Getting to Waterford
How to reach Waterford by InterCity train, bus, or car.
InterCity Train
Waterford is the southern terminus of the Iarnród Éireann InterCity line from Dublin Heuston. There is no DART or commuter rail in the South East; intercity rail is the only train option. Around eight trains daily Monday to Saturday, five on Sunday.
- From
- Dublin Heuston Station
- Duration
- 2h 15m typical
- Frequency
- Approx 8 trains daily Mon-Sat; 5 trains Sun
- Fare
- Adult single from around €25 advance, €40 walk-on; Mon-Thu off-peak fares cheapest
- Station
- Waterford Plunkett Station, Dock Road
- Note
- Some early-morning Mon-Thu services replaced by bus transfers through 2026 as flood-prevention works continue. Full rail schedule resumes mid-2027.
Tips
- •Book online at irishrail.ie at least a week ahead for the cheapest single fares.
- •Plunkett Station is a 10-minute walk across the bridge from the Viking Triangle.
- •The journey runs through Kilkenny, Carlow, and the Suir Valley; sit on the right heading south for the river views.
- •If you are travelling early Monday to Thursday, check whether your service is rail or substituted by bus.
🚆 InterCity from Waterford Plunkett
Iarnród Éireann InterCity departures
InterCity service from Waterford Plunkett. Updates every minute.
Bus
Bus Éireann runs intercity routes from Dublin (Route 4 and X51 from Dublin Airport), Cork, and Wexford to Waterford, plus the W1-W5 city services from the Mall hub.
- From Dublin
- Bus Éireann Route 4 from Dublin Busáras (~2h 45m)
- From Airport
- Bus Éireann X51 direct from Dublin Airport (~3h)
- From Cork
- Bus Éireann Route 40 from Cork (~2h 15m)
- City Services
- Routes W1, W2, W3, W4, W5 cover the city; main hub at the Mall
- City Fare
- Adult Mon-Sat €2.20 (Leap Card accepted)
Tips
- •The X51 from Dublin Airport saves a transfer through the city centre and runs roughly every 90 minutes.
- •City buses depart from the Mall, opposite the Tower Hotel.
- •Leap Card works on Bus Éireann city services and is cheaper than cash.
Driving
Waterford sits at the meeting point of the M9 (from Dublin), the N25 (Cork to Wexford), and the M11/N11 (from the east coast). Approximately 2 hours from Dublin, 1h 45m from Cork.
- From Dublin
- ~2 hours via M9 (no tolls south of Kilcullen)
- From Cork
- ~1h 45m via N25
- From Wexford
- ~1 hour via N25
- Parking
- Pay-and-display on the Mall and side streets; multi-storey at Bolton Street and George's Court (€1.80/hour)
Tips
- •Bolton Street multi-storey is the closest large car park to the Viking Triangle.
- •On Saturday evenings during summer the Apple Market area is busiest; arrive earlier or park in George's Court.
- •Pay by phone via APCOA Connect on most on-street zones.
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
165 km away- Duration
- ~3 hours
- Cost
- Adult single from €19 (advance)
Direct service from Dublin Airport to Waterford via Carlow. Roughly every 90 minutes through the day. Drops at the Plunkett Station bus stop.
Operator: Bus Éireann
- Duration
- ~3h 30m
- Cost
- €8 Aircoach + €25-40 train
Aircoach from Dublin Airport to Heuston Station (about 45 minutes), then InterCity train to Waterford Plunkett (about 2h 15m). Slower but more comfortable than the bus.
Operator: Aircoach + Iarnród Éireann
- Duration
- ~2 hours
- Cost
- Car hire from ~€35/day
M11 south to the M9 junction near Naas, then M9 to Waterford. Mostly motorway.
Operator: Car hire desks in airport arrivals
Cork AirportORK
125 km away- Duration
- ~1h 45m
- Cost
- Car hire from ~€35/day
N25 east through Youghal and Dungarvan. Mostly dual carriageway.
Operator: Car hire desks in airport arrivals
- Duration
- ~2h 30m
- Cost
- Adult single from €15
Cork city centre to Waterford via Youghal and Dungarvan. Take the city bus or taxi from the airport to Cork city centre to connect.
Operator: Bus Éireann
Shannon AirportSNN
175 km away- Duration
- ~2h 30m
- Cost
- Car hire from ~€35/day
Via Limerick and the N24 through Tipperary. Two-and-a-half hours by car.
Operator: Car hire desks in airport arrivals
EV & Essentials
Practical infrastructure on the ground: charging, water, and accessibility facilities worth knowing about before you arrive.
EV Charging
ESB ecars at Bolton Street car park
ESB ecars · Standard 22 kW AC · 2 stalls · €0.27/kWh PAYG, €0.23/kWh with ESB ecars membership
Bolton Street Multi-Storey, Waterford. Closest public chargers to the Viking Triangle, on the ground floor of the Bolton Street multi-storey car park. Verified 2026-04-28 against esb.ie/ecars charge-point map.. Type 2
ESB ecars at SETU Cork Road campus
ESB ecars · Standard 22 kW AC · 2 stalls · €0.27/kWh PAYG, €0.23/kWh with ESB ecars membership
South East Technological University, Cork Road, Waterford. On the SETU Cork Road campus car park, about 2 km southwest of the city centre. Public access during campus opening hours.. Type 2
Accessibility Facilities
Waterford Plunkett Station
Ramp access · Plunkett Station, Dock Road
Step-free access from the entrance to the platform. Iarnrod Eireann can arrange ramp boarding with 24 hours' notice.
City Square Shopping Centre
Accessible toilet · Arundel Square, Waterford
Accessible toilets and lift access throughout the shopping centre.
Leap Card
The Leap Card is Ireland's national reusable transport card. It works on Bus Éireann city services in Waterford, on Iarnród Éireann InterCity rail (off-peak fares), and across Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick city transport networks.
- Cost
- €5 for the card + credit top-up
- Savings
- Off-peak rail discounts; cheaper than cash on Bus Éireann
- Where To Get
- Spar, Centra, Londis, Plunkett Station, or online
- Visitor Option
- Leap Visitor Card: €8 (24hr) / €16 (72hr) but most useful in Dublin
Parking
Parking options in and around Waterford. On busy weekends, arriving early or taking the DART is recommended.
Bolton Street Multi-Storey
€1.80/hour, max €12/day. Closest large car park to the Viking Triangle. Includes ESB ecars chargers on the ground floor.
George's Court Car Park
€1.80/hour, max €12/day. Central; close to the shopping district and a five-minute walk to the Mall.
The Mall on-street parking
€1.50/hour (max 3 hours). Useful for short visits to Reginald's Tower or the museums. Parking discs / pay by phone via APCOA Connect.
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 →Top Tip
The DART is the best way to get to Waterford. You arrive right in the village centre, there’s no parking hassle, and you can enjoy a meal and a drink without worrying about driving home.