Getting to Tramore
How to reach Tramore by train, bus, taxi, car, or bicycle.
Train (nearest station Waterford Plunkett)
There is no railway station in Tramore. There was one for a hundred and seven years: the Waterford and Tramore Railway opened in September 1853 and ran seven and a quarter miles with no intermediate stops, just a terminus at each end. The last trains ran on 31 December 1960, the 13:25 down from Waterford and the 14:10 back, and the line was lifted. The nearest station today is Waterford (Plunkett) on Terminus Street, on the north side of the river, about 15km away. From there you cross to the bus station on Merchants Quay and take the 360 or 360A to Tramore. Anyone who tells you there is a train to Tramore is sixty-five years out of date.
- From
- Dublin Heuston or Limerick Junction to Waterford (Plunkett), then the 360 bus
- Duration
- Around 2 hours 15 minutes Dublin Heuston to Waterford, plus a short walk across the river and about 25 minutes on the bus
- Frequency
- Several InterCity services a day on the Dublin Heuston line; fewer on the Waterford to Clonmel and Limerick Junction line
- Fare
- Adult single Dublin to Waterford varies by advance booking; the Tramore bus leg is charged separately
- Station
- Waterford (Plunkett), Terminus Street, Waterford, X91 A2PV. No station in Tramore itself.
- Note
- Plunkett station is on the north bank and Bus Éireann's Waterford bus station is on Merchants Quay on the south bank, roughly 750 metres apart across Rice Bridge, so allow ten minutes on foot between them. The 360 does not call at the rail station.
Tips
- •Book Dublin to Waterford in advance online for the cheaper fares.
- •Allow ten minutes to walk from Plunkett station across to the bus station on Merchants Quay; the two are not the same building.
- •If you are arriving late, check the last 360 out of Waterford before you commit to the train.
Bus from Waterford (route 360 and 360A)
The 360 is how Tramore works. Bus Éireann runs it between Waterford bus station on Merchants Quay and Tramore, calling along the way at the Clock Tower, the Mall, Parnell Street and SETU on College Street before heading out through Lacken Road and Ballykinsella. The 360A takes a variant via Riverstown Business Park. Departures from Waterford run roughly every twenty minutes through the day from around half six in the morning, drop to half-hourly in the evening, and the last one leaves around midnight. End to end it is about 25 minutes. Tramore bus station is in the town centre, a few minutes from the prom, and the route carries on to Cliff Road, Newtown Hill and the estates above the town.
- Route
- 360 Waterford to Tramore; 360A Waterford to Tramore via Riverstown Business Park
- Frequency
- About every 20 minutes daytime, every 30 minutes in the evening
- Duration
- About 25 minutes, Waterford bus station to Tramore bus station
- First Last
- First departure from Waterford around 06:30, last around midnight; first back from Tramore around 05:50
- Stops
- Tramore bus station in the town centre, then Church Road, Cliff Road, Newtown Hill and the estates
- Tickets
- Bus Éireann single and return fares, Leap Card accepted, or buy on the TFI Go app
Tips
- •On a hot summer Sunday the bus beats the car: the promenade car parks fill by late morning.
- •For the Guillamene and Newtown Cove, stay on past the town centre to the Cliff Road stops.
- •The racecourse is uphill from the town centre and the bus does not go there; allow twenty minutes on foot or take a taxi on a race day.
Useful Links
Taxis
There is no rank sitting full in Tramore outside race days and summer weekends, so a taxi is something you book rather than something you find. Most of the supply is Waterford city based and comes down, which means ten to twenty minutes' wait on a normal evening and considerably longer at closing time on a Saturday in August.
- Booking
- Book by phone or app rather than expecting to flag one down
- To Waterford
- About 13km; expect a city-rate fare plus the run out
- Note
- On race nights and bank holiday weekends book the return leg when you book the outbound.
Tips
- •Book ahead on race days.
- •Confirm the fare before you set off if you are going as far as the airport.
Driving
Tramore is south of Waterford city on the R675, a straightforward run of about 13km that the racecourse describes as a fifteen-minute drive. From the M9 and Dublin, come off at Waterford and follow signs for Tramore through the city. From Cork and the west it is the N25 into Waterford and then south. Parking in the town is the real question rather than the driving: the two promenade car parks are pay-and-display and fill by late morning on a good summer day, while the free car parks at Doneraile Drive and Newtown Cove are small and go early on a swimming morning.
- From Waterford
- About 13km south on the R675, roughly 15 minutes
- From Dublin
- Roughly 190km, allow two and a half to three hours by the M9 and N25
- From Cork
- Roughly 140km, allow about two hours by the N25
- Parking
- Pay-and-display on the promenade; free at Doneraile Drive and Newtown Cove
- Note
- The seafront car parks fill by late morning on a hot weekend and during the August racing festival.
Tips
- •Park once. The town centre, the prom and the start of the Doneraile Walk are all within ten minutes of each other on foot.
- •Newtown Cove car park is tiny and full by nine on a fine swimming morning.
- •Racing festival week in August changes the traffic completely; come in early or take the bus.
Cycling
The R675 from Waterford carries traffic and is not a pleasant cycle, so most people who ride here ride locally rather than commuting in. Once you are in Tramore the town is flat along the seafront and steep everywhere else, and the Cliff Road out to the coves is a decent short spin. The Waterford Greenway, the 46km traffic-free route from Waterford to Dungarvan, does not come to Tramore; you pick it up in Waterford city or out at Kilmeaden.
- From Waterford
- About 13km on the R675, which carries traffic
- Local Riding
- Flat along the prom, steep inland. The Cliff Road to Newtown Cove is the best short ride.
- Greenway
- The Waterford Greenway runs Waterford to Dungarvan and does not pass through Tramore
Tips
- •Do not assume the Greenway comes here; it does not.
- •Bikes go free on the prom but the dune paths are soft sand and not rideable.
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
190 km away- Duration
- About 25 minutes on the 360, plus the 736 run; check jjkavanagh.ie for current times
- Cost
- Two separate fares
The 736 runs direct between Waterford and the airport terminals. Leave time for the connection in Waterford; the two services are not timed against each other.
Operator: Bus Éireann and JJ Kavanagh and Sons
- Duration
- Roughly two and a half to three hours
- Cost
- Fuel plus M9 and M50 tolls
Distance is approximate and depends on the route through Waterford city.
- Duration
- About 25 minutes on the bus, around 2 hours 15 minutes on the train, then onward to the airport from Dublin city
- Cost
- Bus fare plus rail fare plus the airport transfer
Heuston is not the airport. You still need the Dublin Airport transfer at the far end, so the 736 coach is usually simpler.
Operator: Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann
Cork AirportORK
140 km away- Duration
- Roughly two hours
- Cost
- Fuel
Straight run west on the N25 through Dungarvan and Youghal, then around Cork city.
- Duration
- Allow most of a morning
- Cost
- Separate fares
Two changes. Driving is usually the sensible option for Cork.
Operator: Bus Éireann
Waterford AirportWAT
10 km away- Duration
- About 15 minutes
- Cost
- Fuel
The closest airport by a long way, but it has no scheduled passenger services. A 30 million euro runway extension began construction in May 2026 and the council says scheduled services could return by the summer of 2027. Do not plan a trip around it until they do.
EV & Essentials
Practical infrastructure on the ground: charging, water, and accessibility facilities worth knowing about before you arrive.
EV Charging
EZO Charging Station, Market Street
EZO
14 Market Street, Tramore, Co. Waterford, X91 PA89. In the town centre, a couple of minutes' walk from the prom.
EZO Charging Station, Turkey Road
EZO
Turkey Road, Tramore, Co. Waterford, X91 VH42. Closest charger to the seafront.
Applegreen Fast Charge, Waterford Road
Applegreen Fast Charge
Waterford Road, Crobally Lower, Tramore, Co. Waterford, X91 RK28. On the Waterford side of town, open around the clock.
Water Refill
Coastguard Cultural Centre cafe
Doneraile Drive · indoor
Ask at the counter. Open seven days.
Tramore Library
Market Street · indoor
Weekdays only.
Accessibility Facilities
Promenade accessible toilet
Accessible toilet · Promenade, beside the beach car park
Seasonal daytime opening.
Splashworld
Accessible toilet · Railway Square
Splashworld lists itself as wheelchair accessible and runs sensory-friendly swim sessions. Ring ahead to confirm what is scheduled.
Promenade level access
Ramp access · Promenade
The prom itself is flat and paved end to end, with ramped access down to the sand near the beach car park. The Doneraile Walk and the cove steps are not step free.
Leap Card
Leap works on the 360 between Waterford and Tramore, and it is cheaper than paying cash. Top up in Waterford city or use the TFI Go app to buy a ticket on your phone. There is no Leap Visitor Card product specific to this route; the Visitor Card is a Dublin-area product and is no use here.
- Validity
- Accepted on Bus Éireann city and town services including the 360
- Top Up
- Newsagents and shops in Waterford city, or the TFI Live and Leap apps
- Note
- The Leap Visitor Card is a Dublin product and does not apply to the Waterford to Tramore service.
Parking
Parking options in and around Tramore. On busy weekends, arriving early is recommended.
Promenade car parks
Seasonal charges apply; check the signage on arrival. Two large surface car parks behind the prom. Full by late morning on a hot summer weekend.
Newtown Cove car park
Small clifftop car park above the cove with the view across to Brownstown Head. Fills fast on a swimming morning.
Doneraile Walk car park
Off Doneraile Drive, the usual start for the cliff walk.
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 →