3 Days In Ireland From Rosslare (‘Slow-Trip’ For Those Using Public Transport + Good Fitness)

Planning a 3-day Ireland itinerary can be a pain in the backside… So, we’ve done all of the hard work for you!

We’ve spent 25+ years travelling around Ireland and the itinerary below leans on that experience and the many mistakes we made along the way!

In a nutshell, this 3-day itinerary:

• Starts and ends in Rosslare
• Has been meticulously planned
• Has an hour-by-hour itinerary for each day to save you time/hassle
• Follows logical routes that take you to hidden gems, tourist favourites and great pubs and restaurants

Who this itinerary will suit

Now, before you scroll down, take 10 seconds to look at the graphic above – each of our road trip itineraries have been tailored to specific needs.

This road trip is specifically for those of you:

• Starting in/near Rosslare
• Using public transport and organised tours
• Looking to explore at a slow pace
• With a good level of fitness (i.e. it includes long walks and hikes)
• Remember, we have hundreds of different itineraries here if this one doesn’t suit you

An overview of this itinerary

The map above gives you a very high-level overview of where this route will take you.

It uses several bases (e.g. Cork for 3 nights) and provides you with day-long road trips you can head off on, so you avoid having to change accommodation constantly.

Now, I’ll stop rambling on – here’s a day-by-day insight into each of the days below!

Day 1: Arrive in Rosslare and head to Wexford Town

It’s day one and welcome to Ireland! Today, you’ve arrived into Rosslare via the ferry and will be making your way to Wexford Town, where you will be spending two nights!

We’re going to assume you’ve arrived in the country just a little before lunch, so we’ve planned an afternoon’s worth of activities for you.

Recommended accommodation in Wexford Town

• Budget: Sinnotts Bar (great value, fabulous reviews and a 20-minute walk from the town centre) and Whitford House Hotel (8-minute drive from town with top reviews)
• Central mid-range: Talbot Hotel and Clayton Whites (two central hotels with brilliant reviews)

Stop 1: Rosslare Europort Train Station

The train station is just a five-minute walk from the harbour. There are four trains a day leaving this station.

We are assuming that you are going to make the 12:55 train. But, If you don’t make this, don’t worry, there are also buses that leave from Kelly’s Hotel and that take you into the town.

Stop 2: Arrive in Wexford and head for lunch

Assuming you made the train, you should arrive in Wexford at 13:18. It’s a quick train trip, so pay extra attention, so you don’t miss your stop!

We normally call into Simon Lambert and Sons whenever we’re in town. Their lunch menu has some cracking burgers (we’re partial to the bacon and cheese or the vegan burger), as well as some salads and wraps.

Stop 3: Grab a coffee and explore the town’s Viking roots

When you finish lunch, it’s time for a bit of a ramble. If you fancy a coffee (or a baked treat!), head for D’lush Cafe over in Wexford Arts Centre.

Wexford Town was, in fact, founded by the Vikings way back in 800 AD. It wasn’t until 1169 that the Normans took hold of the town. 

The Vikings established Wexford Town as it was the perfect location for them to raid from, as it sits right at the mouth of the River Slaney.

As today is your first day in Ireland after travelling, it’s going to be a handy one – tomorrow, you’ll take a guided tour of the town where you’ll be treated to a full insight into the town’s interesting past.

Stop 4: Westgate Heritage Tower and Selskar Abbey

The Westgate Heritage Tower is the last of six towers that used to stand in the defensive Medieval walls that surrounded Wexford Town.

Confusingly, the Westgate Heritage Tower is not the original Westgate Tower and it was actually part of the Selskar Abbey grounds (its original name being the Selskar Gate). So, contrary to popular belief, the gate did not give street access to the town but to the abbey itself (this is probably the reason it’s still standing today, unlike the other towers which were demolished to allow for increasing traffic).

Right next to the tower, you’ll find the Westgate Heritage Centre, where you’ll get a glimpse into what the rooms inside a Norman fortification would have looked like.

From Westgate Tower, it’s less than a 200-metre walk to Selskar Abbey. The abbey (which is now in ruin) dates back to the 1100s, although there is evidence the site was home to a Christian site that may have pre-dated the arrival of the Vikings.

Although the abbey is relatively far from the river today, when it was built, it would have overlooked the River Slaney, as the land past Redmond Square had not yet been reclaimed! Some historians even suggest that the abbey’s name ‘Selskar’ is derived from the old Norse phrase “seal skar”, which means seal rock – named after an outcrop in the (then) nearby river.

Stop 5: Dinner, drinks and live music 

If you didn’t stop by your hotel already, we recommend stopping by to check in and freshen up before dinner. That way, you don’t have to lug all your stuff around!

Our Wexford Town food recommendations

For dinner, we recommend checking out Cistin Eile, La Cote, or Simon Lambert and Sons (they have a different menu for dinner).

Cistin Eile serves beautifully plated modern Irish dishes, with choices like beetroot and mushroom toast with local goat’s cheese and slow-cooked beef (this is a customer favourite).

La Cote is our top choice when it comes to seafood. They have a mouth-watering tasting menu as well as an a la carte menu featuring fishes such as citrus cured sea trout.

Simon Lambert and Sons’ dinner menu is still laden with comfort food. We recommend the smoke BBQ plates if you’re feeling hungry, otherwise, the fish tacos are great!

Our Wexford Town pub recommendations

For your first night, we suggest popping into The Sky and The Ground (a quirky historic pub with a great selection of craft beers and a large beer garden) or Mary’s Bar (a traditional pub) for post-dinner drinks.

If you’re in the mood for music tonight, stick around The Sky and Ground or pop into T Morris. Wexford Town is also home to the National Opera House, which would make for an interesting night!

Day 2: Wexford Town and its surrounds

Today you’re going to have the whole day to explore Wexford Town and it surrounds.

Get something to eat where you’re staying, or we suggest grabbing breakfast at Cappuchinos if you’d prefer to enjoy breakfast out.

Stop 1: Irish National Heritage Park

Take the 887 Bus from Redmond Square out to the Irish National Heritage Park. It should be around a 10-minute journey.

This is a really interesting spot, and most people spend between one and three hours here.

This wonderful outdoor museum showcases 9,000 years of Irish history through recreated buildings, homesteads, places of ritual, and more. It’s an engaging insight into ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’ where you’ll be lucky enough to compare everything from Viking settlements to Stone Age settlements.

Choose from three guided tours running throughout the day: Pre-historic Ireland, Early Christian Ireland, or the Age of Invasion. The tours are a lot of fun, and your guides will even be donning Medieval costumes! 

Stop 2: Back to Wexford Town Centre for lunch

Once you’re finished looking around the heritage park, hop back on the same bus you arrived on (the 877) to get back into Wexford Town Centre.

It’s time for food, and today, we suggest checking out The Red Elephant or Trimmers Lane Cafe, which are both great choices for lunch.

We absolutely love The Red Elephant, which serves a variety of Asian dishes. They have everything from Nuea Kem Tod Jim Jaew (crispy salted beef salad) to pineapple fried rice.

Trimmers Lane Cafe is also a fantastic spot, with customers raving over their Korean chicken burgers. But, if you’re in the mood for something healthier, they also serve some delicious salads.

Stop 3: The WexWalks guided tour

Now, this tour requires booking in advance, as it only takes place on specific days at certain times.

However, if your do get booked on, you’ll be taken on a 75 journey through the town’s historical streets and winding lanes.

The tours are run by Paul Walsh, a local actor and history buff who will give you a wonderfully delivered insight into the town’s history.

Stop 4: Dinner, drinks, and call it a night

Hopefully, all that exploring of Wexford has left you with an appetite as we’ve got some lovely suggestions for where to eat tonight!

Our Wexford Town food recommendations

For dinner, we recommend checking out Cistin Eile, La Cote, or Simon Lambert and Sons (they have a different menu for dinner).

Cistin Eile serves beautifully plated modern Irish dishes, with choices like beetroot and mushroom toast with local goat’s cheese and slow-cooked beef (this is a customer favourite).

La Cote is our top choice when it comes to seafood. They have a mouth-watering tasting menu as well as an a la carte menu featuring fishes such as citrus cured sea trout.

Simon Lambert and Sons’ dinner menu is still laden with comfort food. We recommend the Smoke BBQ Plates if you’re feeling hungry, otherwise, the fish tacos are great!

Our Wexford Town pub recommendations

For your first night, we suggest popping into The Sky and The Ground (a quirky historic pub with a great selection of craft beers and a large beer garden) or Mary’s Bar (a traditional pub) for post-dinner drinks.

If you’re in the mood for music tonight, stick around The Sky and Ground or pop into T Morris. Wexford Town is also home to the National Opera House which would make for an interesting night!

Day 3: The trip to back to Rosslare

Today we head to Rosslare so that you can catch the ferry and head home!

Get some breakfast before you check out of your accommodation, or find somewhere nearby to eat.

You can take the bus or the train back to Rosslare Europort depending on which one best fits your schedule. Make sure to check schedules and buy your tickets in advance. 

And that’s a wrap on this road trip

We hope you found the above road trip guide useful. If you have any questions, ask in the comments below and we’ll do our best to help.

Or, if you’d like to browse our other Irish Road Trip itineraries, visit our Road Trip Hub – cheers!