Ireland's oldest city · est. 914
Things to do in Waterford
Vikings founded it, crystal made it famous, and a 46 km greenway now runs from its quays to the sea. Waterford rewards a proper visit, and Number Nine sits on Merchants Quay in the exact middle of it. Here is what to do with your days.
The Waterford Greenway
46 km of car-free cycling and walking along an old railway line, starting at the end of our quay. Viaducts, a tunnel, and the sea at the far end.
Read our Greenway guide →The Viking Triangle
A thousand years of Ireland packed into a few medieval lanes: Reginald's Tower, the Medieval Museum, the Bishop's Palace and the Waterford Treasures museums, all five minutes from the hotel.
Explore the Waterford guide →House of Waterford Crystal
The world-famous crystal is still made in the city that named it. The factory tour shows the blowing, cutting and engraving up close, and the shop is dangerous.
More in the Waterford guide →Mount Congreve Gardens
Seventy acres of one of the great gardens of the world, twenty minutes away and right beside the Greenway. Glorious from spring through autumn.
On the Greenway route →Winterval at Christmas
From mid November to 23 December, Ireland's biggest Christmas festival fills the city with markets, lights, ice skating and Santa.
Read the Winterval guide →Eat your way around
Special-occasion dining rooms, buzzy bistros, 260 year old pubs and the famous Waterford blaa, all within a ten minute walk.
See where to eat →The coast
Tramore's long surfing strand, Dunmore East's thatched coves and the UNESCO Copper Coast Geopark are all within half an hour of the city.
Plan a coast day →Day trips by rail and road
Kilkenny is half an hour by train, and Dublin, Cork and the south east are all reachable for a day. Our area guides cover the classics.
Browse the area guides →What's on right now
Gigs, theatre, markets, festivals: our events calendar mirrors the official listings and updates itself twice a day.
See the events calendar →Coming up in Waterford
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Waterford city?
The Viking Triangle and its museums, the House of Waterford Crystal factory tour, the Waterford Greenway and the city's food scene are the big four, and all are within a ten minute walk of Number Nine on Merchants Quay. Add Mount Congreve Gardens and the Copper Coast if you have a car or a bike.
How many days do you need in Waterford?
Two nights covers the city well: a day for the Viking Triangle, the Crystal and the food, and a day for the Greenway or the coast. Three nights lets you add Mount Congreve, Dunmore East and a lazy morning.
What can you do in Waterford without a car?
Almost everything on this page. The city sights are walkable, the Greenway starts at the end of the quay, and buses and trains cover Tramore, Dunmore East and Kilkenny. See our Getting Around page for live times.
Is Waterford good for families?
Very. The Greenway is flat and safe for small cyclists, the museums run family programmes, Tramore has the beach and amusements, and at Christmas the Winterval festival is built almost entirely around children.
What is on in Waterford this week?
Our Waterford events calendar mirrors the official Visit Waterford listings and updates itself twice a day, so it is always current. The trip planner can also build a day-by-day itinerary around what is on during your stay.
Base yourself in the middle of it
Number Nine is a boutique hotel on Merchants Quay, overlooking the River Suir: the Viking Triangle, the restaurants, the stations and the Greenway are all a few minutes from the front door.