browse.
Hook Head at the tip of the Hook Peninsula in County Wexford is one of the oldest operational lighthouses in the world — over 800 years of continuous use. The rocky headland around the lighthouse is an extraordinary spot in any weather: grey Atlantic sea, limestone outcrops and the white tower rising 35m above the water. The peninsula itself — through medieval villages, past Norman castles and along a quiet estuary road — is one of the best short drives in the southeast.
The Copper Coast UNESCO Geopark west of Tramore covers 25 km of Waterford coastline where the rocks tell 460 million years of geological history. The sea stacks, coves and cliffs between Tramore and Bunmahon are largely unknown to international visitors despite being striking.
Suggested itinerary
Waterford city
Start at Reginald's Tower on the quayside — the Viking museum inside the oldest urban civic building in Ireland sets the historical context for the city. Walk west along The Mall to the Waterford Crystal visitor experience: the master craftspeople cutting and blowing crystal are worth the hour-long guided factory tour, and the showroom — with the world's largest Waterford Crystal display — is free to browse. Waterford has an underrated restaurant scene for its size — the city centre and quayside have several good options for the evening.
Hook Head Peninsula
40 min from WaterfordDrive south through New Ross and onto the Hook Peninsula. Hook Head Lighthouse tour — one of the oldest working lighthouses in the world, in continuous use for over 800 years. The coastal walk around the limestone headland takes 45 minutes and gives views across Waterford Harbour to the Wexford coast. Drive back via Duncannon and the east side of the harbour to Ballyhack — take the small car ferry across to Passage East (10 min) and return to Waterford, or continue north to Dunmore East for the night.
Copper Coast + Dunmore East
Drive west from Waterford along the Copper Coast UNESCO Geopark between Tramore and Bunmahon — stop at the sea stacks and coves along the R675. Return east to Dunmore East in the afternoon — the fishing village on Waterford Harbour has cliff walks, sea stacks and some of the best seafood restaurants in the southeast. The harbour views at low tide are worth the 30-minute detour from the direct road back to Waterford.
Highlights
- Hook Head Lighthouse — one of the oldest operational lighthouses in the world, on a dramatic limestone headland at the tip of the Hook Peninsula
- Waterford Crystal — master craftspeople cutting and blowing crystal in a purpose-built factory; the showroom and factory tour are on The Mall in Waterford city
- Reginald's Tower — the oldest urban civic building in Ireland, at the entrance to Waterford's Viking quarter on the quayside; now a Viking museum
- Dunmore East — a postcard fishing village on Waterford Harbour with a working trawler fleet, sea-stack cliffs and excellent seafood restaurants
- Copper Coast UNESCO Geopark — 25 km of Waterford coastline with sea stacks, sea arches and geological features spanning 460 million years
- Wexford beaches — Curracloe, Rosslare and Ballinesker are among the finest beaches in Leinster; Curracloe was used as the Normandy landing beach in Saving Private Ryan
- Tintern Abbey, Wexford — a Cistercian abbey founded in 1200 on the banks of the Bannow Bay estuary; far quieter than its Welsh namesake
Local tips
- →Hook Head Lighthouse tours run daily — allow 90 minutes for the climb to the top and the coastal walk around the headland
- →Waterford Crystal factory tours should be booked in advance in peak season — the showroom is free to browse, but seeing the factory floor requires the paid guided tour, which fills fast
- →Dunmore East is 15 km from Waterford city and one of the most charming small harbours in the southeast — worth a night's stay rather than a passing stop
- →The Copper Coast Geopark has no entry fee — a map from the geopark centre in Bunmahon helps navigate the best cliff-top sections
- →The southeast gets more sunny days than anywhere else in Ireland — this is the place to plan beach days if your itinerary has flexibility
- →Hook Head to Dunmore East is a spectacular coastal drive via the east side of Waterford Harbour — take the car ferry across the estuary from Passage East to Ballyhack to complete the loop without backtracking
Ready to go?
Plan your Waterford & Wexford trip
Best time to visit
May – September (the southeast is Ireland's sunniest region; Hook Head is accessible year-round)
Getting there
Fly into Dublin (DUB) and drive south on the M9 motorway (2 hrs to Waterford). Cork Airport (ORK) is 1.5 hrs west. Waterford city has a train station with regular Intercity services from Dublin Heuston (2.5 hrs). A car is needed for Hook Head, Dunmore East, the Copper Coast and Wexford beaches.
Region
Waterford & Wexford · Ireland
