Wexford Town – An Essential Travel Guide for 2025

Wexford Town on the River Slaney is a busy town of Viking origins that can still be seen today in its narrow sloping streets. This part of Ireland sees more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in the country which makes it a popular county for beach holidays, but there is much more to this historical town than the beaches that surround it. Is there enough going on here to warrant a visit?

Find out below!

Public Transport: Wexford O’Hanrahan Railway Station on the Dublin to Rosslare line is reachable from Connolly Station in Dublin city in 2 hours 35 minutes. It stops in Dun Loaghaire, Bray and Enniscorthy.

Alternatively, multiple Bus Eireann routes link the town to Dublin city, Carlow, Waterford, Cork, Kerry and others. The always reliable Wexford Bus service also links the town to Dublin Airport and Enniscorthy.

Foodies are spoilt for choice in Wexford Town. La Côte is an award winning seafood restaurant overlooking the quays. They use fresh local ingredients to create sensational dishes including hake, sole and gnocchi. Prices are steep but this is fine dining and you certainly get what you pay for.

On the other end of the spectrum you have Rob’s Ranch House, an American Style eatery geared more towards fun than fine dining. The fajita’s and burgers are the tastiest options here and the portion sizes are huge! The food is good for the price and the setting makes it a great place to bring children.

Hot Beverages: The sheer volume of great cafés here make it tricky to pick a favourite! The Pantry is a fun dollhouse-themed café offering tasty lunches, quality coffee and a wide range of delicious breakfasts.

Cappucino’s is a coeliac-friendly Italian café serving fabulous coffee and lunchtime treats including sourdough sandwiches and acai bowls. Queues are common but once inside they have plenty of seating across two floors in a very relaxed setting.

Alcohol: Much like the food scene, the bar scene in Wexford Town is thriving! The Crown Bar is a charming place to enjoy a pint and some grub, with its comfy sofas and splashes of colour. This hotel bar in the Crown Quarter has a super cocktail menu, broadcasts the main sporting events and is home to the Crown Live, a brilliant music venue.

The Sky and The Ground is a traditional family-run pub on the southern end of Main Street. It’s an absolute gem with a jovial atmosphere, largely due to the fact that it’s dog-friendly. Pooches sitting at the bar is a common sight! The pints are tasty, the setting is beautiful and there is plenty of room for everyone.

The Raven Point Nature Reserve is a 20-minute drive north of Wexford Town and is an amazing place for a stroll on a dry day. The 8km looped trail takes you through a forest before returning along a beautiful sandy beach. The 90-minute long flat walk is not strenuous and, although it crosses a beach, many of the other sections are wheelchair accessible.

Watch out for rare birds like cormorants and sanderling, as this is actually part of the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve.

Wexford Town is a short drive from six of Ireland’s best beaches. Just 15-minutes to the north you’ll find an 11km stretch of golden sands at the blue flag Curracloe Beach, probably the best in the country. Although famous as a filming location for Saving Private Ryan, its real selling points are an impressive system of sand dunes and waters that are much calmer and warmer than the on the country’s west coast.

For something a little different get up extra early and head 20-minutes further north to the outstanding Morriscastle Beach for sensational sunrise views.

Read our Travel Guide to Curracloe

Wexford is a town of many faces. First, you have a surprisingly good shopping town with a Main Street jam packed with great stores. This, complemented by a massive selection of restaurants and pubs, make it feel like a town that is truly thriving unlike many rural towns in Ireland.

Next, you have its historical side, from its Viking origins to the days of the invading British forces and the 1798 Rebellion. You are constantly reminded of this history as you wander down its many side streets and alleyways.

Finally, you have the tranquil harbour, once a major Irish port and today a scenic place to admire brightly coloured fishing trawlers while strolling along a promenade laced with memorials and murals. 30-minutes to the south you’ll find an even sleepier harbour at Kilmore Quay.

Combine all of these elements and you have an immensely popular town that is buzzing with life and makes for a great place to bring the family.

Read our Travel Guide to Kilmore Quay

The ruined Selskar Abbey lies right in the heart of Wexford Town. The original building dates back to the 12th century and saw the signing of the Anglo-Irish treaty in 1169, but Oliver Cromwell had that structure destroyed in 1649. A protestant church was controversially built onsite in 1826 and then closed in the 1950s as the declining population could no longer support two such buildings. Cleverly, the roof tiles were removed in order to classify the building as a ruin so that taxes would not have to be paid on it! Unfortunately the grounds are closed to the public.

One of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions is just a 12-minute drive from Wexford Town. This wheelchair accessible 35-acre park is rife with exhibits showcasing various eras of Irish history like the Stone Age and the Viking Era.

Fun for all ages and just €18 for an adult ticket, the Irish National Heritage Park really shouldn’t be missed when in this part of the country. It’s also dog friendly aside from the falconry centre and café!

Irish National Heritage Park Visitor’s Information

Head 15 minutes southwest of Wexford Town to visit the majestic 19th century Johnstown Castle and its delightful grounds. Grab a bag of feed for €2 at reception to feed the marvellous peacocks that roam the area. Guided tour tickets cost €17 for an adult and less than half that for children and include a stop at a mysterious underground servant tunnel.

The tour is a little underwhelming but a visit here is more about the serene lakeside setting than the castle’s interior.

The North Slob is an area of mud flats just north of Wexford Town that was reclaimed from the sea in the 19th century. Nowadays it is home to the over 250 species of birds that call the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve home. A birdwatchers dream, this free-to-visit area has a selection of hides kitted out with binoculars from which you can catch a glimpse of rare birds like the Greenland white-fronted goose.

There is a lovely little visitor centre onsite, complete with toilets, providing plenty of information about the various species you might find here. This is a real hidden gem to visit but only when the weather is nice.