Cidade Turismo
Ireland

Before you go

Your trip to Killarney.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Killarney – Kerry Destination Kerry: Killarney, Dingle and the Ring of Kerry

How to get there

  • Aeroporto de Kerry (Kerry Airport) (KIR) Farranfore · 16 km
  • Aeroporto de Cork (Cork Airport) (ORK) Cork · 90 km
  • Estação de Killarney (Killarney Station) 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Confirm before buying. Kerry Airport (KIR), in Farranfore, is 16 km away and has buses and taxis. The train station in the centre connects with Dublin and Cork, some services requiring a change in Mallow. The bus station is next to the train station.

How many days

Three days: one for the national park, Muckross House and Ross Castle; one for the Ring of Kerry; and one for the Gap of Dunloe with the boat return across the lakes. With two days, do the park and the Ring.

When to go

From May to September the lake boats, carriages and attractions operate full-time, and the days are long. July and August are the busiest months. April and October tend to be quieter, with Muckross House open. In winter some services stop.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

They are not needed for the town or the national park, which are explored on foot, by bike or by carriage. For the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula a car helps; without one there are daily tours departing from the centre. In Ireland you drive on the left.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Killarney
  1. Morning
    Muckross House

    Go by bicycle or horse-drawn carriage through the park to Muckross House and take the guided tour of the house.

  2. Afternoon
    Torc Waterfall

    Walk to Torc Waterfall, 2.5 km away, and return along the shore of Muckross Lake, with a stop at Muckross Abbey.

  3. Late afternoon
    Ross Castle

    Walk or cycle to Ross Castle on the shore of Lough Leane for an evening by the lake.

  4. Evening
    Killarney town centre

    Have dinner in town and listen to traditional music in the pubs on High Street and Plunkett Street.

3 days in Killarney

Day 1

  1. Morning
    Muckross House

    Muckross House and the gardens, accessed via the park.

  2. Afternoon
    Torc Waterfall and Muckross Abbey

    Torc Waterfall and the ruins of Muckross Abbey, from the 15th century.

  3. Late afternoon
    Ross Castle

    Ross Castle and Lough Leane at the end of the day.

  4. Evening
    Killarney pubs

    Dinner and music in the center.

Day 2

  1. Morning
    Ring of Kerry: Killorglin and Cahersiveen

    Set off early on the Ring of Kerry anticlockwise, via Killorglin and Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen.

  2. Afternoon
    Valentia, Waterville and Sneem

    Detour to Valentia Island via the Portmagee bridge and continue through Waterville and Sneem.

  3. Late afternoon
    Ladies View

    Return via Kenmare and Moll's Gap and stop at the Ladies View overlook above the Killarney lakes.

  4. Evening
    Return to Killarney

    Have dinner in Killarney after a day on the road.

Day 3

  1. Morning
    Gap of Dunloe

    Go to Kate Kearney's Cottage and cross the Gap of Dunloe on foot, by bicycle or by horse-drawn carriage.

  2. Afternoon
    Boat trip on the lakes

    From Lord Brandon's Cottage, in season, take the boat across the three lakes to Ross Castle.

  3. Late afternoon
    Knockreer

    Walk through the Knockreer gardens near the centre, with views of Lough Leane.

  4. Evening
    Last night

    Have dinner in Killarney town centre.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

What are Killarney's jaunting cars?

They are the jaunting cars, horse-drawn carriages driven by jarveys, which take visitors through the national park to Muckross House, Ross Castle and the Gap of Dunloe. They wait in the town centre and at the park entrances.

Can you rent a bike in Killarney?

Yes, there are several shops in the centre. The national park trails are flat around the lakes and good for cycling.

How to get from Kerry Airport to Killarney?

The airport is 16 km away, in Farranfore. There are regular buses and taxis at the exit.

Does Killarney have nightlife?

The town centre pubs have traditional music almost every night in season, and the town has many restaurants.

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