2-NIght Stay Itinerary
Day 1:
Suir Valley Railway/Mount Congreve Gardens
Check-in at The Viking and enjoy a relaxing welcome drink in the contemporary and stylish Wooden Pestle Restaurant & Bar.
Now, you are ready to set off on your first Waterford adventure! Head to Suir Valley Railway (pre-booked on suirvalley.ie) located in the nearby village of Kilmeaden; located less than 8km away. As you drive out of the Viking Hotel, turn left then take the second exit on the roundabout and the 3rd exit on the second roundabout you meet and you will reach Kilmeaden
Board the train at the beautifully restored Kilmeaden platform and enjoy the panoramic views of the river and rolling farmland as the train takes you along the restored railway route along the Waterford Greenway Bilberry in Waterford City. The train will stop at the famous Mount Congreve Gardens where you can disembark to explore and board a later train to return to your starting point.
Mount Congreve gardens are 18th-century estate and Mansion. The garden, home to one of the largest selection of plants. The 70-acre planted woodland also boasts a beautiful walled garden. Enjoy a guided tour or a relaxing coffee in their beautiful café before you board the train for your return trip.
Once back at The Viking Hotel, relax and enjoy a well-deserved tasty meal while in the luxurious surroundings of the Wooden Pestle Restaurant & Bar.
Day 2:
Waterford Crystal /Walking tour of the city/Waterford Treasures
Enjoy a hearty breakfast before embarking on your fun-filled day 2 of discovering all Waterford has to offer.
This day will be spent in the city which is a short drive or taxi ride away. First things first; Waterford is famous for its crystal so the Waterford Crystal factory tour is a must! The House of Waterford Crystal is located in the heart of The Viking Triangle on The Mall. Here, you will witness skilled craftsmen making crystal stemware, giftware and masterpieces. There is a stunning shop within The House of Waterford Crystal and the perfect place to pick up a keepsake of your trip.
The next stop is to go to the tourist office where ‘Jack Burchaell’ (Jackswalkingtours.com) will pick you up for a walking tour of the oldest city in Ireland. These tours take place daily in high season at 12pm and 2pm. There is no need to book for this. Jack takes you on an hour-long historical walking tour of the city told with lots of fantastic stories told with plenty of humour!
After this; its time to explore Waterford Treasures; of which there are three. Waterfordtreasures.com sell a combined ticket online for all three. First, to Bishops Palace where you can enjoy a lovely spot of lunch in the café before learning about the inhabitants of the palace for its 250 years. Bishops palace houses treasures from the 18th, 19th & 20th centuries as well as the only complete set of pre-reformation vestments in all of Europe.
The next stop is straight across from Bishops Palace; the Medieval Museum. The museum showcases life in Waterford in Medieval times. The museum has a 13th Century Chroisters’ Hall as well as 15th-century Mayors Wine Vaults.
The last stop is Reginald’s Tower just a short walk to the quay. Reginald’s Tower was built by one of the first Viking settlers exhibits items from this time.
After a busy day in the city its time to head back to the Viking Hotel for a hearty meal in The Wooden Pestle Restaurant & Bar before getting some much-needed rest after a fun-filled day.
Day 3:
Tramore Beach/Amusements /Dooley’s
After another delicious hearty breakfast; its time to check out.
Before heading home why not visit the beach; Waterford is home to some of the most stunning coastlines. Tramore beach is located only 13 minutes’ drive from the hotel. To get there turn left exiting the hotel car park, take the first exit off the roundabout and follow signs for Tramore.
You can have a lovely long walk along the beach where you find a lovely view of The Metal Man and The Guillamine Cove. Waterford people say that if you hop around the metal man 3 times you will be married within a year! If the weather isn’t fantastic you can always visit the amusements and finish off with fish’n chips from the famous ‘Dooleys’ chip shop! A must when in Tramore; you won’t be disappointed!!
