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Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny

4.5
#1 of 69 in Things to do in Kilkenny
Castle Historic Site
Preserving more than eight centuries of history within its walls, Kilkenny Castle rises over the Nore River and marks an intersection of several major medieval routes. Although the castle underwent a series of modifications over the ages, it contains three of its original four stone towers, built in 1192 by a Norman invader known to history as "Strongbow." Once a symbol of Norman occupation and a key part of the region's defenses, the castle now attracts thousands of visitors with its extensive gardens and basement art gallery. Also in the basement, the castle kitchen houses a popular tearoom, complete with a Victorian cooking range and rows of pots and plates. Arrange to visit Kilkenny Castle and other attractions in Kilkenny using our Kilkenny travel itinerary planner.
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Reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
4,474 reviews
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4.5
TripAdvisor
  • Park nice especially under the Sun. Visit the typical city with these shops. City very touristy, a lot of people in the streets.
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  • Great well kept grounds, restored castle, detailed artifacts. Lots of audio visuals and friendly guides. Clean bathrooms. Oversized pastries and good coffee and ice c.apps  more »
  • It is worth passing by Kilkenny, Castle, and its medieval village. You can go by bus for 20 euros roundtrip. the castle is very well-preserved. to attend a Wednesday the entrance was free
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  • Visited because we had gotten one of the Heritage passes that lets us in for free. Nice little video before you enter the castle/residence and beautiful gardens. The guides inside the castle were great, telling us stories about the small boards on stands near the fireplace keeping the heart off of ladies faces so the for wouldn't melt their make-up and that's where the phrase "not losing face" comes from along with a bunch of other neat facts. The photos and description of the restoration work they did was also very interesting. Totally worth a visit!
  • Visited with a large group of tourists. Guide was magnificent. She had a ridiculous amount of knowledge about the Family , the locality and Castle. The Castle itself while small in comparison to other castles is very well furnished and restored. Highly recommend visiting the Tea rooms at the end of the tour to recharge the batteries.
  • Wonderful well maintained castle. Tour guides and audio guides available. Beautiful gardens in front and behind the castle.
  • We did not tour the castle but instead had lunch at the Kilkenny Castle Tea Room, in the original Castle kitchen. Great sandwiches and baked potatoes but oh my the cakes. So many delicious cakes to choose from. Well worth a visit.
  • This was a great experience- the tour was well put together and the Castle itself well maintained! The rooms were interesting and it was like a march through time from beginning to end!
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Best things to do in Kilkenny

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Where to stay in Kilkenny

For a historical Irish experience, stay in Kilkenny County's namesake city, a medieval destination with no shortage of lodging options. If you are interested in exploring the central sights of this city, stay at one of the many hotels, hostels, or bed and breakfasts near its center. For something more affordable, head to the outskirts and look into guesthouse options. You can also choose a nearby spa if you want to splurge on a relaxing getaway.
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16 days in Ireland BY A USER FROM CANADA October, culture, outdoors, relaxing, historic sites, fast-paced, hidden gems PREFERENCES: October, culture, outdoors, relaxing, historic sites ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems PACE: Fast-paced 9 days in Ireland BY A USER FROM CANADA October, popular PREFERENCES: October ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 16 days in Ireland BY A USER FROM CANADA October, popular PREFERENCES: October ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 7 days in Ireland BY A USER FROM IRELAND August, culture, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, historic sites, shopping, hidden gems PREFERENCES: August, culture, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, historic sites, shopping ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems PACE: Medium 11 days in Belfast & Ireland BY A USER FROM CANADA September, historic sites, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: September, historic sites ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium 8 days in Ireland BY A USER FROM CANADA September, historic sites, popular PREFERENCES: September, historic sites ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 9 days in Ireland BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES March, teens, kids, culture, historic sites, popular PREFERENCES: March, teens, kids, culture, historic sites ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 13 days in Ireland BY A USER FROM AUSTRALIA May, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, shopping, popular PREFERENCES: May, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, shopping ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 18 days in Ireland BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES October, popular PREFERENCES: October ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 6 days in Ireland BY A USER FROM GERMANY August, outdoors, historic sites, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: August, outdoors, historic sites ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium 9 days in Ireland BY A USER FROM CANADA October, culture, relaxing, historic sites, museums, popular PREFERENCES: October, culture, relaxing, historic sites, museums ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 9 days in Ireland BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES November, culture, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: November, culture, outdoors, relaxing, beaches ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium
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