Last Updated on October 29, 2020 by Anisa
Killarney National Park is technically part of the famous Ring of Kerry, but you can easily spend a day just here. It is a national park for a reason, the scenery is stunning. You have gorgeous lakes and dramatic mountains like you might expect. In addition, there are also historic sites that you should not miss.
In this post, I will share the top seven things to do in Killarney National Park and some logistical information to help plan your visit.
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This is a sunrise worth getting up for!
About Killarney National Park
Killarney National Park is located less than five miles southwest of the town of Killarney in County Kerry in southwestern Ireland. It is open year around and there is a visitor’s center at the Muckross House. The park covers over 25,000 acres, so you have plenty of areas to explore.
In 1932, Killarney National Park was created when Muckross Estate was donated to the Irish Free State. It was the first national park in Ireland. In 1981, the park was named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Top Things to Do in Killarney National Park
Within the park, you will find mountains, lakes, and even waterfalls, but Killarney National Park is more than just a place to admire the natural beauty. The history of the park is interesting too. There is something for everyone!
The map gives you an idea of the location of some of the points of interest. Keep reading for more details on my suggestions for what to do in Killarney National Park.
Tour the Muckross House
The main attraction in the park is Muckross House, a 19th century Victorian mansion now owned by the state. During our visit the Muckross House was undergoing renovations, so parts of the outside of the house was covered in scaffolding and some of the gardens were closed off.
The only way to see the inside of this historic house is by guided tour (€9 per adult). The tour lasted about an hour and was fascinating. I really loved the stories that our guide shared with us about the families that lived in the house. It was interesting to learn that Queen Victoria along with her husband Prince Albert stayed at the Muckross House in 1861 during their trip to Ireland. They celebrated Prince Albert’s 42nd birthday there and then, unfortunately, he died a few months later.
The family went all out for the Queen’s visit, hoping to get something in return. Unfortunately, with the timing of Prince Albert’s death, Victoria was distracted and the family ended up going bankrupt.
Unfortunately, no pictures are allowed inside the house, but I would encourage you to visit. The inside is decorated like it would have been in Victorian time. Plus, from inside the house, there are fabulous views of the lakes and the gardens.
After our tour, we went to explore the gardens. Unfortunately, it was only a few minutes before it started raining pretty hard so we didn’t even get to see all of the garden that was open. There is no admission charge to visit the gardens.
Check Reviews for the Muckross House on Tripadvisor here.
Explore the Muckross Abbey Ruins
Muckross Abbey was founded in 1448 as a Franciscan friary for the Observantine Franciscans. It has been damaged and rebuilt several times throughout its history. I knew Muckross Abbey was ruins but I was really surprised how much of the abbey was actually intact. You can even climb the stairs to explore the second floor. The courtyard is dramatic with a large tree growing inside it. There is also a graveyard.
If it wasn’t raining, I would have liked to spend more time exploring the graveyard outside Muckross Abbey.
I didn’t get to explore as much as I would have liked because it was rainy and windy, but the abbey is definitely an impressive ruin. Muckross Abbey is about a 20-minute walk from Muckross House or you can drive there since there is a parking lot a short walk away.
Check Reviews for the Muckross Abbey on Tripadvisor here.
Hike to the Torc Waterfall
After our trip to Isle of Skye, we are both obsessed with waterfalls. So when we heard there was one in Killarney National Park, we knew we needed to see it even though it was raining! If we would have had better weather, we would have done the 4.5 km Torc Waterfall Loop Hike.
I had read the falls were only a five-minute walk from the parking lot, so we figured we could do that in spite of the weather. Well, somehow I think we parked in the wrong spot because it was more than a 20-minute hike, which was not easy given the weather conditions. Still, it was definitely worth it, the Torc Waterfall is impressive. It is hard to convey the size in a picture, I should have braved the weather conditions to pose in front of it.
Check Reviews for the Torc Waterfall on Tripadvisor here.
See Ross Castle
Unfortunately, we did not have time to visit Ross Castle, so it is another item on the list for next time. This Castle was estimated to be built in the late 15th century by one of the O’Donoghue Ross chieftains and it is located on the Lower Lake (Lough Leane) in Killarney National Park.
According to a local legend, O’Donoghue still sleeps deep under the waters of Lough Leane. On the morning of May 1st, every seven years he rises from the lake on a white horse and circles the lake. If you can catch a glimpse of him, you will be assured of good fortune for the rest of your life.
The castle is furnished in the style of the 16th and 17th century and guided tours (5 € per adult) are available from March to November. Unfortunately, due to steep inclines, it is not easily accessible for visitors with mobility issues.
To get to Ross Castle take boat across the serene lake or it is possible to drive. From Killarney town, there will be a sign on N71 marking the right turn. If you prefer, it’s also a leisurely 2.6km walk or bike ride southwest of the St Mary’s Cathedral pedestrian park entrance.
Check Reviews for Ross Castle on Tripadvisor here.
Take in the Ladies View
Ladies View is a scenic lookout point that we stopped at while we were driving the Ring of Kerry. It gets its name because Queen Victoria’s ladies in waiting liked the view here. It is a pretty impressive view, so I definitely recommend that you stop and take a few pictures.
Check Reviews for Ladies View on Tripadvisor here.
Explore the Park by Bike
Some of the hiking trails in Killarney National Park are also ideal for biking. It’s a great option because you will be able to cover more ground than by walking. You can rent a bike from Killarney and ride to the park.
Then, you can follow the Muckross Dinis Loop, which is mostly flat and paved. It takes you by some of the popular attractions in Killarney National Park like Muckross Abbey, Muckross House, and Torc Waterfall.
Check Reviews for O’ Sullivan Cycles on Tripadvisor here.
Is it Free to Visit Killarney National Park?
It depends on what you want to do. There is no admission fee to enter the park, but some attractions (as mentioned below) only allow you inside on a guided tour which they do charge a nominal fee for.
How to Get to Killarney National Park
The park is huge so it’s probably wise to drive there. The parking lots at the major attractions are free.
For those without a car, the best option is to do the hop-on-hop-off bus from Killarney Shuttle Bus. It takes you from Killarney to all the main attractions in Killarney National Park. Get more information and book your hop-on-hop-off bus here.
A jaunting cart, which is a type of horse-drawn carriage, may look like a nice traditional way to experience the park, but I am not sure I would try it after reading about what happened to fellow blogger Angie Away.
If your lodging is close enough, you could walk but it will be hard to get around to all the different attractions. We stayed at the Carrilgea House, which is a charming bed and breakfast right across the street from the park. (If you are looking for accommodations, here are some more recommendations for places to stay along the Ring of Kerry). One morning before breakfast, we walked over to one of the lakes and enjoyed the sunrise. It was definitely worth getting up early for!
We tried to not let the rain stop us from seeing the park, but we got soaked. I would love to go back and do some more hiking, visit Ross Castle, and maybe even try the jaunting carts. Have you visited Killarney National Park? What were your favorite parts?
-Anisa
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Expert Tips for Visiting Killarney National Park
- You can easily spend a whole day in Killarney National Park, as there is plenty to see.
- Take the guided tour so that you can see the inside of Muckross House and learn all the history.
- There are several different hikes that you can do to see the Torc Waterfall.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means we will receive a small commission for some purchases made using links in our blog with no additional cost to you. Please be assured we would not promote any product unless we believe that our readers will also benefit. The commission does not influence the editorial content of this site.
I’ll never get bored exploring Ireland. The green, the history, the waterfalls. It’s one of my favorite places in the world. Hoping to make it to Killarney for TBEX. Will definitely be back for tips as I plan that trip.
Stephanie – Yes I love it there too. Will keep you posted if I am able to make it for TBEX.
What a pity about the Muckross family going bankrupt… a classic example of timing being all important 🙂 #TheWeeklyPostcard
Annette – Yes it was unfortunate. The family really put all their funds towards making sure Queen Victoria’s visit would go well, they could have never predicted that her husband would die so young.
Great photos. I love how green everything is! Torc Waterfall looks amazing!
Thanks Bryna! Yes Ireland is so pretty and green!
We visited Killarney this past summer and fell in love with it! The day we visited the castle we had rain, sun and wind and everything in between! The jaunting cart driver let my little guy drive us back to town!
Hilary – Glad to hear you liked it too. That is so neat that your little guy got to drive. I bet he loved it.
Hi Anisa and Katherine, we have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. We would love for you to accept! Follow the instructions in our post to do so 🙂
https://wanderfullyliving.com/2017/02/19/versatile-blogger-award-2nd-award-in-2-days/
Sean & Rhianne – Thanks so much for the nomination, but we have already accepted the award. You can check out our post about the award – https://www.twotravelingtexans.com/versatile-blogger-award/
Great guide and tips for Killarney national park, Anisa and Katherine! I would love to visit it.
Thanks so much Agness, glad you enjoyed it. Hope you get to visit one day.
I have been to Killernay, but it’s so long ago that I don’t remember all those things. probably time to come again
#TheWeeklyPostcard
Shere – Thanks! Yes it sounds like it is definitely time for another visit.
The scenery is truly stunning and if you add the sights – it´s a perfect destination where everyone could find something according to his/her travel preferences! Never heard of Killarney National Park: always find out great new places from your blog – thanks for sharing 😉
Anna – Thanks so much. Yes I think you would really enjoy Killarney National Park.
Mansions, Abbeys, Waterfalls, Castles… You keep showing me why I need to get my butt to Ireland! I always like the idea of spending a little longer in places, because you then have time to visit and see more places like this. Plus, everything is so green!
David – Thank you. Yes you would love Ireland. It is so beautiful and the people are so friendly.
Your photos make me really want to visit Killarney National Park. They are stunning. What an interesting story about Muckross House. I’d like to see the inside for myself but won’t be able t stop thinking about that poor family going bankrupt after being such generous hosts to the Queen. Sounds like something out of a novel.
Michele – Thanks so much. Yes our tour guide was full of fascinating stories, so I am sure you would enjoy it.
Sounds like a wonderful day out! Shame about the weather, but I am glad you still decided to see the waterfall. Seems very impressive! The stories about the Muckross House sound facinating too! I have just finished watching the first season of the Crown and this reminds me of that!
Thank you it was a fun day. A lot of people have been telling me about the crown. I will have to check it out.
I had travelled in Killarney back in 2004, and I remembered the Ring of Kerry but could not recall anything about Killarney National Park though Muckross House sounds vaguely familiar. The only thing I remembered from that trip was Galway and Connemara 🙂 Well, I hope to rediscover Ireland this year as I’m planning to return in Oct for TBEX conference in Killarney. Hope memories of this second trip stay longer! Thanks for sharing your post, and I love your photos especially the greenery of Ireland (though I don’t like the rain!) 🙂
Kat – I wish I could go to TBEX! Killarney is such a great town, I’m sure it will be a fun time!
What a beautiful spot to explore! Thanks for sharing so many practical tips, too.
Lana – Yes, it’s a beautiful park. Glad you enjoyed the post.
Hi, Anisa, This is such a great post, it makes me want to go to Killarney like tomorrow… It’s been on my bucket list for a while, and your post is putting it up higher … Bookmarked this for future reference; I’ll have to let you know when I go (it might be a year or so, but I’ll be there – such a gorgeous place! Love your photos, btw 🙂
Emese – Thank you! Kerry is amazing, so I hope you get to go. I still really want to go back and see the Dingle Peninsula.
This is such a beautiful part of Ireland. We were able to visit and explore the area but definitely need to return.
Thank you! I want to go back too