Bray is a lively coastal town fringed by a sand-and-shingle beach and a breezy promenade. Handsome buildings line the waterfront and recall the town’s heyday as a 19th-century summer resort. It’s a stone’s throw from the capital and is popular with Dubliners looking to escape the city and enjoy a seaside getaway.
Things to do in Bray
Enjoy spectacular sea views on the Bray Head to Greystones Cliff Walk. The path snakes along the coast and follows the route of a former railway track. The steep climb up Bray Head is worth the effort and rewards you with breathtaking views over the Irish Sea. Venture inland to discover heather-covered moors, tumbling waterfalls and glacier-carved lakes in Wicklow Mountains National Park.
Get up close with sharks, turtles, rays and more at Sea Life, one of the only aquariums on the east coast. Watch colourful tropical fish swim through crystalline tanks and marvel at beautiful sea horses and alien-like octopuses. Kids love handling urchins, starfish and crabs in the touch pool.
Visit Killruddery House & Gardens, a beautiful mansion built in the Elizabethan Revival style. Stroll around the centuries-old gardens laid out in the 1600s and enjoy coffee and cake at the tearoom. Guided tours of the house take you into rooms filled with oil paintings, antiques and tapestries. Stock up on baked goods and fresh produce at the farm shop and visit on Saturday to catch the weekly market.
Cafes, bars, bistros and taprooms line the bustling harbourfront. Start your day with a full Irish breakfast and return for sunset drinks on a waterfront terrace. Stay for traditional live music and dancing.
Getting around Bray
Bray is compact and easy to get around on foot. The town is in County Wicklow, a 30-minute drive from the Dublin city centre and 45 minutes by DART train. Dublin Airport is a 30-minute drive away.