Introduction
What to do
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. Kilkenny deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Activities & attractions in Kilkenny

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 July
Estimated hotel price
£138
1 night at 3-star hotel
Kilkenny in July
Estimated hotel price
£138
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 109 km from Kilkenny. Dublin Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from Aer Lingus, British Airways, Ryanair and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest flight to Kilkenny from the United Kingdom departs from Birmingham and takes around 1h 05m.

Car

Another option to get to Kilkenny is to pick up a car hire from Dublin, which is about 101 km from Kilkenny. You’ll find branches of Budget and Sixt, among others, in Dublin.

Plane

Although Kilkenny doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Dublin Airport (DUB), which is located 109 km from Kilkenny. Dublin Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from Aer Lingus, British Airways, Ryanair and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest flight to Kilkenny from the United Kingdom departs from Birmingham and takes around 1h 05m.

Car

Another option to get to Kilkenny is to pick up a car hire from Dublin, which is about 101 km from Kilkenny. You’ll find branches of Budget and Sixt, among others, in Dublin.

Airports near Kilkenny

ORKCork

Airlines serving Kilkenny

Lufthansa
Good (8,100 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,531 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,072 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,452 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,424 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,974 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,250 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,614 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,895 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (939 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,735 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,603 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,854 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,267 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,207 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,415 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,465 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (416 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,303 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (3,013 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Kilkenny

From 5-star hotels such as the Lyrath Estate to great affordable options like the Kilkenny House Boutique Hotel, Kilkenny offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around £121 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £184 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Kilkenny, with prices from £57 to £1,595 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Kilkenny are about 11% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Kilkenny

Most booked hotels in Kilkenny

Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£154+
Hotel Kilkenny
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£139+
Kilkenny River Court Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£183+
The Hoban Hotel Kilkenny
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£124+
Kilford Arms
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£101+
Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£141+

Hiring a car in Kilkenny

Hiring a car in Kilkenny costs £30 per day, on average, or £59 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 16% more expensive than at Dublin.

Expect to pay £1.62 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 £19.36 and £25.81. The most frequently booked car type in Kilkenny is Intermediate (Kia Sportage or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Opel Astra or similar) is, on average, 41% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Kilkenny costs £30 per day, on average, or £59 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 16% more expensive than at Dublin.

Expect to pay £1.62 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 £19.36 and £25.81. The most frequently booked car type in Kilkenny is Intermediate (Kia Sportage or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Opel Astra or similar) is, on average, 41% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.