Killarney is a lakeshore town in the County of Kerry about 4 hours away by bus from Dublin. It is a popular tourist destination in Ireland as it is one of the scenic stops in Ring of Kerry.
Famous for its national park, beautiful lakes, imposing castles, wildlife, great pub scene, and gorgeous landscapes, this town is named as one of the top 10 global tourist destinations in the world.
It is also a good base while in Ireland and if you find yourself running out of things to do in this town, there are several day trips from Killarney that you can do as well.
Things you'll find in this article
10 Best Day Trips From Killarney, Ireland
1. Cliffs of Moher
Cliffs Of Moher, Image by Christine Rogador
The Cliffs of Moher are sea cliffs located in County Clare, Ireland. It is one of Ireland’s most spectacular sights and one of the most visited attractions in Ireland with 1.5 million visitors annually.
Standing 702ft above the ground at their highest point and 8km long, Cliffs of Moher boasts one of the most amazing views in Ireland.
It is about 187 km away from Killarney and can be reached in 3-4 hours depending on the type of transport you’ll be using.
Admission Fee
The admission prices include the visitor center and walk along the pathways and platforms, vehicle parking, leaflets, and maps.
Adults €6
Students €4
Senior Citizens €4
Children under 16
Free Group rates available on request
How to get to Cliffs of Moher from Killarney
Take a Dublin Coach bus (#300) from East Avenue Road in Killarney to Limerick Arthur’s in Limerick. The trip takes 1 hour and 45 minutes and it costs between €6-12 for a one-way trip or €12-24 for a round trip bus fare. Buses leave every hour.
From Limerick, take a Dublin Coach bus (#300) to Friars Walk, Dunnes. The trip takes about 45 minutes for €3-6 per trip or €6-12 for a round-trip fare and there are buses that leave every hour as well.
Then from Friars Walk, walk towards Ennis Bus Station and take the bus that goes directly to Moher visitor center. This takes another 50 minutes for €9-11 one way trip or €18-22 for a round-trip bus fare.
Buses only leave 5 times a day so plan accordingly. In total, you might have to spend between €36-58 on transport alone.
Recommended hours for the day trip
Allow at least 14 hours for the day tour including the journey to Cliffs of Moher from Killarney.
Opening Hours
8 am to 7 pm although, during winter, the cliffs are already closed by 5 pm.
Contact Information
Location: Lislorkan North, Liscannor, Co. Clare, Ireland
Phone: bookings@cliffsofmoher.ie
Email: +353 65 708 6145
Buy your ticket online here.
2. Dingle
Dingle in Ireland is a small port town in Dingle Peninsula, about 4 hours away from Dublin. It is one of the scenic stops in Ring of Kerry along with Kenmare and Killarney.
Dingle is known for its rugged scenery, trails, and sandy beaches so it’s one of the best places to do a road trip in Ireland.
How to get to Dingle from Killarney
Take a Bus Eireann bus (#40, #271, #284) from Killarney Bus Station to Tralee Bus Station. The trip takes 40 minutes and it costs between €7-10 for a one-way trip or €14-20 for a round trip bus fare. Buses leave every hour.
From Tralee, take a Bus Eireann bus (#275) to Dingle. The trip takes about 1 hour and 5 minutes for €6-8 per trip or €12-16 for a round-trip fare and there are buses that leave every hour as well. Buses only leave 5 times a day so plan accordingly.
In total, you might have to spend between €26-36 on transport alone.
Or you can also take this Dingle day tour from Killarney for €30 which includes a trip to Dingle’s best tourist attractions. To book, click here.
Recommended hours for the day trip
Allow at least 10 hours for the day tour including the journey to Dingle from Killarney. Please that you will have to allocate time in moving between points of interest in Dingle.
3. Macroom day tour
Macroom is a market town in County Cork. It has a long history of famines, wars, and forced emigration.
The town itself is an interesting place with the castle dominating the town center and Iron age monuments such as dolmens, stone circles, and other old burial monuments.
How to get to Macroom from Killarney
Take a Bus Eireann bus (#40, #257) from Killarney Bus Station to Macroom Mills. The trip takes 45 minutes and it costs between €9-12 for a one-way trip or €18-24 for a round trip bus fare.
Buses leave every 2 hours. You can also take a taxi for €55-70 for a one-way trip.
Recommended hours for the day trip from Killarney
Allow at least 6 hours for the day tour including the journey to Macroom from Killarney.
4. Innisfallen Island
Innisfallen is an island in Lough Leane, the largest among the three lakes in Killarney Ireland.
Innisfallen is home to the ruins of Innisfallen Abbey, one of the most impressive archaeological remains dating from the 6th to 7th century found in the Killarney National Park.
There are several boats from Ross Castle that goes to the island. The boat leaves at 9:30 am and the last trip is 5:30 pm. The boat ride only takes about 10 minutes.
Or you can either hire a rowboat or a kayak if you want to go to the island on your own.
Admission Fee
Admission to the island is free but the boat ride can cause you about €10.
How to get to Innisfallen Island from Killarney
From the town center of Killarney, take a taxi to Ross Castle. The taxi fare is between €8-10 per trip (about 3-5 minutes ride) and from Ross Castle, you can take a boat that goes to Innisfallen. The boat ride is only 10 minutes.
The open boat fare costs €10 and it runs from 9:30 AM to 5 PM.
However, if it’s a slow season, the boat normally waits for just about half an hour. This is just enough to see the main points of interest on the island.
But if you want to stay longer to enjoy the scenery, it might become a problem.
If it’s a busy season where boats come and go on the islands, you can take any boat with space for your return to the mainland with no issues.
Recommended hours for the day trip
Allow at least 2 hours for the day trip including the journey to Innisfallen from Killarney.
5. Cork
Being one of Europe’s oldest cities and the second-largest city in Ireland, Cork is a city that you shouldn’t miss. Cork is known for its history, arts, and amazing food scene. It also earned a monicker as a “rebel city” due to its stand against the Vikings invasion.
Cork close enough to other major cities in Ireland that a day trip can be done if you don’t have enough time.
It is about 3 hours from Dublin, 2 hours from Limerick and Galway, 2.5 hours from Shannon and about 1.5 hours away from Killarney.
How to get to Cork from Killarney
Take a Bus Eireann bus (#40) from Killarney Bus Station to CUH (Bishopstown Rd). Change bus (#208) to go to Sheares Street (Mercy Hospital).
The trip takes 1 hour and 30 minutes and it costs between €15-18 for a one-way trip or €30-36 for a round trip bus fare. Buses leave every 2 hours so plan accordingly.
Recommended hours for the day trip
Allow at least 10 hours for the day tour including the journey to Cork from Killarney.
6.Kenmare
Kenmare is one of the most beautiful coastal towns in Ireland. It is part of the popular tourist trail Ring of Kerry. The word Kenmare is an anglicized form of Ceann Mara which means the “head of the sea”.
This is because the town is located at the head of Kenmare Bay where the Roughty River flows into the bay in between the Iveragh Peninsula and the Beara Peninsula.
This panoramic location of Kenmare is what attracts the tourists into it. Kenmare is also more quiet and tranquil than its neighbors – Killarney and Dingle.
Although beautiful in their own way, if peace is what you prefer, this town tops our Ring of Kerry destinations.
How to get to Kenmare from Killarney
Take a Bus Eireann bus (#270) from Killarney Bus Station to Kenmare. The trip takes 45 minutes and it costs between €9-11 for a one-way trip or €18-22 for a round trip bus fare.
Buses leave 3 times a day so plan your time accordingly. You can also take a taxi for €40-55 for a one-way trip.
Recommended hours for the day trip
Allow at least 6 hours for the day tour including the journey to Kenmare from Killarney.
7.Aran Islands
Aran Islands are a group of three rocky islands located in Galway Bay. The islands include Inishmore (Inis Mór – the largest island), Inishmaan (Inis Meáin – the second largest), and Inisheer (Inis Oírr – the smallest).
On the islands, you can explore ancient stone forts and churches, awesome cliffs, and flora and fauna. The islands are considered the soul of Gaelic culture and it’s considered one of the top island destinations by National Geographic.
How to get to Aran Islands from Killarney
Take a Dublin Coach bus (#300) from East Avenue Road in Killarney to Limerick Arthur’s in Limerick. The trip takes 1 hour and 45 minutes and it costs between €6-12 for a one-way trip or €12-24 for a round trip bus fare. Buses leave every hour.
From Limerick, take a Bus Eireann (#301, #323) to Hyde Road. The trip takes about 3 minutes for €3-5 per trip or €6-10 for a round-trip fare and there are buses that leave every half hour.
And then transfer from Glentworth, Limerick to take the Bus Eireann bus (#51, #X51) to Eyre Square, Galway.
It is another 2 hours and 20 minutes bus ride and it costs between €19-23 per trip or €38-46 for a round-trip fare. Then from Eyre Square, take a Bus Eireann bus (#424) to Rossaveal. The trip takes €5-6 or €10-12 for a round trip.
From Rossaveal, then take a ferry from the port to Inis Mór. The ferry journey is about half an hour but make sure to check in half an hour before sailing time. The return ferry fare is €25.
Recommended hours for the day trip
Allow at least 18 hours for the day tour including the journey to Aran Islands from Killarney.
8.Connemara
Connemara is a region in Ireland located in the northwest corner of County Galway and is an area of desolate beauty, incredible scenery, and some of the most interesting attractions in Ireland.
Connemara is also the cultural hub and known as one of the centers of traditional Irish traditions and culture. People also say that when you visit Connemara you “experience the real beauty of Ireland”.
9. Killorglin
Killorglin is a small fishing town in Kerry – a part of the famed Ring of Kerry and the Wild Atlantic Way.
Aside from salmons and trouts, Killorglin is also famous for the oldest, longest, and most unusual festival in Ireland – the Puck Fair.
Puck Fair is an Irish annual festival held every August where locals go to the mountains to catch a wild goat and bring it back to the town to be crowned as the “King”.
Aside from these, Killorglin also offers colorful homes, historical churches and amazing lakes and nature to enjoy.
How to get to Killorglin from Killarney
Take a Bus Eireann bus (#279A) from Killarney Bus Station to Killorglin. The trip takes 30 minutes and it costs between €6-8 for a one-way trip or €12-16 for a round trip bus fare. Buses leave 5 times a day. You can also take a taxi for €29-35 for a one-way trip.
Or you can also take this Killorglin day trip from Killarney for €30 which also includes Sneem, Dingle Bay, and Killarney National Park. To book, click here.
Recommended hours for the day tour from Killarney
Allow at least 8 hours for the day tour including the journey to Killorglin from Killarney.
10. Tralee
Tralee is the capital town of County Kerry. It is also a popular stop in Dingle Peninsula along with Dingle. Famous for historical buildings, museums, and amazing parks, this town is a short day trip from Killarney.
How to get to Tralee from Killarney
Take a Bus Eireann bus (#40) from Killarney Bus Station to Tralee. The trip takes 40 minutes and it costs between €7-10 for a one-way trip or €14-20 for a round trip bus fare. Buses leave every hour. You can also take a taxi for €40-55 for a one-way trip.
Recommended hours for the day trip
Allow at least 8 hours for the day tour including the journey to Tralee from Killarney.
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Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries for the past 8 years. I also lived in 3 continents – from the Caribbean, South East Asia to Africa. But despite living in several countries, my love for Ireland remains the same. A country that had been a part of my life since I was 14 because of my love for Irish music and bands. Ireland Travel Guides was born because of this passion and hopefully, in some little ways, this website will be able to help you on your next trip to Ireland.
7 days Ireland Itinerary Tips And Guide - Ireland Travel Guides
Saturday 24th of July 2021
[…] This waterfall is very accessible (right-off the main road) which makes visiting it very easy. Walking to the falls is an uphill climb so feel free to take your time if you want to avoid any injuries. Once at the falls, you can also continue hiking to the mountain above the falls but the hike will be moderately strenuous moving forward. If you are fascinated with waterfalls and adventures, you should check out Torc Waterfall while in Killarney. […]
10 Things To Do In Killarney, Ireland - Ireland Travel Guides
Tuesday 5th of May 2020
[…] Taking a tour to Innisfallen is one of the best day trips from Killarney. […]
Dalibro
Sunday 5th of May 2019
Killarney is an awesome base camp for discovering the west of Ireland. I can't wait to see all these places in a couple of weeks! :)