4.8 out of 5 stars · 1,808 reviews on GetYourGuide · from €55 · as of 4 Oct
8:45 St Stephen's Green North, 9:00 Cathal Brugha Street, 9:15 opposite the Grand Canal Hotel.
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Exhibition and film about the monastic site, with car park; guided tours of the Monastic City.
Free entry, some parking charges
Parking at the visitor centre
The OPW car park at the monastic site charges a fee in busy periods, payable by coin or card, 8:00 to 20:00. If you park here you get one free admission to the visitor centre.
About 30 m (98 ft) high, entrance 3.5 m (11 ft) above the ground. The ruins are free to visit.
Nature and history: monasteries, mines and bogland
St Kevin and the monastic site
St Kevin came to the valley in the late sixth century and died in 617. By the end of the eighth century the monastery employed up to 1,000 laypeople; between 775 and 1095 it was plundered many times.
Nature and history: monasteries, mines and bogland
The round tower
About 30 m (98 ft) high, with its entrance 3.5 m (11 ft) above the ground; inside there were once six wooden floors with ladders. The roof was rebuilt in 1876 using the original stones.
At the western end of the valley, 1.5 km (0.9 mi) from the Upper Lake car park, reachable only on foot.
Best time to visit: all year, with heather in late summer
Works on the White Trail
Since 20 July 2026 the White Trail between the Miners' Village and the footbridge (the “White Zig Zags”) has been upgraded for five to six months; there may be occasional disruption.
Hikes & routes in Glendalough: nine waymarked trails
Miners' Road, 5 km
Easy, about an hour out and back along the Upper Lake through pine woodland to the Miners' Village; on the way, a view across the lake to St Kevin's Bed.
Nature and history: monasteries, mines and bogland
Mining from 1798 to 1963
The ruins of the Miners' Village lie at the western end of the valley; more mine sites are on the Wicklow Gap. The underground mines are not accessible.
Surroundings · Village with free car park, outside
Laragh
County council car park beside the Woollen Mills, 8:00 to 20:00; 3 km (1.9 mi) along the Green Road to the Upper Lake.
Free entry, some parking charges
Parking in Laragh: free
The Wicklow County Council car park beside the Woollen Mills is free, staffed and open daily from 8:00 to 20:00. It is 3 km (1.9 mi) through the woods to the Upper Lake.
Wide bogland at the crossroads of the Military Road; small lay-bys along the road.
Bogland and wide views on the Military Road.
Military Road
58 km (36 mi)
Built
1801–1809
How to get there: bus 181 from Dublin or by car to Laragh
The Military Road
Built between 1801 and 1809, the road runs 58 km (36 mi) from Rathfarnham via Sally Gap and Glenmacnass Waterfall to Laragh and Aughavannagh, largely through the park.
