The Best Things to Do in Killarney, Ireland

The person who coined the term Emerald Isle to describe Ireland could not have been more right. Its rolling hills, luscious fields, thick forests, glassy lakes, romantic castles and ruined abbeys are enough to make anyone want to escape the rat race and put down roots there for the rest of their lives.

When we first started travelling, we tended to stick around cities because it felt safer to have constant access to public transport. As we gained experience, we realised how much we had been missing out on by not spending a few days in the countryside. If you do not wish to hire a car, don’t worry. Public transport is the better choice for the environment anyways. This involves a great deal of planning ahead, but if done right, the trip should run as smoothly as can be!

How to Get There:

We flew into Cork, took the bus to the city centre, stopped at Parnell Square and took the bus to Killarney. A single ticket costs €19 (this is the price we paid in the summer of 2019) and the journey is around two hours long. We arrived at 9pm and were relieved to see that the bus station is just a few minutes away from the centre of town, which is dotted with cosy restaurants serving the most delicious dishes.

Things to Do:

Gap of Dunloe

We did A LOT of hiking on this day. We’d booked a mini bus to drive us to Kate Kearney’s Cottage, which marks the start of the Mountain Pass. Here you will be met by a number of jaunting cars that offer to take you through the Pass (for a fee – somewhere around €25) or if you’re fit enough, you may wish to hike it all the way to Lord Brandon’s Cottage.

Let me assure you that we THOUGHT we were fit enough and obviously had no idea how long it actually was. We later found out it’s about 11km long. We were so sore the next day that we could hardly put one foot in front of the other. It took us 2 hours and 20 minutes to get to Lord Brandon’s cottage, but it was totally worth the effort. (Oh, and the reason we had to do it in so little time was because of the game of Kerry vs. Dublin that afternoon, more on that later).

On the way we made a wish on the Wishing Bridge, (supposedly they all come true!), feasted our eyes on the most glorious landscape with lakes and mountains, descended into the Black Valley, scared a flock of sheep half to death by walking too close to them and baaing in greeting, were stared down by a cow (was it because of the red raincoat, we wonder?), got our trousers and shoes soaked in the heavy rain and waved at all the tourists riding along in the jaunting cars.

So yes, you could take a jaunting car, but you could be bold and go the distance, especially if you’ve been feeling stiff from all the travelling and are on a bit of a budget. We’re glad we went on this invigorating hike and we recommend it if you’re up to it.

Dingle

We got to know about this picturesque town when we watched the film Leap Year and became obsessed with the scenery of Ireland. After many years, we managed to manifest our dream into reality. (Bonus points if you meet your forever man in a little rural Irish pub like the pretty redhead did!)

We got lucky as time went by because the mist lifted slightly and we could see the angry waves breaking on the rocky cliffs below. If you visit in fair weather, you could be rewarded with the most breath-taking views and enjoy a stroll along Inch Beach. The centre of town has quaint little shops and a cathedral. We had a delicious lunch in a cosy restaurant, too. Dingle delivers the promised Irish craic, that’s for sure!

Ring of Kerry

There is much to do in Killarney itself, but if you want to venture out and soak in the beautiful scenery of the Irish countryside, we recommend taking a trip along the Ring of Kerry. Highlights include the Kerry Bog Village Museum, Waterville Beach and Ladies’ View. If the weather’s mostly in your favour (you know Irish weather and its tricks with the four seasons in a day), you’ll get to see the most magnificent views the country has to offer. Well worth a trip!

Boat Trip + Ross Castle

We’d booked the boat trip in advance, but on that day, nobody wanted to miss the Kerry-Dublin game so all boat trips were going to take place earlier than usual (hence our hurry on the hike). We took the boat from Lord Brandon’s Cottage and made our way across the lakes to Ross Castle. It was most refreshing after the hike. You can also go inside Ross Castle at a fee of €5, but we were worn out by the time we got there, so we took some photos of the exterior and went back to town for a hot shower, a sumptuous dinner and an early night.

St. Mary’s Cathedral

We had the opportunity to go to Mass here, but even if you are not religious and find architecture fascinating, we suggest a visit to this cathedral.

Shopping

If you like to do a spot of shopping whenever you travel, the centre of town is lined with shops selling clothes, souvenirs and books, as well as handmade items made locally which you can gift someone with or take with you as a token of your memorable trip to this magical place. It’s very easy to get carried away here, so remember your luggage restrictions!

Killarney National Park:

Muckross Abbey

This abbey was founded for Observatine Franciscans in the 15^th century. Although it is now a ruin, it is very well-preserved and the yew tree in the courtyard is believed to be as old as the abbey itself. Local chieftains and Gaelic poets have been buried there and the graveyard is still in use today.

Muckross House and Gardens

Muckross House is a 19^th century mansion which lies within Killarney National Park and is located close to Muckross Lake. You can take a guided tour of the House itself for €9.25 (in 2020) and then go on to explore the gardens. Jaunting cars offer rides around the Park if you wish to enjoy the scenery like an aristocrat.

Torc Waterfall

We followed the trail to the Waterfall after we’d visited Muckross House. You may wish to follow longer trails around the waterfall itself, but we’d done quite a bit of walking for the day so we headed back to the hotel. If you’re up to it, put your hiking shoes on and enjoy!

We hope you find these tips helpful and have a wonderful time if you plan to visit!

If you have any comments, questions or feedback, we’d like to hear from you in the comments below.

Safe Travels!

Passport and Pathways x

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