Dingle Peninsula Vs Ring Of Kerry: My Opinion On Which Is Better

Deciding between the Dingle Peninsula vs Ring Of Kerry can be tricky. Having driven both routes 10+ times, there are certain times of year – and depending on your preferences, like how much driving you want to do – where one makes far more sense than the other.

Although the Dingle Peninsula and the Iveragh Peninsula (where the Ring of Kerry is) are right next to each other, tourists often need to choose just one.

To cut to the chase, if you were to ask me to pick between the Ring of Kerry or Dingle Peninsula, I’d pick the ROK.

However this is about helping you choose, so I have compared both below to help you pick the one that suits you the most – cheers!

The Dingle Peninsula vs Ring Of Kerry

My map above will give you a sense of where each route is located. As you can see, there’s not much distance between them. Here are some tips to get you up-to-speed quickly:

1. Location

The Ring of Kerry Drive takes you around the Iveragh Peninsula while the Dingle Peninsula sits just above it.

2. Their key attractions

Dingle’s main attractions are the likes of Conor Pass, the Slea Head Drive, Dunquin Pier and Dunmore Head while the Ring of Kerry boasts everything from Killarney National Park and Torc Mountain to Ladies View. I’ll list out the main attractions below.

3. Main towns/villages

If you’re visiting the Dingle Peninsula, the best place to stay is Dingle Town. For the Ring of Kerry, you’ve endless options. The two most popular towns are Killarney and Kenmare. However, there’s also Sneem, Caherdaniel, Waterville, Caherciveen, Kells, Glenbeigh, Killorglin and Beaufort.

4. How much time you need for each

In an ideal world, you’d have 2 days for the Ring of Kerry – 1 for Killarney National Park and 1 for the full loop. It is doable in a single day, but you’ll need to follow a logical route, like my 1 day Ring of Kerry itinerary. The Dingle Peninsula is doable in 1.5 days, as long as you’re not planning any hikes/long walks. Day 1 is best spent driving out, taking in spots like Conor Pass, Minard Castle and Dingle Town. Then use the 1/2 day to tackle the Slea Head Drive.

5. My two cents

Having explored both areas on 10+ occasions, I still find this a difficult question to answer. I love both areas but the one key difference between the two is that there are considerably more things to do in and around the Ring of Kerry vs the Dingle Peninsula. So, if I had to choose, I’d opt for the Ring.

Comparing the Ring of Kerry vs Dingle Peninsula

The map above outlines where both the Dingle Peninsula (purple) and the Ring (orange) are located.

As you can see, both are reasonably close together, so it’s very doable to get between them if you’re staying in the likes of Killarney or Killorglin.

Here are some of the main comparisons between the two to help you decide between the Ring of Kerry or Dingle.

1. Main attractions

The biggest difference between the Dingle Peninsula vs Ring Of Kerry is the number of attractions on offer.

While there’s plenty to do around Dingle, there’s far more things to see and do around the Ring.

There are endless things to see along the Ring of Kerry, including:

• Torc Waterfall
• Killarney National Park
• Molls Gap
• Torc Mountain
• Derrynane Beach
• Ladies View

There are still plenty of things to do in Dingle! Here are some of the most notable attractions:

• Conor Pass
• Slea Head
• Dingle Peninsula Drive
• Coumeenoole Beach
• Dunquin Pier
• Inch Beach
• The Blasket Islands
• Gallarus Oratory

2. Walks and hikes

If you’re deciding between the Dingle Peninsula vs Ring Of Kerry for a walking holiday, it gets a little bit trickier. There’s some mighty trails on the Dingle Peninsula, including Mount Brandon and the Dingle Way.

Around the Ring, you have everything from Cardiac Hill and Tomies Wood to the Killarney National Park walks, Carrauntoohil, the Gap of Dunloe and much more.

3. Towns and villages

The main ‘base’ people tend to use to explore the Dingle Peninsula from is Dingle Town. There are other towns and villages on the peninsula, like Dunquin, Ventry and Castlegregory, but the main town is a great, buzzy base to explore from.

For the Ring of Kerry, the options are endless. If you want to be amongst the hustle and bustle, stay in Killarney. For a slightly less touristy vibe, opt for Kenmare. If you fancy a quieter experience, Sneem or Waterville are great options.

4. How long each takes to explore

The Ring of Kerry route is 179km (111 miles) in length and you’ll need a day to tackle it. There’s heaps of stops along the way and a day really only scratches the surface.

You can also extend this route slightly to include the Skellig Ring, which takes in the outstanding Valentia Island (and Skellig Michael).

If you were to drive all the way around the Dingle Peninsula without stopping, it’d take you around 3 and a half hours. 

How to decide between the Ring of Kerry or Dingle Peninsula

So, there’s no right answer to, ‘Which is better, the Dingle Peninsula vs Ring Of Kerry’. However, I’d like you to be able to come to a decision that you’re happy with and confident in. 

Here are several questions to ask yourself that should help you move closer to a decision.

1. What are my ‘non-negotiables’?

Hop into my guide of the best things to do in Kerry and take note of the places you really want to see. Then open up my map of Kerry and see where the majority of these places are grouped. This is a quick and easy way to decide between the Ring of Kerry or Dingle.

2. Which works best with my route?

Have a look at your Ireland itinerary. Based on the route you’re taking, does the Ring of Kerry or Dingle make life easier for you? There’s no point forcing either if it adds unnecessary driving.

3. How many day light hours do I have?

The best time to visit Ireland is during spring and summer, when you’ve long daylight hours to work with. For a drive like the Ring of Kerry, you’ll want a full day to do it properly. The Dingle Peninsula, on the other hand, can be explored in half a day, so shorter daylight hours aren’t as much of a concern.

4. Will squeezing both in result in stress/a half ar*ed approach?

It can be tempting to try and do both. Is it always worth it? No! Depending on how much time you have on hand, you’re often better off just picking one and then exploring it slowly and seeing everything there is to see at a more relaxed pace.

FAQs about the Dingle Peninsula vs Ring Of Kerry

I’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Can you do both in a day?’ to ‘Which is the most scenic?’.

In the section below, I’ve popped in the most FAQs that I’ve received. If you have a question that I haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.