With its diverse range of attractions, Waterford City, County and sorounding areas of the South East appeals to a wide sector of the tourism pie with its numerous museums, architecture, historical sites and its endless variety of good restaurants, clubs, international cultural and social events, and even modern art galleries.
Coastal highlights south of Waterford include Dunmore East, a picturesque fishing village; Dungarvan, a major town with a fine harbor; Ardmore, an idyllic beach resort; and Passage East, a tiny seaport from which you can catch a ferry across the harbor and cut your driving time from Waterford to Wexford in half. Of all the coastal towns in County Waterford, Ardmore stands out as the perfect getaway. It has a beautiful and important early Christian site, a pristine Blue Flag beach, a stunning cliff walk, a fine craft shop, an excellent restaurant, comfortable seaside accommodations, and a quaint town recently named Ireland's tidiest. Portally Cove, near Dunmore East, is the home of Ireland's only Amish-Mennonite community.
In northwest County Waterford, the Comeragh Mountains (http://www.dlscouts.ie/co...) provide many opportunities for beautiful walks, including the short trek to Mahon Falls. These mountains also have highly scenic roads for biking. Farther west, there's great fishing and bird-watching on the Blackwater estuary.
Waterford Crystal (http://www.waterford.com) is a famous export of this city. Glass is hand blown and hand cut in the Waterford Crystal factory situated about 10 minutes from the centre of the City. The factory tour is well worth it if you have an hour to spare. See the master craftsmen at work on one of the factory tours. Many famous designers have contributed to the collections ranging from glass tumblers to chandeliers. Tours of the factory run every 15-20 minutes.
Discover the Viking and Norman heritage of the city on one of the walking tours including a visit to the famous Reginald's Tower and the ancient city walls.
