Areas / Wexford
Wexford
Wexford sits in Ireland’s sunny southeast, where long sandy beaches, old Norman towns, fishing villages and some of the country’s best food are all within easy reach. Wexford Town gives you the restaurants, pubs and harbour; Curracloe and Rosslare put the coast on the doorstep; and the Hook Peninsula, Saltee Islands and old estates of south Wexford give you enough within an hour’s drive to fill a week comfortably. It’s an easy county to explore by car, and an even easier one to slow down in.
Getting here
From Dublin — About 135km to Wexford Town, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes by car via the M11 and N11. There are also direct train and bus services from Dublin.
A few things worth knowing
Grouped the way we'd tell a friend, not the way a brochure would.
Raven Nature Reserve
15 min driveWoodland, dunes and coastal walking beside Curracloe, with trails running towards Raven Point. The reserve is particularly important for birdlife and makes an easy beach-and-walk combination.
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Irish National Heritage Park
10 min driveAn outdoor journey through thousands of years of Irish history, from prehistoric settlements and early farming to ringforts and Viking-era Ireland. Give it a couple of hours rather than trying to rush through. Alt Text: Reconstructed historic settlement at the Irish National Heritage Park in Wexford
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Johnstown Castle
15 min driveA Gothic Revival castle surrounded by ornamental lakes, parkland and gardens, with the Irish Agricultural Museum also on the estate. Castle tours can be booked separately, while the gardens and museum can be explored at your own pace.
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Saltee Islands
40 min drive + boatTwo rugged islands just off Kilmore Quay and one of Wexford’s standout wildlife trips. Seasonal boats run to and around Great Saltee, with seabirds, cliffs and open Atlantic views doing most of the work once you get there. Trips are weather-dependent.
More info →A few questions people ask
What can we do nearby with children?
The Irish National Heritage Park and Johnstown Castle are two of the easiest options close to Wexford Town. Curracloe Beach is another good choice on a dry day, while Wells House & Gardens is around 30 minutes away and has woodland walks and family activities.
When is the best time to visit Wexford?
Late spring through early autumn is best for beaches, coastal walks and boat trips, with the longest days from May to August. Autumn is quieter, and Wexford Town gets particularly lively during the Wexford Festival Opera each year.
What are the best day trips from Wexford?
The Hook Peninsula makes one of the best day trips from Wexford, with Hook Lighthouse, Tintern Abbey and coastal scenery along the route. Kilmore Quay and the Saltee Islands are another great option, particularly during seabird season.