Horses and gardens
Visit the Irish National Stud, Japanese Gardens and St Fiachra’s Garden near Kildare Town.
Explore the Japanese Gardens →
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County guide
Kildare
Horse country, canal walks, historic estates and easy access from Dublin.
Japanese Gardens
ExploreNaas, Kildare Town and Newbridge
Best timeApril to October
Time needed2–4 days
Perfect forCulture, scenery, outdoor adventures and short breaks
Plan your visit
Why visit Kildare?
Horse country, canal walks, historic estates and easy access from Dublin.
Things to do in Kildare
Choose a day out that suits your trip.
Kildare combines thoroughbred heritage, renowned gardens, historic estates and easy outdoor routes within reach of Dublin. Use these starting points to shape a day trip or a longer county break.
Heritage and estates
Connect Castletown House, St Brigid’s Cathedral, Maynooth Castle and the county’s historic towns.
See the complete attraction list →Trails and nature
Choose Donadea Forest Park, the Grand Canal Greenway or the protected wetlands at Pollardstown Fen.
Open the Pollardstown Fen guide →Plan a short break
Use Naas, Kildare Town, Newbridge or Maynooth as a base and group nearby stops into a realistic route.
View the three-day itinerary →Don’t miss
Top 20 landmarks and attractions
A curated starting point for planning your time in the county.
- 01Irish National Stud & Gardens
- 02Japanese Gardens
- 03St Brigid’s Cathedral
- 04Kildare Village
- 05Castletown House
- 06Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park
- 07Donadea Forest Park
- 08Newbridge Silverware Visitor Centre
- 09Curragh Racecourse
- 10Punchestown Racecourse
- 11Moone High Cross
- 12Athy Heritage Centre
- 13Grand Canal Greenway
- 14Leixlip Castle
- 15Maynooth Castle
- 16Carton House Estate
- 17Burtown House & Gardens
- 18Bog of Allen Nature Centre
- 19Pollardstown Fen
- 20Russborough House
Suggested route
A simple three-day itinerary
3 daysSuggested county driving route
View route details
Day 1 — Begin with Irish National Stud & Gardens, then continue to Japanese Gardens and spend the evening exploring the nearest town.
Day 2 — Visit St Brigid’s Cathedral before an afternoon at Kildare Village.
Day 3 — Combine Castletown House with Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park, allowing extra time for local food, viewpoints and unplanned stops.
Build your own Kildare itinerary
Add your preferred landmarks and download a personal route.
Plan a memorable stop
Experiences for your Kildare trip.
Choose an experience to complement the places in this guide. Check the meeting point, travel time and suitability for your group before booking.
Affiliate links: Adventure Ireland may earn a commission when you book through GetYourGuide, at no additional cost to you.
Horses & gardens
County Kildare
Irish National Stud & Gardens
Combine thoroughbred heritage with time in the gardens. Allow a separate journey from Athy or your canal-side base.
Start / arrival pointIrish National Stud, near Kildare town
Polar exploration
County Kildare
Shackleton Experience in Athy
Add the story of Ernest Shackleton to a day in Athy. A town-centre cultural stop to pair with exploring the Blueway.
Start / arrival pointShackleton Experience, Athy
Canal cruise
County Kildare
Grand Canal cruise from Sallins
Take a slow boat journey towards Digby Lock. This is a separate Grand Canal excursion, not a cruise along the Barrow Blueway.
Start / arrival pointSallins, County Kildare — not the Barrow Blueway
Booking links open on GetYourGuide in a new tab. Prices, dates, inclusions, accessibility and cancellation terms depend on the selected option. Check the operator's current details; a listing here does not guarantee availability.
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