Kilkenny is a walkable medieval city on the River Nore, centred on Kilkenny Castle and the 'Medieval Mile' running from the castle to St. Canice's Cathedral. Its narrow laneways ('slips'), preserved 13th-century street plan, and dense concentration of pubs and craft breweries make it a full-day trip that rewards being on foot rather than a rushed stop.
| Distance | 115 km from city centre |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 1h 20min by train |
| Getting there | Irish Rail (irishrail.ie) from Heuston Station; 1h 20min; from €14 return (~$15.40). Departs approximately every 2 hours. |
| Address | Kilkenny City, County Kilkenny, R95 Ireland |
How to get there
- Irish Rail from Heuston
- Bus Éireann from Busáras (2h; from €9 / ~$9.90)
- Car (1h 20min via M7/M9)
Weather through the year in Ireland
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Ireland.
Location
Kilkenny City, County Kilkenny, R95 Ireland
52.6541, -7.2448 View on map
Highlights
- Kilkenny Castle and its riverside parkland, free to walk the grounds without a castle ticket
- The Medieval Mile Museum and St. Canice's Cathedral with its round tower (climbable, separate small fee)
- Smithwick's Experience Kilkenny, a self-guided visitor experience on the site of the historic brewery
- The Butter Slip and other narrow medieval laneways connecting High Street to the castle
Tips for visiting
- It is 115 km each way, making this the longest of the standard day trips — the first train from Heuston (check irishrail.ie for the earliest departure) is worth taking to maximise time in the city
- Kilkenny is genuinely walkable — the castle, cathedral, and Medieval Mile are all within a 15-minute walk of each other, so a car is not needed once there
- Book the last return train or bus before setting out, since evening departures from Kilkenny are less frequent than from Dublin