13 Lovely Things To Do In Tramore (And Nearby) In 2024

There are plenty of things to do in Tramore, regardless of what time of the year you visit (although the drier summer months are best!).

The small seaside town of Tramore in County Waterford is a popular coastal destination known for its great surf and long stretch of sandy beach.

However, there’s plenty of things to do in Tramore other than surfing, with walks, historical monuments and great surrounding day trips all on offer!

In the guide below, you’ll find our favourite things to do in Tramore (and nearby), with a little bit of something to tickle every fancy!

Our favourite things to do in Tramore (and nearby)

The first section of our guide tackles our favourite things to do in Tramore, from food and beaches to some of the most popular places to visit in Waterford.

The second section of the guide tackles things to do near Tramore (within a reasonable driving distance, that is!)

1. Grab a coffee from Moe’s Café

Situated right on the Promenade across from the beach, Moe’s Café is an institution in Tramore. It’s one of the best place to grab a coffee before you head down to the beach with outdoor or indoor seating, plus take away options available.

The food is also fresh if you’re feeling a bit hungry. They have sandwiches, paninis, home baked cakes and pastries to go along with your morning coffee.

If you’re looking for lunch, you’ll find plenty of great places to eat in our Tramore restaurants guide.

2. And head for a stroll along Tramore Beach

Tramore Beach stretches for 5km along the bay in front of town and is one of the most popular beaches on Ireland’s east coast. The sandy beach is backed by sand dunes and impressive cliffs, with rolling waves popular amongst swimmers and surfers.

While the beach gets very busy in summer, it’s best to head down for an early morning ramble before the crowds appear. The beach is dog friendly as well, although there are seasonal restrictions. So, if you want to walk your furry friend along the beach during summer, you’ll have to head down there before 11am or after 7pm.

3. Discover the story behind the Metal Man

The Metal Man is a unique monument near Tramore. It stands on one of the three pillars at Newtown Cove and can be seen from long distances away. It was constructed as a maritime beacon after the tragic loss of over 350 lives after HMS Seahorse sank back in 1816.

Dressed in traditional British sailor clothing, the Metal Man is on private land with the entrance to the monument blocked due to dangerous cliffs. However, you can see the figure from various points along the coast. 

Related read: Check out our guide to the best hotels in Tramore (with some to suit most budgets)

4. Head for a dip at Guillamene and Newtown Cove

If you’re keen for a dip in the water, both Newtown and Guillamene are small coves with perfect deep, clear water for swimming. There’s easy access to the water, especially at high tide with ladders and a slipway.

It’s ideal for strong swimmers who have experience with deep ocean swimming. You should be aware of tide times, swell and wind forecasts before heading out.

There’s a large car park and basic public toilets available as well. This is one of our favourite beaches in Waterford for good reason.

5. Tackle the Doneraile Walk

This cliff top walk in Tramore takes you 2km along the coast overlooking the bay and Brownstown Head. While it’s short and relatively easy for most people, the views make it worth your time.

The path is named after a local landlord, Lord Doneraile, who donated the land to the townspeople. You can enjoy views across to Newtown Cove and the unique Metal Man monument. The trail begins to the south of town, off Newtown Road.

6. Take a day trip to Ireland’s Oldest City

Just 13km away, Waterford City is worth a day trip from Tramore. Known as the oldest city in Ireland, it dates back to a Viking settlement and defense fort which has slowly grown into the place it is today.

Some of the original walls and fortification still stands, and you can learn much about this interesting history at some of the museums in town.

Otherwise, Waterford is known for its great nightlife and restaurant scene as well. You can find some great traditional pubs, new gastropubs and stylish wine bars, all worth checking out for an afternoon and evening.

Other worthwhile things to do in Tramore (and nearby)

Now that we have our favourite things to do in Tramore out of the way, it’s time to look at some other great activities and places to visit in Tramore and close by. 

Below, you’ll find everything from walks and hikes to waterfalls, woodland walks and much, much more. Dive on in.

1. Stretch the legs at Ballyscanlon Forest

Just 6.5km west of Tramore town, Ballyscanlon Forest is one of the best places to stretch your legs around town. The forest overlooks Ballyscanlon Lake and is a part of the larger Tramore Forest area.

You can pick one of the various walking trails in the forest from a couple of kilometres up to 4km long with plenty of interesting flora and fauna to see along the way.

There’s a car park and picnic sites available as well, so you can enjoy a nice picnic amongst the trees after your walk. See our Waterford walks guide for more rambles in the area.

2. Try your hand at surfing

As one of the best places to go surfing on the east coast of Ireland, Tramore is a great spot to try your hand at this addictive sport. The town is home to Ireland’s oldest surf club and has some beginner-friendly beach breaks for everyone to hit the surf. 

There are some great surf schools in Tramore as well, so if you’re a complete novice then this is your chance to give it a shot. They offer lessons, board and wetsuit hire so all you need to do is bring some enthusiasm and you’re guaranteed to have a blast.

If you’re looking for things to do in Tramore with a group of friends, you can’t go wrong with an afternoon spent surfing.

3. Spin along the Copper Coast

The Copper Coast is an outdoor museum and geopark stretching for 25km along the coast of County Waterford. There are a few ways to explore the park area and admire the incredible geological landscape now considered a UNESCO Global Geopark.

There are a few walking trails for villages including Annestown, Boatstrand, Bunmahon and Dunhill. Otherwise, you can also opt for a self-drive tour which can be done by vehicles and cyclists, with a map available at the Visitor Centre just 18km down the coast from Tramore. 

4. Visit Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens

For a nice afternoon in Tramore, the Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens are set right in the middle of town. The eleven garden areas reflect the life of acclaimed writer, Patrick Lafcadio Hearn, who grew up in Ireland and explored much of the world, especially Japan.

There’s a lovely self-guided tour through the gardens from the Victorian garden to the American and Greek gardens, following the story of his life.

There are also magical gardens for the kids, with secret pathways and fairy tales to explore along the way, making it a great family friendly activity in Tramore.

5. Cycle the Waterford Greenway

The amazing Waterford Greenway is a 46km-long off-road cycling trail travelling from Dungarvan to Waterford City.

The old railway line has been converted into a rail trail crossing eleven bridges, three viaducts and through an old tunnel. It’s widely considered one of the best things to do in Waterford.

You can see an ancient Viking settlement, Norman castles, a famine workhouse and old railway stations along the way. The view of the coastline is also worth the ride alone, with the greenway being one of the best ways to see the incredible scenery of this part of Ireland. 

6. Take the kids to the Tramore Amusement Park

If you’ve got the kids along for the trip, Tramore Amusement Park definitely has to be on your list of things to do in Tramore. The huge leisure park is on 50 acres of land right in town with entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.

There are popular rides such as Classic Mega Spin Waltzer, The Extreme Afterburner and the Super Paratrooper. While for the younger little ones, there are slides, bouncy castles, a mini roller coaster and mini dodgems.

If you’re wondering what to do in Tramore with hard to amuse kids, Tramore Amusement Park (on the right above) has something for everyone.

7. Visit the Waterford Suir Valley Railway

This heritage narrow gauge railway runs for 10km along the abandoned Waterford and Dungarvan line. It travels from Kilmeadan back towards Waterford along the banks of the River Suir. 

It’s a charity-run initiative with volunteers now running the trains. The old carriages trundle through the valley offering great scenery of the area, which is only accessible by this train or on the Waterford Greenway trail.

What to do in Tramore: Where have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant things to do in Tramore from the guide above.

If you have a place that you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below and I’ll check it out!

FAQs about the best things to do in Tramore

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from active things to do in Tramore to where to visit nearby.

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 Tramore?

I’d argue that the best things to do in Tramore are to stretch the legs at Ballyscanlon Forest, try your hand at surfing, cycle the Waterford Greenway and visit Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens.

Is Tramore worth a visit?

Tramore is a great spot to base yourself when exploring Waterford; it’s home to lots of places to eat (and some great pubs!) and it’s close to endless things to see and do.

Where is there to visit close to Tramore?

There’s an endless number of places to visit near Tramore, from the Greenway and Mahon Falls to Waterford City and more.