Tramore Beach In Waterford: Parking, Swimming + Surfing Info

The popular Tramore Beach in Waterford is a fine spot for a stroll if you’re visiting or staying in the town.

With its name literally meaning “Big Strand”, the huge 5km stretch of Tramore Beach is one of the most popular places to visit in Waterford.

The sandy strand has the lively town of Tramore at one end of it and the dramatic sand dunes of Brownstown Head at the other.

Visiting Tramore Beach

Although a visit to Tramore Beach in Waterford is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

Water safety warning: Understanding water safety is absolutely crucial when visiting beaches in Ireland. Please take a minute to read these water safety tips. Cheers!

1. Location

Tramore Beach stretches for an incredible 5km along the southeast coast of Ireland in County Waterford. Located in its own small cove, it lies in front of the town of Tramore which is just 13km south of Waterford City.

2. Parking

There is a big car park right along the beach with plenty of spots along the stretch of sand to choose from. However, it gets very busy on a warm summer day. The earlier you arrive for a good parking spot, the better!

3. Facilities

You’ll find public toilets, bins and seating areas all behind the beach in the car park area. The toilets and strand are also wheelchair accessible. There’s also plenty of restaurants in Tramore if you fancy a bite to eat.

4. Swimming

Tramore Beach is a popular swimming spot, and you’ll notice swimming groups meeting here often. Lifeguards are present at Tramore during the summer months.

About Tramore Beach

Tramore Beach is a long sandy beach stretching along a sheltered cove on Waterford’s Atlantic coast.

The 5km long beach is flanked by Brownstown Head to the east and Newtown Head to the west, with the town of Tramore sitting towards the western side.

As you head further along to the quieter eastern end, the backdrop becomes dramatic sand dunes with a tidal lagoon known as Back Strand just behind the beach. 

Tramore Beach is a popular spot for quite a few water-based activities, including surfing, kayaking, fishing and swimming. The sheltered bay has mostly calm water with some decent swells coming in off the Atlantic for keen surfers. 

The town and strand draws quite a crowd on a warm summer day, with its location close to Waterford City making it extremely accessible for people wanting some fresh, sea air.

Surfing on Tramore Beach

Surfing is one of the most popular things to do in Tramore and there are few beaches in Waterford that can go toe-to-toe with Tramore.

While Tramore Beach is for the most part sheltered from some of the wind, it still manages to pick up a bit of swell from the Atlantic making it a good spot for surfing. You won’t find huge waves here, but the relatively gentle conditions make it the perfect spot for beginners. 

If you’re a complete newbie, you can find Tramore Surf School based right on the beach opposite the lifeguard’s hut. They offer surf lessons for everyone from groms up to experienced surfers.

They also have wetsuit and board rental, as well as, equipment for stand up paddle boarding if you want to try something different.

Things to do nearby

One of the beauties of Tramore Beach is that it’s a short spin away from some of the best places to visit in Waterford.

One of the best things to do nearby, after grabbing a feed from one of the Tramore restaurants, is to follow the Copper Coast Drive, pictured on the map above. You can also jump on a bike and head along the Waterford Greenway.