Dublin in Three Days

With a third day, the best use of the extra time is getting out of the city entirely.

Days One and Two: the city

Follow Dublin in One Day and the day-two plan in Dublin in Two Days — Trinity College, the National Museums, Christ Church Cathedral and Temple Bar, then Kilmainham Gaol, the Docklands, or a half-day at Howth.

Day Three: Glendalough, County Wicklow

Glendalough is a monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin, set beside two lakes inside Wicklow Mountains National Park — Ireland's largest national park. St Kevin's Bus Service has run the route from Dublin since 1927, departing from St Stephen's Green North, with the journey taking around 80 minutes each way. Check current times and fares at glendaloughbus.com before travelling, since this is the only scheduled public transport option — there's no direct train.

A realistic day looks like: outbound bus in the morning, roughly 80 minutes of travel, then 4–5 hours at Glendalough before the return bus. The monastic site itself (the round tower, cathedral ruins and St Kevin's Church) can be seen properly in an hour or two — enough for a worthwhile visit even if you don't walk further. If you want to fill the rest of the day, the Spink and Upper Lake loop trails add several more hours of walking through the valley, but check the current trail map at the visitor centre, since routes and difficulty vary a lot.

Alternative day three: Powerscourt Estate

If Glendalough doesn't fit, Powerscourt Estate near Enniskerry — with Ireland's highest waterfall (121m) as a short drive from the main house — is a car- or tour-based alternative, roughly 45 minutes from Dublin. The formal gardens and waterfall are separate attractions on the same estate and are usually visited as two stops in one outing; allow half a day in total once travel time is included. Public transport options here are limited, so this works better with a car or an organised day tour than trying to reach it independently by bus.

Planning tips

• Check the weather before committing to Wicklow — the mountains catch cloud and rain the city often misses, even on a clear Dublin morning.
• St Kevin's Bus has a limited number of scheduled departures from Dublin each day — check the current timetable and don't assume flexibility if you miss your slot.
• Bring proper footwear if you plan to walk beyond the monastic site itself — the upper trails are genuine hillwalking terrain, not paved paths.
• If choosing between Glendalough and Powerscourt, Glendalough is the better fit if you don't have a car; Powerscourt is the easier half-day if you do.

Related reading

• Dublin in Two Days
• Best Day Trips from Dublin
• Dublin on a Budget