Waterford was Ireland's second city up until the 17th century and has the best remaining city walls after Derry. Located at the River Suir, life was breathed into Waterford in the 9th Century when the Vikings set up home here.
While Waterford's monuments stand as visible proof to the once Viking presence, these aren't what most travel Ireland to see. The city's renowned Waterford Crystal Factory is the main draw here, home to the world's finest crystal. The factory inevitably offers visitors the chance to see raw ingredients being turned into dazzling pieces, before parting with their money in the crystal/Wedgewood china gift shop.
- Waterford Treasures, an interactive museum on Merchant's Quay, is also worth seeing on your Ireland tours and tells the story of Ireland's oldest city.