Waterford City Top 10 Highlights Walking Tour

New To The Site! Waterford, Ireland

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2 hours 30 minutes (Approx.)
Mobile Ticket
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Overview

Visit the oldest city in Ireland and discover the Top 10 major highlights on this engaging and interactive tour led by an expert English speaking local guide. Founded by the Vikings in AD 914, this tour offers the best opportunity to explore Waterford's must-see highlights, including Reginald's Tower, and the Bishop's Palace as well as the 10th century Viking Quarter and see so much more than any visitor could, on their own.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

House of Waterford, 28 The Mall, Waterford, Ireland

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MEETING TIME: 15 minutes before the scheduled time start time. MEETING PLACE: House of Waterford Crystal, 28 The Mall, Waterford, X91 FXN4, Ireland. MEETING POINT: Meet your guide in the Plaza in front of the showroom. Do not enter the showroom.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Start Time • 10:00 AM

What To Expect

House of Waterford

Exterior visit to one of the cultural icons of Ireland and Waterford City at the House of Waterford Crystal. This famous landmark is how Waterford became one of the best known cities in the 20th century.The House of Waterford Crystal is located close to the Viking Quarter dated back to the 9th century. This esteemed factory is the beating heart of the world’s luxury crystal manufacture and is where the most intricate, authentic and masterful crystal pieces are crafted.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Reginald's Tower

Reginald’s Tower is Waterford’s landmark monument and Ireland’s oldest civic building. It has been in continuous use for over 800 years. The first tower on the site was built by Vikings after 914 and formed the apex of the triangular settlement, an area known to this day as the Viking Triangle. Re-built by the Anglo Normans in the 12th century the top two floors were added in the 15th century. Until about 1700 the tower was the strongpoint of the medieval defensive walls that enclosed the city. The tower now houses an exhibition on Viking Waterford and is managed by the Office of Public Works.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Thomas Francis Meagher statue

Discover Thomas Francis Meagher - no other Irishman this side of St. Patrick led a more colorful life, a life that reads like a movie script and epitomizes the label "fighting Irish. A mayor's son in Waterford, student in England, revolutionary in Tipperary, outcast in Tasmania, writer in Costa Rica, Union officer in New York, and governor of Montana. This stop will include enthralling narration about this Waterford hero.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Bishop's Palace

Enjoy an incredible exterior visit to the Bishop's Palace - a magnificent Georgian residence and a must-see attraction in Waterford. It is rated the #3 attraction in Waterford on Cool Destinations . The Bishop’s Palace charts the history of Waterford from 1700 to 1970. The expert local guide at this stop will give a wonderful insight into the history of the Bishop's Palace & Waterford what was from the 1750s to the present.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Viking Sword & Longboat

Visit a replica of a Viking longboat, modeled on one of the famous Viking ships found at Roskilde, in Denmark. The 33ft keel and planks of the longboat are of Irish oak and the sailcloth is a canvas weave and offer the perfect backdrop to the guides incredible narration on the 9th century Viking invasion of Ireland. Continue on to the Giant ‘Dragonslayer’ Viking Sword.The world’s longest wooden sword sculpture is now in place at its new home in the heart of the Viking Triangle in Waterford City.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity

Visit this wonderful Church located near the Viking Triangle with a beautiful blue colonnades interior leading to a lovely altar with an extremely interesting religious art and iconography collection. This must-see architectural highlight dates back to 1793.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife Statues

Sit in the very seats that commemorate one of th most important historical events that occurred in Ireland. This pair of bronze sculptures celebrates the marriage of Strongbow to Aoife MacMurrough. The arranged wedding occurred in 1170. Strongbow was a Norman conqueror of Waterford and other parts of Ireland and she was an Irish Princess, the daughter of King Dermot MacMurrough. Learn about the importance of this marriage and how it changed the course of Irish history.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Christ Church Cathedral

Visit the very site where the Vikings built their first church in 914. The church dedicated to Holy Trinity was built on the site of Christ Church Cathedral in 1050 by Reginald, son of Sigtryg (Sitric), who also gave his name to Reginald’s Tower on the quays. This historical location is one of the most important in Ireland and is a must-do when visiting Waterford.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

John Condon Memorial

Visit this poignant memorial dedicated to John Cordon from Waterford, the youngest recorded casualty on the Allied side in the first World War, who died in Flanders at the age of just 14.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

The Clock Tower

Visit the Harbor area to visit the 19th century Clock tower made in Gothic Revival style completed in 1863. This architecturally interesting structure located on the Waterford City quayside boasts intricate design features. Originally the Clock Tower had troughs for working horses to drink from. This intriguing stop will explain the unique mechanisms of the clock and about the importance of the the port of Waterford from the 10th century to the present day it's role as port of departure during the great famine to the New World.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Show 8 more stops

What's Included

  • Visit Waterford City's top highlights on a fun filled walking adventure
  • This fully guided tour is led by an experienced local English speaking Guide
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup not offered
  • Transport
  • No Food or drink
  • Entrance to House of Waterford Crystal

Additional Info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please wear comfortable shoes as this tour involves a fair amount of walking, including over uneven surfaces, cobblestones, hills, inclines, declines and stairs.
  • Participants should be in good health - consult first with your doctor if you have any medical condition or are not used to regular exercise.
  • Wheelchairs, motorised scooters or any other device to assist mobility are not recommended, as we cannot guarantee: that all footpaths/sidewalks/curbs will have suitable ramps.
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
  • Anybody under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by somebody aged 18 years or older.
  • Note for guests who booked Sainte-Chappelle entry. Please bring: Photo ID, Comfortable shoes and water (we will be waiting in the sun), Church dress code: A scarf or jumper to cover your shoulders
  • Not recommended for travellers with limited mobility

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

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Activity code: C-8954P30

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