Places to Go in Killarney

Ross Castle is a tower house built by O’Donoghue Mor in the 15th-century. Located on the edge of Lough Leane, this magnificent castle is open to public during the months of summer. To find out more information on this, email rosscastle@opw.ie.

St. Mary’s Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral that is probably the city’s best known architectural landmark. As one of the most breath-taking of the cathedrals & churches in Ireland, I highly recommend you stop in and attend a mass!

Muckross actually translates to “The Pig Wood” in English. Muckross Road is easily one of the narrowest, as well as the busiest tourist roads in the country. If you’re driving (especially if it’s a new side of the road), I suggest you mentally prepare yourself for this one. However, with it being so busy, there will be plenty of restaurants and cafes and stores to check out along the way.

I’m sure it’s no surprise that the Muckross House is located on Muckross Road–who would have thought? The Muckross House is a Victorian Mansion that was built in 1843 for Henry Arthur Herbert & his wife. With sixty-five rooms, it’s surprising that the tour only takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

If you know even the slightest about Ireland, I’m sure that you have heard of the Ring of Kerry. A day tour here will last around 11 hours as you will be taking the 111-mile-long route through Waterville, Seem and Killarney National Park. However, the views are definitely worth the time commitment.

The Lakes of Killarney is a 1-hour cruise that costs less than $15 USD. It’s a grand way to see Killarney from a different perspective and operates year-round.

Killarney National Park is free to enter and it up completely up to your discretion what you’d like to do here. With many sights inside the park, I recommend taking a nice hike and catching all of the beautiful scenery.

Torc Waterfall stands 66 feet tall and cascades down from the Devil’s Punchbowl. From the parking lot, it is a short walk to the waterfall, so this is an activity for everyone. It’s also near Muckross House if you’re looking to check two things off of your bucket list at once.

The gap of Dunloe is a narrow mountain pass parting the Purple Mountain Group range and the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks mountain range. It takes about 2 and a half hours to walk the Gap of Dunloe (from Kate Kearney’s Cottage to Lord Brandon’s Cottage), totaling at about 7 miles.

If you’re into hiking, the Kerry Way is not built for the weak. This trail loop is a whopping 214 kilometers long and normally takes about nine days to complete.

The Torc Mountain Walk is absolutely worth it for the tremendous views it leads you to. This seemingly endless ascent of stairs will take about 90 minutes to complete.

Muckross Abbey is one of the most well-known sites located within Killarney National Park. Though this building has had a rather painstakingly violence-filled past, it’s been restructured multiple times and still has found a way to keep standing today.

Killarney House Gardens are obviously best-viewed in the summer months. There are plenty of different options depending on what type of walk you’re looking to do in what amount of time, but all of them are the same cost: Free. You can also ask for a free guided tour, which lasts about 20 minutes and will allow you to step back into the history of the gardens and surrounding buildings.

The Irish Whiskey Experience is a fun and informative experience that lasts between one and tour hours. You can do everything from blending your own Irish Whiskey to learning what it pairs with and drawing your own spirits right from the oak casks.

The Jaunting Car Ride has been considered a “must” for everyone who passes through Killarney. This car is actually a horse drawn carriage ride, Killarney’s traditional transportation mode, and it takes you through the Killarney National Park, Ross Castle and along Lough Leane in a mere hour.

Kennedy’s Pet Farm is exactly what it sounds like and is mostly sought out by children, as they’ve got indoor and outdoor playgrounds. There’s also an abundance of baby animals here to cuddle, so it’s fun for anyone to enjoy.

Moll’s Gap is a mountain pass on the Ring of Kerry route that offers spectacular views of the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks Mountains. There’s also an Avoca shop and cafe up in the mountains here, both of which are worth the stop!

Falconry Kerry is located on a traditional Irish farm and boasts the opportunity to participate in the sport of the kings: Falconry. At the farm, you can meet all of the birds of prey on the property, as well as fly your own hawk with a little help from a trained falconer.

The Killarney Brewing Company is one of Ireland’s newer craft breweries & tap rooms. Since it has been restored from the old Killarney Mineral Water drinks facility, the ambience gives you a blast from the past with a modern look. Tours here run between March 17th and October 31st and only cost 12 euros per person.

Carrauntoohil Mountain is the highest mountain in all of Ireland, at 1,038.6 meters. You can climb this beast by taking the 12.7-kilometer-long trail, fittingly called Devil’s Ladder.

The Black Valley is a hiker’s paradise. This remote valley forms part of the Kerry Way and is famous for being the last place on mainland Ireland to get connected to electricity and telephone.

Innisfallen Island is an island on Lough Leane Lake and is a popular tourist destination in the warmer months. You can take a small boat across from Ross Castle to Innisfallen where you can enjoy the beauty of the ruins and surrounding greenery. There are also picnic tables here for you to enjoy a peaceful lunch on the island.

The Muckross Traditional Farms consist of three separate working farms loaded with animals, poultry and machinery. These farms along with the Muckross House and Gardens are the focal point of Killarney National Park.

The Killarney Racecourse is one of the major attractions in the city. This track hosts horse races equipped with a breathtaking backdrop of the mountains and surrounding golf course.

Coming about in 1448, the first Franciscans settled in Muckross. Though the last friar in Killarney left in the mid-1800’s, the friary remains until this day.

Hugh O’Flaherty was an Irish Catholic priest and senior official of the Roman Curia, though he is most prominently remembered for his resistance to Nazism, saving 6,500 allied soldiers and Jews.

Peter Cox is a fantastic photographer whose work showcasing Ireland’s beauty is displayed in Killarney. These photos are for purchase, as well as for admiring.

The Devil’s Punch Bowl is a 9.8 kilometer loop trail in Killarney. Though this hike is rated as difficult, these views are rated as fantastic.

Knockreer Estate is located within the Killarney National Park in none other than the Knockreer section. This traditional cottage has been well-maintained and is known for its spectacular roof thatching. Great place to start if you’re headed to the park.

Aghadoe Church is a 12th-century church perched atop a hill overlooking Killarney. The tower itself is nice to look at, but nothing could compare to the serene surrounding area.

The Killarney Outlet Centre is essentially your basic mall. This would be a good place to spend a rainy day or grab some necessities, but nothing special to add to your bucket lists.

Tomies Wood is a nice loop walk, but can be difficult to get to due to restrictions by one of the land owners. It’s only accessible by trekking over the mountains from the meeting of the waters, but once you’re in, it’s an absolutely glorious hiking trail.

McCarthy’s Castle is a fun little place to explore, as it isn’t too populated. This is a short walk from the Lake Hotel, so, if you’re staying there, it’s definitely worth a look.

The Prince of Peace Church is a beautiful hidden gem in Killarney. However, being so, it is mostly made of locals and is not a place to get your Instagram content in–please be respectful!

The Old Weir Bridge is one of Killarney’s oldest structures and thousands of travelers pass over these stones each decade. Found within the Killarney National Park, you’ll find this double arch bridge near Dinnis cottage.

The Ogham Stones are a National Monument featuring none other than stones with ogham on them. Ogham is a written script that consist of one vertical line and multiple strokes across this line, which was used up until the 5th century.

The tower house, Ballymalis Castle, is a standard historical structure similar to ones you’ll found all across Ireland. Though this one was renovated, it’s still crawling with history and medieval tales.

Parkavonear Castle is a 13th-century ruin that overlooks the lakes. Near Aghadoe Church and Round Tower, this castle is easily accessible and in near perfect condition.

Fitzgerald Stadium is the GAA stadium in Killarney and is known as “the finest playground in Ireland.” Check out their website to see more about their history as well as the upcoming schedule.

The I.R.A. Memorial is a monument dedicated to those who fought in the Irish Revolution.

Crohane Mountain stands 650m tall and falls on the “Highest 100” summit list. This is a moderate hike, but you should definitely come dressed for the weather.

St. John’s Cemetery is a very peaceful place, as cemeteries should be. It’s nice to stop by, read inscriptions and say a prayer for those who are no longer with us.

The Killarney Methodist Church is a small but extremely welcoming if you attend the service. One of the preachers is actually a retired doctor, which is something you don’t hear everyday.

Strickeen Mountain is one of mountains of the McGillycuddy Reeks and is more accessible than most of them. Kate Kearney’s Cottage marks the start of this trail and, though it is outside the city of Killarney, you can get here by car, bike, taxi or shuttle bus.

The Kerry Creamery Experience is a fun attraction for everyone. After a tour through their interesting history, you’ll get to see the milking techniques of Ireland and just how that ice cream was able to appear in your hands today. There’s also a playground and some animals for the young ones of the group to say hello to.

The Paps are a pair of mountains named after Anu, an ancient mother goddess due to their breast-like appearance. Take the Paps Mountain Waling Route (2-3 hours) or the Paps Walking Loop (5 hours) to experience the views of the mountainside.

Cafe du Parc is located on Kenmare Place, next door to Killarney National Park. On Sundays, they host a Funky Brunch from 10:00AM until 5:00PM with live music from their resident DJ.

J.M Reidys is a lively bar with lovely coffee. In a preserved building dating back to 1870, this spot hosts not only a cafe, but also a foodie paradise and a beer garden for you to spend some quality time with your Guinness.

Murphys Ice Cream is a Dingle-based dessert shop that probably doesn’t even need an introduction. Just know that if you’ve got a sweet tooth, this best be on the top of your bucket list.

The Ladies’ View name stems from the admiration of the view given by Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting during their 1861 visit. Now a scenic point along the Ring of Kerry, this will absolutely take your breath away–Do NOT forget your camera!

The Celtic Whiskey Bar has whiskey on whiskey on whiskey. If you have a taste for the finer things in life, this bar is for you.

Courtney’s Bar is Home Of The Greatest Selection of Drink in Killarney loved by both locals and tourists. If you don’t have time to swing by, definitely check out their 3D tour online!