Killarney, Ireland: travel guide
Lakes, oak woods and mountains on the edge of Killarney National Park
Ireland's most visited inland town sits at the northern edge of Killarney National Park — 103 square kilometres of ancient sessile oak woodland, three glacier-carved lakes and the jagged peaks of MacGillycuddy's Reeks…
About Killarney
Killarney is a small town in County Kerry, and its real draw is what surrounds it: Killarney National Park, with its lakes, ancient oak woodland and the MacGillycuddy's Reeks mountains rising behind.
Things to do in Killarney centre on the outdoors. Ross Castle sits on the shore of Lough Leane, Muckross House and Torc Waterfall are a short ride or walk away, and the Gap of Dunloe pass can be explored on foot, by bicycle or by traditional jaunting car. The town itself has lively pubs and is a handy base for the Ring of Kerry.
It suits walkers, cyclists and families who want scenery without much logistics. Summer and early autumn are the most reliable seasons, while spring brings fresh greens and quieter trails.
- Country
- Ireland
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Dublin
- Nearest airport
- KIR
Last updated
Top places to visit in Killarney
Ring of Kerry Scenic Drive
scenic drive · 4.8 rating · about 6 h · check the fee at the gate
One of the world's great scenic drives — a 179 km circular route around the Iveragh Peninsula with constantly shifting views of rocky headlands, sandy beaches, deserted mountain valleys and the Atlantic horizon. The route passes Killorglin…
Killarney National Park & Ross Castle
national park · 4.9 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Ireland's oldest national park — 103 km² of glacial lake, ancient Atlantic oakwood, river, mountain and blanket bog. Three lakes (Lough Leane, Muckross Lake, Upper Lake) connected by the Long Range river through an extraordinarily…
Muckross House & Gardens
Victorian manor · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
A magnificent Victorian manor built in 1843 and extended for a visit by Queen Victoria in 1861 — an event that reportedly bankrupted the family. Today the most complete Victorian house in Ireland, fully furnished with its original contents…
Killarney Lakes Boat
lake-tour · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
The Killarney Lakes boat tour — the spectacular journey through the Lower, Middle, and Upper Lakes of Killarney, passing Innisfallen Abbey and the Meeting of the Waters.
Killarney Dingle Day Trip
dingle-peninsula · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Killarney to the Dingle Peninsula — the spectacular Wild Atlantic Way with Slea Head Drive, the Gaeltacht villages, and the iconic Atlantic cliffs.
Killarney Skellig Michael
unesco-monastery · 4.9 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Killarney to Skellig Michael — the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage 6th-century monastic island (Star Wars filming location), with the iconic beehive cells.
Killarney Lough Leane Castle
lake-castle · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Ross Castle on Lough Leane — Killarney's spectacular 15th-century O'Donoghue clan castle on the lake, with the historic tower house and the Reformation siege heritage.
Gap of Dunloe
mountain pass · 4.8 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
A spectacular narrow glaciated valley cutting through the MacGillycuddy's Reeks — 11 km of winding mountain path between sheer rock faces, five glacial lakes, ancient stone bridges and cascading streams. No cars permitted — accessible only…
Torc Waterfall
forest waterfall · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Killarney's most accessible natural feature — a 20-metre cascade of the Owengarriff river plunging through a narrow gorge in the ancient oakwood of Killarney National Park. The short walk from the N71 car park is just 10–15 minutes through…
Killarney Innisfallen Abbey
monastic-island · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Innisfallen Abbey — the spectacular monastery ruins on Innisfallen Island in Lough Leane, founded in the 7th century, where the Annals of Innisfallen were written.
Killarney Jaunting Car
horse-carriage · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The traditional Killarney Jaunting Car — the iconic horse-drawn carriage tour through Killarney National Park, the historic Ross Castle, and the Muckross Estate.
Killarney Kate Kearney
traditional-pub · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Kate Kearney's Cottage — the historic 1830s gateway to the Gap of Dunloe, the famous Irish pub with traditional music sessions and the iconic Gap of Dunloe starting point.
Things to do
- Killarney Jaunting Car National Park Tour Cultural · 2 h · from EUR 21 per person
- Gap of Dunloe Hike & Lakes Boat Tour Outdoor · 8 h · from EUR 41 per person
Day trips and tours
- Ring of Kerry & Killarney National Park Full-Day Tour 9 h · from EUR 58
Where to stay in Killarney
- Killarney Town Centre about EUR 130 per night
Staying in Killarney town centre gives you immediate access to all the traditional music pubs, restaurants and the main jaunting car rank for the national park. The town is compact and very walkable.
- Aghadoe Heights (lake view) about EUR 380 per night
The most scenic location to stay in all of Kerry — Aghadoe Hill above the town offers the single best view in Killarney, with all three lakes spread below and the MacGillycuddy's Reeks as backdrop. Aghadoe Heights Hotel…
Hotels
- The Killarney Park Hotel 5-star · EUR 280 to EUR 640 per night
- The Europe Hotel and Resort 5-star · EUR 320 to EUR 780 per night
- Friars Glen Country House Killarney 4-star · EUR 110 to EUR 260 per night
- Crystal Springs Killarney 4-star · EUR 95 to EUR 220 per night
- Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa 5-star · EUR 280 to EUR 850 per night
- The Lake Hotel Killarney 4-star · EUR 150 to EUR 380 per night
Where to eat
- Quinlan's Seafood Bar Killarney Seafood, Fish and Chips · about EUR 28 per person
- Treyvaud's Restaurant Killarney Modern Irish, Seafood · about EUR 52 per person
- Kate Kearneys Cottage Irish, Pub · about EUR 24 per person
- The Bricín Restaurant Killarney Traditional Irish, Kerry Cuisine · about EUR 48 per person
- The Killarney Grand Irish, Pub · about EUR 22 per person
- Avoca Cafe Molls Gap Cafe, Irish · about EUR 22 per person
- Castle Lough Restaurant Irish, European · about EUR 55 per person
- Lord Kenmares Restaurant Irish, Pub, Gastropub · about EUR 30 per person
Getting to Killarney
Airport: Killarney (KIR)
Getting around
- Car Rental Self
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Jaunting Car Fixed-Price Dispute
Kenmare Place and New Street, Killarney town centre
A small number of jaunting car drivers quote one price at the start and attempt to charge a higher price at the end of the trip. Disputes over route length or extra passengers are sometimes manufactured.
How to avoid it: Agree the price, route, duration and total passengers explicitly before boarding. Get a written receipt or photograph the agreed price if possible. The standard price for a shared 2-hour national park tour is approximately €20–25 per person.
More in Ireland
Frequently asked questions about Killarney
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Killarney?
- The highest-rated places in our Killarney guide are Killarney National Park & Ross Castle, Killarney Skellig Michael, Ring of Kerry Scenic Drive, Killarney Dingle Day Trip, Gap of Dunloe.
- Where should I stay in Killarney?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Killarney: Killarney Town Centre, Aghadoe Heights (lake view).
- How do I get around Killarney?
- Ways to get around Killarney covered in our guide: Self-drive car, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Killarney?
- Scams reported to us for Killarney include Jaunting Car Fixed-Price Dispute. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- Which airport is nearest to Killarney?
- The nearest airport to Killarney has the code KIR.