Dublin to Glendalough Bus: Times and Fares

The Dublin to Glendalough bus is a single direct service from the city centre to a valley with a monastic site and two lakes. This guide covers where it leaves, what it costs, how to pay and when a tour is the better choice.

Step 1: Find the Dublin to Glendalough bus stop

The bus leaves from St Stephen's Green North, opposite Stephen Court, and the operator's own site lists the stop. St Kevin's Bus Service runs this route all year except Christmas Day. The bus is the public way to the valley, because the Dublin train and tram lines do not reach it.

The operator's site shows a winter timetable for 1 November to 28 February, and it lists Dublin departures at 11:00 and 18:00. The 11:00 bus reaches Glendalough at about 12:15 to 12:20, so the trip takes roughly 75 to 80 minutes. Weekday and weekend timetables are listed separately. The summer timetable has more departures, so read the live timetable for your travel date on the St Kevin's Bus timetable page. The page does not label the return times clearly. It appears to show winter buses back from Glendalough at 16:30 on weekdays and weekends, reaching St Stephen's Green North at about 18:00, plus early buses. No official page gives the summer times in the text I could read, so confirm the last bus back before you go.

Pro Tip Check the last bus back to Dublin before you board, because the winter timetable on the operator's page lists only two Dublin departures a day.

Step 2: Pay the fare

A single ticket from Dublin to Glendalough costs €14 and a return costs €23, as the operator's fares page states. Return tickets are valid for 30 days. Shorter hops are cheaper, for example €4 to Kilmacanogue.

You pay on the bus by card, cash or Leap card. A Leap Visitor card and a Young Adult Leap card are not accepted. If you hold one, bring cash or a bank card instead. The Leap card guide explains which cards work where.

Here is what the day looks like, step by step.

Step 3: Plan your time at Glendalough

The Visitor Centre in winter is open daily from 09:30 to 17:00, with last admission at 16:15, as Heritage Ireland states. From mid March to 14 October it is open until 18:00. It is closed from 23 to 29 December. Admission is €5 for an adult and €3 for a child or student. Heritage Ireland says an average visit takes 1 to 1.5 hours.

The monastic site and the trails are outdoors. If you arrive at about 12:20, you have a short afternoon in winter. Daylight is short in winter too, so choose one walk and keep to it. The toilets at the Upper Lake car park are run by Wicklow County Council.

Key Takeaway On the 11:00 winter bus you arrive at about 12:20, and the Visitor Centre closes at 17:00, so you have under five hours.

A day trip is only as long as its timetable allows.

Step 4: Decide between bus, car and tour

Doing it yourself by bus is enough if you travel alone or as a pair, want the lowest cost and the timetable suits you. A tour is worth it if you want more stops, no timetable or a longer day. The car takes about 48 km and about 45 minutes by mapping estimates, but you drive and park yourself. A tour costs more and removes the timetable, which matters when the bus leaves you only a few hours.

For a longer day, a guided Glendalough day tour from Dublin covers the valley and other stops with the transport included. The half-day trip to Glendalough and Wicklow is run by Paddywagon Tours and lasts 5 hours. The price is from €33 per person, rated 4.2 from 3,022 reviews, with free cancellation. It includes a local guide and an air-conditioned coach. Food, drinks and tips are not included. It has three possible meeting points, depending on the option you pick, and is not suitable for wheelchair users. The listing does not state a group size.

For a full day, the Wild Wicklow Mountains and Guinness Lake tour is run by Wild Wicklow Tours and lasts 8.5 hours. It costs from €55 per person, rated 4.8 from 1,844 reviews. The price includes entrance fees, a guide, a small coach and pickup from locations near hotels in Dublin. Food, drinks and tips are not included, and the tour is not designed for hikers. The meeting point depends on the option you pick, and the listing does not state a group size. The Wicklow, Powerscourt and Glendalough day tour is run by Hilltoptreks and lasts 8 hours. The price is from €65 per person, rated 4.6 from 776 reviews, with free cancellation. It starts at the Molly Malone statue on Suffolk Street. Powerscourt Gardens entry (€10), meals and tips are not included, and the listing does not state a group size.

Things to Do in Dublin's count of GetYourGuide listings on 25 October 2026 found 12 Glendalough listings, from €33 to €73 per person (4 priced per group). The bus has a limit. It runs on a fixed timetable, so it is the wrong choice if you want to see several stops in a day. Use day trips from Dublin to compare other options.

Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 25 October 2026.