Overview

Killarney is a lively County Kerry town that has been a favourite with visitors for over 250 years. It's the second largest town in County Kerry, and it serves as the gateway to Killarney National Park and the starting point for the Ring of Kerry.

The town first flirted with visitors when Thomas Browne, Lord Kenmare, put the word out over 250 years ago. Queen Victoria followed in 1861, and by 1895 Thomas Cook had brought his first package tour. Today, Killarney is the Grand Central Station of tourism for southwest Ireland - where paradise meets old-fashioned fun, and where five-star hotels, traditional music pubs, and some of the country's most dramatic natural landscapes all sit within easy reach.

What You'll See

Killarney National Park encompasses every kind of terrain for which Ireland is famous, home to Ireland's tallest mountain Carrauntoohil at 3,406 feet, along with the three Lakes of Killarney, ancient woodland, and the Torc Waterfall. St Mary's Cathedral is one of the town's historical highlights - a 19th-century Gothic Revival structure, and Killarney is recognised as a centre for Irish traditional music with live sessions across dozens of pubs.

Visitor Essentials

Killarney is easily accessible by car, bus, train, and plane - Kerry Airport is 13km away with regular connections from Dublin, Galway, and Cork. The town itself is free to explore. Most of the major attractions in the national park are also free, with paid tours available for Ross Castle, Muckross House, and boat trips on the lakes.

May through September offers the best weather - May and June have longer daylight hours, July and August are peak tourism with vibrant festivals, and September offers a balance of favourable weather and fewer crowds. Booking accommodation well in advance is strongly recommended throughout the summer months.

Tips

Parking outside the town centre and walking in is the easier strategy - the town itself is not very large and is best explored on foot. Three or four nights is a comfortable amount of time to use Killarney as a base - plan on a day in town, a day or two in the national park, and full-day excursions for the Dingle Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry.

Official Site: https://killarney.ie