Glendalough & Wicklow Mountains Afternoon Tour from Dublin
4.2
Glendalough & Wicklow Mountains Afternoon Tour from Dublin
By Paddywagon Tours
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About
Free cancellation • Full refund if cancelled up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time).
Reserve now & pay later • Secure your spot while staying flexible.
Lowest price guarantee • Find a lower price online? Get the difference refunded!
Ages 0-99, max of 64 per group
Duration: 5h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- Local guide
- Driver/guide
- Fuel surcharge
What's not included- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Start:
- 34 O'Connell Street Lower, North City, Dublin 1, D01 EY17, IrelandMeet at Paddywagon Office at The Spire - 34 O'Connell Street Lower, Dublin 1.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 8962P62- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travelers can participate
- Bookings made through Viator will automatically be signed up for the pickup point and collection time specified in the booking.
- If you wish to change your reservation to one of the other pick-up locations offered by Paddywagon Tours, you will need to contact us by telephone or email not later than 17:00 the evening prior so that we can guarantee the change. Please note that changes are only guaranteed once confirmed in writing by us.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 64 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 8962P62
From
$36.29
per adult
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Itinerary
- 34 O'Connell Street Lower, North City, Dublin 1, D01 EY17, IrelandMeet at Paddywagon Office at The Spire - 34 O'Connell Street Lower, Dublin 1.
- Pass byDublin
- 1
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Top rated
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- geraldinekavanagh800 contributionsFantasticExcellent value of Blarney Castle, Fort Charles, Kinsale and Cobh. The tour guide Brian was very knowledgeable and informative in the places he brought us on the day trip. He provided us plenty of time to spend in each venue/location. I enjoyed every minute of it. I highly recommend this company.Written March 27, 2025
- 129lewisk0 contributionsGreatest week of my lifeThe whole setup was designed perfectly and thoroughly enjoyed my time. Meet new people who are now good friends and couldn’t recommend it enough. Ireland is so beautiful and this allows you to see it all with the great hosts at the front adding comedy and fun.Written March 26, 2025
- tillyg7770 contributionsBEST WEEK OF MY LIFE !!shout out to our bus driver Richard (dicky) for making our trip so memorable!! Would 100% recommend doing worth every cent!Written March 25, 2025
- Sunshine6034860 contributionsMust see trip on this tour to Cliffs of Moher!What a trip with Paddywagon Tours. Bus was clean and comfortable. Charging ports in front of you in the seats. Enough time to hit the Cliffs of Moher, Castles, Galway Bay, etc. long day from Dublin, but so worth it. Driver was funny and grand!Written March 23, 2025
- LeannaE_130 contributionsA must when visiting IrelandThis tour met all expectations. Blarney castle and the gardens are lovely! We also kissed the Blarney Stone. Our stop in Cork was wet but we had a delicious lunch.Written March 23, 2025
- SarahinChi0 contributionsAmazing placeGreat tour with Paddywagon. Our guide looked after us well and was very friendly. Giants Causeway was amazing and as it was February was pretty quiet. We came back via Belfast, only a short stop there but long enough to have a quick look around or have a coffee before the drive back to Dublin.Written March 22, 2025
- Roam7738640 contributionsBeautiful tour by PaulLovely day tour starting from Limerick, ArthursQuay at 0930am. Paul was friendly, clear and a funny tour guide/driver.Written March 22, 2025
- elizabethnO8643GW0 contributionsWonderful way to spend a morning in Ireland!Eduardo was really awesome! We had a relatively small and intimate group of people in a smaller bus (the morning after St. Patrick's Day) and Eduardo was a fantastic driver and tour guide! Glendalough was remarkably beautiful! I enjoyed my high-speed hike to see both lakes and wandering through the monastery! Highly recommend!!Written March 20, 2025
- kennedys9680 contributionsGreat tour staff, terrible administrationTo start I would like to say that if my tour was exclusively about my tour guide Michael, and my driver Carl it would be a glowing 5 star review. Michael was incredibly knowledgeable and fun. We enjoyed hearing everything he knew about our many stops. Carl was an excellent driver even as this tour goes through scenic routes with more winding roads than other tours. We really enjoyed our experiences with them. However, our day was seriously impacted by poor administrative decisions than affected Michael, Carl, and every other passenger on our day tour including my group. I booked this specific tour because we liked how long it gave the passengers in Galway. There was a lot we wanted to see and do here, but a day tour was all we could fit into our schedule for the week. However, we ultimately lost an hour of this promised time. At the beginning of the day, the importance of timeliness was rightfully emphasized to us. Dublin has very strict rules for bus/transit drivers about how far they can drive in a day, how many breaks they need based on distance/time travelled etc. it was made clear to us that any delays would ultimately impact the time we spend at each stop. Then, 20 minutes into our drive, our guide received a call that there were two passengers that the administrative team neglected to put on our guide’s passenger list that our van had to turn around and go pick up. This added nearly an hour of drive time, in addition to distance on our drivers monitor. I find it extremely hard to believe that our van turning around to get them was Paddywagons only option. It seems that this decision was made exclusively to save the company’s money, even knowing that it would DEFINITELY impact our schedule for the rest of the day. This time ended up being taken from the longest stop, Galway. The tour’s itinerary states and 2.5 hour stop here. We got 1.5 hours. Ultimately I find this decision unfair to myself, the other passengers, and to our driver and guide who were discussing if they could even make it to the bus garage with the remaining time and distance our driver had. This decision did not consider AT ALL the money that the passengers on the bus spent for the day, or the comfort of passengers. It is already a long day in the van and we had nearly an hour added to that time for no good reason. I did reach out to the company for some form of compensation, and all they offered was 10% off another tour. We were no longer even in the country by the time this offer was sent. If my review was down exclusively to the administrative actions of the company it would be 1 star. However, the incredible services Michael and Carl rendered despite the frustrating corner they were backed into by their employers saved one star.Written March 20, 2025
- Kelli S0 contributionsHalf day countryside tour- amazing!Frank was an amazing guide. Beautiful locations, great narrative. It was worth every penny. If you are staying in Dublin, it’s a must do!!Written March 20, 2025
- M5844NMshannonb0 contributionsFrank and Paddywagon tours trip to Rock of Cashel and Blarney CastleFrank was excellent! He was knowledgeable, entertaining, and a great driver. He was transparent about traffic in Cork due to its St Patty’s day parade and gave us extra time at Blarney Castle which I appreciated.Written March 19, 2025
- H2908GOkristinag0 contributionsGreat tripAmazing trip! All around great with views and many rest stops which was very accommodating. Our tour guide + bus driver Aaron was friendly and hilarious! Highly recommend.Written March 19, 2025
- Pamipoo77770 contributionsDon't miss Rock of CashelDon't miss a trip to Rock of Cashel!! I liked this stop better than Blarney Castle. We have all heard of Blarney, and when in Ireland, we all go there but I had never heard of Cashel. What a bonus that was!! It was the highlight of this tour for me. All photos are of Rock of Cashel.Written March 18, 2025
- Maria A0 contributionsBeautiful GlendaloughOur Guide Michael was amazing. Gave us great tidbits of information on our journey. Highly recommend. The halfday was perfect for us.Written March 17, 2025
- Dream362657795690 contributionsAlex our tour guide was AMAZiNG!Alex our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable, funny and very entertaining. I learned a lot about Ireland. He made the trip extremely comfortable and enjoyable. 5 stars for us!Written March 17, 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.2
174 reviews
Excellent
110
Very good
29
Average
14
Poor
7
Terrible
14
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Andrea C
40 contributions
Beautiful day on a big bus tour to the Wicklow Mountains. Driver was excellent and got us safely from Dublin to our destination efficiently and thru a lot of traffic. We had 2 hours to walk around the scenic area without a guide. Glendalough, old cemetery and lakes are stunning. We do not normally due this type of tour but it was a very cost efficient and safe way to enjoy the area. No bathrooms available after 4:15 this time of year so you have to plan your walk around the lakes around a bathroom stop. We were on the 1:30 tour, arrived at 3:15 and left at 5:15 so was an issue for a few people but everyone realized bus company has no control of the situation.
Written March 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen S
1 contribution
Richard O’Brien was the best tour guide/bus driver! He was entertaining and engaging with many jokes and facts about Dublin, Ireland, Wicklow and Glendalough on our way to Glendalough. He helped guide us into the trail and gave tips on what we should do during our free time. On our way back, he gave everyone some time to rest on the drive back but as we got closer to Dublin, he gave some more tips for what to do in the city at night and explained other more locally known facts about the city such as what areas we should check out and avoid during the weekend and that stores don’t open until noon on Sunday. Would 100% recommend Richard as a guide!
Written March 3, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Karen,
Thank you for your business and 5 star review!
We hope to welcome you on tour again sometime!
Written March 4, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stephanie V
2 contributions
May 2024 • Family
If you are trying to make the most of your time here, this is a great tour! We flew it, got settled, and went to the pick up location. There were two buses for different tours, so just make sure you get on the right one! But the driver was really nice! We didn’t really get to see the upper lake because we didn’t realize how far it actually was and we got caught up taking photos and having coffee and ice cream which was all great! We reached the edge of the lake but had to turn back so we didn’t miss the bus back lol! The bus ride was a bit hot, the air was on but it was warm. To be fair none of us asked the driver to make it cooler either. Don’t be like us, speak up! We learned on later trips the drivers are completely ok with you asking! It was my first day here (May 10th) so I can’t recall the drivers name, but he too was definitely really cool!
Written May 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nik
Slovenia25 contributions
We have reserved the half-day tour, knowing it will be one of those "short and sweet", Which in someway we got - the national park is beautiful and there is a lot to explore and enjoy. However, there are a few things to mention regarding the operator or rather the specific guide we had. After we had arrived to the destination it was quickly quite odd since the guide suggested to use the toilets and we are free to do so right away, however, as some of the participants had gone to the toilets, the guide simply continued walking and explaning things, rather nonchalantly. As we have continued walking, half of the group has spread out (was forced to do so as it was not easy to find the guide if you are new to the place...). He was quite passionate regarding the place and historic value it holds, but yet, we had received barely any actual knowledge or at least a few more simple details would do, so we could've understood the whole picture. At last we could go and take a walk in the park for which we had 1 hour and 15 minutes. All in all maybe it was 1 hour and 30 minutes, but there is a important notice to add: When marketing short tours, please mention a few more timetable details not that we will have a minimim of 1 hour and 30minutes to explore (not true as the guide takes a minimum of 15 minutes to explain things) and as well, remove the stop at Wicklow mountain (20min) as there is none.
Would recommend the tour if it extends the duration for 30 minutes or actually adds an extra stop for some pictures...
Would recommend the tour if it extends the duration for 30 minutes or actually adds an extra stop for some pictures...
Written March 15, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nicped
Ottawa, On22 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
If you decide to book this tour, do yourself a favor and get on the bus at their office on O'Connell Street AND NOT AT THE MOLLY MALONE STATUE!! At any given time there are at least 200 tourists in the area of the statue and usually, there is a singer (with an amp) singing his/her heart out. It's very loud. Paddywagon advertise that they pick up at the statue but it's not true. The bus parks a street away and the driver goes over to the statue area and apparently shouts that he is with Paddywagon. He doesn't have any sign, flag or colored umbrella...nothing. We were there 20 minutes before the pick up time, we were paying attention, we were looking for a big green bus that said Paddywagon on it (as per their advertisement), not a man apparently walking around looking for his passengers. So we missed the bus.
After waiting for close to an hour, we called their office. We were asked if we were there on time and even after telling them we were very early, they said the bus doesn't pick up there, the driver went and gathered passengers, there was nothing they could do, no refund but they agreed to rebook us another day. We walked over to their office and same story, were we there on time? YES!! We were told that they picked up 12 passengers at the statue. I asked how many were registered and they said 19. They did not seem concerned about the discrepancy and said that a lot of people simply do not show up, even after paying for the tour in advance. We ended up rebooking for another day as it was our only option.
Paddywagon, here is my advice to you: 1) Please make it clear in your advertisement that the bus does not pick up at the statue. 2) Please give your driver (the person who walks over to the statue) a big flag or bright colored umbrella to make himself visible as it's way too noisy in that area for hearing him. 3) If all this is too much to ask, simply cancel pick ups at the statue as I'm sure we're not the only ones who have been left behind and a lot of people do not have the time to rebook.
We ended up doing the tour. We got on the bus at their office. The tour was fine. Alex who was the driver/guide was great. But I will never book anything else with Paddywagon as customer service is simply not high on their priority list.
After waiting for close to an hour, we called their office. We were asked if we were there on time and even after telling them we were very early, they said the bus doesn't pick up there, the driver went and gathered passengers, there was nothing they could do, no refund but they agreed to rebook us another day. We walked over to their office and same story, were we there on time? YES!! We were told that they picked up 12 passengers at the statue. I asked how many were registered and they said 19. They did not seem concerned about the discrepancy and said that a lot of people simply do not show up, even after paying for the tour in advance. We ended up rebooking for another day as it was our only option.
Paddywagon, here is my advice to you: 1) Please make it clear in your advertisement that the bus does not pick up at the statue. 2) Please give your driver (the person who walks over to the statue) a big flag or bright colored umbrella to make himself visible as it's way too noisy in that area for hearing him. 3) If all this is too much to ask, simply cancel pick ups at the statue as I'm sure we're not the only ones who have been left behind and a lot of people do not have the time to rebook.
We ended up doing the tour. We got on the bus at their office. The tour was fine. Alex who was the driver/guide was great. But I will never book anything else with Paddywagon as customer service is simply not high on their priority list.
Written October 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
maria b
1 contribution
Apr 2024 • Friends
The experience was dire, along the way the driver played very loud music and would not let us speak in Spanish because it bothered him. On the way back he turned on the heating and we all got bad, as several colleagues got blood sugar drops and tension. On the street it was 10 degrees and inside the 34 bus (you can imagine how hot we were). On the way back the driver was still playing very loud music and singing in English.
Automatically translated
Written September 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelly B
Portland, OR20 contributions
Maybe I caught them on a bad day but my tour seemed very poorly organized. “Tour guide” seemed nice enough but abandoned us as soon as we arrived. There were hundreds of people there from other buses. There was no centralized meeting place given in case anyone got lost from the group. So, with no way to find him, I approached a docent and asked if she could tell me anything about Glendalough. She was a treasure trove of information even pointing out buildings I never would have known existed. This is all something our “tour guide” should have been doing since I PAID him for that service. I explored on my own after that for probably an hour. Here is the worst part: I Returned to parking lot at 5:15 for our 5:30 bus departure - and it was NOWHERE in site! In fact, ALL the tour buses are gone and most of the cars and the visitors shop is closed too. I’m alone in this medieval graveyard. I Called the company and was told that yes they’d left WITHOUT me — and were halfway home by then! The company said he spoke with the driver and confirmed they were missing a person (me) but left anyway. I explained that our group was to meet at 5:30 and it was only 5:15. I panicked as I was now stuck 90 minutes from Dublin in the middle of the countryside at a graveyard! How was I supposed to get back?! I was told to take a City Bus that runs hourly and expect to pay $10 more for that. As I’m panicking, our “tour guide” re-appears with 4 or 5 of our large group. He says casually that the bus is on its way back (where it went? I don’t know). The company (still on my phone) requests to speak with him - more confusion there. Our trip back was fine but I felt I wasted money on a “tour” I never received. I also nearly took a City Bus that would not have been necessary. And why did the company say my bus had left when it hadn’t? What driver did they talk to bc it clearly wasn’t mine?? Very confusing and annoying. I cannot recommend this company and would never buy another tour here. Glendalough itself was stunning however so I am glad I saw it.
Written August 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Catherine P
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Family
This was just a bus ride to the location. The "tour guide" did not really want to provide a tour, just a bus ride. He pointed out a couple of buildings in Dublin, including a pub. He mentioned nothing about the historical significance of the monastery ruins at Glendalough. He said that refreshments could be purchased in the visitor's center, but that was not true and there was an admission fee for the visitor center. The mountains were beautiful and the monastery grounds powerful. A great area for a walk/hike.
Written September 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trip37660088249
Dublin, Ireland1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Friends
I was really disappointed with my tour last week, and would not recommend Paddywagon Tours. We went the 18th of Nov for the afternoon half-day trip from Dublin to Wicklow. The ride there the bus driver maybe spoke for a max 10 minutes, when we were meant to be getting some of the history on the drive. Instead all we got was the bus driver telling us the 3-4 pubs he liked. He also seemed like he was not the happiest to be there. Then as we are arriving, he informs us that we will have less time at the place, only 1.5 hours when I think its usually at least 2 hours, as its "getting dark earlier here and I don't want anyone to get lost". It was still light when we left at 4:30, and think leaving at 5pm would not have made a big difference. Then we drive back, he doesn't really talk at all, other than to point out the same pub he mentioned earlier (is he being paid commission to do this)? We arrived back at 5:30, when the itinerary said 6:15, and then he announces to the bus that he will not be dropping us off at the same place he picked us up. This is because "the traffic will be a nightmare and it will take longer for me to drive all the way through than for you to walk.". So we get dropped off all at one spot, which is not there pick-up locations. I honestly think he just wanted to go home.
Written November 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zanillawafer
Louisville, KY4 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
After leaving we made a second stop that wasn’t called out on the itinerary and didn’t leave the dublin city center until a half hour after the “start.” Itinerary states 2 hours in Glendalough, but when we got to the visitors center we were told to be back on the bus in an hour and a half. Nothing but vague directions were given to us by the driver. We and multiple other tour goers were unsure where to go or if we had enough time to take a particular path. Of course we were back on the bus on time and the same people who held us up at the beginning were again late. Would be better if there were clear instructions for the passengers on trails to walk- they said to take white back which is not possible, also said to take a left at the tower which is not correct to get to the lakes.
Written September 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It’s a bus tour so I think so. I didn’t do that because I checked into my hotel first.
Written July 18, 2019
What is the closest pick up point from the Camden Court Hotel?
Written July 4, 2019
Steven k
New York City, New York
Will you pick up and drop off at the Crown Princess? if not, where is the closest pick up point to the port?
Written July 2, 2019
Do you have any morning tours need to be back in Dublin by 3 the latest ??
Written May 3, 2019
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.