The best city hikes and walks around Waterford City

Perched high above Tramore Bay, Coastguard Cultural Centre Tramore combines history, culture and some of the finest coastal views in County Waterford. Housed within a beautifully restored former coastguard station dating back to 1874, the centre now hosts art exhibitions, live events, workshops and a welcoming café overlooking the sea. Its clifftop location along the Doneraile Walk makes it a perfect place to pause for coffee while soaking up panoramic views across the beach and Atlantic coastline.

Perched right beside the seafront, O'Shea's Hotel by the sea has been welcoming visitors since 1968 and remains one of the town’s classic seaside stays. Just steps from the long sandy beach and promenade, it’s an ideal base for coastal walks, surfing and exploring the Waterford coastline. Many rooms enjoy sea views, while the lively traditional bar often features music and a warm local atmosphere

Elegant 19th-century cast-iron clock on a fountain base, located between Cathedral Square and the Medieval Museum. An elegant landmark in the Viking Triangle that enhances the historic atmosphere of the city center.

Portrait Mural (O’Connell Street, Waterford) Large, expressive portrait mural in the Waterford Cultural Quarter. The realistic face fills the facade and forms a striking artistic anchor point on O’Connell Street, a street known for its street art and creative atmosphere.

Also called the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, it is a church of the Church of Ireland. Its origins date back to the time of the first Christianized Vikings in 1096. The building, destroyed by fire in 1815, dates from the 18th century, largely rebuilt at the beginning of the next century in an English Gothic style. You will certainly be impressed by the reclining black stone figure depicting James Rice, mayor of the city in the 15th century, who asked for his body to be depicted in the state of decomposition that would be observed a year after his death. The whole contains, very realistically, a Latin inscription that invites us to reflect on our mortal fate.

The images of Strongbow and Aoife at the Most Holy Trinity Cathedral in Waterford refer to the 1170 marriage, a key moment that sealed Norman power in Ireland. The sculptures stand on the very spot where, according to tradition, that marriage took place, serving as a tangible reminder of the beginning of centuries of Norman influence.

Strongbow (Richard de Clare) — Norman warlord who helped the Irish king Diarmait Mac Murchada to reconquer Leinster in 1169–1170. Aoife (Aoibhéann) — daughter of Diarmait, married to Strongbow as a political alliance. Their marriage in 1170 is seen as the symbolic beginning of the Anglo‑Norman presence in Ireland.

is the most authentic medieval museum in Ireland, fully embedded in real 12th–13th‑century spaces such as the Wine Vault and the Mayor’s Hall. It tells the story of Waterford as Ireland’s oldest city through highlights such as the Viking treasure, the Great Charter Roll (1373) and the city’s ceremonial robes.