A Logical 3 Day Ring of Kerry Itinerary

A 3 day Ring of Kerry itinerary is arguably the trickiest trip length to map out. Why? Because it’s long enough to cover a lot of ground, but short enough that choosing a poor base can lead to endless doubling back and long periods of driving.

I have driven the Ring of Kerry route 14 times.

The 3 day road trip below is one that:

• Uses logical bases: You’ll spend 1 night in Killarney and 2 in Waterville
• Has very doable drive times: No more than 2.5 hours per day (often much less)
• Has 2 options for day 3: You can head home or loop back to Waterville

3 day Ring of Kerry itinerary overview

This 3 day route is designed to help you explore the Ring of Kerry at a relaxed pace, without doubling back or cramming too much into one day.

It breaks the route into manageable chunks and avoids the typical tour bus routes, giving you more freedom to stop, explore, and enjoy the scenery.

Pick central accommodation for this trip

• Night 1 (Killarney): Kingdom Lodge (budget), Killarney Avenue (mid-range) and The Killarney Park (luxury)
• Nights 2 and 3 (Waterville): Klondyke House B&B (budget) and Butler Arms Hotel (mid-range)

Day 1: Killarney Town and National Park

Day 1 of your long weekend in Killarney will see you explore Killarney Town along with the magnificent Killarney National Park.

I’m going to give you a few options here — 1 for those exploring by bike, 1 for those driving, and another for anyone using the hop-on/hop-off bus.

The Killarney cycle route

Killarney is very well set-up for cycling around (the town centre is the one exception). There are excellent cycle lanes and the routes are nice and flat.

If you’re spending 3 days in Killarney and if fitness allows, rent a bike from the rental spot on the Muckross Road (plenty of parking). Then follow this route:

• A: Ross Castle
• B: The 1-hour Lakes of Killarney Cruise
• C: St. Mary’s Abbey and lunch
• D: Muckross Abbey
• E: Muckross House
• F: Torc Waterfall

For those driving/getting the bus

If you can’t/don’t want to cycle during your 3 days in Killarney, don’t worry – you can either:

• Drive: Killarney is handy to get around by car. You can follow the itinerary above with ease
• Get the hop-on/off bus: This bus stops at each of the locations on the map above

A night in Killarney Town

When you finish up at the last stop, head back to your hotel and relax for a bit.

When you’re ready, Killarney Town awaits. Round off the 1st night of this 3 day Ring of Kerry itinerary in style:

• Restaurants in Killarney: Cronins, Porterhouse and the Mad Monk never disappoint
• Pubs in Killarney: O’Connors and Jimmy Brien’s are two great spots for a pint
• Live music: Murphy’s Bar and J.M. Reidy’s and two good shouts for live tunes

Day 2: The 1st section of the Ring of Kerry

Day 2 of your 3 day Ring of Kerry road trip sees you drive the 1st 1/2 of the route at a very gentle pace.

This is a very handy day driving wise, with you only spending 1.5 hours in the car.

Stop 1. Ladies View

When you leave Killarney, join the N71 and drive for 25 minutes until you arrive at the iconic Ladies View Point, made famous after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s 1861 visit.

It’s said that the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting were so taken with the vista that the viewpoint was named in their honour.

Pull in by the viewing area, hop out, and take in sweeping views over the National Park and the shimmering Lakes of Killarney.

Stop 2. Moll’s Gap

A short 10-minute drive brings you to Moll’s Gap, a twisty mountain pass with breathtaking views of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks.

You’ll find parking next to the Avoca shop and café. The spot takes its name from Moll Kissane, who ran an illicit pub (Sibín) here in the 1820s while the Kenmare–Killarney road was being built.

She became something of a local legend—likely due to her now-famous poitín!

Stop 3. Kenmare

From Moll’s Gap, it’s just 10 minutes to Kenmare Town. Kenmare sits where the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and Caha Mountains meet the waters of Kenmare Bay, a stone’s throw from Kerry and West Cork’s famous Beara Peninsula.

Wander streets shaped by Sir William Petty, past lace-making heritage and Bronze Age stone circles, in a town that feels stitched into the landscape itself.

You’ll find a handy walking route mapped out above that covers the best Kenmare attractions. If you’re feeling peckish after your ramble, it’s worth grabbing some lunch in the town (Mulcahy’s do creative, no-fuss cooking).

Stop 4. Sneem

When your belly’s full, take the 25-minute drive to the picture-perfect village of Sneem.

Grab a parking spot as soon as you can after entering the village, then walk over to the little bridge here for a great view of Sneem Falls and the surrounding hills.

Wander through the centre of town, around the triangular square—keep an eye out for the bright pink D O’Shea’s Bar and the Charles De Gaulle Memorial—before looping back to your car.

Stop 5. Staigue Fort

Next up is the ancient Staigue Fort, a 25-minute spin from Sneem and one of the more popular places to visit in Kerry.

Thought to have been constructed around 300–400 AD, this massive stone ring fort likely served as a defensive site for a powerful chieftain.

You can stroll through the interior and admire the craftsmanship—plus the views of the surrounding countryside are stunning.

Stop 6. Derrynane

Just 20 minutes from Staigue you’ll find Derrynane Beach, easily one of the most beautiful stops on this 3 day Ring of Kerry itinerary.

Set in a protected bay and flanked by a natural harbour, it’s a picture-perfect stretch of sand along the Kerry coast.

Take your time walking the beach and don’t miss the weathered ruins of Derrynane Abbey, perched on a rocky edge and thought to date back to the 6th century.

Stop 7. An evening in Waterville

End the day in Waterville, a charming village just 20 minutes from Derrynane (stay in Klondyke House B&B or Butler Arms Hotel)

Tucked between Lough Currane and the Atlantic, the village’s seafront is perfect for a relaxing evening stroll.

If you’re in the mood for a bite and a drink, check out The Lobster Bar and Restaurant (cosy, hearty fare and there’s live music throughout the year) or Dooleys, which boasts views over Ballinskelligs Bay that are every bit as good as the food.

Day 3: The Skellig Ring and then 2 options

The last day on this 3 day Ring of Kerry itinerary will be dependant on 2 things:

• If you’re staying in Kerry on night 3
• If you have to head home/to the next leg of your trip

I’ll give you options for both scenarios below!

Morning

The Skellig Ring drive is a stunning 50km coastal route that links Waterville, Ballinskelligs, Portmagee and Valentia Island.

Expect rugged scenery, dramatic cliffs, sleepy villages, and plenty of spots to stop and explore.

Although I’ve created a detailed Skellig Ring itinerary for you to accompany the map above, here’s an outline of the main stops:

• Ballinskelligs: Visit the 16th-century castle ruins and ancient abbey by the beach
• Coomanaspig Pass: One of Ireland’s highest roads with epic coastal views from the summit
• The Kerry Cliffs: Towering 1,000 ft cliffs with fewer crowds than Moher and stellar sea views
• Portmagee: A lively village where Skellig Michael tours depart
• Valentia Island: Explore Bray Head or drive up Geokaun Mountain for sweeping Atlantic views

Late afternoon/evening

When you leave Valentia Island, it’s about a 50-minute drive to Rossbeigh Beach. The route takes you through Cahersiveen (a good place to stretch your legs) and along a scenic stretch of road with views of the Dingle Peninsula off to the left.

Stop at the Mountain Stage Viewpoint (here on Maps) for a sweeping look at Inch Beach and the mountains beyond.

Rossbeigh Beach itself stretches 7km into Dingle Bay, a long, sandy spit backed by dunes and mountain views.

How you finish will depend on your plans

How you round off the final day of this 3 day Ring of Kerry itinerary is up to you.

Here are 2 options:

• Option A: After visiting Rossbeigh, head in the direction of home or continue to the next leg of your trip
• Option B: Loop back to Waterville via the Ballaghisheen Pass — an off-the-beaten-path mountain road with incredible scenery

Wrapping up this 3 day Ring of Kerry itinerary

As you can (hopefully) now tell, planning a 3 day Ring of Kerry itinerary can be a little bit tricky.

Truth be told, it took me several years to finally settle on the road trip route outlined above.

If you need a hand mapping out your trip, shout in the comments or dip into my 2 day Ring of Kerry itinerary or my 1 day Ring of Kerry itinerary guide.