How to Visit Glendalough Monastic Site
Here's our guide on visiting the Glendalough Monastery and Monastic Site in Ireland. Includes tips on how to get there, when to go, and what to expect.
It's not a secret that Ireland has many fascinating monastic sites.
One of the most famous ones can be found in the beautiful Glendalough Valley.
Situated in the heart of County Wicklow, Glendalough Monastic Site is one of the earliest Christian monasteries that you can find in Ireland.
It has stunning landscape views, plenty of history, and a medieval settlement that will allow you to step back in time.
One of the main reasons why Glendalough Monastery is so popular, is not only its historical importance but also easy access from Dublin.
Therefore, it's one of the best day trips from Dublin, and you probably won't find a single Ireland itinerary without this site.
Simply put, Glendalough Monastery is one of the top attractions in Ireland's Ancient East and a special place to visit.
And here is everything you should know about this monastic site before you go.
Visiting Glendalough Monastic Site
After visiting the Powerscourt Gardens and House and the nearby Powerscourt Waterfall, we embarked on a journey across the Wicklow Mountains.
Driving via the Old Military Road and Sally Gap to Glendalough was a lovely experience, but the trip took us longer than initially planned.
We weren't sure whether we would have enough time to visit the monastery so late in the afternoon.
It was still daylight when we managed to get to Glendalough.
We quickly checked in at the nearby hostel, had a snack, and quickly hurried to the main entrance, as we were not sure at what time the grounds usually close.
The village was pretty much empty as all day trippers had already left, and we were a bit anxious as we were not sure what to expect from the visit.
Luckily, the monastic site was still open even this late.
And even though the sun was already setting behind the surrounding mountains, there was still enough light to find out why Glendalough was so important during its time.
Visitor Center
If we hadn't arrived so late, we would have probably headed first to the nearby Visitor Center, which is a great starting point for learning more about Glendalough's history.
The museum has good exhibits of the former monastery and the monastic life during this period.
Mind you, the entrance ticket to the museum costs €5.
As we visited Glendalough after the museum's opening hours (and without a guide), we had to google the history of this site ourselves.
Luckily, this is a famous place, and you can easily find tons of information online.
We also had an Ireland Lonely Planet, which has a good site description and a map of the Glendalough Monastic Site.
History
Glendalough Monastic Site was founded by St. Kevin, who arrived in this area around the 6th century CE.
The monastery erected during his lifetime was, together with the peaceful location, a perfect place for his hermitic way of life.
His scholarly ways and fame attracted many followers, and the site flourished even after his death.
As we were standing in the middle of the peaceful settlement watching the last days' sunrays touch the tips of the mountains, we could see why this place attracted so many people back in the day looking for a simpler life.
Though, the living conditions still must have been tough here.
As the monasteries became a source of wealth and prosperity in this period, peaceful times were interrupted throughout the centuries by local tribes and Norsemen who raided the settlement many times.
The importance of the site declined during the middle of the 12th century.
In 1398, the English forces destroyed the Glendalough and left it in ruins.
What to See in Glendalough Monastic Site
The complex is pretty compact and easily explored on foot. As we arrived pretty late, we had the place for ourselves, which only enhanced the entire experience.
And we were really happy that we were able to avoid the tours that usually turn the site into a crowded place during the day.
We entered the site through the main arched gate known as the Gateway near the bridge over the Glendasan River.
There are several well-maintained paths in the complex that are easy to navigate.
Honestly, you don't need a map here, as the complex is small.
The most striking features are the Round Tower, Priests' House, St. Kevin's Church (known as St. Kevin's Kitchen), and St. Peter and St. Paul's Cathedral.
Especially the 30-meter Round Tower that dominates the entire complex is the highlight of this site.
Furthermore, there is also an old graveyard, another church, and many old stone crosses.
We roamed the site for quite a while, soaking up the atmosphere, reading about the history, admiring the stone structures, and enjoying the last moments of the day.
There are plenty of trails to choose from for a lovely walk once you have explored the main site. See the text below for more inspiration.
We didn't have time for that as it was getting dark, so we left the area around the Upper Lake for the next day.
How Much Time Do I Need
We spent about an hour at the Glendalough Monastic Site.
However, it was the end of the day, and as there were no people around, there was no reason to rush it through.
Most visitors can generally explore the entire site in 30 to 60 minutes.
Keep in mind that you will need to allow yourself at least two to three hours to walk along the Lower Lake to the Upper Lake, where you can see the Reefert Church or Poulanass Waterfall.
These are easy walks, but you will find there are even some challenging trails.
For instance, you can hike the Spinc and Wicklow Way or the Spinc and Glenealo Valley, adding another three to four hours to your itinerary.
As you can clearly see, you can easily spend here an entire day in this area.
When to Go
Glendalough Monastic Site is open all year round. We visited the site in May, and the weather was just perfect.
Summer is often considered to be the best time to visit Glendalough Monastic Site due to the long days and good weather.
In our opinion, spring and autumn are great seasons to visit this site.
Of course, you can visit the settlement even in the winter.
Here you will also find more tips on when to visit Ireland.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Opening Hours
Glendalough Monastic Site is open 24/7, so you can explore the ruins any time of the day.
Arriving here before or after everyone else is gone is one of the best ways to avoid crowds when visiting Glendalough.
Otherwise, be prepared that this is one of the most heavily visited sites in this area, especially in the summer season.
Entrance Fee
There is no entrance fee to Glendalough Monastic Site.
However, you will need to leave your car somewhere, and the designated parking in the village is not free.
How to Get There
Glendalough Monastic Site is situated directly in the Glendalough village, so it's very to easy to get there, especially from Dublin.
Basically, you have three main options this time.
Car
The easiest way to get to Glendalough Monastic Site is by car. Here you will find more tips on renting a car in Ireland.
The fastest way will take you to Kilmacanogue, where you will connect to R755, which goes to Laragh.
From here, turn right onto R756 and stay on this road all the way to Glendalough.
The journey takes less than an hour and a half. Make sure to read our tips for driving in Ireland.
Alternatively, take the more scenic Old Military Road, but be prepared that you will spend more time on the road.
When renting a car, we use Rentalcars.com.
Bus
You can take a St. Kevin's Bus from Dublin City Center (St. Stephen's Green North) to Glendalough.
It costs €20 round trip.
The bus usually leaves early in the morning from Dublin and returns in the afternoon, giving you enough time to explore Glendalough valley.
Here you will find more tips on how to get around Ireland.
Tours
There are many tours departing from Dublin every day that have Glendalough Monastery on their itinerary.
For example, you can check out this popular Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough and Kilkenny Tour.
Parking
Parking at Glendalough Lower Carpark costs €4 per car.
You can find the parking right next to the Glendalough Visitor Center, about 150 meters east of the monastery.
The Upper Parking by the lake also costs €4.
There is also designated free parking in nearby Laragh village. It's about two kilometers from the Monastic site via the Green Trail.
Where to Stay
You can find a hostel and hotel in Glendalough. Both have excellent locations for exploring this area. Both accommodations are only a short walk from the monastic site.
Alternatively, you can stay in Dublin and visit Glendalough on a day trip.
Here we hand-selected the top accommodation in Glendalough.
Glendalough | Glendalough International Youth Hostel - This hostel offers affordable rooms, a fantastic location, great facilities, and welcoming staff. It's a good value for people on a budget.
Glendalough | The Glendalough Hotel - Situated right next to the monastic site, this charming hotel has the most convenient location for exploring the Glendalough Valley.
Dublin | Leonardo Hotel Dublin Parnell Street - One of the most popular hotels in Dublin is located in the city center on Parnell Street. Leonardo Hotel offers comfortable beds, an on-site restaurant, and a bar. A buffet breakfast is available.
Is Glendalough Monastic Site Worth Visiting?
Glendalough Monastic Site is a great place to visit, both in terms of its picturesque setting and historical importance.
It's one of those enchanting sites that's definitely worth visiting, even if you're not exactly a fan of monastic ruins or history.
There is no entry fee to the monastic site, so it's a great place to visit for people visiting Ireland on a budget.
Furthermore, there is so much more to see and do in Glendalough that this area should not be skipped.
And for us, it was a perfect ending for the first day of our Ireland road trip.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
