Travel to Killarney

Travel to Killarney

Situated in the spectacular county of Kerry, Killarney attracts plenty of visitors to the green (and often rainy) southwest of Ireland. It offers fantastic landscapes, a lively atmosphere, great traditional music and a well-developed tourist infrastructure.
Its also a very good base to tour the famous Ring of Kerry drive, with its dramatic coastal views.

Transportation to Killarney

Even though flying to Killarney isnt very practical, there are two international airports nearby, which are easily accessible from Killarney. The nearest one is Cork International Airport, two hours drive to the east of Killarney and linked by the N22 freeway. Another option is Shannon International Airport, located to the north, past Limerick, three hours away by car. Going by car, the N22 leads in from Cork to the east and the N70 leads in from Limerick and Shannon airports. There is one train connection passing through Kerry, starting in Tralee and continuing via Killarney to Mallow in Cork. There are reasonable bus services to Killarney as well as Tralee, operated by Bus Eirann.

What to see

The town is located next to the Lakes of Killarney - a chain of impossibly twisted lakes, wonderfully speckled with little islands. The most notable is Innisfallen, and tourists can hire a rowboat to row out to this island and see the famous 7th century monastery. The best way to see the lakes is from a boat, with trips leaving every half hour from Kenmare Castle, a monument of national importance that leaves a haunting reflection among the fog which often shrouds the lake. Also within the national park is Muckross House, which has earned the name the Jewel of Killarney, and visitors shouldnt pass by this interesting site.

Another way to see the lakes from a different perspective is from the Ladies View on the roadside that goes up the hills behind the Killarney National Park. One more great way to take in the lakes is to go on one of the many walking trails that follow the winding shoreline of the lakes.

Daytrips

One of the main reasons tourists visit Killarney is to drive the memorable Ring of Kerry, a road which leisurely winds its way around the Dingle Peninsula, affording impressive views of the coastline and stunning mountains. Tralee is 20 miles northwest of Killarney. It is the commercial hub of County Kerry and three times as large as Killarney. The harbour in Tralee is four miles to the northwest of the town, at Fenit an important sailing centre.

Activities and leisure

On rainy days (which come often in Kerry) the locals enjoy meeting to spin a few yarns around pints of Guinness. But the real draw card is the outstanding diddly eye music, which visitors can find in several venues around town. Those who havent heard this music before will be captivated by its enchanting sound. Fiddles, penny whistles, bodhrans and uilleann pipes all join to create a distinctive Celtic sound, unique to Ireland. On a sunny day, the full-day cycle tour through the striking valley of the Gap of Dunloe, marked by huge glacial rocks, is a rewarding outing; however, the route is limited to cycling!

Safety issues

Even though pick pocketing and theft dont really happen in Killarney, it is quite touristy and in the summer wallet lifters may be attracted by the hordes of tourists. The single biggest threat to your wellbeing in Ireland is road accidents, resulting from the single-lane roads. Visitors are more likely to have accidents when in new surroundings and on holiday.