Getting to Enniskerry

How to reach Enniskerry by train, bus, taxi, car, or bicycle.

Train

Enniskerry has no railway station and never had one. The nearest station is Bray Daly, roughly 6km away by road and about ten to fifteen minutes by car, and from Bray you finish the journey on the L15 bus, which runs roughly hourly and takes about 25 to 30 minutes, or by taxi. Bray is on the DART, so the train leg from Dublin is frequent and straightforward: it is only the last six kilometres that need planning. Be clear about one thing before you build a day around it: the DART does not reach Enniskerry, and no rail service of any kind comes closer than Bray. Anyone arriving on a Sunday evening or late at night should check the last L15 rather than assume one will be waiting.

Nearest Station: Bray Daly, roughly 6km away, then the Go-Ahead Ireland L15 bus (about 25 to 30 minutes, roughly hourly) or a taxi into Enniskerry
Connections: Bray Daly is on the DART and on the Dublin Connolly to Wicklow, Arklow, Gorey and Rosslare line
Onward: L15 bus from outside Bray station, or a taxi. There is no station, halt or tram of any kind in Enniskerry.
Do Not Assume: The DART does not serve Enniskerry. Bray is the end of the line for rail on this side of the county.

Tips

•There is no station in Enniskerry. Bray Daly, about 6km away, is the nearest.
•The L15 bus from outside Bray station is the standard connection; check the last departure before committing to a late evening in the village.
•A taxi from Bray to Enniskerry is a short hop and a reasonable fallback if you miss the bus, but book ahead in the evening rather than expecting a rank.
•If you are coming from Dublin and do not want the connection, the 44 bus from the city centre goes to the village directly.

Useful Links

Irish Rail

Bus

Two bus routes serve Enniskerry and between them they cover most of what a visitor needs. Dublin Bus route 44 runs all the way from DCU on the north side of Dublin through the city centre, Dundrum and Stepaside and terminates in Enniskerry village, which makes it the only direct public transport link between Dublin city centre and the village; the full end-to-end run is around ninety minutes, and from the city centre it is closer to an hour. Go-Ahead Ireland's route L15 runs roughly hourly between Bray railway station and Enniskerry, continuing to Kilmolin at the golf club, and takes about 25 to 30 minutes. The L15 is the connection that matters if you are arriving by train, since Enniskerry has no station of its own. One warning: this route was numbered 185 before it was renumbered, and a great many guidebooks, websites and older signage still call it the 185. The number to look for on an ordinary daytime journey is the L15.

From Dublin City: Dublin Bus route 44, DCU to Enniskerry via O'Connell Street, Dundrum and Stepaside. About an hour from the city centre, roughly 90 minutes end to end.
From Bray Station: Go-Ahead Ireland route L15, Bray Station to Enniskerry and on to Kilmolin (Enniskerry Golf Club). Roughly hourly, about 25 to 30 minutes.
Renumbering: The all-day Bray to Enniskerry service is the L15, and that is the number on Go-Ahead Ireland's own route list, which carries no plain 185. Older guides and some signage still say 185. One school-day journey numbered 185T, Enniskerry Bridge Road to Bray Southern Cross, does still appear in the national timetable data, so the number has not disappeared entirely, but it is not the service a visitor wants. Powerscourt's own Visit Us page now names the L15 and the Dublin Bus 44 rather than the 185.
To Powerscourt: No bus goes into the Powerscourt demesne. From the village stop it is about 2km uphill on foot, roughly 20 minutes.
To The Waterfall: No bus serves Powerscourt Waterfall at all. Car, bike or taxi only.

Tips

•The 44 is the only direct bus from Dublin city centre. Check the Dublin Bus timetable for the current frequency before relying on a late return.
•If you arrive at Bray by DART or mainline train, the L15 from outside the station is the connection into the village.
•Neither bus goes to Powerscourt Waterfall, and neither goes into the gardens. Both stop in the village and you walk or drive from there.
•Leap Card works on both the 44 and the L15, as both are TFI-integrated services.

Useful Links

Dublin Bus route 44 TFI route L15 timetable

Taxi

Enniskerry has no taxi rank. Local operators serve the village and the demesne, and they are the practical answer to the two gaps in public transport here: getting to Powerscourt Waterfall, which no bus reaches, and getting back from Bray station after the last L15. Book ahead rather than expecting to flag one on the Square, and agree the fare when you call, particularly for the run out to the waterfall or Crone Wood.

Rank: There is no rank in the village. Pre-booking with a local operator is the norm.
Typical Uses: Bray station connection outside bus hours, the run to Powerscourt Waterfall or Crone Wood, and getting home after dinner
Booking: Book by phone in advance, especially in the evening and on Sundays

Tips

•Book ahead. This is a village of around 2,000 people, not a town with cars circling.
•Agree the fare for out-of-village runs such as the waterfall or Crone Wood before you set off.
•For a linear walk that finishes away from the village, arrange the pick-up before you start walking; mobile coverage on the higher ground is patchy.

Driving

Most people arrive by car, and from Dublin it is about 25km and half an hour on a clear run: south on the N11 and M11, off at the exit for Bray South and Enniskerry, then the R117 into the village, a road known locally as the Twenty-One Bends. Dublin Airport is about 48km and roughly three quarters of an hour without traffic, though the M50 can add to that considerably at the wrong time of day. The thing to plan around is parking. The Square is the village car park, and on a fine Sunday it is full by mid-morning, with the overflow spilling onto the approach roads. Powerscourt has its own large car park at the house, and the waterfall has another one 7km away at its own separate entrance; do not assume one covers the other.

From Dublin: About 25km, roughly half an hour, via the N11/M11 and the R117 through the Twenty-One Bends
From Dublin Airport: About 48km, roughly 45 minutes on a clear run via the M50 and N11, longer at peak times
From Bray: About 6km, ten to fifteen minutes
Parking: The Square is the village car park and fills by mid-morning on fine weekends. Powerscourt House has its own large car park; Powerscourt Waterfall has a separate car park at a separate entrance 7km away.
To Glendalough: About 29km and roughly 50 minutes via Roundwood and Laragh

Tips

•The Powerscourt House car park and the Powerscourt Waterfall car park are two different places 7km apart. Set the right one in your satnav.
•The R117 into the village is narrow and twisting, hence the local name. It is not a road to hurry on, and it is genuinely unpleasant in ice.
•Village parking on the Square is free but limited, and it is a real pinch point on summer weekends. Arriving before ten changes the day.
•The Glencree valley road west toward the Sally Gap is spectacular and very exposed. Avoid it in fog, snow or ice.

Cycling

Enniskerry sits in a hollow with hills on every side, which makes cycling here scenic and genuinely hard work. The climb up to Powerscourt is short but steep, the Glencree valley road west is a serious sustained ascent toward the Sally Gap, and the R117 down to the N11 is narrow and twisting with traffic. The compensation is the quality of the roads once you are up: the Glencree and Sally Gap loops are among the best road cycling in Leinster. No bike-hire operator based in Enniskerry was confirmed in this research pass, so plan to bring a bike or hire in Dublin or Bray.

Hire: No bike-hire operator based in Enniskerry was confirmed at the time of research; hire in Dublin or Bray
Terrain: Steep in every direction out of the village; serious sustained climbing toward Glencree and the Sally Gap
Routes: The Glencree valley road, the Sally Gap, and the quieter lanes toward Kilmacanogue and the Great Sugar Loaf

Tips

•The R117 to the N11 is narrow, twisting and busy. There are quieter ways out of the village toward Kilmacanogue.
•The waterfall is a realistic 7km ride from the village if you have the legs for the hills, and bikes avoid the car-park problem entirely.
•Mountain roads west of the village are exposed. Lights and a waterproof, even in summer.

From the Airport

Live options for reaching the village from the nearest airports. Times and fares are a guide and can change with traffic or operator schedules.

Dublin AirportDUB

48 km away

DrivingDrive via the M50 and N11

Duration: About 45 minutes on a clear run, longer at peak times
Cost: Fuel, M50 toll and parking, or car hire

Dublin Airport is the only realistic gateway for Enniskerry. Driving is comfortably the simplest option and it is the only way to reach Powerscourt Waterfall or the Crone Wood trailhead once you are here.

BusAirport coach to the city centre, then Dublin Bus 44

Duration: About 2 hours in total depending on the connection
Cost: Airport coach fare plus a Dublin Bus fare

Take an airport coach or city bus into the centre of Dublin, then pick up the 44 to Enniskerry. It works, but with luggage and a connection it is a long way round.

Operator: Dublin Bus

TaxiTaxi or pre-booked transfer from the airport

Duration: About 45 minutes to an hour
Cost: Metered taxi fare or a fixed transfer price

The straightforward option with luggage or late arrivals, and the only door-to-door one. Pre-book for a late-night landing.

EV & Essentials

Practical infrastructure on the ground: charging, water, and accessibility facilities worth knowing about before you arrive.

EV Charging

Powerscourt Estate

Not confirmed

Powerscourt House, Powerscourt Demesne, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, A98 W0D0. The estate lists EV charging stations at its car park at Powerscourt House. The operator, connector types and charging speed were not confirmed in this research pass; check a live charging app before relying on it. No public charger in the village itself was confirmed.

Leap Card

The Leap Card is Ireland's reusable transport card and it works on both buses that serve Enniskerry, the Dublin Bus 44 and the Go-Ahead Ireland L15, as well as on the DART to Bray, Dublin Bus, Luas and the wider TFI network. If you are doing the train-plus-bus route from Dublin it saves you fumbling for change on the L15.

Cost: €5 for the card plus top-up
Savings: Cheaper than cash single fares on TFI-integrated services including the 44, the L15 and the DART
Where To Get: Spar, Centra, Londis and online; there are convenience shops in Enniskerry village and in Bray

Parking

Parking options in and around Enniskerry. On busy weekends, arriving early is recommended.

The Square, Enniskerry

Free, but limited. The Square doubles as the village car park. It is free and it fills by mid-morning on fine weekends, with the overflow spilling onto the approach roads. Arriving before ten changes the day. It is a working village car park, so leave room for deliveries and residents.

Powerscourt House car park

Free with a visit; large capacity. The estate's own car park at the house, with accessible spaces, EV charging and a disabled drop-off point. This is 2km uphill from the village and it does NOT serve the waterfall.

Powerscourt Waterfall car park

Included in the waterfall admission, paid at the gate. A completely separate car park at the waterfall's own entrance, about 7km from the village by road. Accessible spaces, toilets and baby changing on site. You cannot reach it from the gardens car park without driving back out onto the public road.

Crone Wood car park

Free. The trailhead car park for the Crone Woods and Maulin loop, about 7km southwest of the village. Small, and it fills on fine weekends. No facilities.

Planning the wider trip?

Our country-level primer covers national rail, intercity buses, airports, the Leap Card, and whether you actually need a hire car for your trip around Ireland.

Getting Around Ireland →