In Kilkenny itself, a walking tour brings the medieval city to life in a way the stones alone do not. The region’s scattered sites are most easily reached without a car on day tours from Dublin, which is why several of the products below start there.
Hand-picked tours & tickets
Walking tour from €15 The Perfect Introduction to Kilkenny Walking Tour
Two hours on foot along the Medieval Mile with a local guide: castle, slips and laneways, witch trials and brewing monks.
Tasting from €23 Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny
A guided visit on the site where Smithwick’s ale was brewed from 1710, in the grounds of a medieval abbey, ending with a tasting.
Ticket from €10 St Canice’s Cathedral & Round Tower Climb
Entry to the thirteenth-century cathedral and its ninth-century round tower, one of only two in Ireland that visitors can climb.
From Dublin from €38 From Dublin: Kilkenny, Wicklow & Glendalough with Sheepdog Show
A full day from the capital: the Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough’s monastic valley, a working sheepdog demonstration and free time in Kilkenny.
From Dublin from €85 From Dublin: Boyne Valley with Newgrange & Brú na Bóinne Entry
The simplest way to see Newgrange: transport, pre-booked entry to the visitor centre and tomb, and other Boyne Valley sites such as the Hill of Tara.
From Dublin from €85 From Dublin: Blarney Castle, Rock of Cashel & Cahir Castle
A long day south taking in three castles and crags, including time at the Rock of Cashel.
From Dublin from €55 From Dublin: Wild Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough & Guinness Lake
A long-running small-coach tour over the Sally Gap to Lough Tay and Glendalough, with a pub lunch stop.
Prices are indicative “from” prices seen on GetYourGuide and change with season and currency — the link shows the live price.
Booking notes
- Newgrange cannot be visited independently at the mound. All access is through the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, by timed ticket and shuttle bus. Tickets are released online in advance and sell out in summer; a tour with entry included removes the worry.
- The Rock of Cashel and Kilkenny Castle are OPW sites: pay at the gate or use a Heritage Card.
- Glendalough is free to enter; only the car parks and visitor centre charge.
- GetYourGuide has few tours starting in Waterford or Cashel; in Waterford, the museums sell their own combined pass.
