Walls, Whiskey & Music – Waterford City

Street art, city stories and a lively evening in the heart of Waterford.

Begin your day with breakfast at The Olive Café, or pick up a coffee from Carter’s Chocolate Café before setting out to explore Waterford City. Here, more than a thousand years of history sits alongside a colourful modern arts scene.

The Waterford Walls trail is an easy and engaging way to explore the city centre on foot, leading visitors through streets and laneways transformed by large-scale murals from Irish and international artists. Allow time to stop for photographs, discover the smaller pieces tucked between the major works and enjoy the atmosphere around the Viking Triangle and O’Connell Street. On a rainy day, swap the outdoor trail for a visit to Waterford Gallery of Art and discover works from its extensive collection of Irish art.

Stop for lunch at O’Sullivan’s Social in the heart of the Viking Triangle before choosing one of the Waterford Treasures experiences for the afternoon. The Medieval Museum, Bishop’s Palace, Irish Museum of Time, Irish Wake Museum or King of the Vikings can each provide a different perspective on the city. Trade Coffee is also just a short stroll away if you need an afternoon pick-me-up.

To discover even more of the city, join the EPIC Walking Tour, 1,000 Years in 1,000 Paces, or explore at your own speed along Waterford’s Digital Story Trail. This self-guided trail features 15 stops throughout the city centre, where visitors can scan QR codes to uncover immersive stories through audio, historical facts, and augmented reality. Along the way, meet figures from Waterford’s past, including Anastasia Fleming and Thomas Francis Meagher.

Finish the day with dinner at Momo, Bodega, Mara or Everett’s, while families may prefer the relaxed menu at Burzza. Afterwards, adults can round off the adventure with a whiskey tasting at Revolution and continue to Churchyard Sessions at The Reg for live music and a memorable city-centre finish. The Churchyard Sessions run on Fridays and Saturdays from May until September.

Your Day at a Glance

1. Start: Enjoy breakfast at The Olive Café or grab a coffee from Carter’s Chocolate Café.

2. Morning: Follow the Waterford Walls street-art trail through the city centre, with Waterford Gallery of Art as a rainy-day alternative.

3. Lunch: Stop at O’Sullivan’s Social in the Viking Triangle.

4. Afternoon: Visit one Waterford Treasures museum or immersive experience.

5. Explore: Choose the EPIC Walking Tour or follow the self-guided Digital Story Trail.

6. Eat: Choose dinner at Momo, Bodega, Mara or Everett’s, or if you have kids with you, Burzza is always a good shout.

4. Evening: Enjoy a whiskey tasting at Revolution, followed by the Churchyard Sessions.