Kilkenny has been a craft city since the 1960s, when a design workshop opened beside its castle, and the habit shows in the pottery, glass and silver shops, the market stalls and the pubs pouring the local red ale. Most of what is worth doing here starts with something made, baked or brewed.
Related: Kilkenny Travel Guide: Castle, Medieval Mile and Best Things to Do
Top-Rated Kilkenny Castle Day Trip Tours & Experiences
Kilkenny City and Glendalough Day Trip from Dublin
A long day pairing Kilkenny’s castle and old streets with the monastic ruins of Glendalough in the Wicklow Mountains. Suits visitors without a car. Check the time at each site, and bring waterproofs for Glendalough.
Waterford Crystal Kilkenny Castle Private Chauffeur Full Day Sightseeing Tour
A private day with a driver, covering a crystal factory visit in Waterford and Kilkenny Castle. Suits couples and small groups who value comfort and flexibility. Check the factory tour times and which entries are included.
Day Trip to Kilkenny City and Newbridge Silverware and Museum of Style Icons
Combines Kilkenny with a craft stop in Newbridge, where a silverware showroom and a museum of style icons add a lighter side. Suits families. Check the timing and whether admissions are included.
Kilkenny Boat Trip
A boat outing, most likely on the River Nore, which flows through town. Check the departure point, duration and season in the listing, since river trips depend on conditions.
Wicklow Mountains Glendalough and Kilkenny Day Tour from Dublin
Another Dublin day trip, this one leaning on mountain scenery in Wicklow before finishing in Kilkenny. Suits scenery lovers. Compare stop times with the Glendalough version, and ask how long you get in the city.
Prices and availability can change quickly during peak travel season, so it’s worth reserving your spot in Kilkenny Castle Day Trip early — especially for the more popular options above.
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Crafts, ale and hurling
A craft gallery and shops occupy the castle’s former stables, and workshops dot the lanes nearby. Hurling is the local passion, the black-and-amber county jersey is everywhere, and a hurling tour teaches the basics. The local red ale is poured in most pubs.
Why We Picked These Tours
Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile runs from the castle to St Canice’s Cathedral, past narrow lanes called slips and the Tholsel, an arcaded 18th-century town hall. The castle, rebuilt many times by the Butler family, has a long picture gallery, and St Canice’s round tower can be climbed in season.
Seasons and Crowds in Kilkenny
The Cat Laughs comedy festival around the early May weekend and the Kilkenny Arts Festival in August fill the town, and rooms rise in price. Summer evenings are long, which suits the haunted tours. Winter is quiet, with some attractions on shorter hours.
Choosing Where to Stay in Kilkenny
Kilkenny is roughly 1.5 hours from Dublin by train or road, so day trips work. Evenings in the pubs and on the haunted tours are better with a night’s stay. Hotels near the castle and High Street keep you on the Medieval Mile.
How Much Kilkenny Tours Cost
Walking tours are cheap here: the median is $23, Medieval Mile Museum Self Guided Audio Tour costs $9, and the guided walks and hurling tours top the list at $35. The Dublin day trips listed above may be priced separately, so open them to compare.
Booking Tips for Kilkenny
Wear comfortable shoes for the cobbles. Castle visits and museums have separate tickets, so check what each tour includes. Book hurling lessons ahead, since weather affects pitch sessions, and expect pubs to fill on match weekends.
Comparing the Best Kilkenny Options
Walking tours give the best value for context, the haunted walk belongs to the evening, and hurling is hands-on. Dublin day trips work if you have just one day, at the cost of time in Kilkenny itself.
Kilkenny Tours: Quick Answers
Which Kilkenny tour is best reviewed?
Shenanigans Walks leads on both rating and volume, with 526 reviews at 5. Across 6 priced tours there are 1,452 reviews.
How much does a Kilkenny tour cost?
Priced tours run from $9 to $35, with a median of $23. Self-guided options sit at the bottom, and guided walks and hurling tours at the top.
Can I visit Kilkenny from Dublin in a day?
Yes. The journey takes about 1.5 hours each way, and several day tours here combine Kilkenny with Glendalough or a crystal and silver stop.
What is hurling?
An ancient Irish stick-and-ball sport, among the fastest field games. Kilkenny is one of its strongest counties, and a tour can offer a short taster session.
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