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A stone arch bridge over the stream at Kilfane Glen with mossed boulders below it

Cill Chainnigh

Kilkenny

A medieval city on the River Nore, ringed by abbeys and castles.

  • Leinster
  • 20 places
  • 22 events in the next 30 days
  • 24 more listings

The list

Top 10 things to do in Kilkenny

Kilkenny keeps its medieval street plan, so most of the city half of this list is walkable between the castle and St Canice's without getting into a car. Outside the city the county is abbeys, high crosses and the Nore.

  1. The walls and towers of Kells Priory across a field with sheepKells PrioryMonastic site · KellsAbout three acres are walled in behind seven towers, beside the King's River at Kells.
  2. A chamber of fallen rock inside Dunmore Cave, County KilkennyDunmore CaveCave · CastlecomerStairs from the visitor centre take you down into a limestone cave north of the city, and a tall calcite column, the Market Cross, is the thing to see.
  3. The ruined shell of Woodstock House above its formal gardenWoodstock Gardens and ArboretumGarden · InistiogeThe Victorian estate garden sits on the hill above Inistioge, with a monkey puzzle avenue, a noble fir walk and a walled garden.
  4. The stone front and arcade of Rothe House on Parliament Street in KilkennyRothe House and GardenHouse and gardens · Kilkenny cityThree merchant houses and their cobbled courtyards on Parliament Street, built by John Rothe between 1594 and 1610, with the orchard garden restored behind them.
  5. Carved stone crosses on display inside the Medieval Mile MuseumMedieval Mile MuseumMuseum · Kilkenny citySt Mary's Church on High Street is no longer a church. It holds the carved merchant tombs of the city instead.
  6. A stone arch bridge over the stream at Kilfane Glen with mossed boulders below itKilfane Glen and WaterfallWaterfall · ThomastownThe wooded ravine near Thomastown was laid out in the 1790s, with a thatched cottage orné beside a made waterfall. It is closed for 2026 and opens again for July and August 2027.
  7. The brewery front at Smithwick's in Kilkenny with its red arched doors and bannersSmithwick's ExperienceDistillery or brewery · Kilkenny cityThe brewery visitor centre on Parliament Street stands on the St Francis Abbey site, where brewing ran from 1710.
Show 10 more
  1. Barges moored on the Barrow below the arched stone bridge at GraiguenamanaghGraiguenamanaghTown · Co. KilkennyDuiske Abbey and a seven arch stone bridge are what the town is built around, under Brandon Hill on the Barrow.
  2. The wide main street of Thomastown running down to the old buildings at the endThomastownTown · Co. KilkennyA walled Norman town on the Nore, with parts of the town wall still up and a river crossing that has been in use since the 13th century.
  3. The River Nore in early morning mist at Kilkenny cityNore Valley WalkWalk · InistiogeThe riverside path along the Nore between Inistioge and Thomastown, through woodland and past the Woodstock estate.
  4. The long capstone of Kilmogue Portal Tomb leaning back on its uprightsKilmogue Portal TombPrehistoric site · MullinavatThe capstone is tilted up at a steep angle, and this is one of the tallest portal tombs in the country, near Harristown.
  5. The base of the round tower at Kilree with the church ruin beside it in long grassKilree Church, Round Tower and CrossMonastic site · KellsA 29m round tower that has lost its cap, a church ruin and a carved high cross, all in the one field south of Kells.
  6. Two high crosses standing among headstones in the graveyard at KilkieranKilkieran High CrossesMonastic site · WindgapThree high crosses standing together in a small graveyard at Kilkieran, one of them unusually tall and thin.
  7. The square tower house of Clara Castle standing among treesClara CastleCastle · ClaraFive storeys of tower house at Clara, 6km east of the city, still holding its original oak beams. It stands in a farm field and the OPW opens it by appointment with the caretaker.
  8. Brandon Hill above GraiguenamanaghBrandon HillMountain · GraiguenamanaghThe highest hill in the county at 515m. It goes straight up behind Graiguenamanagh and a marked path takes you to the cairn on top.
  9. Fallow deer grazing in the walled garden at Castlecomer Discovery ParkCastlecomer Discovery ParkPark · CastlecomerEighty acres of estate park in Castlecomer with two lakes, a coal mining exhibition and a treetop walk.
  10. Ballykeefe DistilleryDistillery or brewery · CuffesgrangeThe farm distillery at Cuffesgrange grows its own barley and distils it on the same land, southwest of the city.

Where they are

Tap a pin to open the place.

Kilkenny CastleSt Canice's Cathedral and Round TowerJerpoint AbbeyKells PrioryDunmore CaveWoodstock Gardens and ArboretumRothe House and GardenMedieval Mile MuseumKilfane Glen and WaterfallSmithwick's ExperienceGraiguenamanaghThomastownNore Valley WalkKilmogue Portal TombKilree Church, Round Tower and CrossKilkieran High CrossesClara CastleCastlecomer Discovery ParkBallykeefe Distillery

19 of the 20 places are on the map. The rest are listed above.

What’s on in Kilkenny

Coming up, soonest first.

Tomorrow, Saturday 10th October

  1. Sat10 OctPumpkin Patch Picking at Nore Valley ParkNore Valley Park · Bennettsbridge10th to 30th October

Sunday 18th October

  1. Sun18 OctWitches and Wizards Pumpkin FestivalCastlecomer Discovery Park · Castlecomer18th to 31st OctoberFestival

Thursday 22nd October

  1. Thu22 OctSavour Kilkenny Food Festival 2026Kilkenny City22nd to 26th OctoberFreeFestival

Friday 23rd October

  1. Fri23 OctA Samhain Medieval FeastRothe House & Garden23rd to 26th October
  2. Fri23 OctFire Trail - Torchlight Treasure Hunt & Scare MazeNore Valley Park · Bennettsbridge23rd to 26th October

Saturday 24th October

  1. Sat24 OctCastle Park Concert KilkennyKilkenny Castle Park

Sunday 25th October

  1. Sun25 OctSounds of Samhain at Savour KilkennyKilkenny Castle ParkFree

Monday 26th October

  1. Mon26 OctA Samhain Spectacle in Flame & Sound with KílaUPMC Nowlan Park

Everything coming up in Kilkenny

Towns

The one with enough in and around it for a page of its own.

More to see in Kilkenny

24 more places from Fáilte Ireland’s own listings, linked to their own sites where they have one.

Castles and houses5

  1. Eden Hall EstateBallyragget
  2. Kilkenny Design CentreKilkenny City
  3. Shankill Castle and GardensPaulstown
  4. Granagh CastleCo. Kilkenny
  5. The Hole In The WallCo. Kilkenny

Abbeys and churches8

  1. St Mary's Church GowranGowran
  2. Duiske AbbeyGraiguenamanagh
  3. Black AbbeyKilkenny City
  4. St John's PrioryKilkenny City
  5. Kilfane ChurchThomastown
  6. Knockroe Passage TombCo. Kilkenny
  7. St Mary's CathedralCo. Kilkenny
  8. Tullaherin Round TowerCo. Kilkenny

Gardens and parks5

  1. Ballyrafton WoodBallyfoyle
  2. Gáirdín an GhortaDunnamaggan
  3. Newpark Fen and Eco-ParkKilkenny City
  4. Coille an Fhaltaigh Millennium ForestKilmanagh
  5. The National Reptile ZooCo. Kilkenny

Museums5

  1. Butler GalleryKilkenny City
  2. Geraldine Walsh ArtKilkenny City
  3. Edmund Rice Heritage CentreCo. Kilkenny
  4. Highbank Organic OrchardsCo. Kilkenny
  5. The National Design & Craft GalleryCo. Kilkenny

Other places1

  1. Nore Valley Park Pet FarmBennettsbridge

Music in Kilkenny

Trad sessions, venues and festivals.

Where to hear it

Sessions come and go: check with the pub before you travel.

  1. Breathnach's Steak & Ale HousePub with trad sessions · Kilkenny
  2. Cleere's Bar & TheatrePub with trad sessions · Kilkenny
  3. The Field Bar & RestaurantPub with trad sessions · Kilkenny
  4. The PumphousePub with trad sessions · Kilkenny
  5. Kyteler's InnPub with live music · Kilkenny
  6. Sullivan’s TaproomPub with live music · Kilkenny
  7. The Hole In The WallPub with live music · Kilkenny
  8. The Rafter's Gastro PubPub with live music · Kilkenny
  9. Set TheatreTheatre and arts centre · Kilkenny City
  10. Watergate TheatreTheatre and arts centre · Kilkenny

Music on across Ireland

Where to stay in Kilkenny

15 places on Fáilte Ireland’s register of approved accommodation: the four and five star hotels and guest houses.

  1. Lyrath Estate5-star hotel · Kilkenny
  2. Mount Juliet Estate5-star hotel · Thomastown
  3. Avalon House Hotel4-star hotel · Castlecomer
  4. Hotel Kilkenny4-star hotel · Kilkenny
  5. Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel4-star hotel · Kilkenny
  6. Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel4-star hotel · Kilkenny
  7. Kilkenny River Court Hotel4-star hotel · Kilkenny
  8. Langton House4-star hotel · Kilkenny
  9. Newpark Hotel4-star hotel · Kilkenny
  10. Pembroke Hotel4-star hotel · Kilkenny
  11. The Hoban Hotel Kilkenny4-star hotel · Kilkenny
  12. Butler House & Garden4-star guest house · Kilkenny
  13. Laragh House4-star guest house · Kilkenny
  14. Newlands Lodge4-star B&B · Kilkenny
  15. Springview House4-star B&B · Urlingford

Where to eat and drink in Kilkenny

34 restaurants, pubs and cafés listed with Fáilte Ireland. A list of who registered, not a ranking, linked to their own sites where they have one.

  1. Breathnach's Steak & Ale HousePub
  2. Langton's Bar and RestaurantRestaurant
  3. Scott's Bar and Gulliver's RestaurantRestaurant
  4. Sullivan’s TaproomRestaurant
  5. White Oak Restaurant at the Kilford Arms HotelRestaurant
  6. Riverview Bar and Terrace at Kilkenny River Court HotelRestaurant · Kilkenny
  7. Bollard's BarPub · KilkennyFacebook page
  8. FoodworksRestaurant · KilkennyFacebook page
  9. Italian ConnectionRestaurant · Kilkenny
  10. Kafe KatzCafé · KilkennyFacebook page
  11. Kilkenny Café - Kilkenny CityCafé · Kilkenny
  12. Kytelers InnRestaurant · Kilkenny
  13. Lanigan's Bar & RestaurantRestaurant · Kilkenny
  14. Pennyfeather CaféCafé · KilkennyFacebook page
  15. Ristorante RinucciniRestaurant · Kilkenny
  16. Royal Spice KilkennyRestaurant · Kilkenny
  17. Savour Restaurant at the Kilkenny Ormonde HotelRestaurant · Kilkenny
  18. Statham's at The Pembroke HotelRestaurant · Kilkenny
  19. The Brasserie at the Kilkenny Hibernian HotelRestaurant · Kilkenny
  20. The Field Bar & RestaurantRestaurant · KilkennyFacebook page
  21. The GrapevineRestaurant · Kilkenny
  22. The Marble City Bar & Tea RoomsRestaurant · Kilkenny
  23. The Pantry Country KitchenCafé · KilkennyFacebook page
  24. The PumphousePub · KilkennyFacebook page
  25. The Rafter's Gastro PubRestaurant · Kilkenny
  26. Victor's Bar and Restaurant at The Club House HotelRestaurant · Kilkenny
  27. Zuni RestaurantRestaurant · Kilkenny
  28. CampagneRestaurant · Kilkenny
  29. Left BankRestaurant · Kilkenny
  30. Matt The Millers Bar & RestaurantRestaurant · Kilkenny
  31. Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount JulietRestaurant · Mount Juliet
  32. The Rising Sun RestaurantRestaurant · Mullinavat
  33. Malzards Pub and Hurling ExperiencePub · Stoneyford
  34. The Blackberry CaféCafé · ThomastownFacebook page

Getting to Kilkenny

By air
Dublin Airport, Cork Airport
By rail
Stations at Kilkenny MacDonagh and Thomastown, on the Dublin to Waterford line.
By road
The M9, N10 and N76.

Questions

What are the best things to do in Kilkenny?

Our top three are Kilkenny Castle, St Canice's Cathedral and Round Tower and Jerpoint Abbey. The full list of twenty is at the top of this page, and every place on it has a page of its own.

What can you do in Kilkenny for free?

Walks and open ground cost nothing to visit. On our list that includes Nore Valley Walk, Brandon Hill and Castlecomer Discovery Park. Some forest parks charge for the car park, so check parking and access with the place before you go.

What is on in Kilkenny?

There are 24 events listed in Kilkenny over the months ahead. See them all.

Next door

Guides for a trip to Kilkenny

Longer reads for planning.

All guides

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