Powerscourt Estate, House & Gardens, Wicklow: Visitor Guide to Tickets, Tours & the Waterfall

I’ve been to Powerscourt several times, and it never gets old. My favourite corner is the Japanese Garden, but I’ve also had a lovely meal at the Avoca café, bought more than a few beautiful things in the Avoca shop, and driven up to the waterfall to see where HBO’s Vikings was filmed.

I’ll also be honest about the one thing most guides skip: the grounds are huge and hilly, and I found them a little difficult to get around. So this guide covers 2026/27 prices, both the gardens and the waterfall, how to get there from Dublin with or without a car, tours, history, and real accessibility information.

Powerscourt fast facts Location:

Powerscourt tickets and prices 2026

Powerscourt House & Gardens and Powerscourt Waterfall are two separate attractions with separate tickets. Parking is free at both.

Garden prices drop from November to February. Summer senior, student and family rates are higher than the winter ones above, so check powerscourt.com for the exact price on your date. Annual membership gives unlimited entry to the gardens, waterfall and River Walk.

Extra experiences on the estate

Powerscourt Distillery (makers of Fercullen whiskey): distillery and warehouse tour with tasting, 60 minutes, €25; tour with food-paired tasting, 90 minutes, €40.

Powerscourt Golf Club: 36 holes on two championship courses; green fees €55–€95 in winter (November–March) and €55–€130 in summer.

Free audio guide: download the 22-stop “Garden of the Gods” audio guide before you go.

Powerscourt map of the grounds

Powerscourt opening hours

How to get to Powerscourt from Dublin

By car (30–45 minutes)

Powerscourt is about 25 km south of Dublin city centre. Take the N11 southbound towards Wexford and, after about 19 km, take exit 7 (Bray South / Enniskerry / Powerscourt Gardens). Turn left at the roundabout, cross the flyover and rejoin the N11 heading north, then take the first left for Enniskerry village (exit 6a). Follow signs to the estate gates; it is a mile-long avenue up to the house. Use Eircode A98 W0D0. For the waterfall, follow the brown signs from Enniskerry (about 9–10 minutes’ drive).

By public transport

• Dublin Bus 44 runs from the city centre to Enniskerry village in about 45 minutes to an hour.
• DART to Bray, then the L15 bus to Enniskerry. (Older guides mention the 185; Powerscourt now lists the L15.)
• From Enniskerry it’s roughly a 25-minute uphill walk to the house, or a short taxi. There’s no public transport to the waterfall, so you’ll need a taxi from the estate.

Powerscourt Estate tours from Dublin

If you don’t want to drive, a day tour is the easiest way to see Powerscourt, and most pair it with Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains. or Powerscourt & Glendalough day tour, VIP Tours by luxury coach. Check whether garden admission is included, as many tours charge it separately.

Powerscourt Gardens: what to see

The gardens are the reason to come. They spread over 47 acres and took shape over three centuries, with the Great Sugar Loaf mountain as a backdrop. Follow the loop below and you’ll see the highlights in about 1.5–2 hours.

The Italian Garden and Triton Lake

The famous terraces drop from the house to Triton Lake. They were laid out in the mid-19th century by architect Daniel Robertson and are said to have taken 100 men 12 years to build. Pebbles from Bray beach were used in the mosaic terrace, and the lake’s fountain is modelled on the one in Rome’s Piazza Barberini, framed by a pair of winged horses.

The Japanese Garden

My favourite part of the estate. The 8th Viscount and Viscountess Powerscourt created it in 1908 on reclaimed bogland south of Triton Lake, with red bridges, a stream, grottoes and Japanese maples that glow in autumn. Note that it is only partly accessible for wheelchair users.

Tower Valley and the Pepperpot Tower

A woodland walk among giant conifers leads to the Pepperpot Tower, a folly said to be modelled on a pepper pot from Lord Powerscourt’s dining table. Climb the winding steps for views over the estate. Nearby, on the River Walk, is a Douglas fir often called the tallest tree in Ireland.

The Pet Cemetery

Generations of the family’s dogs and horses are buried here under handwritten headstones. It’s believed to be the largest pets’ cemetery in any private Irish garden, and is at its prettiest in May and June when the azaleas and rhododendrons flower.

The Walled Gardens, Dolphin Pond and Grotto

The Walled Gardens were once the kitchen garden; today they hold herbaceous borders and roses. Don’t miss the Dolphin Pond, or the Grotto, one of the oldest features of the garden, dating from around 1740.

Powerscourt House: what’s inside

Set your expectations: Powerscourt House is a beautiful Palladian shell, not a furnished stately home. On 4 November 1974 a fire broke out on the top floor and by morning the main house was a roofless shell. It was restored and reopened in 1996. Today the ground floor holds the Avoca Terrace Café (with great views over the terraces), Avoca’s shop and food hall, craft and interior shops, and an exhibition on the estate’s history. The Ballroom and Garden Rooms open only at limited times, so check before you go if you particularly want to see them.

Powerscourt Waterfall

Usually billed as Ireland’s highest waterfall at 121 m (398 ft), it tumbles down a cliff into a wooded valley 6 km from the house. It has been a visitor attraction since the 18th century. There’s free parking, picnic and barbecue areas, a playground and accessible toilets near the car park. Picnics aren’t allowed in the formal gardens, so the waterfall is the place for one.

Film fans will recognise it: the waterfall stood in for the lake in Excalibur’s “sword from the lake” scene, and appears in Vikings, where Aslaug is introduced. I went specifically to see the Vikings location. This powerful waterfall is one of the most beautiful sights but it is a bit of a walk from the main house.

Powerscourt history in brief

By 1300: the Le Poer (Power) family build a castle here, which is where the name “Power’s court” comes from.

1609: James I grants the castle and lands to Sir Richard Wingfield, Marshal of Ireland; the Wingfields hold it for about 350 years.

1731–1741: Richard Wingfield, later 1st Viscount Powerscourt, has architect Richard Castle (Cassels) remodel the castle into the Palladian mansion.

1821: King George IV visits Powerscourt.

1840s–1880: the Italian Garden terraces are built for the 7th Viscount; the Japanese Garden follows in 1908.

1961: Ralph and Gwen Slazenger buy the estate from the 9th Viscount; their daughter Wendy marries the heir, Mervyn Wingfield, in 1962.

1974: Stanley Kubrick films Barry Lyndon in the house months before the fire of 4 November 1974.

1996: the house reopens after restoration. Today the Slazenger family still own the estate, with the 11th Viscount among the directors of the company that runs it.

Powerscourt accessibility: an honest guide

Powerscourt is partially accessible. Here’s what to expect, from the estate’s own accessibility information and from my visits:

• Parking and arrival: designated accessible parking in the main car park, and a drop-off point at the front of the house.
• Wheelchairs: available to borrow from House Reception for the gardens; book ahead on +353 1 204 6000 (€20 refundable deposit).
• Gardens: there’s a designated accessible route, with a map from reception. It covers roughly half the gardens; elsewhere there are many steps and steep slopes, and the Japanese Garden is only partly accessible.
• House: the ground floor, Avoca café, terrace and accessible toilets are step-free. The first-floor shops are reached by steps only.
• Waterfall: accessible toilets, with parking close to the refreshment and toilet facilities.
• Carers go free to the gardens; assistance dogs are welcome.

My tip: the estate is big and hilly – I found it a little difficult to get around – so if walking is hard for you, take the accessible route down to Triton Lake, rest at the lake, and leave the Tower Valley loop for another day.

For more step-free days out, see my Accessible Ireland guide.

Where to stay: Powerscourt Hotel

The five-star Powerscourt Hotel (Autograph Collection) sits on the estate, a short walk from the house entrance, with the ESPA spa and views of the Sugar Loaf. For something cheaper, stay in Enniskerry village or Bray.

Tips for visiting Powerscourt

• Best time: May and June for rhododendrons and azaleas, October for autumn colour in the Japanese Garden. Arrive at 9:30am to beat the tour coaches.
• Combine it: the waterfall in the morning, gardens after lunch, then Enniskerry village; or add Glendalough for a full Wicklow day.
• Wear good shoes and bring a rain jacket; the paths are steep in places.
• Dogs aren’t allowed in the house (assistance dogs excepted); they’re welcome on leads at the waterfall.

Powerscourt FAQs

How much does it cost to visit Powerscourt Gardens?

Adult tickets to Powerscourt House & Gardens are €14 in the main season, with lower winter prices from November to February (the official price list currently shows €10.50 adult, €9.50 senior, €9 student, €5 child under 16 and €25 family). Under-5s are free. Powerscourt Waterfall is a separate ticket at €7.50 adult, €6.50 senior and €6 student. Carers go free to the gardens.

What are Powerscourt opening hours?

Powerscourt House & Gardens open daily from 9:30am to 5:30pm (last entry 5pm); in winter the gardens close at dusk. The estate closes on 25 and 26 December. Powerscourt Waterfall opens 9:30am–7pm from May to August, 10:30am–5:30pm in March, April, September and October, and 10:30am–4pm from November to February, and closes for about two weeks before Christmas.

Is the Powerscourt Waterfall part of the gardens ticket?

No. The waterfall is about 6 km from Powerscourt House, has its own entrance and needs a separate ticket. There is no public transport between the two, so you need a car or taxi. Parking at both is free.

How do I get to Powerscourt from Dublin without a car?

Take Dublin Bus route 44 from the city centre to Enniskerry village (about 45 minutes to an hour), or the DART to Bray and then the L15 bus to Enniskerry. From the village it is about a 25-minute walk uphill to the house, or a short taxi. Day tours from Dublin that combine Powerscourt with Glendalough are the easiest option.

How long do you need at Powerscourt?

Allow 2–3 hours for the gardens, including a coffee at the Avoca café, and about an hour for the waterfall. Doing both makes a relaxed half day.

Can you go inside Powerscourt House?

Partly. A fire on 4 November 1974 gutted the house, and since it was re-roofed and reopened in 1996 the ground floor holds the Avoca café, shops and an exhibition on the estate’s history. The historic Ballroom and Garden Rooms open only at limited times, so check before you go.

Is Powerscourt wheelchair accessible?

Partly. There is accessible parking, a drop-off point at the front of the house, a designated accessible route through the gardens, an accessible café and terrace, and accessible toilets at the house and waterfall. Wheelchairs can be borrowed from reception (€20 refundable deposit; book on +353 1 204 6000). The first-floor shops are reached by steps only, many garden paths have steps and slopes, and the Japanese Garden is only partly accessible.

Who owns Powerscourt Estate now?

The Slazenger family, of the sporting goods company, bought Powerscourt from the 9th Viscount Powerscourt in 1961. The estate is run by the Powerscourt Estate company, whose directors include members of the Slazenger family and Mervyn Anthony Wingfield, the 11th Viscount Powerscourt.

Is Powerscourt worth visiting?

Yes, especially for garden lovers. National Geographic named Powerscourt third in its list of the world’s top gardens, and the Italian terraces with the Great Sugar Loaf behind are one of Ireland’s great views. The house itself is mostly shops and a café, so go for the gardens rather than the interiors.

What was filmed at Powerscourt?

Over 50 films and TV series, including Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon (filmed in the house just before the 1974 fire), Excalibur (the waterfall), and Vikings and Vikings: Valhalla (the waterfall and surrounding woods).

More Wicklow and Dublin day trips

• Best day trips from Dublin
• Things to do in Dublin
• Vikings filming locations in Ireland
• The best Irish whiskey tours
• Castle hotels in Ireland
• Ireland itineraries