Carlow Itineraries
Half a day or a full weekend. Here are the best ways to spend your time in Carlow, planned step by step.
Whether you have a few hours off the train or a full weekend to explore, these itineraries give you a local’s route through Carlow. Each one links directly to the restaurants and activities along the way.
Half a day in Carlow on foot
For anyone who has come off the train or pulled off the M9 with an afternoon to spare. Everything is within about two kilometres, nothing needs a car, and it works best Wednesday to Saturday, when the VISUAL galleries and Lennons are both open; ring the museum on 059 913 1554 to confirm its day.
- 111:00·45 minutes
Carlow County Museum
Start on College Street and walk in through the tourist office. Four free galleries: the Carlow Gaol gallows trapdoor, the cathedral's carved pulpit, and the sugar factory and John Tyndall rooms.
View Carlow County Museum - 211:50·45 minutes
Across to VISUAL
Past the cathedral and in through the Carlow College gate to VISUAL. The galleries open at eleven, Tuesday to Saturday, and are free.
View VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art and the George Bernard Shaw Theatre - 312:45·1 hour
Lunch at Lennons
Downstairs in the same building. Lunch runs from twelve to three, Wednesday to Saturday; ring ahead for a table on a Friday.
View Lennons @ VISUAL - 414:00·40 minutes
Down to the castle
Walk the Dublin Road past the courthouse, down Dublin Street and Tullow Street and along Castle Street to Castle Hill. The castle is the west wall and two towers; give it ten minutes and then walk on to Graiguecullen Bridge for the view of it from the river.
View Carlow Castle - 515:00·1 hour
A pint on Tullow Street
Back up to Tully's for a craft beer to finish. On a Thursday, stay in town for the trad session at Teach Dolmain from about half nine.
View Tully's Bar
A full day: the dolmen, the town and the Barrow
A day that takes in the two things the town is built around, the river and its history, plus the dolmen outside town. You need a car or a taxi for the first stop; the rest is on foot. Saturday is the best day for it, when the farmers' market is on.
- 109:30·45 minutes including the drive
Brownshill Dolmen
Out the R726 Hacketstown road, a little over three kilometres east of town. The car park is small and easy to miss. The path out to the tomb is fenced and short.
View Brownshill Dolmen - 210:30·45 minutes
The Saturday market
Back into town and park beside the Potato Market. The farmers' market runs from nine to two, with Carlow Farmhouse Cheese among the nineteen traders. Pick up lunch for the towpath.
- 311:30·30 minutes
The castle and Graiguecullen Bridge
Five minutes' walk along Castle Street. See the castle from Castle Hill, then cross the bridge to the towpath.
View Carlow Castle - 412:00·3 to 4 hours there and back
The Barrow Way to Milford
About seven kilometres south on the towpath, past Carlow Lock, Clogrennan Lock and the ruins of Clogrennan Castle, to the weir and mills at Milford. Coffee at Barrow Brew in the woods there, then walk back or have a lift arranged.
View The Barrow Way, Carlow to Milford - 516:30·45 minutes
College Street
If you are back before five, VISUAL's galleries are open until half five on a Saturday. The cathedral is beside it.
View VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art and the George Bernard Shaw Theatre - 619:00·2 hours
Tapas at Mimosa
Across College Street from the cathedral. Book online; Mimosa holds no tables back, and a couple gets the table for two hours.
View Mimosa Bar de Tapas
Ready to plan your visit?
Check live train departures and the weather forecast before you head out.