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one pass, five Experiences

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1,000 years in 1,000 paces

open access to five experiences

Discover the story of the city’s Viking foundations, be inspired by medieval wonders and experience elegant living in Georgian times. The Freedom of Waterford ticket entitles each visitor to a guided walking tourand complete access to the Medieval Museum, Bishop’s Palace, the Irish Museum of Time and the Irish Silver Museum. Visitors can also choose to purchase tickets for the King of the Vikings Virtual Reality, Reginald's Tower or Mount Congreve Gardens which are not included in the Freedom Pass.

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Medieval Museum
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Bishop’s Palace
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Irish Silver Museum
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The Irish Museum of Time
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Reginald’s Tower
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King of the Vikings

Freedom of Waterford

On the ‘Epic’ guided walking tour the visitor will gain insights into both Waterford and Ireland’s history. Discover the story of Waterford’s Viking foundations, be inspired by medieval wonders and experience elegant living in Georgian times. The visitor can dive deeper into their favourite era of Ireland’s heritage with complete access to the Medieval Museum, Bishop’s Palace, the Irish Museum of Time and the Irish Silver Museum.

At the Medieval Museum visitors can take a step back into 13th and 15th-century Waterford and explore the atmospheric underground Choristers’ Hall and the 15th-century Wine Vault. Exhibition highlights include the medieval cloth-of-gold vestments and the 1373 Great Charter Roll of Waterford – viewed by Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III on their visits to Ireland.

The Bishop’s Palace Museum is an authentic 18th-century Georgian grand residence built in 1743 which is also home to the oldest surviving piece of Waterford Crystal in the world. The spectacular 4D ‘Story of Glassmaking’ is included in the ticket.

The Irish Museum of Time boasts the finest and earliest collection of Irish timepieces in the world. It celebrates the incredible skills of the virtuoso Irish craftspeople who, since the 1600s, created timepieces of remarkable beauty and technological genius.

The Irish Silver Museum features one of the largest collections of Irish silver in the world. It takes the visitor on a journey through Irish history using beautiful, intimate and personal objects to celebrate the grandeur of Ireland’s past in silver from the Vikings to the Victorians.

Book Freedom Pass
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The ‘Epic’
guided walking tour

From the Vikings to the Victorians – a thousand years of history in a thousand paces’. The only tour in Ireland that gives access to four national monuments ranging in date from 1190 to 1783. Your guide will bring you through the streets and buildings of Ireland’s oldest city, ‘Veðrafjǫrðr’/ Waterford in a fun engaging tour with lots of stories to engage and entertain the visitors, with numerous photo opportunities along the way.

A wonderful way to get an overview of Irish history both the historic and archaeological treasures and also experience the developments in architecture over a thousand years as you traverse the Viking Triangle.

The visit includes some of the following: Reginald’s Tower first mentioned in 1088, Greyfriars Medieval Franciscan friary 1240, Choristers’ Hall 1270, the Bishop’s Palace 1743 and Christ Church Cathedral 1783 (if a church service is not in progress).

The ‘Epic’ guided walking tour of the Viking Triangle, duration about 45 minutes, runs daily and is subject to availability on the day. It is available all year round for Group Bookings, please contact [email protected]. Meet at the entrance to the Bishop’s Palace.

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the attractions

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Medieval Museum

Step back into Medieval Waterford as you begin your tour in the 13th century Choristers Hall and 15th Century Wine vault.

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Bishop’s Palace

This exquisite architectural jewel, now a museum, continues to delight over 250 years later, the ground and first floors furnished as a very elegant 18th-century townhouse.

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The Irish Museum of Time

This refurbished gothic-style church is a fitting home for what is beyond doubt the finest collection of Irish timepieces in the world.

Book our Freedom Pass

Access five attractions and the guided walking tour

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Reginald’s Tower

Reginald’s Tower is Waterford’s landmark monument and Ireland’s oldest civic building.

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Irish Silver Museum

Since the Viking period in Ireland, silver has been a most prized metal and a means of exchange.

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King of the Vikings

Experience the thrill of raiding the Viking settlement they called 'Vadrefjordyr'. The King of the Vikings - the world's first Viking VR adventure.

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Mount Congreve Gardens

Mount Congreve House and Gardens situated in Kilmeaden, Co. Waterford, in Ireland’s Ancient East is home to one of “the great gardens of the World”. Mount Congreve House, home to six generations of Congreves, was built in 1760 by the celebrated local architect John Roberts.

Located just 10 minutes from Waterford City Centre.

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TAKE THE GUIDED TOUR

an epic tour guided by our experts

The only tour in Ireland that gives you access to six national monuments (duration 45 minutes).

Your guide will bring you through the streets and buildings of 1100 years of Waterford’s history from the Vikings to the Victorians, in Ireland’s oldest city, ‘Veðrafjǫrðr’,(Waterford).

This guided walking tour, the ‘Epic Tour of the Viking Triangle’, includes access to six national monuments ranging in date from 1190 to 1783, it is a wonderful way for visitors to get an overview of Irish history both the historic and archaeological treasures and also experience the developments in architecture over a period of a thousand years as visitors traverse the Viking Triangle. We market the experience as ‘From the Vikings to the Victorians – A thousand years of History in a Thousand Paces’.

The visit includes Reginald’s Tower first mentioned in 1088, Greyfriars Medieval Franciscan friary 1240, Choristers’ Hall 1270, the Mayor’s Wine Vault 1448, the Bishop’s Palace 1743 and if there is not a church service in progress then Christ Church Cathedral 1783 is also included. It’s a fun engaging tour with lots of stories to engage and entertain you the visitors, with numerous photo opportunities along the way.

‘Now including is a visit to the new exhibition titled ‘Mayors through the Ages, Eight Centuries of Civic Government in Ireland’, which has been put in place in City Hall. Twenty-three select objects – the earliest AD1080 and the most recent a Waterford Crystal piece given to Mayor ‘Cha’ O’Neill – trace the mayoralty and the evolution of democratic parliamentary and local government through the centuries and dramatically-lit panels list the mayors of Waterford up to the present-day since the first-known in 1284-85, Roger le Lom.’

Epic Tours of the Viking Triangle are run daily at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm (please arrive 5 minutes prior to start time to book in), tours are subject to availability on the day. Outside of these times the Epic Tour of the Viking Triangle is available all year round for Group Bookings, please contact [email protected] for more details. The Epic Tour of the Viking Triangle starts at the entrance to the Bishop’s Palace.

some of our Awards to date

Medieval Museum

Number 1 Attraction in Waterford on Tripadvisor

Current

Bishop’s Palace

Number 2 Attraction in Waterford on Tripadvisor

Current

King of the Vikings

Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best

2020

Medieval Museum

Stone Federation Great Britain - New Build Natural Stone Award 2015

2015

Medieval Museum

Shortlisted for Mies van der Rohe prize

2015

Medieval Museum

RIAI [Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland]- Best Public Building

2014

Medieval Museum

UK Civic Trust award

2014

Waterford Treasures

Irish Building & Design Awards - Local Authority Members Association Best Building and Best Heritage Project, 2013

2014

Waterford Treasures

Full Accreditation, Museums Standards Programme for Ireland

2014

Waterford Treasures

Shortlisted, European Museum of the Year

2014

Waterford Treasures

Best Local Authority Museum

2009-2010

Waterford Treasures

Listed 12th Top 50 Delights of Ireland – Rough Guide to Ireland

Waterford Treasures

All Ireland Museum of the Year - Best Publication 2004 Award for Waterford Treasures: A Guide to the historical and archaeological treasures of Waterford City

2004

Waterford Treasures

Shortlisted, European Museum of the Year

2002

Waterford Treasures

Irish American Cultural Institute Heritage Award

2001

Waterford Treasures

Designated Museum

Since 2001

Waterford Treasures

All Ireland Museum of the Year

1999 -2000

See all awards

A must visit

This is a great small museum and has a great range of artifacts of historical importance, highly recommended when visiting Waterford

Peter White

2 years ago

A memorable visit

Wow..we never expected such a gem in a smaller town….so many unique and ancient items….Henry VIII hat and sword and the cloth of gold vestments.

Dgccouple

2 years ago

Great museum, A must-see for all ages!

No need to worry about lines and DO purchase the Freedom Pass ticket which gives you admission to most of the museums in the Medieval Triangle. It’s only a few Euros more than the single ticket price and you get to see all the important places. All of the staff are welcoming and wonderful. We were there on a Sunday, so basically had few other tourists and could take our time. We also were glad we went to the Bishop’s Palace which is not at all what we thought it would be. We had a wonderful re-enactor perform as the housekeeper to guide us on our tour. So much richer to experience the house this way! I loved the Silver Museum and my husband and I both enjoyed the Time Museum. Thank you to the wonderful staff!

SoFloSoFawny

2 years ago

Don’t miss the Bishop’s Museum, Waterford

The Bishop’s Museum was unexpectedly comprehensive and thought-provoking. We expected to see beautiful vintage Waterford crystal and lovely furnishings, which we did, but the historical displays of Ireland’s role in WWI and Waterford’s role in the Easter Rising were most enlightening. Be sure to check out the excellent and detailed trench emplacement diorama honouring the men of the Irish and Ulster brigades. Not to be missed is the innovative 3-D video presentation dramatizing the history of Waterford crystal. Lovely, friendly, most accommodating ladies staff the museum which also has a pleasant tearoom for lunch too. On the only rainy day of our visit, the Bishop’s Museum was the perfect place to spend a couple of very worthwhile hours.

Anonymous

2 years ago

Iconic Viking stronghold

It was unfortunate that when we visited the exhibition of artefacts had been removed to a Dublin museum due to the restoration of the building. However, it did not detract from the historical significance of this building which is well recorded in guidebooks. Climbing the circular stone staircase up the three levels was well worth it.

Anonymous

2 years ago

Wide range of Irish silversmiths' craftsmanship through the ages

Display of Irish silver freely donated by Irish silver collectors. Excellent presentation with descriptions of each exhibit. The variety of exhibits and the craftsmanship of their makers is exceptional. Also, a video outlining important events in Irish history. The exhibits are sparklingly clean as they are housed in air-tight cases.

Anonymous

2 years ago

A Different Way to Learn About Viking Life!

After dragging my kids to several museums and hikes, I wanted to find something for them to do that was up their alley - and this TOTALLY was! My sons, ages 16, 9 and 9 all were completely absorbed in this unique activity. I wasn't sure what to expect but you just go into a recreated long house and after a short lesson, you put on a VR headset and watch a 30-minute program that teaches you about the Viking History of Ireland and it feels like you're actually living it! It was my first VR experience and I thought it was super well done! Highly recommended for history buffs, especially, or anyone that likes learning in an interactive way.

Anonymous

2 years ago

A unique experience in the heart of the Viking triangle

We accidentally stumbled upon this museum just before last admission. It was one of those happy accidents! We were astonished by this unique museum and its impressive collection of watches and clocks from all around the world and other artefacts. The museum staff was very kind and informative. If you might be hesitating, because you think it‘s a boring museum about clocks, don‘t. It‘s very modern and interestingly made. Even if you don‘t care about the history of the clocks, they are still nice to look at. Also suitable for small children. If you ever happen to be in Waterford, definitely visit this museum! You will find yourself in another world:)

Anonymous

2 years ago

TAKE THE GUIDED TOUR AND ACCESS FIVE ATTRACTIONS

1,000 year history of Waterford and Ireland, all within 1,000 paces.

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    Getting there

    Reginalds Tower 96px 03

    Epic Walking Tour

    Bishop's Palace, The Mall, Viking Triangle, Waterford, X91 E279, Ireland

    Get directions
    museum of death

    Irish Wake Museum

    Irish Wake Museum, Cathedral Square, X91 WFE8, Waterford, Ireland

    Get directions
    IRISH MUSEUM of silver 96px 05

    Irish Silver Museum

    Irish Silver Museum, Cathedral Square, Waterford, X91 H921

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    Irish Museum Of Time 96px 04

    The Irish Museum of Time

    Irish Museum of Time, Greyfriar's, X91 CF95, Waterford, Ireland

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    Bishops Palace 96px 01

    Bishop’s Palace

    Bishop's Palace, The Mall, Viking Triangle, Waterford, X91 E279, Ireland

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    Medieval Museum 96px 02

    Medieval Museum

    Cathedral Square, The Viking Triangle, Waterford, X91 K10E, Ireland

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    King of Vikings 96px 06 new

    King of the Vikings

    King Of The Vikings, 10 Bailey's New St, X91 A0PF, Waterford, Ireland

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    Reginalds Tower 96px 03

    Reginald’s Tower

    Reginald's Tower, The Quay, X91 Y880, Waterford, Ireland

    Get directions

    "LADY WHISTLEDOWN'S

    SOCIETY PAPERS"

    -----------------------------------------------

    Dearest Gentle Readers,

    It is with great delight that I unveil an opportunity most tantalising: the "New Bridgerton Tour". Prepare to step into the very heart of the Bridgerton world, where scandalous affairs and tantalising love stories unfold beneath the guise of Georgian perfection.

    Our delightful tours are offered daily commencing at the stroke of ten, Monday through Saturday, and at eleven on a Sunday.

    Secure your place at once, for such an event is sure to be the talk of the ton.

    Yours truly,
    Lady Whistledown

    BOOK NOW