34 Of The Best Things To Do In Waterford In 2025

There’s no end to the number of things to do in Waterford.

From the mighty Waterford Greenway and the scenery-packed Copper Coast to hikes, walks, beaches and more, there’s places to visit in Waterford to tickle every fancy.

There’s also great food, lively, traditional pubs and a clatter of lovely little towns and villages to base yourself… Oh, and it’s also home to Ireland’s oldest city!

In the guide below, you’ll find a clatter of things to do in Waterford in 2025. So, I’ll stop yammering on – dive on in!

The best things to do in Waterford

The first section of this guide will give you a speedy overview of the most popular places to visit in Waterford, with everything from beaches and seaside towns to walks and more.

The second section of the guide goes into the specific things to do in Waterford, like the Coumshingaun Loop Walk, Mahon Falls and plenty more.

1. The Ardmore Cliff Walk

The Ardmore Cliff Walk is one of the finest walks in Waterford. It’s a 4km looped walk that’s nice and handy and that treats walkers to stunning seascapes and, unsurprisingly enough, gorgeous cliff views.

The walk can be completed over the course of an hour (depending on pace) and it’s also waymarked, with yellow and brown arrows to help you find your way.

Those that give this a bash can expect breathtaking views, wildlife, and battle sites. It starts and ends at the Cliff House Hotel and the trail is nice and straightforward.

2. The Copper Coast Drive

A day spent spinning along the Copper Coast is arguably one of the best things to do in Waterford.

If you’ve never heard of it, the Copper Coast is a stretch of coastline that sits between the towns of Tramore and Dungarvan, and it’s widely regarded as one of the most scenic drives in Ireland.

It boasts a spectacular, ever-changing landscape with seemingly endless rolling hills and steep cliffs. The Copper Coast was rightly declared as a European Geopark in 2001 and a UNESCO Global Geopark later in 2004.

3. The Waterford Greenway

We’ve mentioned The Waterford Greenway in passing in the guide above, but it deserves its own section, as it really does pack a punch.

The Waterford Greenway is an off-road cycling and walking trail that’ll take you along an old railway line, across 11 bridges, 3 viaducts and through a 400m long tunnel.

Running from Waterford City to Dungarvan, the Greenway covers 46km and boasts spectacular views throughout. You can do the whole thing in one go or you can join it at various points.

If you can, try and do this either very early in the morning or during the week – as this is one of the most popular things to do in Waterford, it can get very busy at times.

4. The Medieval Museum

First up is the Medieval Museum. Here, visitors can soak up the story of what life was like in the Historic Waterford City thousands of years ago.

The city was excavated between 1986 and 1992 and many of the unique discoveries made during this time are housed here.

The Medieval Museum exists to tell the story of life in Waterford city during the Medieval era and is home to several preserved medieval structures.

Spend some time wandering around the museum, and head off on the guided tour if you fancy.

5. Bunmahon Beach

Waterford is home to its fair share of beaches. One of the best, in my opinion, is the beautiful Bunmahon Beach.

This is a gorgeous spot that stretches for around 5km and it’s backed by sand dunes with tall, craggy cliffs at each end.

Get out. Stretch the legs. And gulp down that fresh ocean air. There’s also a nice viewing point where you can admire the beach from above.

If you whack ‘Bunmahon Beach Viewing Point’ into Google Maps it’ll take you straight there. Note: It isn’t safe to swim here!

More great Waterford beaches: Tramore Beach, Ardmore Beach, Clonea Strand and Woodstown Beach

6. Coumshingaun Lough Walk

Although the mighty Coumshingaun Lough Loop Walk is one of the more popular things to do in Waterford, it isn’t for inexperienced walks (unless you’re accompanied by an experienced guide).

It’s also one to avoid when the weather is bad. Warnings aside, this is one of those walks where the view just knocks you sideways.

There are a couple of different walks that you can do here, with the full walk taking between 4 to 6 hours, depending on pace (here’s a guide to follow).

7. Lismore Castle Gardens

Set within the walls of the privately owned Lismore Castle, the gardens at Lismore stretch across 7 lush acres and offer spectacular views of the castle and the surrounding countryside.

The gardens here are divided into two distinct halves. The Upper Garden is a fine example of the 17th-century walled garden that was first constructed here by the First Earl of Cork, in around 1605.

The Lower Garden, which was created in the 19th century, is more informal and is filled with shrubs, trees, and lawns. If you’re after a walk with some cracking castle views, then get yourself here.

Note: As Lismore Castle is one of a handful of Irish castles that are within private ownership, there is no public access.

8. The Ballysaggartmore Towers

Ballysaggartmore Towers are one of the lesser-known tourist attractions in Waterford and, to be fair, you probably wouldn’t want to travel here just to see them.

However, as they’re a stone’s throw from Lismore Castle, they’re well worth a visit while you’re in the area. There’s a handy walk at the Towers.

The Ballysaggartmore Towers walk is an easy loop of about 2km through gorgeous woodland. It tends to be quiet here and there’s a nice bit of parking right in front.

9. The Mahon Falls Walk

Mahon Falls is one of those places that you’ll just want to plonk yourself down in front of for a while.

The waterfall stands at around 80m and can be found nestled in the Comeragh Mountains, not far from the village of Lemybrien.

You can drop your car in the car park here and take a 20-minute walk up along a gravel path to admire the view. See our guide to the Mahon Falls walk for more info.

10. Bishop’s Palace

Yes, there’s a lock of Napoleon Bonaparte’s hair inside the Bishop’s Palace. It was brought to Ireland, randomly enough, by Napoleon’s niece who married a man from Waterford.

The palace itself was built in 1743 and it’s one of the more interesting places to visit in Waterford City when it’s raining.

Bishop’s Palace houses paintings of Waterford that date back 300+ years, carved Dragon Mirrors, the best of 18th-century Irish furniture, the oldest piece of Waterford glass from the 1780s, and more.

11. Waterford Crystal

The now-iconic Waterford Crystal Tour is a tourist favourite and it offers an insight into skills that have taken two hundred years to perfect

Those that choose to take the factory tour can observe the meticulous transformation of glowing balls of molten crystal into elegant glassware.

Take the tour and drop by the crystal store after if you fancy taking a chunk of Waterford home with you.

12. Reginald’s Tower

This is another handy one for those of you wondering what to do in Waterford City when it’s raining, then add this to your list. As was the case with many parts of Ireland that they invaded, the Vikings left their mark on Waterford.

Reginald’s Tower is actually named in honour of a Viking called Ragnall, who ruled the area during the 10th century. The tower now houses an exhibition on Viking Waterford that’s well worth a visit.

The tower is Waterford’s landmark monument and, interestingly enough, it’s Ireland’s oldest civic building, having been in continuous use for over 800 years.

13. Jack’s Walking Tour

Jack Burtchaell’s Walking Tour of Waterford City is a one-hour award-winning walking tour that’ll take you on a journey through Ireland’s oldest city.

Although the tour is only an hour-long, it covers over 1,000 years of history and is delivered in a witty manner that’ll leave you itching for more.

The tour includes 2 cathedrals, 4 national monuments, and a gallery of many a rogue and rascal.

14. Old pubs and great restaurants

There’s some brilliant pubs in Waterford that are perfect for whittling away an evening in with friends. In this guide, you’ll find the best old-school pubs the city has to offer.

There’s also a lot of solid restaurants in Waterford where you can grab a feed and a half, from fine dining to cheap, tasty eats. 

And, if you fancy staying in the city, you’ll discover some great accommodation in our Waterford City Hotels guide.

15. Winterval (the Waterford Christmas market)

Feeling festive? Every November, Winterval Waterford returns, bringing with it a shed-load of Christmassy buzz.

Ove the course of 5 or 6 weeks, this Christmas market lights up the city and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors.

You could easily combine a trip to the markets with an adventure around the county, pairing up some of the activities above.

16. Dunmore East

Dunmore East is one of those villages in Ireland, similar to Doolin, that people tend to visit, fall in love with, and return to time and time again.

This is a buzzy little fishing village that’s situated on the west side of Waterford Harbour. Visitors can expect an unspoiled coastline, coves and beaches.

The village is packed with fine restaurants and pubs; If you fancy a bite to eat, nip into the Spinnaker Bar & Restaurant. If you fancy a pint with a view, drop into the Strand Inn. See our Dunmore East accommodation guide for places to stay.

17. The Anne Valley Walk

The Anne Valley Walk packs a punch! And it’s on this walk that you’ll stumble along Dunhill Castle – a ruin with a very colourful past.

The castle here was built during the early 1200s by a crowd called the la Poer family. The La Poers became infamous in the 14th century after they launched several attacks on Waterford City.

In 1345, the family destroyed the area surrounding the city but were counter-attacked, captured, and subsequently hanged. The walk stretches for 5km and takes around 1.5 hours to finish. Here’s a map.

18. The Magic Road

You’ll find Waterford’s Magic Road in the Comeragh Mountains as you make your way to Mahon Falls. This is definitely one of the most unusual things to do in Waterford.

I’m not going to even try and put into words what happens when you park on this road. Hit play on the video above and see for yourself.

Definitely one of the most unique places to visit in Waterford. Now, keep in mind that if you plan on trying this, you need to do so safely – i.e. have someone watching out for other road users.

19. Goat Island

This next place is a bit of a hidden gem that should appeal to those of you wondering what to do in Waterford that’ll take you slightly off the beaten track.

You’ll find a lovely little sheltered cove known as Goat Island (I’d love to know where the name came from!) 5km west of Ardmore.

Hardy locals swim here all year round. If you’re feeling brave, lash on your swimming togs and head for a swim (just always be careful when entering the water!).

20. 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. 

21. Blaa from Barron’s Bakery

If you’re looking at the video above and thinking, ‘Eh, that’s just bread, pal!’, then bear with me. Waterford Blaa dates wayyyyy back to the late 17th Century and in 2013 was given Protected Geographical Indication status.

It arrived in the city with a group of Huguenots (French Protestants) at a time when Waterford was a powerful trading city for goods like wheat, butter, and flour.

In 1702, a Huguenot bakery opened in Waterford. It’s believed that the bread rolls that we now know as Blaa were made from leftover pieces of dough which couldn’t be used for baking loaves.

Traveller Tip: Fancy tasting some Blaa for yourself? Drop into Barron’s Bakery in the town of Cappoquin. They’ve been baking here since 1887.

22. Copper Coast Sea-kayaking

If you’re wondering what to do in Waterford with a group of friends, this should tickle your fancy! The lads at Pure Adventure offer kayaking tours along the Copper Coast.

Over the course of the tour, you’ll see marine wildlife like seals and dolphins (if you’re lucky), sea stacks, arches, caves, tunnels, blowholes and caverns.

I’ve just watched the video above from one of their trips and, I’ll be honest, I’d sh*t myself going through one of those dark caves. Definitely one of the most unique things to do in Waterford.

23. Quirky accommodation

Although there are plenty of great hotels in Waterford, there are also some very funky places to spend a night if you fancy a stay with a difference.

If you’ve cash to splash, the Cliff Beach House (above) in Ardmore is worth a look, as is the nearby Cliff House Hotel.

If you’re looking for things to do in Waterford to mark a special occasion, the likes of Waterford Castle Hotel is well worth checking out, as is Nire Valley Glamping.

24. The Suir Valley Railway

This heritage 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.

If you’re wondering what to see in Waterford with the kids, this makes for a solid day out (especially when the weather’s fine!).

25. The Comeragh Drive

OK, I’m going to be using dodgy Google Map photos to give you a taste of what you’ll experience on the Comeragh Drive, as I can’t find any online that I can use.

This is one of those drives that rarely makes the pages of shiny travel guides or ads. Which is a shame, as the Comeragh Mountains are a beautiful part of Ireland that you can soak up by car, foot, or bike.

The last time I did this drive was when we were visiting Mahon Falls. When you leave Mahon Falls, point your nose in the direction of Dungarvan and let the road that winds through the mountains do the rest. There’s plenty of things to do in Dungarvan when you get there.

26. The Nire Valley

The Nire Valley is a glorious collection of coums and lakes with a plethora of walking trails on offer, with something on offer for both experienced and inexperienced walkers.

You can saunter along through the woods beside the Nire River or try one of the many looped walks. Aim for the car park and tip over to one of the information boards for an overview of the different trails.

The unspoiled beauty of the Nire Valley gives it an almost other-worldly feel. A fine spot for a day of exploring on foot.

27. Mount Congreve House

If you’re wondering what to see in Waterford on a fine day, get yourself to Mount Congreve House (you’ll come across it if you cycle the Greenway).

The gardens here are widely regarded as one of “the great gardens of the world”, and it’s here that you’ll discover beautifully planted woodlands, a walled garden and 16km of walkways.

You can also take the expert gardeners’ tour of Mount Congreve or you can just saunter along solo and drop into the cafe after.

What places to visit in Waterford have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that there are plenty more worthwhile things to do in Waterford that we’ve (unintentionally) missed.

The guides on this site rarely sit still. They grow based on feedback and recommendations from readers and locals that visit and comment.