Getting to Waterford City, Ireland

Getting There and Away

Written by Graham Smith, Karen Price

29/08/2025

Typhoon, Wikimedia Commons

Waterford City's primary transport hubs include Plunkett Station for train services and Waterford Bus Station, both conveniently located near the city center.

Flights:

The nearest major airports are Dublin Airport (DUB), Cork Airport (ORK), and Shannon Airport (SNN).

From Dublin Airport, shuttle services typically take 2.5 to 3 hours and cost between €20 and €30. Luxury car services are available, with journeys lasting 2 to 2.5 hours at a cost of €150-€300.

Trains:

Train services connect Waterford Plunkett Station to various parts of Ireland.

Direct trains to Dublin Heuston generally take 2 to 2.5 hours, with fares ranging from approximately €29.95 for a day return to €36.55 for an open return, as of June 2024. Some off-peak morning services are currently affected by flood defence works until March 2026, requiring bus transfers for parts of the journey.
Travel to Limerick and Cork requires a transfer at Limerick Junction. Journeys to Limerick take around 2 hours 37 minutes to 3 hours 16 minutes, with tickets from €8-€18. Trips to Cork can take 3 to 4 hours and cost around €17-€21.

Buses:

Extensive bus services operate to and from Waterford.

Buses from Dublin typically take 2 hours 22 minutes to 2 hours 41 minutes, with fares starting from €10-€12 when booked in advance. Services are operated by Bus Éireann and Dublin Coach.
Direct Bus Éireann services connect Limerick to Waterford in about 2 hours 22 minutes, with tickets costing €13-€26.
Dublin Coach offers services from Cork to Waterford in approximately 2 hours 40 minutes, with fares around €24.
Within Waterford City, Bus Éireann and JJ Kavanagh & Sons provide local routes to key areas like SETU and Waterford Hospital.

Car Rental:

Several car rental companies, including Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, and Irish Car Rentals, operate within Waterford City and have offices near Waterford Airport, which can be reached by taxi. The M9 motorway provides a direct route to Dublin.

Ferries:

The closest passenger ferry port is Rosslare Europort, located about 72 km away, offering routes to the UK and mainland Europe.

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