Ultimate Guide to Exploring Killarney Ireland Car-Free in 2024

Here’s how to visit the Killarney Ireland (Ring of Kerry) on a budget and without a car!

This post covers what there is to see and do in the town of Killarney Ireland as well as some day trip ideas such as exploring Ross Castle, cycling around Muckross House and Abbey, visiting Torc Waterfall and walking the Gap of Dunloe.

Things to do in Killarney Ireland Ring of Kerry: Killarney Duck Store

Things to do in Killarney
Day Trips around Killarney
Final Thoughts on Killarney

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Killarney Ireland Basics

Currency: The Euro.

Cash or Card: Either is perfectly fine, I never had an issue with not carrying cash.

Visas: Ireland provides 90 day tourist visas to most passport holders.

Although the Republic of Ireland is part of the European Union (EU), it is not part on the Schengen Zone.

If you haven’t heard about the Schengen Zone, read about it here before visiting Europe. It is a group of countries in Europe that allow visitors to apply for one encompassing tourist visa that covers all the countries in the Zone. With a Schengen Visa you can enter and move between any country in the agreement freely for up to 90 days in every 180 days.

Basically, this means that most tourists can visit Ireland for up to 90 days in addition to 90 days in Schengen countries.

Check on the Irish Immigration page whether you need to apply for a visa before arriving. Travellers from many countries can get a visa on arrival.

What to Bring to Killarney

Read my UK carry-on packing list to get an idea of what things you need to bring for Ireland’s climate.

You absolutely need a rain-jacket or umbrella. It WILL rain, so be prepared!

How to Get to/from Killarney

From Dublin

To get to Killarney from abroad you first need to fly to Dublin.

Catch the train from Dublin Heuston to Killarney, stopping at Mallow.

From Galway

Take the train to Limerick (2 hours). Catch the bus from Arthurs Quay bus stop (in front of Arthurs Quay Park) to Killarney (1 hour 40 mins).

Where to Stay in Killarney

$ Hostel $

Black Sheep Hostel
68 New Street, Killarney, Ireland.
This is hands-down the best hostel I’ve ever stayed in. The beds are so comfy, and they have curtains and big lockers. You get a free breakfast and the hostel owners have two cute little dachshunds. Check availability or see other options.

$$ Hotel $$

Foley’s Townhouse Killarney
This guesthouse is perfectly located right on High Street. The rooms are simple but elegant, and you get free breakfast which guests confirm is delicious. Check availability or see other options.

How to get around Killarney

Public transport in Killarney and around the Ring of Kerry is not great.

Killarney itself is easy to get around on foot.

To explore the Ring of Kerry further, I recommend joining a tour, renting a car or hiring a bike.

How Many Days in Killarney

3 days/3 nights is the perfect amount of time to spend in Killarney.

This will give you enough time to explore the town itself, take a day tour to the Gap of Dunloe, and spend a day cycling around Muckross Lake.

Things to do in Killarney

Killarney High Street

Wandering about town is the best thing to do in Killarney.

There are tons of quirky shops to explore, like the Killarney Duck Store (pictured at top of post). Not to mention, the characterful facades of the buildings just exude Irish charm.

These were some of my favourite gift shops:

Christy’s Gift Store
Celtic Jewellers
Quill’s Woollen Market
Quill’s Irish Gift Store
The Blackthorn Gifts and Souvenirs

These are some cute cafes I found:

Noelle’s Cafe
Mc Kenzie’s Cafe
Killarney Bakery (not a cafe but I love a pie)

The Irish love a drink and the Killarney High Street is jam-packed full of pubs. Some of the most popular options are:

The Killarney Grand
J.M. Reidy’s
The Laurels Pub & Restaurant
O’Connors Traditional Pub
The Shire Bar & Cafe
Murphys Bar

If you visit in the evening, there is a good chance of seeing live music.

St Mary’s Cathedral

New St, Inch, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland
Services on Mon-Sat 10:30am and 6:15pm, Sunday 10:30am and 12pm.
Attend a service or visit between these times.
Free

Just 300 metres down the road from the Black Sheep Hostel is St Mary’s Cathedral.

This impressive church was constructed over several decades, with work halting due to the Great Famine.

Weirdly, the altar and pulpit are made of Tasmanian oak.

I didn’t go inside because there was a service taking place.

Travel Essentials

SIM cards: Airalo offers eSIMS for over 200 countries which you can install BEFORE travelling, saving you the stress of running around to find a store or from being ripped off by local vendors. This is perfect for backpackers who are travelling to multiple destinations in a short period of time.

Insurance: You should NOT go overseas without getting travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you in case you get injured or your plans change or are cancelled. I always use Covermore, because the cover is comprehensive and they were easy to work with when I needed to make a claim.

Banking: When travelling and saving for travel I use Up Bank, an online Australian bank, that allows fee-free overseas transactions, unlimited savings ‘pools’ and easy transfers. If you join Up with my invite code we both get $13!

Killarney House and Gardens

Open 9:15 am–1 pm, 2pm–5:15 pm

Killarney House is a gorgeous house on the southern end of town. House is not really the right word, but it doesn’t quite reach ‘mansion’ status.

It has had a bit of a tumultuous history; it was originally the stables for a mansion that was demolished in the 1870’s. The stables were remodelled as a home but later abandoned for several decades. It has now been restored and is home to an exhibition on the Killarney National Park.

It is surrounded by extensive gardens and grass, making it the perfect place to stroll and picnic if the weather is nice.

You can enter the building for free to visit the exhibition (about the natural history of the area), but this wasn’t well advertised and I struggled to find the entrance.

Day Trips around Killarney

Ross Castle

9:30 am–5:45 pm
€5 entry
Website

Ross Castle is thought to have been built in the 15th century by Chieftain O’Donoghue Mór. The castle is thought to be one of the last to surrender to Oliver Cromwell’s invasion during the Eleven Year’s War.

The €5 entry allows you to explore the interior, restored in medieval furnishings, including a dining room and bedroom.

You can visit Ross Castle on foot or by jaunting car; I chose to walk there.

On the jetty in front of Ross Castle, you’ll find boat companies offering tours of the lake. There’s also a cafe beside it.

Read my Ross Castle blog post for more details.

Visiting Ireland? You might like: 2 Day Dublin Itinerary: Best Things to do in Dublin!

Muckross House & Abbey

Muckross Abbey is the ruins of a monastery that was active from about 1448 to 1650.

The building is fairly well-preserved (except lacking a roof) and there is also a surrounding cemetery that has fallen into disrepair.

Just down the road is Muckross House. This nineteenth century Victorian mansion was built over 4 years from 1839 to 1843 for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife, Mary Balfour Herbert.

Entry to Muckross House is €9 for adults and €6 for children. Entry to the nearby Traditional Farms costs €9 for adults and €6 for children.

I came up with a cycling route around Muckross Lake that stops at Muckross Abbey, Muckross House, and Torc Waterfall.

Read my post on cycling around Muckross Lake to see the route I took.

Visiting Ireland? You might like: Ultimate Aran Islands Day Trip: How to Visit Inishmore from Galway in 2024

Gap of Dunloe

Walking the Gap of Dunloe is one of Ireland’s most magical experiences, and an absolute must-do if you’re visiting Killarney Ireland.

Located in the Ring of Kerry, near Killarney, a day trip can easily be planned and done without needing a car.

To get there, I took the Gap of Dunloe Outdoor Day Tour with Wild Kerry Tours. I chose this tour because it was the cheapest at €36 for adults and €27 for students (July 2024).

It includes a bus ride to Kate Kearney’s Cottage (the entrance of the Gap of Dunloe), a boat ride from Lord Brandon’s Cottage (the end of the Gap of Dunloe) to Ross Castle, and a bus from Ross Castle back to Killarney.

Read my post about walking the Gap of Dunloe to see what it was like (spoiler: it was life-changing!).

Visiting Ireland? You might like: County Galway in 3 Days: A Complete Travel Guide

Final Thoughts on Killarney

That’s the best things to see and do in Killarney Ireland!

Not only is this charming town a joy to wander and explore, it makes a great base for day trips around the Ring of Kerry such as exploring Ross Castle, cycling around Muckross House and Abbey, visiting Torc Waterfall and walking the Gap of Dunloe.

Visiting smaller towns when travelling on a budget and without a car can be a little nerve-wracking. I hope this post showed you how I did it and convinced you to do it too.

While big cities can be fun and full of history and character, there is something special about getting out in nature and experiencing village life that helps you truly understand Irish culture.

If you’re visiting Ireland (I know you are, you read this!) be sure to check out my other Ireland posts, where I discuss sights and itineraries for Dublin, Galway, Aran Islands, Cliffs of Moher and more.