Waterford is a historic city in the south-east of Ireland, boasting a range of attractions running from family fun to late night partying. It can lay claim to being the oldest city in Ireland, having started life as a Viking settlement as long ago as 853.
This history is carved into the very architecture of the city itself, particularly in the oldest part of the town, known as the Viking Triangle. Here you’ll find Reginald’s Tower, purported to be one of the first buildings in Ireland to be constructed using mortar, and the kind of narrow, winding streets for which medieval cities were famed.
Romantic Breaks in Waterford
The centre of Waterford itself offers everything you could be looking for in a romantic backdrop. The aforementioned ancient architecture stands against a backdrop of the River Suir. What could be more romantic than a hand-held walk along the banks of the river at sunset, unless it’s perhaps taking a leisurely cruise along the water? Finish the evening with a candlelit meal in one of the restaurants to be found in the Viking Triangle and you have the perfect recipe for romance.
Romantic Hotels in Waterford
The demand for accommodation in Waterford is such that there are establishments of every kind, from cutting-edge city centre boutique hotels to those offering luxury and seclusion a little further off the beaten track. Whether you’re seeking the splendour of a country house hotel, the stunning views from a guesthouse located on the river or an inn on the outskirts of town that is superbly placed for exploring the surrounding countryside, you’ll be able to find it.
Romantic Nights Out in Waterford
There’s no denying the fact that Waterford offers a huge choice when it comes to having a good time during a night out. From traditional Irish pubs dating back centuries to cutting-edge nightclubs, it offers every kind of experience of what people the world over refer to as the craic. In terms of romance, a night out in a crowded, heaving nightclub might not tick your boxes, but if you book into a hotel close to the Viking Triangle of the old part of the town, you’ll be able to choose from a selection of traditional pubs offering warm hospitality and nothing more raucous than perhaps some traditional folk music.
The Phil Grimes pub, on Johnstown, features an upstairs room in which you can enjoy candlelit singer-songwriter nights or even poetry readings. Poems by candlelight – does it get any more romantic?
Romance Beyond Waterford
If you feel like escaping together from the crowds of Waterford and enjoying each other’s company in a little more tranquillity, then you can choose between the Knockmealdown Mountains scenery of Lismore or the sweeping beaches and rugged coastal cliffs of Ardmore, to name just two of the beauty spots within easy travelling distance of Waterford. Of course, if you stay in a boutique country house hotel set in 10 acres of parkland, or a castle on an island in the middle of the river, then you’ll have all the romantic scenery you crave right there and then.
