9 Ring Of Kerry Towns You’ll Fall In Love With

There are some wonderful Ring of Kerry towns that make a great base to explore the route from.

However, travel guides will often lead you to believe that the only towns and villages worth a look are Killarney and Kenmare, but that just isn’t the case.

Yes, these are the most popular towns on the Ring of Kerry drive, but this is far from a 2-horse-county, as you’ll discover below!

The main Ring of Kerry towns

If you’re following our Ring of Kerry itinerary, or if you’re just interested to see what charming towns lay along the route, this guide will come in handy.

It’ll show you the main towns on the Ring of Kerry, like Kenmare, along with some that many tourists will have never come across, like Glenbeigh. Dive on in!

1. Killarney

Killarney is one of the better-known towns in Ireland and it’s the traditional starting point for the Ring of Kerry drive.

Home to around 14,500 residents as of the 2022 census, the town is surrounded by breath-taking beauty courtesy Killarney National Park.

The park is where you’ll find Ross Castle, the Lakes of Killarney, Muckross House, Muckross Abbey, Torc Waterfall and the famous Killarney Jaunting cars (the horse and carts).

The need-to-knows

• Main attraction: Killarney National Park
• Our favourite pub: O’Connors
• Where to stay: The Towers (see more suggestions in our Killarney hotels guide)

2. Kenmare

The colourful town of Kenmare is another of the more famous Ring of Kerry towns and it’s a great spot for exploring both Kerry and the nearby Beara Peninsula.

Although, as of the 2022 census, the town has a population of around 2,400 people, Kenmare comes alive during the summer months thanks to an influx of both foreign and domestic tourists.

While there are plenty of things to do in Kenmare, the main attractions are its colourful streets, Kenmare Stone Circle, Cromwell’s Bridge and Reenagross Woodland Park.

The need-to-knows

• Main attraction: Kenmare Stone Circle
• Our favourite pub: Florry Batt’s
• Where to stay: O’Donnabhain’s (see our Kenmare hotels guide for more suggestions)

3. Sneem

If you’ve a longing for small and picturesque Ring of Kerry towns, look no further than Sneem (it recorded a population of under 300 in the 2016 census).

The first thing that hits you as you make your way into Sneem is the mountains – it almost feels like they’re folding in on top of the town.

If you visit, keep an eye out for the stone bridge (it’s hard to miss). From here, you’ll get a good eyeful of Sneem River and the little Sneem Falls.

The need-to-knows

• Main attractions: Sneem Falls
• Our favourite pub: O’Shea’s
• Where to stay: Hotel Sneem

4. Caherdaniel

The village of Caherdaniel home to a population of about 200 residents. However, despite its size, Caherdaniel is home to a fine bit of history.

It’s here that you’ll find Derrynane House – the ancestral home of politician Daniel “The Liberator” O’Connell (1775-1847) – along with unique relics from his life.

Caherdaniel also boasts one of the most beautiful beaches in Kerry – the magnificent Derrynane Beach (keep an eye out for the ruins while you saunter along the sand).

The need-to-knows

• Main attractions: Derrynane Beach
• Our favourite pub: The Blind Piper
• Where to stay: Derrynane Bay House

5. Waterville

You’ll find the coastal town of Waterville, once a favourite holiday destination for Charlie Chaplin, in a scenic corner of the Iveragh Peninsula.

This is one of the more popular Ring of Kerry towns due to its position at the start of the Skellig Ring – an area of outstanding natural beauty (the Kerry Cliffs, Valentia Island and more).

It’s a quaint little town with a population of around 462 (as of the 2016 census) and it makes a very picturesque base to explore from (it’s also home to one of our favourite Ring of Kerry hotels – the Butler Arms!).

The need-to-knows

• Main attractions: Waterville Beach
• Our favourite pub: The Villa
• Where to stay: The Butler Arms

6. Cahirsiveen

Cahirsiveen is one of the bigger Ring of Kerry towns and, as per the 2022 census, it’s home to around 1,297 people. It makes a good place to explore from, with Beentee Mountain and Valentia a short spin away.

There’s also a wealth of history on offer, from Ballycarbery Castle and the nearby Cahergal and Leacanabuaile forts.

Birthplace of Daniel O’Connell, Cahirsiveen is a busy market town with plenty of pubs, restaurants and accommodation, making it a great base to explore South Kerry from.

The need-to-knows

• Main attractions: The Old Abbey
• Our favourite pub: The Fertha
• Where to stay: Quinlan & Cooke

7. Kells

Kells is a tranquil little village on the Ring of Kerry that’s often overlooked by those exploring the area. However, for those in the know, there’s plenty to love about this place.

It’s here that you’ll find Kells Bay Beach along with the very popular Kells House and Garden (try the Sky Walk Rope Bridge, see the exotic plants and explore the gardens).

If you’re looking to sample a bit of rural Irish living right by the coast, look no further than Kells (you can glamp in pods by the sea, too!).

The need-to-knows

• Main attractions: Kells Bay House and Gardens
• Our favourite pub: NA
• Where to stay: Kells Bay House

8. Glenbeigh

While Glenbeigh is another of the lesser-known Ring of Kerry towns, it makes a great base to explore from for those looking to sample a slice of country living.

It’s right on the Ring of Kerry route and, while nice and quiet, it’s only a 35-minute drive from Killarney, so you get the best of both worlds!

Home to around 308 people as per the 2016 census, Glenbeigh sits beneath the Seefin Mountains a short spin from beautiful Rossbeigh Beach.

The need-to-knows

• Main attractions: Rossbeigh Strand
• Our favourite pub: Ashes
• Where to stay: The Glenbeigh Hotel

9. Killorglin

Killorglin is another of the larger Ring of Kerry towns with a popular of 2,199 as per the 2016 census. It’s famous for the annual Puck Fair where a goat is made king for a week (it’s one of the oldest festivals in Ireland).

The town is finely plonked on the banks of the River Laune, a short 25-minute spin from Killarney. It’s also under 20 minutes from the Dingle Peninsula, where you’ll find the likes of the Slea Head Drive.

The need-to-knows

• Main attraction: The King Puck statue
• Our favourite pub: Falvey’s
• Where to stay: The Bianconi Inn

FAQs about towns on the Ring of Kerry

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What’s the quietest town on the Ring of Kerry?’ to ‘Which has the cheapest hotels?’.

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