Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Kilkenny travel guide

Kilkenny Tourism | Kilkenny Guide

You're Going to Love Kilkenny

With a population of 21,589, Kilkenny is the largest city in Kilkenny, Ireland by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Consider staying at least one whole day in Kilkenny to see all of its attractions.

Where to Eat in Kilkenny

If you’re looking for affordable options, Petronella Restaurant (80/81 Butter Slip Ln) and Marble City Bar (Marble City Bar) are great picks.

When to visit Kilkenny

Kilkenny in November
Estimated hotel price
$366
1 night at 3-star hotel
Kilkenny in November
Estimated hotel price
$366
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Kilkenny in July, when the average temperature is 16 °C, and the highest can go up to 20 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 2 °C, with an average temperature of 5 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in October, when precipitation is around 95 mm. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Kilkenny, with an average rainfall of 55 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Kilkenny

Plane

Although Kilkenny doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Dublin Airport (DUB), which is located 68 miles from Kilkenny. The shortest flight to Kilkenny from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 30h 45m.

Train

The train station in Kilkenny is called Kilkenny, and is located 0.4 miles from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Kilkenny is to pick up a car hire from Dublin, which is about 63 miles from Kilkenny. You’ll find branches of CARHIRE.ie and Alamo, among others, in Dublin.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Kilkenny using Bus or Aircoach. From Belfast, the bus ride to Kilkenny takes 145 miles and will cost you around $25. From Cork, the ticket costs about $72 for a journey of 180 miles.

Plane

Although Kilkenny doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Dublin Airport (DUB), which is located 68 miles from Kilkenny. The shortest flight to Kilkenny from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 30h 45m.

Train

The train station in Kilkenny is called Kilkenny, and is located 0.4 miles from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Kilkenny is to pick up a car hire from Dublin, which is about 63 miles from Kilkenny. You’ll find branches of CARHIRE.ie and Alamo, among others, in Dublin.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Kilkenny using Bus or Aircoach. From Belfast, the bus ride to Kilkenny takes 145 miles and will cost you around $25. From Cork, the ticket costs about $72 for a journey of 180 miles.

Airports near Kilkenny

DUBDublin
SNNShannon
ORKCork

Airlines serving Kilkenny

Lufthansa
Good (7,993 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,517 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,974 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,447 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,362 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,943 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,215 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,587 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (915 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,701 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,571 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,728 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,775 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,022 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,189 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,393 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (407 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,250 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,437 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,352 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Kilkenny

From 5-star hotels such as the Lyrath Estate to great affordable options like the Zuni Restaurant & Boutique Hotel, Kilkenny offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $276 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $376 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Kilkenny, with prices from $126 to $3,536 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Kilkenny are about 15% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Kilkenny

Most booked hotels in Kilkenny

See all
Mount Juliet Estate, Autograph Collection
5 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
$468+
View
Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
$385+
View
Kilkenny River Court Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$366+
View
The Hoban Hotel Kilkenny
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$269+
View
The Club House Hotel
2 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
$243+
View
Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$312+
View

Hiring a car in Kilkenny

Expect to pay $3.58 per litre in Kilkenny (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $42.92 and $57.22. The most frequently booked car type in Kilkenny is Full-size (Opel Vivaro or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Ford Fiesta or similar) is, on average, 28% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Expect to pay $3.58 per litre in Kilkenny (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $42.92 and $57.22. The most frequently booked car type in Kilkenny is Full-size (Opel Vivaro or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Ford Fiesta or similar) is, on average, 28% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.