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 Yindees at Lyrath Estate Hotel (Lyrath Estate Dublin Road) are great picks.

When to visit Kilkenny

Kilkenny in January
Estimated hotel price
£80
1 night at 3-star hotel
Kilkenny in January
Estimated hotel price
£80
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. Dublin Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from American Airlines, Air Canada, British Airways and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest flight to Kilkenny from the United Kingdom departs from Glasgow and takes around 1h.

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 Easirent and Budget, among others, in Dublin.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Kilkenny using National Express or Bus. From Birmingham, the bus ride to Kilkenny takes 555 miles and will cost you around £90. From London, the ticket costs about £142 for a journey of 735 miles.

Plane

Although Kilkenny doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Dublin Airport (DUB), which is located 68 miles from Kilkenny. Dublin Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from American Airlines, Air Canada, British Airways and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest flight to Kilkenny from the United Kingdom departs from Glasgow and takes around 1h.

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 Easirent and Budget, among others, in Dublin.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Kilkenny using National Express or Bus. From Birmingham, the bus ride to Kilkenny takes 555 miles and will cost you around £90. From London, the ticket costs about £142 for a journey of 735 miles.

Airports near Kilkenny

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Airlines serving Kilkenny

Lufthansa
Good (7,181 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,352 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,839 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,644 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (8,833 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,873 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,551 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,670 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,531 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (831 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,900 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,235 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (8,095 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,318 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (381 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,419 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,338 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,237 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,202 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,300 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 £137 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £157 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Kilkenny

Most booked hotels in Kilkenny

Mount Juliet Estate, Autograph Collection
5 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
£160+
Lyrath Estate
5 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£156+
Kilkenny River Court Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£104+
Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£98+
Hotel Kilkenny
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£104+
Kilford Arms
3 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
£85+

Hiring a car in Kilkenny

Hiring a car in Kilkenny costs £29 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 35% more expensive than at Dublin.

Expect to pay £1.41 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 £16.89 and £22.52. Compact (Volkswagen Polo or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Kilkenny, while also 34% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Kilkenny costs £29 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 35% more expensive than at Dublin.

Expect to pay £1.41 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 £16.89 and £22.52. Compact (Volkswagen Polo or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Kilkenny, while also 34% cheaper than other types, on average.