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Tour the Waterford Viking Triangle and visit the preserved landmarks of the Viking Settlement and the foundations of the oldest city of Ireland.
Waterford, Ireland, has a long heritage. One so long that Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city, where a Viking called Regnall came and moored his ship on this coastal fringe in 914, before he sailed off to York two years later, becoming King in both.
In 1170, the city was captured by Anglo-Normans, who set in stone the first layers of what slowly grew to the modern city we see today.
At over 1,100 years old, Waterford is the city dubbed as ‘where Ireland began’.
On the Waterford Viking Triangle – Visiting The Oldest City of Ireland.
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Visiting the Waterford Viking Triangle
On the original 9th-century Viking Settlement site, I walked in the footsteps of adventurous Regnall in what is now a compact area of Waterford’s Old town.
Accessible by foot and in the nooks and crannies of old spaces, this trail is easily navigated, although there is a costumed tour known as the Epic Tour of the Viking Triangle.
In just a few short hours, I better understood the history from the triangle’s hotspots – the colourful artefact-filled Medieval Museum and the 18th century Bishop’s Palace (recording Waterford’s history from 1700-1970). The Christ Church Cathedral and Reginald’s Tower (housing a Viking exhibition) stand next to a replica 40-foot Viking longboat.
A famous view of Waterford – Ireland’s Oldest City.
Wander the historical streets in Waterford.
Take a walking tour of the Viking Triangle of Waterford.
Visiting the Medieval Museum in Waterford.
Go inside the iconic Bishop’s Palace in Waterford.
Find the medieval ruins in Waterford.
Line of the Medieval City Wall of Waterford.
Soon, you will notice the connections between Ireland’s Southeast. For example, Strongbow (the Norman who invaded Kilkenny) married his wife, Aoife, in Waterford. Her father gave her to Strongbow not long after the Norman invasion of Ireland that he, the King of Leinster, had requested.
A statue was erected in 2014 to mark the 844th anniversary of the marriage – considered one of the most influential events in Irish History, which would give Strongbow succession rights to the Kingdom.
Strongbow and Aoife statue in Waterford.
Waterford Today
Aside from being a lively cathedral city filled with pubs, bistros, and shopping, Waterford city is world-renowned for its crystal. The House of Waterford Crystal factory is a fascinating insight into the handcrafted designs that have provided it with a modern legacy, often passed through generations.
If you have more time, check out these extra things to do in Waterford, including surfing, hiking the Coumshingaun Loop, and a food tour.
Watching the masters at work at the House of Waterford Crystal.
Waterford Viking Triangle Tours
Tickets for the ‘Epic Tour of the Viking Triangle’ are available from the Medieval Museum or the Bishop’s Palace.
Join a House of Waterford Crystal Factory Tour and get behind the scenes of the city’s famed craft.
Waterford to Kilkenny – Combining Historical Trails
On a journey from Waterford to Kilkenny, you will visit cities symbolic of Ireland’s rich urban history. Both have become cities of accolade. Where adventure-seeking Vikings and zealous Norman invaders came and made their mark, imposed their ideas, and laid the characteristics of each city as they stand today.
In European history, the Middle Ages, or the medieval period lasted from the 5th to the 15th century. Alongside the singular ancient relics whose crumbling walls echo the stories of 5,000 years from their rolling green and hilltop settings, Ireland’s Ancient East preserves the very foundations of the country’s civil growth in its cities.
I immersed myself in a journey that paved the timeline of conquest and cultivation via two routes – in Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile and Waterford’s Viking Triangle. Each safeguards its city’s early beginnings while a modern vibrancy grows around it.
And if you are debating Waterford or Kilkenny, don’t. Find the time to immerse yourself in both cities, as they have different historical offerings.
READ MORE: Kilkenny Medieval Mile – The First Medieval Capital of Ireland.
How to Get to Waterford
Visiting Kilkenny and Waterford form part of an accessible round trip from Dublin.
The two cities are less than one hour apart in journey time, via Irish rail or by road. If you want to visit both, the easiest routes are as follows:
Dublin to Starting City
Dublin to Waterford: 2 hours and 40 minutes.
The number 736 Kenneally’s Bus Service is the most frequent and direct service.
Dublin to Kilkenny: 2 hours – 2 hours and 30 minutes
Via the 600 Dublin Coach or the Kildare/Waterford Rail Service.
Between Waterford and Kilkenny
Kilkenny to Waterford / Waterford to Kilkenny: 53 minutes via Irish Rail.
This journey is on the Kildare/Waterford Rail Service, or you can take the frequently running number 600 Dublin Coach.
End City to Dublin
Waterford to Dublin: 2 hours and 40 minutes
Via the 736 Kenneally’s Bus Service or number 600 Dublin Coach
Kilkenny to Dublin: Approximately 2 hours.
This is via the 600 Dublin Coach or the 717 bus service (operated by JJ. Kavanagh & Sons).
Book Your Tickets
If you are not on a self-drive route, you can plan and book rail and bus tickets on the Transport for Ireland (TFI) site.
My trip was in conjunction with Ireland Tourism as part of a campaign to bring the country’s centuries-old history to life.
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