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County guide

Carlow

A compact county of river valleys, mountain scenery and impressive historic houses.

Blackstairs Mountains
ExploreCarlow Town
Best timeApril to October
Time needed2–4 days
Perfect forCulture, scenery, outdoor adventures and short breaks

Plan your visit

Why visit Carlow?

A compact county of river valleys, mountain scenery and impressive historic houses.

Don’t miss

Top 20 landmarks and attractions

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

  1. 01Altamont Gardens
  2. 02Huntington Castle
  3. 03Duckett’s Grove
  4. 04Carlow Castle
  5. 05Brownshill Dolmen
  6. 06Mount Leinster
  7. 07Blackstairs Mountains
  8. 08Barrow Way
  9. 09Delta Sensory Gardens
  10. 10VISUAL Carlow
  11. 11Carlow County Museum
  12. 12St Laserian’s Cathedral
  13. 13Borris House
  14. 14Rathwood
  15. 15Lisnavagh House
  16. 16Milford Mills
  17. 17Clashganny Lock
  18. 18Leighlinbridge
  19. 19Oak Park Forest Park
  20. 20Nine Stones Viewing Point

Suggested route

A simple three-day itinerary

3 days

Suggested county driving route

View route details
1

Day 1 — Begin with Altamont Gardens, then continue to Huntington Castle and spend the evening exploring the nearest town.

2

Day 2 — Visit Duckett’s Grove before an afternoon at Carlow Castle.

3

Day 3 — Combine Brownshill Dolmen with Mount Leinster, allowing extra time for local food, viewpoints and unplanned stops.

Build your own Carlow itinerary

Add your preferred landmarks and download a personal route.

Plan a memorable stop

Experiences for your Carlow trip.

Our current shortlist for Carlow uses experiences in other counties. These are optional day trips, not local listings. Check the departure point and journey from your base before booking.

Affiliate links: Adventure Ireland may earn a commission when you book through GetYourGuide, at no additional cost to you.

River boat trip

Out-of-county option · 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

View details & availability Explore the Kilkenny guide
City walk

Out-of-county option · 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

View details & availability Explore the Kilkenny guide
Built heritage

Out-of-county option · 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 Explore the Kilkenny guide

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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