Waterford Port Guide

Located in Ireland’s Ancient East at the tip of the Hook Peninsula in County Wexford, the world’s oldest operational lighthouse has marked Waterford Harbour for over 800 years. This purpose-built facility offers 45-minute guided tours and features a visitor center with a gift shop, art workshop, exhibits, and a café.

Waterford was founded by Vikings on this river for a reason you will discover from the water while sailing past Ireland's oldest civic building, Reginald's Tower, and Malcolmson's shipyard. Your guide brings the Norse settlement to life as you pass Canada Street, where Newfoundland emigrants boarded, and Waterford Castle before returning through the estuary.

Ireland’s first-ever Wake Museum explores life and death while detailing traditions and superstitions from early Christian times through the 20th century.

The Bishop’s Palace is a magnificent Georgian residence where visitors take a reenactor-led tour with a Housekeeper or Butler to discover secrets while the Bishop is away. This experience features luxurious surroundings filled with ornate gilt furniture and art.

The Irish Museum of Time, located in a Gothic-style church in Waterford's Viking Triangle, showcases the world's oldest Irish-made timepieces and international collections. Visitors can explore the history of horology and the craftsmanship of makers while viewing grandfather clocks, table clocks, and watches.

The Epic Walking Tour is a fun, interactive journey led by expert guides that covers 1,000 years of history from Vikings to Victorians in 1,000 paces. Popular with families, this tour of Ireland's oldest city offers numerous photo opportunities for visitors.

The award-winning Medieval Museum is Europe’s only museum built over two National monuments: Choristers’ Hall and the Mayor’s Wine Vault. It showcases the Great Charter Roll viewed by Queen Elizabeth II and the Cloth of Gold vestments, which were hidden from Cromwell’s army for 120 years.

The House of Waterford Crystal features a manufacturing facility with a new continuous melt tank, a visitor centre, and a retail outlet. Factory tours provide interaction with craftsmen and use audiovisual materials to explain historical and contemporary production techniques.

Located in Tramore, County Waterford, the Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens reflect the global life journey of Patrick Lafcadio Hearn, who grew up in Ireland. Visitors follow his path through various settings, including a Victorian Garden and American and Greek gardens.

These specialist tailor-made tours for groups of up to seven friends, families, or corporate guests put the customer at the heart of the itinerary design. By combining must-see destinations with off-the-beaten-track recommendations, these tours offer the best and most memorable experiences in Ireland.

Visitors aged eight and older can experience the world’s first Viking 3D virtual reality adventure and meet real-life Vikings inside a replica Viking house. This memorable activity teaches the Viking history of the city through immersive technology.

Led by an expert English-speaking guide, this interactive tour of Ireland’s oldest city visits the top ten major highlights, including Reginald’s Tower, the Bishop’s Palace, and the 10th-century Viking Quarter. Founded in AD 914, the tour offers an opportunity to see more than any other.

Kilkenny, known as the Marble City for its distinctive black marble, is explored starting at Kilkenny Castle, which was founded after the Norman conquest and rebuilt for its inhabitants. The tour continues to the city center and the Medieval Mile to visit the Rothe House and Gardens.

The Irish Silver Museum in Waterford displays an intimate, personal collection of silver treasures created by virtuoso craftsmen over a millennium. Spanning from the Vikings to the Victorians, the collection offers a rare opportunity to step back in time and explore Ireland's rich heritage.

This journey begins at the Rock of Cashel, also known as Cashel of the Kings, to see the ruins of a great Celtic Cathedral and learn about its various historical roles. The tour then visits Kilkenny, the Marble City known for its distinctive black marble.