County Kerry is a hilly region of the south-east of Ireland, considered one of the most iconic parts of the Emerald Isle. The region attracts thousands of tourists and cyclists every month due to its distinct beauty of unspoiled countryside, magnificent mountain trails, cliff walks and dramatic coastline. You can get lost in a total wilderness when adventuring in County Kerry. I’ve been exploring this area for a few years, and it’s a real sightseeing and hiking treasure. Based on my experience and discoveries in the region, I’m sharing 10 top things to do in Kerry to help you shape your unique travel itinerary.
10 magnificent things to do in Kerry.
Kerry’s Atlantic coastline is a paradise for water sports. It’s popular for surfers and sea kayakers, where you can explore hidden coves and sea caves along the coast. Diving and snorkelling are great adventures in Ireland, with diverse marine life around the Skellig Islands. However, I would recommend this for advanced swimmers, as it’s a very different experience in this part of the world, due to cold and dark water and strong currents.
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Since accommodation prices in Ireland have become really expensive, look for an accommodation on Agoda.com, where you can still find a decent B&B for something like 65 USD.
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1. Skellig Michael Landing Tour.
Skellig Islands must have been on the top of the list. Skellig Islands gained a global attention after being a filming location in Star Wars. To experience this epic journey some preparation is needed.
One of the best things to do in Kerry is taking an ocean trip to Skelig Islands. Due to an extreme popularity of this natural wonder, you need to book your trip well in advance – sometimes even a year ahead! The Skellig Islands tours operate only from mid-May-till 1st of October. There are also two types of Skellig Michael Island tour – landing and eco tour. All the boats leave from a lovely port town – Portmagee.
Recommended tour with Tripadvisor: Blasket Island Sea Life Rib Tour – witness captivating marine life, from dolphins, seals & majestic whales.
With a landing tour the boats land on the island leaving you around 2.5h to hike 700 steps up to the magnificent ancient Monastery – located on the top of the mountains.
Jump into a complete guide on Skellig Michael Landing Tour!
2. The Ring of Kerry!
The Ring of Kerry is an absolute must-see for anyone visiting this enchanting county. This 179-kilometre scenic drive offers some of the most stunning coastal views in Ireland, featuring cliffs, golden beaches, and charming villages. Taking a coastal route by car, bike, or hiking is one of the best things to do in Kerry.
County Kerry, with its Killarney National Park, which offers great things to do in Kerry, is a fantastic starting point for exploring the region, where you can consider hiking the highest peak of Ireland – Carrauntoohil, 1038 metres or the second highest – Mount Brandon 952m.
Wild Atlantic Way.
The Wild Atlantic Way covers 2600 km from Donegal in the south to West Cork, unveiling the wildest spots of the island’s dramatic oceanic coast. According to many sources Wild Atlantic Way is the world’s longest coastal route. To drive the whole way, you would need at least 1-2 weeks, and a comfortable car or a trailer.
Dingle is my favourite place on the west coast of Ireland – a small port town with stunning Atlantic Ocean views, and the only town located on the Dingle Peninsula.
The most popular and spectacular Killarney attractions and tours by TripAdvisor are:
- Fabulous Speed boat tour – The Great Blasket island Experience.
- Exhilarating Rib experience – Dingle sea safari along Dingle Peninsula’s most spectacular scenery.
- Best Ring of Kerry Tour ex Killarney inc Killarney National Park.
Check more adventures nearby!
3. Mitchelstown Caves.
There are a few very interesting destinations and things to do around Killarney. One of them is Mitchelstown Caves, located in the nearby County Tipperary. The place is well worth visiting. The caves are located 12 kilometres from the lovely town of Mitchelstown. The guided tour takes place every hour during opening hours and lasts approx 1 hour. I don’t think you need to book the tickets in advance.
Make sure you wear good hiking boots, as the underground path may be quite slippery. Also dress properly, as the temperature drops to 12 Celcius degrees.
Some of the famous Vikings Series were filmed in Mitchelstown Caves.
If you have some more time, another beautiful place to target in the area is Lismore Castle and Gardens.
4. Enjoy Dingle – fish & chips.
Dingle, a small, unforgettable port town in Dingle Peninsula. Recently most famous for the hometown of Fungie the dolphin, who went missing in 2020. It is one of my favourite places on the island. The place always greets me with an amazing atmosphere, I love its colourful architecture and artistic look. You also can’t miss local bars for some drinks and fresh fish – fish and chips taste great!
Best-selling tour with Tripadvisor: Dingle Dolphin Blasket Adventure – a boat cruise along rugged cliffs, sandy coves and mountainous islands of the Dingle Peninsula along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
One of the most popular things to do in Kerry for families is visiting Dingle Oceanworld – Ireland’s largest aquarium, located along the marina in Dingle.
Try to join any local Village Festivals of art, music and food, or very popular walking festivals which take place all year round. Curry code and scallops are always my favourite if cooked properly! These were DELICIOUS!
5. Louis Mulcahy Pottery.
One of the best things to do in Kerry is visiting Louis Mulcahy Pottery, a very special place of an Irish artist who makes exclusively designed handcrafted pottery. In 1975, he moved his shop from Dublin to Dingle with the white house workshop near the coastal road.
The shop and gallery is a great option among all things to do in Kerry since the place is beautifully situated with an impressive exposition along the road facing the Great Blasket Island. Mulcahy Pottery Shop is well recognised, and with a wide range of products starting from tiny original souvenirs and mugs to huge vases, it is now been shipping all over the world.
6. Castlegregory with Milesian restaurant!
Castlegregory is a lovely village located in the Dingle Peninsula, with some stunning restaurants. The village was named after Gregory Hoare, who built a nearby castle in the 16th century.
Milesian was discovered while exploring County Kerry – and while there are several tasty restaurants in the village, this one is absolutely a top place. It’s a tiny place with perhaps 10 tables in total, so make sure to make your reservation in advance. With a one-pager 2 or 3-course menu, you have only 3 options to choose from the starters, main course and a dessert. Don’t go for 2-cours menu, the portions are medium-sized as in high-standard restaurants. The code and marinated sweet water fish were a master dish. It was 50 euros per person, but trust me, it is worth it!
7. Visit Killarney National Park.
Killarney National Park is the oldest national park in Ireland. With its unique beauty of ecological and landscape diversity, it attracts thousands of visitors each month. The land is a combination of spectacular hiking trails, mountain ranges, lakes and forests and includes Ireland’s highest mountain – Carrauntoohil 1038 metres. Hiking Carrauntoohil or Brandon (the second-highest peak in Ireland) allows you to explore the most popular views of the region. The trails are not easy, so make sure to prepare well for the changeable Irish weather!
Most popular things to do in Killarney National Park are:
- Killarney National Park Tour
- Ring of Kerry Guided Day Tour
- Visiting Ross Castle
- Muckross Abbey
8. Valentina Island and Bray Head Loop Walk over Skellig Islands view.
Valentina Island is one of the highlights of the Kerry Region. If you are taking a boat to Valentina island – Bray Head Loop walk is a fantastic idea for exploring the area.
BRAY HEAD LOOP WALK:
- It’s a pretty easy 6 km loop trail along the ocean coastline on the west part of Valentina island.
- The walk takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete and on a bright day, unveils incredible views over the Skellig Islands and Kerry Cliffs.
- The Walk leads through a Bray Head watchtower built on the cliffs in 1815.
- While it is a moderate cliff walk, don’t underestimate the path. Dress properly and be prepared, as some sections of the trail can get muddy and slippery.
9. Stadbally and Ballybunion - wild beaches of Kerry.
The northern part of the Dingle Peninsula is also known as ‘The Gold Coast’. This part of the west oceanic coast hides one of the most spectacular and longest beaches of the island. Visiting the West Coast is one of the most rewarding things to do in Kerry. Stadbally Beach is almost 20 kilometres long and it’s unbelievably beautiful and empty… and COLD! However, huge splashing waves encouraged me to swim in it. Once you’re in, it feels great. It’s so refreshing, and it really sets your mind for the day.
Ballybunion Beach is known for being one of the cleanest regions in Ireland. This spectacular beach is enriched with amazing rocky formations. However, bear in mind strong currents and changeable tides.
10. Glanteenassig Forest Park
Glanteenassig Forest Park is a lovely natural area of 450 hectares of forests, lakes and mountains situated in a valley among the Slieve Mish Mountains. It’s a peaceful region with a number of easy hiking loops. It’s also a great picnic place in the middle of the mountain lakes nature.
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