A short drive outside of Dublin, in Enniskerry, is the majestic Powerscourt Estate a 13th-century castle that has been rated the 3rd best garden in the world by National Geographic and top 10 houses in the world by Lonely Planet. I quickly fell in love with the castle and 47 acres of ornate gardens which reminded me of a smaller scale of the exquisite gardens found in Versailles without all the large amount of tourists.
The massive gardens are divided into a variety of different gardens, from a Japanese Garden, walled gardens, Italian Gardens there is plenty of variety in plants and landscaping styles to appeal to everyone as they stroll amongst the fountains, statues, lakes and terraces.
In many ways, it felt like the Powerscourt Estate had everything I could dream of, it was a palace, there are ornate gardens with roses, along with a Japanese garden which is my other favorite type of garden, amazing fountains, a waterfall, and there were even pegasus statues. Honestly, if you are looking for an amazing place to get married, take a romantic stroll, or take engagement photos this estate will make the perfect backdrop for your photos.
Just a few minutes drive outside of the Powerscourt Estate you can find the Powerscourt Waterfall. To get to the waterfall you will need to drive or take a taxi as there are no walking paths on the very narrow roads. In addition to the entrance fee for the Estate there is also a small fee for the waterfall, but then you can drive right next to Ireland’s highest waterfall which is 398 feet tall without needing to do any climbing or any nature trails making it easy for anyone to enjoy.
Next, to the waterfall, there are several picnic tables, along with a small restaurant so it makes for a good spot to have lunch and enjoy the beautiful view.
If you are looking to spend a leisurely day relaxing, visiting The Powerscourt Estate and waterfall is the perfect afternoon trip from Dublin where you can get to see one of the best gardens in the world, and the largest waterfall in the country all in one day. Make sure to bring your camera as there are plenty of photo spots, and if you are looking for souvenirs inside the estate there are plenty of stores selling nice gifts to bring home.