1Walk or cycle the Gap of Dunloe early and take the boat back to Ross Castle8 visitors
Walking the Gap beats driving or jaunting cars: the narrow road is shared with cyclists, horses and cars, and walking lets you stop for views. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
Skip the Ring of Kerry as Rick Steves suggests; do the Gap of Dunloe, which she found magical, and allow for shorter September daylight. · Rick Steves forum
Walk the Gap of Dunloe: shuttle from Ross Castle to Kate Kearney's Cottage, walk about 7 miles, then boat back across the lakes. · Rick Steves forum, 2026
Take the Deros bus, boat and Kate Kearney's route from Killarney through the lakes to Ross Castle; guide Claire was a highlight. · TripAdvisor, 2022
8 visitors here; showing 4 of the 8 who gave detail.
2Base in Killarney and cycle the national park: Muckross, Torc Waterfall and Ross Castle4 visitors
Rent e-bikes in Killarney, take the boat from Ross Castle to Lord Brandon's, and cycle the Gap of Dunloe on low Turbo; about 3.5 hours. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Hike the Torc Waterfall route (about 5 miles) in Killarney National Park and take the Ross Castle tour. · Fodor's, 2023
Family bike tours with trailers work well in Killarney. · Blog
4 visitors here; showing 3 of the 4 who gave detail.
3Book the Ross Castle guided tour in Killarney ahead, as morning slots fill and it closes early2 visitors
Book the 10am guided Ross Castle tour in advance; it was a trip highlight, paired with the Torc waterfall hike. · TripAdvisor, 2023
Ross Castle was closed at day's end; go earlier. Gap of Dunloe by Deros: bus, pony trap, boat. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Ireland-wide tips people mentioned here (1)
1No car? Base in Dublin, Galway or Killarney and use day tours for the big sights4 visitors
Book day tours via GetYourGuide from Killarney (Gap of Dunloe, Dingle, Ring of Kerry) and Galway (Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands). · TripAdvisor, 2023
Reaching Dingle by transit takes most of a day, so base in Killarney and take a guided day trip to Dingle. · Rick Steves forum
Base in Dublin, Killarney and Galway and use day trips; Belfast works as a day trip by train. · Fodor's, 2017
4 visitors here; showing the 3 who gave detail.
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Getting around (5)
From Cork, a tour bus connects in Killarney with Dublin and Limerick buses, then splits into Ring of Kerry, Cliffs or Dingle tours. · Blog
Galway to Killarney is about four hours by bus with a Limerick change and no direct train; Killarney to Dublin train is 3.5 hours. · Blog, 2026
Pre-book Heuston to Killarney trains; connections at Mallow and Limerick Junction were easy. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Shannon ferry saves about an hour between Killarney and Galway. · TripAdvisor, 2026
Take a Killarney day tour of the Ring of Kerry for about 40 euro (~$43) instead of renting a car. · Blog, 2025
Food & pubs (6)
Bricin in Killarney for boxty; Bowes & Co in Cashel was the best meal. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Eat at No. 35 in Kenmare; a local Killarney pub does good shepherd's pie and fish and chips. · Fodor's, 2023
If self-catering in Killarney over Christmas, order Christmas food from Marks and Spencer in advance for collection. · TripAdvisor
Killarney Brewery & Distillery served the best meal of the trip. · TripAdvisor, 2023
McDonagh's fish bar in Galway and Quinlan's in Killarney for fish and chips. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Reserve dinner in Killarney on football-match days. · Blog
Sightseeing (15)
Allow two nights around Killarney and Kenmare. · Blog
Ask about steep spiral stairs; Ross Castle gave no warning. · TripAdvisor, 2025
Book a horseback trek in Killarney National Park; she called it a highlight with her son. · other
Choose Dingle over the Ring of Kerry if only doing one; a local taxi firm such as Killarney Tours and Taxi worked. · Fodor's, 2017
Ferries to Inishmore leave from Rossaveel; pick Inishmore over Inisheer. In Killarney, a bike loop through the park took about six hours. · Blog, 2026
Gap of Dunloe carriage cuts a long walk sharply. · TripAdvisor, 2025
Hike from Torc Waterfall uphill for views, and see Ross Castle near Killarney. · Blog, 2018
Hike the Gap of Dunloe in November: few walkers, striking autumn colour. At Slea Head find Coumenoole Ogham Stone and Coumenoole Beach. · Rick Steves forum
Kenmare was too crowded to enjoy, so they turned back; Muckross Abbey was quiet. · TripAdvisor, 2026
Killarney jaunting car ride to Ross Castle was a highlight. · TripAdvisor, 2026
Park at Kate Kearney's Cottage for the Gap of Dunloe; cottage lunch was poor. Ross Castle boats take cash only. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Ride a jaunting car to Kate Kearney's, then walk the Gap road later when crowds thin; visit Kissane Sheepdog Farm before lunch. · Rick Steves forum
Ring of Kerry offers autumn colour; Muckross gardens are lovely. · Blog
Visit uncrowded abbeys like Hore Abbey and Muckross Abbey. · Blog
Use Killarney as a base for the southwest. · Blog, 2017
Where to stay (3)
Stay at the Lake Hotel in Killarney for lake views and a pub-like atmosphere; worth a rest day. · Blog, 2024
Stay two nights in Killarney rather than one; the Ross Castle guided tour is excellent. · Fodor's, 2022
The Great Southern Hotel in Killarney had no air conditioning in summer; ask for a fan. · Fodor's, 2018
Money (1)
Jaunting car at Kate Kearney's was quoted €120 (~$130); another driver offered a ride to the gap and back for €70 (~$76), so shop around. · TripAdvisor, 2026
Other (11)
Bank holiday weekend plus Bikefest jammed the N71 around Killarney; check event dates. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Check event calendars; a Killarney bike race disrupted a morning. · TripAdvisor, 2023
Check local events; Rally of the Lakes jammed Killarney. · TripAdvisor, 2025
Choose two bases, Dublin and Galway or Dublin and Killarney, to cut transfers; Killarney to Galway means backtracking via Dublin. · Rick Steves forum
Focus on Moher, Dingle and Killarney for a week. · Fodor's
Gap of Dunloe: wear sneakers not hiking boots, as the road is paved. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Knox's Pub in Ennis for trad session; shops close early. Free trad concert at St Mary's Church Killarney. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Locals watched hurling on pub TVs in Killarney; Laurels was a good pint stop. · TripAdvisor, 2022
Muckross Lake loop is longer than it looks and rain arrived despite a dry forecast; take a jaunting car back if soaked. · Blog, 2022
Time the trip for Killarney's St Patrick's Day parade in March; a small-town parade is more relaxed than Dublin's. · Blog, 2023
Use three-night bases like Killarney and Doolin. · TripAdvisor, 2026