19 Best Things To Do In Kilkenny In 2026

In this guide, you’ll find heaps of things to do in Kilkenny during your visit.

People too often associate a visit to this county with a weekend spent in the town, locked away in a pub for two days, knocking back pints.

There’s plenty more things to see in Kilkenny than a castle and the inside of a pub (although we’ll be showing you both in this guide).

The best things to do in Kilkenny

The map above comes from my Kilkenny itinerary guide – it’s a very handy itinerary to follow if you’re visiting the city over a weekend.

Below, you’ll discover the best places to visit in Kilkenny, from the historic city to the wider county, that many visitors tend to overlook.

1. Explore Kilkenny Castle

Kilkenny Castle has dominated the banks of the River Nore for more than 800 years and remains one of the most impressive castles in Ireland.

Originally built in 1195 by the Normans to control an important crossing point into the city, the castle later became the seat of the powerful Butler family, who lived here for almost 600 years.

Today, visitors can wander through lavish drawing rooms, long galleries, libraries and medieval foundations while learning about sieges, aristocratic life and the castle’s gradual transformation over the centuries.

The guided tours are especially worthwhile. Lasting roughly 50 minutes, they bring the building’s history to life in a way that’s very easy to miss if you simply wander through on your own.

2. Discover Dunmore Cave’s dark past

Dunmore Cave is one of the darkest and most unusual attractions in Kilkenny – both literally and historically.

Located around 20 minutes north of Kilkenny City, the cave system was first mentioned in a 9th-century Irish poem that described it as ‘the darkest place in Ireland’.

Its history took an especially grim turn in 928 AD when Vikings massacred around 1,000 people who had taken shelter inside the cave. Centuries later, the discovery of human remains deep within the cave helped back up the accounts recorded in medieval Irish annals.

Today, guided tours bring visitors underground through towering limestone chambers filled with strange rock formations, narrow passageways and an atmosphere that’s equal parts fascinating and unsettling.

3. Take the Smithwick’s Experience tour

The Smithwick’s Experience is a solid option for those of you wondering what to do in Kilkenny with a big group.

The tour takes you through more than 300 years of brewing history right in the heart of Kilkenny, on the site where monks first brewed ale centuries ago.

The standard tour lasts around 45 minutes and blends storytelling, interactive exhibits and sensory displays that walk you through the history of the Smithwick’s family, the brewing process and the evolution of Irish ale.

For many visitors, though, the highlight comes at the end when you’re handed a creamy pint of Smithwick’s in the tasting bar after hearing exactly how it’s made.

4. Wander around Jerpoint Abbey

Jerpoint Abbey is widely regarded as one of the finest medieval ruins in Ireland and it’s very easy to see why once you step inside.

Founded during the 12th century near Thomastown, the abbey was once home to Cistercian monks and remained an important religious site for centuries before falling into ruin following Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries.

What makes Jerpoint stand out is how remarkably intact much of it still feels. Huge stone arches, cloisters, tombs and carvings remain scattered throughout the site, while the beautifully preserved tower still dominates the skyline above the abbey grounds.

The carvings here are especially impressive. Look closely and you’ll spot knights, bishops, strange creatures and medieval figures etched into the stonework centuries ago.

5. Hit the water in Graiguenamanagh

Graiguenamanagh is one of the most scenic little towns in Kilkenny, sitting right along the River Barrow beneath the slopes of Brandon Hill.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room – it’s pronounced ‘Graig-nah-man-ah’. One of the best ways to experience the town and surrounding valley is from the water.

Pure Adventure run stand-up paddleboarding sessions along the river, giving you a completely different perspective of the town, the woodlands and the rolling countryside around it.

Even if you’ve never stepped on a paddleboard before, the river here is generally calm and beginner-friendly, making it a very fun way to spend a couple of hours during summer.

6. Have a nosey around Butterslip Lane

Butterslip Lane is one of those little corners of Kilkenny that people stumble upon by accident.

Running between High Street and St Kieran’s Street, this narrow medieval passageway dates back to the early 1600s and still feels wonderfully old-world, with worn stone steps, overhanging buildings and lanterns hanging above the lane.

Despite all the TikTok videos claiming otherwise, there’s no Harry Potter connection here. The name actually comes from the butter traders who once sold their goods along the lane during market days.

These days, it’s lined with restaurants, shops and cafés, but it still feels like a small surviving piece of medieval Kilkenny.

7. Dive into 800 years of history at the Medieval Mile Museum

The Medieval Mile Museum is one of the best places to visit in Kilkenny to get a proper understanding of how the city evolved over the last 800 years.

Set inside a restored medieval church right in the heart of the Medieval Mile, the museum combines old tombs, merchant records, artefacts and interactive exhibits that trace everything from medieval trade and religion to daily life inside the walled city.

The guided tours are especially worth doing. Lasting around an hour, they bring you beyond the displays themselves and into the stories of the powerful merchant families, bishops and local figures that shaped Kilkenny over the centuries.

8. Take the tour of Ballykeefe Distillery

If you fancy seeing a side of Kilkenny that most visitors miss, Ballykeefe Distillery is worth the 20-minute spin from the city.

Set on a working farm near Cuffesgrange, Ballykeefe produces whiskey, gin, vodka and poitín using water drawn from a limestone aquifer deep beneath the estate.

The tours are very hands-on and bring you through every stage of the distilling process – from the mill house and brewhouse to the towering copper stills and barrel warehouse.

Along the way, you’ll hear about the old traditions behind Irish whiskey production, the importance of cask ageing and the mysterious ‘Angel’s Share’ lost during maturation.

9. Step back in time at the Black Abbey

Kilkenny’s Black Abbey can be found just outside the original walls of Kilkenny City.

When it was founded in the 1220s, it was home to a group of Dominican friars. A couple of hundred years later, King Henry VIII confiscated it and converted it into a courthouse.

It was eventually restored and opened for public worship many years later in the 19th Century. Today, visitors to the Black Abbey can explore the ancient buildings here and check out sepulchral slabs, stone carvings, and sculptures.

10. Escape the city at Jenkinstown Wood

If you’re looking to escape the city for an hour or two, Jenkinstown Wood is hard to beat. Located around 20 minutes from Kilkenny City, these woodland loops are short, easy to follow and suitable for most fitness levels, making them a handy option for families or anyone after a gentler walk.

The trails stretch for roughly 4km through mature deciduous woodland, with wide paths and very little climbing. Visit during spring and the forest floor becomes covered in bluebells, while the canopy overhead keeps the place cool and quiet during summer.

It’s not a dramatic mountain hike, but that’s part of the appeal. Jenkinstown is all about slow walks, fresh air and switching gears for a while.

11. Explore the ruins of Kells Priory

Kells Priory is one of the most overlooked attractions in Kilkenny and, somehow, many visitors drive straight past it on the way to Jerpoint Abbey.

Founded around 1193, this vast medieval priory once functioned almost like a fortified religious settlement, complete with defensive walls and towers that earned it the nickname ‘The Seven Castles of Kells’.

Today, you can freely wander through the enormous ruins, where old cloisters, stone arches, towers and medieval passageways sit spread across a surprisingly large site.

Unlike some of Ireland’s more famous ruins, Kells Priory rarely feels crowded, which adds hugely to the atmosphere.

12. Stay in one of Kilkenny’s many unique accommodations

If you fancy breaking away from standard hotels and guesthouses, Kilkenny has some very memorable places to stay (see my guide on where to stay in Kilkenny).

Newpark Hotel is one of the best family hotels in Ireland in my opinion. Along with spacious rooms and a great location close to the city centre, it has a dinosaur-themed adventure trail, playground, wildlife farm and one of the better family-friendly pools you’ll find anywhere in the country.

If you’re after something more unusual, Tubbrid Castle lets you spend the night in a carefully restored medieval tower house that genuinely feels like stepping back several centuries – albeit with considerably better heating.

For a luxury escape, both Lyrath Estate and Mount Juliet Estate are hard to fault. Lyrath blends modern luxury with sprawling parkland close to the city, while Mount Juliet is one of Ireland’s best-known five-star estates, complete with fine dining, golf and vast grounds along the River Nore.

Related Read: These are 23 of the most unusual places to stay in Ireland!

13. Nurse a pint in one of Kilkenny’s many mighty pubs

Kilkenny has one of the best pub scenes in Ireland, and the nice thing about the city is that many of its best spots still feel refreshingly old-school rather than overly polished for tourists.

Kyteler’s Inn is probably the best-known. Dating back to the 1300s, it’s tied to the infamous witch trials of Dame Alice Kyteler and is usually buzzing at weekends with live music and visitors spilling out into the courtyard.

For a more traditional feel, O’Riada’s is hard to beat, while Tynan’s pairs riverside views with regular trad sessions.

Elsewhere, Cleere’s Bar & Theatre mixes pints with live performances, while Syd Harkin’s Pub feels like stepping back several decades, with dark timber interiors and regular folk sessions.

14. Grab a panoramic view of Kilkenny from up Brandon Hill

Brandon Hill is the highest point in Kilkenny and one of the county’s best hikes if you’re looking to properly stretch the legs.

There are several routes to the summit, but the shorter Brandon Hill Loop is the one most people tackle. Starting near Graiguenamanagh, the trail stretches for around 7.5km, takes roughly 2.5 to 3 hours and involves a steep 600m ascent in places.

The walk begins beneath forest cover before eventually breaking out onto open hillside where panoramic views over the Nore Valley, Carlow and the surrounding countryside begin to open up.

Good hiking boots are strongly recommended, especially after rain, as parts of the trail can become muddy, steep and slippery.

15. Spend a day at Castlecomer Discovery Park

If you’re looking for things to do in Kilkenny that don’t revolve around castles, abbeys or pints, Castlecomer Discovery Park is well worth a look.

Set across 80 acres of woodland and lakes around 25 minutes from Kilkenny City, the park was developed on the former Wandesforde Estate and now combines walking trails with ziplining, high ropes courses, kayaking, axe throwing and loads more.

There’s also a nice backstory to the place. The park was created as a community project following the collapse of Castlecomer’s coal mining industry and continues to operate as a not-for-profit social enterprise today.

16. See Kilfane Glen and Waterfall

Kilfane Glen and Waterfall is easily one of the most unique places to visit in Kilkenny. Hidden away in the countryside around 25 minutes from the city, this Romantic-era garden dates back to the 1790s and feels more like something you’d stumble upon in an old fairytale than a visitor attraction.

Woodland paths weave beneath towering trees before leading to a waterfall surrounded by moss-covered rocks, ferns, tiny stone bridges and a cottage orné tucked deep within the glen.

It’s also worth noting that Kilfane is seasonal and regularly closes during parts of the year, so check opening dates before visiting.

17. Visit St Canice’s Cathedral and climb the round tower

St Canice’s Cathedral sits on the site of an early Christian settlement founded in the 6th century and is widely regarded as the spiritual birthplace of Kilkenny itself. The current cathedral dates to the 1200s and remains the oldest medieval building in the city.

Inside, you’ll find centuries of memorials, stained glass and worn stonework tied to generations of worshippers, bishops and local families. However, for many visitors, the standout attraction is the adjacent round tower.

Rising 100 feet above the city, it’s the only accessible medieval round tower in Ireland. The climb is steep and narrow in places, but the panoramic views over Kilkenny and the surrounding countryside make the effort worthwhile.

18. Plan your trip around the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival

If you’re looking for things to do in Kilkenny around the June Bank Holiday, try and line your visit up with Cat Laughs – one of the best-known comedy festivals and a fixture on the Irish summer festivals calendar for more than 30 years.

Every year, comedians from Ireland and abroad descend on Kilkenny for several days of packed shows, surprise appearances and late-night sessions spread across pubs, theatres and venues around the city.

The atmosphere during the festival is brilliant. The city feels noticeably busier, pubs spill out onto the streets and there’s a good chance you’ll stumble into an unannounced set while heading for a pint.

19. Saunter around Woodstock Gardens and Arboretum

Woodstock Gardens and Arboretum feels a million miles away from the bustle of Kilkenny City despite sitting only around a 35-minute drive from it.

Spread across a hillside overlooking the Nore Valley near Inistioge, these Victorian gardens were transformed during the 1800s under Lady Louisa Tighe and now blend formal terraces, towering specimen trees, woodland trails and beautifully overgrown corners that feel almost forgotten in places.

One minute you’re strolling beneath monkey puzzle trees and giant redwoods, the next you’re wandering through a rockery that looks like something lifted from a fantasy film.

There are several walking trails here too, along with a waterfall loop, tea rooms and panoramic views out across the valley.