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County guide

Kilkenny

A medieval city surrounded by riverside villages, craft studios and historic estates.

St Canice’s Cathedral
ExploreKilkenny City
Best timeApril to October
Time needed2–4 days
Perfect forCulture, scenery, outdoor adventures and short breaks

Plan your visit

Why visit Kilkenny?

A medieval city surrounded by riverside villages, craft studios and historic estates.

Don’t miss

Top 20 landmarks and attractions

A curated starting point for planning your time in the county.

  1. 01Kilkenny Castle
  2. 02Medieval Mile
  3. 03St Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower
  4. 04Smithwick’s Experience
  5. 05Rothe House
  6. 06Black Abbey
  7. 07Butler Gallery
  8. 08Kells Priory
  9. 09Jerpoint Abbey
  10. 10Dunmore Cave
  11. 11Woodstock Gardens
  12. 12Castlecomer Discovery Park
  13. 13Nore Valley Walk
  14. 14Inistioge
  15. 15Graiguenamanagh
  16. 16Brandon Hill
  17. 17Nicholas Mosse Pottery
  18. 18St Mary’s Medieval Mile Museum
  19. 19Kilfane Glen
  20. 20Mount Juliet Estate

Suggested route

A simple three-day itinerary

3 days

Suggested county driving route

View route details
1

Day 1 — Begin with Kilkenny Castle, then continue to Medieval Mile and spend the evening exploring the nearest town.

2

Day 2 — Visit St Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower before an afternoon at Smithwick’s Experience.

3

Day 3 — Combine Rothe House with Black Abbey, allowing extra time for local food, viewpoints and unplanned stops.

Build your own Kilkenny itinerary

Add your preferred landmarks and download a personal route.

Stay and explore

Plan more of your time in Kilkenny.

Useful places to stay and island guides connected directly to this county.

Outdoor stays

Qualified places to stay

Camping in Kilkenny →

Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny

Nore Valley Park

Camping · Caravan · Family · Motorhome

Annamult, Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny
R95 Y93K
Official website Email property

Stay in the county

Camping in Kilkenny.

Find an overnight base for the places in this guide. Check property details and contact the operator for current availability.

Browse Kilkenny stays

Plan a memorable stop

Experiences for your Kilkenny 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.

City walk

County Kilkenny

An introduction to Kilkenny

Follow a local guide through the medieval city and use the walk to decide where to spend the rest of your day.

Start / arrival pointBeside Kilkenny Castle; check the exact meeting point

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River boat trip

County Kilkenny

Kilkenny Castle views by boat

See the city from the River Nore as a contrast to exploring its streets on foot. Check sailing conditions and access.

Start / arrival pointCanal Square, Kilkenny city

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Built heritage

County Kilkenny

St Canice's Cathedral and round tower

Explore the cathedral and check the round-tower climbing conditions. The climb may not suit every visitor.

Start / arrival pointSt Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny

View details & availability

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.

Keep exploring

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