17 Of The Best Things To Do In Bray (Along With Plenty To See Nearby)

Looking for things to do in Bray? You’ll find plenty below!

The lively town of Bray is home to heaps of walks, a handful of rainy-day activities and several ‘hidden’ gems.

There’s also plenty of things to do near Bray a short spin from the town.

In the guide below, you’ll discover what to do in Bray, from the cliff walk and the Bray Head hike to great spots for a pint and more.

The best things to do in Bray this weekend

If you read our guide to the best things to do in Wicklow, you’ll know that Bray is home to a number of mighty walks, hikes and places to eat.

It’s also home to what’s arguably one of the best pubs in the country (we’ll get to that in a minute!). Below, you’ll discover what to do in Bray if you’re visiting in 2023.

1. Climb Bray Head

A morning spent tackling the Bray Head Walk is hard to bate. One of the more popular walks in Wicklow, it can be conquered via two trails.

Looking down over the Bray promenade and beyond, it’s a big unmissable reminder just in case you haven’t made the trek yet.

A 241-metre high hill located on the south end of the beach, it offers deadly views over Bray and up towards Dublin.

It’s also a good warm-up if you’re planning on further hikes in the Wicklow Mountains National Park.

This is the perfect early-morning activity for those looking for things to do in Bray on a fine day.

2. Post-climb ice cream and a ramble along Bray Seafront

If you prefer more conventional seaside activities, then look no further than grabbing a tasty cold treat from Gelateria and then heading for a stroll along Bray Seafront.

Take a stroll along the old Victorian promenade, originally the headline attraction back when Bray was known as the ‘Brighton of Ireland’.

Cheap package holidays abroad have long since put paid to that moniker, but the promenade is just as elegant as it ever was.

If you fancy dipping your toes, you’ll find Bray Beach on your left, but please do note that there are extremely strong currents here.

3. Sea Life Bray

When the weather isn’t playing ball (as is often the case in this part of the world…) and a rain-soaked ice cream doesn’t sound hugely appealing, head indoors to Sea Life Bray, Ireland’s number one aquarium.

Conspicuously located right on the promenade front, it’s a treasure trove of colourful fish, tropical life and it even contains sharks and octopus.

It’s good value too, with advance tickets online available from €14. This is a handy one for those of you wondering what to do in Bray for families.

4. The Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk

Hugging the coastline around Bray Head, the Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk was a leisurely 7km stroll until a section of the end of the trail was closed.

Running between the towns of Bray and Greystones, the route actually follows a train line around before it disappears into a tunnel.

The rugged coastline is picturesque and the trek isn’t too long for inexperienced walkers. Top it off with a pint or an ice cream when you reach Greystones (because why not?!).

Find a full guide to the walk here and discover why this is arguably one of the best walks in Wicklow for a sunny morning.

5. A post-adventure pint in one of the finest pubs in the land

The Harbour Bar has been an institution in Bray since 1872. Its quirky shabby-chic interior and character make it a fine place to nurse a pint or two following a long walk.

Originally a terrace of fisherman’s houses, it’s now one of Ireland’s finest pubs and it hosts live music and stand-up comedy gigs.

Traveller tip: If you’re looking for things to do in Bray with a group, do the Bray Head walk and then round it off with food and a pint (the Guinness here is top-notch!) here.

6. Killruddery House & Gardens

Killruddery House & Gardens lies just to the south of Bray and it’s arguably one of the most overlooked attractions in Bray.

Dating from the 17th century (although large scale renovations took place between 1820 and 1830), the house is built in an Elizabethan style and the estate covers around 800 acres.

Take a tour of the house between May and October to see how the other half live.

7. Bray Adventures

Time to pack the wet suit! It can take a lot to coax some people into the chilly Irish sea. However, the lads at Bray Adventures have been making light work of it for years.

If you’re in search of fun things to do in Bray, this ones for you! From kayaking to surfing and even stand-up paddle-boarding, Bray Adventures have you covered.

Also, check out the new activity ‘coasteering’ (don’t worry if you’ve never heard of it before, it was new to me too), a heady combination of rock climbing, sea swimming, caving and cliff jumping.

Related read: Fancy spending the night? Check out our guide to the best hotels in Bray (with something for most budgets).

8. Grab a feed in one of Bray’s many great restaurants

Bray’s blessed with some great spots for a bite-to-eat. Our go-to restaurant is Platform Pizza, pictured above.

If you’re there in the morning, breakfast at Dockyard No.8 is hard to bate while if you fancy a feed with a view head for Butler and Barry Bray.

Hop into our guide to the best restaurants in Bray to discover heaps of places to eat, from cheap eats to fine dining.

9. Visit the Mermaid County Wicklow Arts Centre

Next up is another one for those of you wondering what to do in Bray when it’s raining – Mermaid County Wicklow Arts Centre.

You’ll find this purpose-built centre for the arts on Bray Main Street, where it’s home to three performance and exhibition areas.

There’s a brilliant line up of events that take place throughout the year. See the most up-to-date events calendar here.

Things to do near Bray

Bray is a stone’s throw from many of the best things to do in Wicklow. If you base yourself in the town for a night or two, you’ll be a handy spin of an endless number of attractions.

From long, lovely walks in Glendalough to a coffee and a ramble near Powerscourt Waterfall, you’ll find a handful of brilliant things to do near Bray below!

1. Powerscourt Waterfall

You’re spoilt for choice in Wicklow for great scenery but among the hills and mountains lies Powerscourt Waterfall, Ireland’s highest waterfall.

Only a 20-minute drive from Bray, it rises to 121 metres (ranking it a mighty 687th in the world!) and is part of the beautiful Powerscourt Estate.

2. Glendalough

Not only does Glendalough contain some of the finest scenery in Wicklow, its historic Monastic site dates back to the 6th century.

30 minutes from Bray, the monastic remains here include the ruined St Mary’s Church and, most famously, the 30-metre-tall Round Tower.

If you head into ‘the valley of the two lakes’, look out for the abundant wildlife as well as the gorgeous views. See our Glendalough walks guide for things to do.

3. The Sally Gap Drive

If you’re going to do the Wicklow Mountains, do them properly, which means heading off on the stunning Sally Gap Drive (or cycle!).

With picturesque stops at the shimmering Lough Tay, the spectacular Military Road and the relaxing Glenmacnass Waterfall, you’ll be kept entertained from beginning to end.

The drive takes around half an hour from start to finish, but there’s absolutely no rush so enjoy the views and take it all in at your own pace.

4. Walks, walks and more walks

One of the beauties of visiting Bray is that it’s a stone’s throw from some of the best walks and hikes in Wicklow. Here are a few of our favourites:

• Lough Ouler
• Ballinastoe Woods
• Djouce Mountain
• Djouce Woods
• Devil’s Glen
• Sugarloaf Mountain

What to do in Bray: where have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally missed out on some brilliant things to do in Bray in the guide above.

If you know of an attraction (or a pub, restaurant or cafe) that you want to shout about, let us know in the comments section below.

FAQs about what to do in Bray today

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from things to do in Bray with kids to what to do in Bray when it’s raining.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What are the best things to do in Bray today?

You can climb Bray Head, ramble along the seafront, do the Bray Cliff Walk, hit the water with Bray Adventures or visit Sea Life.

What are the best places to visit near Bray?

You’ve Greystones, Wicklow Gaol and Wicklow Mountains National Park all waiting to be explored nearby.

I’m wondering what to do in Bray when it’s raining?

Rain is never ideal. Sea Life and a show at Mermaid Arts Centre are arguably two of the best places to visit in Bray when it’s raining.