Waterford walking tour & city guide

The Viking Triangle

Reginald's Tower is the oldest civic building in Ireland. The Medieval Museum and the Bishop's Palace complete the Viking Triangle. The House of Waterford Crystal shows craftsmen blowing and cutting glass.

Around Waterford

The Waterford Greenway is a 46-kilometer cycling path along an old railway, with viaducts and coastal views. The Copper Coast is a UNESCO Global Geopark.

A day in Waterford

Explore the Viking Triangle and its three museums, then visit the House of Waterford Crystal.

Cycle the Waterford Greenway along an old railway.

Good to know

Waterford is Ireland's oldest city, founded by Vikings in 914.

Try the blaa, a soft local bread roll.

Why it is worth a stop

Waterford is often skipped by visitors rushing between Dublin and Cork, which is a pity, because it is one of Ireland's most rewarding small cities. The Viking Triangle packs more than a thousand years of history into a few streets: Reginald's Tower, a round stone tower built on the site of a Viking fortification, the Medieval Museum with its rare cloth-of-gold vestments, and the elegant Bishop's Palace from the Georgian era.

The Waterford Greenway is a highlight for anyone who likes to be outdoors. This 46-kilometer path follows an old railway line to Dungarvan, crossing viaducts and passing through a tunnel, with the Comeragh Mountains on one side and the sea on the other. Bikes can be rented in the city, and shuttle buses bring you back. In winter, the city hosts Winterval, one of Ireland's biggest Christmas festivals.