BEST Things to Do in Killarney Ireland
Heading to Killarney, Ireland and looking for things to do?
During my second trip to Ireland in 2025, I decided to stay right in Killarney to explore all the things there were to do in the area – and I wasn’t disappointed.
As someone who’s travelled extensively through Ireland, Killarney is definitely one of the prettiest cities in Ireland, surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery.
Let’s jump into the best things to do in Killarney!
First, is Killarney worth a visit?
Killarney is definitely worth a visit. Ireland has many beautiful cities and small towns – but Killarney ranks as one of the nicest, in my opinion.
During my first trip to Ireland, I didn’t make it to Killarney, but I was so glad that I fit it on our itinerary the second time. It’s a beautiful little city with so much surrounding natural beauty.
All the Best Things to Do in Killarney, Ireland
1. Walk through the town
Killarney is a really cute town. Don’t just walk down the main strip, which is (although make time for it) make sure you take some time to explore the side streets as well.
It’s such a cute city, and very walkable. There are a lot of streets branching off from the main road with hidden gems, restaurants and pretty views – so be sure to really take your time.
2. Do a Lough Leane cruise
Lough Leane is the lake that Killarney is situated on, and all the main things you want to see (waterfalls, castles) are located on the lake as a focal point.
Lough Leane Lake Cruises leave from Ross Castle and take you around the lake. We didn’t do a cruise, but we saw many cruises from land.
They can take you much closer to the surrounding mountains, and the views are epic.
Book your cruise on Louh Leane here (€16 per adult, all ages welcome, 1 hour long cruise)
2. Visit Ross Castle
Ross Castle is just outside of the city, about a 5-10 minute drive. It dates back to the 1600s, and is located right on the lake.
If you book a Lough Leane Lake Cruise, you would be arriving here, at Ross Castle.
The only way to visit the inside Ross Castle is to do a guided tour. But, you can simply explore the outside as well – which is what we chose to do.
There are some pretty views from the second level of the castle, and being inside the courtyard is pretty interesting.
3. Hike Ross Island
Besides lake cruises, Ross Castle is a hub for another really fun activity in Killarney – hiking Ross Island.!
From Ross Castle, you can hike the trails of Ross Island, which are mostly foresty but there’s TONS of lookouts at the lake, with mountains in the background.
We hiked about 5 km on these trails, and to be honest – there weren’t that many other people.
The lookouts are beautiful, and most of the paths are shaded by old growth trees. It was a relaxing experience that I’d recommend.
You can see the hiking trail options for Ross Island here. You don’t need to really ‘plan’ your trip – you start at the same point, and follow arrows to the trails you want to take. We did Governer’s Point, and Old Copper Mine Trail, which I recommend.
Library Point was a bit further and the only reason we didn’t do it was because we had a toddler with us – but the views are supposed to be spectacular there as well!
Pro Tip: Some of the Ross Island Hiking Trails take you past abandoned old copper mines, and there are some info plaques about them.
4. Go see Torc Waterfall
Torc Waterfall is one of the key attractions in Killarney. It’s about a 10-minute drive outside the main town, and is on the Ring of Kerry.
From the parking lot, it was about a 5-minute walk to the waterfall, and we were glad we came. The photo doesn’t really do it justice, it was a really pretty waterfall and worth seeing!
As with most popular attractions, try to get here early. The parking lot is a decent size, but it fills up pretty quickly. Torc Waterfall isn’t a super long visit, so if it’s full, you can circle back and spots may open up.
5. Visit Muckross House
Muckross House is definitely worth a visit while you’re in Killarney. It basically has several attractions all in one (some which are free) and you can buy combined tickets, or tickets just for what you’re interested in.
Muckross House is an 1800s building (young for Irish standards) and it’s owner generously donated it to the Irish state in the 1930s. Since then, it’s been a museum for people to explore the upper-class lifestyle of the Victorian era in Ireland.
If you just want to wander the gardens and explore the outside of Muckross House, then it’s FREE of charge.
And the gardens, and the grounds are absolutely beautiful. There are open fields, some foresty areas, and you can walk right up to the shore of the lake and get great views.
There’s a cafe onsite and a large shop that sells good Irish souvenirs.
You can buy tickets (in person, as they don’t sell them online) for:
- the house only
- the house and farms
- the farms only
Bonus: Add on the Muckross Farms to your Visit!
There are farms on the property of Muckross House, but they are a separate attraction. You can buy a combined ticket, or a ticket for the farms only.
Honestly, Muckross Farms was one of the highlights of our entire 2-week trip to Ireland.
Visiting the farms isn’t just for kids, it’s a fascinating learning experience where you get to witness what life was like in the countryside surrounding Killarney, prior to the 1960s when they got electricity.
They had real people as educators and actors within the farm, and they made the experience so special.
They were seated by the fire in the house, ‘making soda bread’ and offered some to us to try. Our kids absolutely loved the petting farm. We also also really enjoyed the Old School House.
We decided to do the gardens only at Muckross House (didn’t go inside, as we were in Ireland with kids and didn’t think they’d be super interested) and then bought tickets for the farm. I highly recommend adding the farm on either way!
6. See Muckross Abbey
Muckross Abbey is an abanonded 1300s friary just 4 km (3 miles) from Killarney that is free to visit.
There are many abandoned friaries in Ireland, but this is one of the more popular ones.
There’s a small car park to drive, or if you’re up from the walk, you can also walk from Killarney town, which would take around 30 minutes.
You can also take a jaunting car (horse drawn carriage) which are very common in the Killarney area – you’ll see them everywhere and can hire one anytime; similar to a taxi.
7. Visit St. Mary’s Cathedral
St. Mary’s Cathedral is in downtown Killarney, just a 5-10 minute walk from the main strip.
It’s an 1800s neo-Gothic style church, and the inside is beautiful – the stained glass is stunning.
St. Mary’s is an architectural gem, and I’d recommend popping in if you have an appreciation for the history and solace behind cathedrals.
8. Eat some great food
Killarney has lots of great food options, especially for a town of it’s size. It’s very much a tourist town so you can pretty much find any type of food you’re looking for.
Here are some of the great options we found in Killarney, plus extras:
- Bricín Restaurant and Boxty House, (pictured above) traditional Irish cuisine. We ate here and we loved the environment inside, it’s in an old building on the main strip. The staff was so kind, and food was delicious. We loved the traditional ‘boxty’ dish (they even had a vegan option for it, which I ordered and loved it)
- Cronins Restaurant, another Irish restaurant, popular with locals. Family run since the 1950s.
- Petit Delice, adorable French café. Serves sandwiches, pastries and coffee. The croissants and other baked goods in here were very typical of what you’d find in France
- JM Reidy’s, an Irish pub
9. Visit Killarney National Park
A must while you’re in Killarney is visiting Killarney National Park. In fact, you haven’t seen Killarney unless you’ve been inside the park.
That being said, many of the ‘things to do’ mentioned in this article are already within the park (Torc waterfall, Ross Castle and Ross Island hiking, etc.)
There are other trails, and things to do that are a little off the beaten path -especially if you like hiking. See additional things to do in Killarney National Park here.
10. Go horseback riding
Killarney Riding Stables is just outside of Killarney, and they offer horseback riding tours and lessons.
We booked a 30 minute pony ride for our 4 year old. Her older sister had done horseback riding in Doolin, and we wanted to give her a chance too.
Rather than a pony, it ended up being a horse. However, the stables were nice and the staff was so kind and welcoming. The horses seemed cared for. I’d recommend them.
11. Meet animals at Kennedy’s Pet Farm
Another activity mentioned to us since we were travelling with kids was Kennedy’s Pet Farm.
It’s a great place to bring kids, and we visited many similar farms to it in Ireland. We really wanted to visit, however it was closed when we were there. Visit their website for updated information.
12. Tour the Ring of Kerry
Killarney is the start to the Ring of Kerry, one of the most scenic drives in Ireland.
The Ring of Kerry is what made me fall in love with Ireland and made me determined to go back.
I highly recommend it – don’t miss the Ring of Kerry. If you don’t want to drive it extensively, then there are a few things to see very close to Killarney:
- Torc waterfall (mentioned above)
- Ladies View, a great picturesque spot with a lookout area, and café. We were lucky enough to have a rainbow when we went!
If you’re not driving yourself, you can also book a tour of the Ring of Kerry (7.5 hours, €45 per person, ages 10+) to show you all the best views on the Ring of Kerry.
13. Visit the Dingle Peninsula
It’s a bit further away, but Dingle Penunsula is also very stunning and accessible from Killarney.
There are tours which will bring you there, or you can drive there in an hour or so.
Here are some tour options to see Dingle Peninsula from Killarney:
- Killarney Bus Tour to Dingle Peninsula, 6.5 hours, around €60 per adult
- Paddy Wagon Tours, €45 per adult, unsure of length
Where to Stay in Killarney
We stayed at a self-service 2-bedroom apartment at Park Place Apartments.
They’re just a 2-minute walk from the main road, have free underground parking. We only drove a maximum of 10 minutes to get everywhere.
Here are some other good options of places to stay in Killarney which we also considered:
Budget: Kilaren House Amazing budget option just 1.2 km (0.5 mile) from the downtown core. Still very close to outdoor attractions and serves breakfast!
Mid-Range: Killarney Tower Hotel & Leisure Centre A great budget hotel option with spectacular views. Has access to a swimming pool
Luxury: Agadoe Heights Resort and Spa This was a little out of our budget but looks amazing. Has an indoor pool, spa, restaurant on site and serves breakfast
Killarney, Ireland FAQ
What is special about Killarney, Ireland?
Killarney is special for being nestled in the mountains of Kerry. It’s a great hub for exploring the peninsulas of southwest Ireland, which are incredibly beautiful – especially the Ring of Kerry. The Killarney town is also very charming and great for tourists.
Why is Killarney famous?
Killarney is mostly famous for being the hub for visiting Killarney National Park, and being the start of one of Ireland’s most scenic drives – the Ring of Kerry. It’s the ultimate scenic outdoor destination in Ireland
Is there much to do in Killarney?
There’s enough to do in Killarney to easily fill 2-3 days, but most of the activities are outdoor and nature based. If you love the outdoors and being active, you’ll be spoiled in Killarney. If you prefer things like museums, and the insides of castles, then you’ll probably find the options a bit limiting.
Final Thoughts on Killarney, Ireland
Killarney in Ireland is definitely worth a visit if you love the outdoors and one of your favourite things to do is marvel at scenery. It’s a beautiful spot, with such a quaint feel. It’s worth a visit on your Ireland itinerary!