Overview

Dublin has so much more to offer than just the city itself. If you're looking for a weekend trip in Dublin, did you know that the area offers beautiful trails and tracks just waiting to be explored?

One amazing place is the Wicklow National Park, accessible from the city in just over an hour by bus, making it a perfect day trip in Dublin! For those who want to camp, an overnight stay is also well worth considering. 

Here's our suggested itinerary for a day trip to Wicklow National Park - with an option for an overnight trip included!

11:30 AM 

Begin your journey on St Kevin’s coach, departing from the St. Stephen’s Green North stop. There is only one daily departure from Dublin at the weekend, so make sure to arrive on time and secure a seat!. A return ticket is 20€, and remains valid for 30 days, so you can make your way back when it suits you. 

12:50 PM 

The coach will drop you at the Glendalough Visitor Centre, where you can pick up a map of Wicklow National Park. There are nine different hiking trails to choose from, each offering a different combination of length and difficulty. Whether you opt for a mountain climb or a relaxing stroll around the lake, each trail offers picturesque views of woodlands, waterfalls and lakes.  

2:00 PM 

Time for lunch! If you’ve bought your own food, you can take advantage of the numerous benches around the park, and enjoy a picnic. If you want to buy some food in Glendalough, there is a café at the rear of the Glendalough Hotel which serves drinks and food all day. 

4:30 PM 

If you’ve had your fill of walking, then this is when the coach departs back to Dublin.

However, there is also the option to wild camp if you want to turn your day trip into an overnight stay - just don't forget your tent and sleeping bag!

For those who love camping, Wicklow National Park does permit wild camping. A top tip is to walk to Brusher’s Gap Hut, a shelter designed for hikers who wish to stay overnight in the National Park.

The shelter is an hour and a half walk from Glendalough visitor centre, but leads you through enchanting woodland trails and open hills. The shelter offers a water source, picnic table and a shelter to protect you from rain and wind.

It’s worth mentioning that you may encounter other hikers pitching tents around the hut, but this creates a lovely opportunity to make new friends with fellow hikers and share campfire stories!

The next day you can continue to explore Glendalough and Wicklow before getting aboard St. Kevin’s coach at 4:30 PM. 

If our guide has made you want to explore Dublin a bit more, check out our Dublin Internships. While you're gaining on-the-job skills, and experiencing a new place, you'll have plenty of time for day trips in Dublin!