Pull the hats and scarves out of storage, Winter is on its way! The busy period gets bigger and better every year, so why not come to Kilkenny for a relaxing weekend before (or after) the madness of the season?
With cosy hotels to suit all your needs, plenty of educational excursions and comfortable restaurants and bars serving hearty Irish dinners, Kilkenny, city and county, is the place to kick back, relax and take your time exploring.
For more recommendations of where to stay or what to eat and do, head to VisitKilkenny.ie
Follow along for our 2-day itinerary to maximise your Winter Wonderland Escape to Kilkenny! Days are based off of a 10am start time with drive times taken into account, but feel free to choose your own adventure by mixing and matching different activities to suit your schedule!
Important festival dates to remember when travelling to Kilkenny in Winter:
Kilkenomics – 6-9th November
Yulefest – 29th November – 23rd December
Day 1
Where to Stay:
Newpark Hotel Kilkenny
Eircode: R95 KP63
Make Newpark Hotel Kilkenny your base for a cosy getaway to the Marble County. This 4-star hotel is located just 2km from the heart of Kilkenny City and offers luxurious hotel rooms, delicious food & an invigorating spa. The multi-award-winning hotel is set on 25-acres, ideal for exploring with all the family on a 3-generation Winter getaway or a couples city break.
Distance to first stop: 2km (25 min walk or 10 min drive)
Stop 1 : St. Mary’s Medieval Mile Museum
Eircode: R95 K276
Set in the 13th century St. Mary’s Church, the Medieval Mile Museum encompasses artefacts from some of the treasures of Irish medieval history. The church itself is considered to be the best standing example of a Medieval church in Ireland and is a precious showcase of Kilkenny’s Civic Treasures and replicas of some Ossory High Crosses. An educational, interactive activity for all ages, the Medieval Mile Museum is a great start to a historical trip to Kilkenny. Note: The Interactive Audio Tour is available in English, Italian, Spanish, French and German.
Allow 1.5 hours
Distance to next stop: 300m (5 mins walk)
Stop 2 : Kilkenny Castle
Eircode: R95 YRK1
The iconic feature in the Kilkenny skyline, the grand structure that stands tall at the end of the Medieval Mile, Kilkenny Castle. Dating back to 1260, the castle towers over the River Nore, showing its prime position as a control-point for the Normans during the 13th century. Fast forward to 1967, Arthur Butler, 6th Marquess of Ormonde, sold the castle for £50 to the Castle Restoration Committee for the people of Kilkenny. Now run by the Office of Public Works, Kilkenny Castle has been restored to its Victorian era interior and now welcomes thousands of visitors every year.
Allow 1 hour for the tour
Distance to next stop: 250m (5 mins walk)
LUNCH
Louie’s Café
Eircode: R95 TC63
Louie’s Café is a much-loved addition of award-winning bar, Left Bank. Set in an old townhouse, the café gets its inspiration from the quaint Parisian cafés that line the arrondissements of the French capital. It is a great location to catch up with friends and family and transition from brunch to evening tapas with a glass of wine to finish off the busy day of exploring Kilkenny. Louie’s Café is operated on a first-come, first-served basis during the day, so get in early to grab a table and savour the delicious brunch menu!
Distance to next stop: 2km (35 minute walk or 22 minute bus ride on KK2 route – which runs every 30 mins)
Stop 3: The National Reptile Zoo
Eircode: R95 KF6V
Hop on the KK2 bus at Market Yard and make your way out to Leggetsrath and find the hidden gem that is a great educational day out for all ages. Hebron Business Park is home to The National Reptile Zoo, the ONLY zoological facility in Ireland that houses reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. With over 120 individual animals from over 50 species, the centre provides an interesting insight into these creatures and their importance to their respective ecosystems. Meet the zookeepers, get up close and personal with a variety of reptilians, amphibians and 8-legged crawlies.
Allow 2 hours
Distance to next stop: 2.2km (30 minute walk or 22 minute bus ride on KK2 route – which runs every 30 mins)
Final Stop
DINNER at Scott’s Bar & Brasserie in the Newpark Hotel Kilkenny
Settle in for the evening back in the cosy surroundings of Newpark Hotel Kilkenny. Head for dinner in Scott’s Bar & Brasserie, where the skilled chefs create tasty dishes for the extensive menu using locally-sourced ingredients. They also have special menus to cater for gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian diets, making it a one-stop-shop for everybody’s dietary needs.
Day 2
The Escape Spa opens at 11am midweek or 9:30am on weekends in Newpark Hotel Kilkenny. If you have the time, treat yourself to a relaxing treatment in the peaceful surrounds of the award-winning spa before embarking on a slow-paced afternoon in the Marble County.
Check out of the Newpark Hotel any time before 12pm after tucking into a tasty buffet breakfast in Scott’s Bar or choose to order to your room and soak up the warmth of your luxuriously cosy bed for a little bit longer!
Distance to your first stop: 7.9km (10 min drive)
Stop 1: Jenkinstown Walled Garden & Park
Eircode: R95 PW94
Take it easy on your final day exploring the peaceful Kilkenny countryside. Head to Jenkinstown Park and stroll along the 2km Walled Garden Loop. The parkland was once part of a large estate in the 1870’s but now with the old house long gone, the thriving greenery has survived, including rare Chinese Necklace Poplars. The space is home to foxes, badgers, red and grey squirrels as well as deer, who are in their own enclosure!
Allow 1 hour
Distance to next stop: 4km (6 min drive)
Stop 2: Dunmore Caves
Eircode: R95 A972
The Dunmore Caves are a great rainy day activity, giving you the opportunity to take it slow and be educated on the interesting past that is contained under the surface in Dunmore. The Dunmore Caves date back to the 9th century and are well-known in Kilkenny for being the site of a bloody Viking massacre in the year 928. At the visitor centre you can learn about the treasures that were discovered there, how the caves originally formed and what animals live there. Please note: There are 800 steps down to the cave itself so please dress comfortably for your guided tour.
Allow 1 hour
Distance to next stop: 11km (10 min drive)
LUNCH
Avalon House Hotel Castlecomer
Snuggle in beside the roaring wood-burning stove in Lark’s Bar for some wholesome lunch before getting on the road home after a peaceful, education trip in Kilkenny. Dig into a hearty bowl of soup with homemade Avalon brown bread or choose some hearty Irish roast dishes accompanied by expertly crafted cocktails (if you’re lucky enough to be in the passenger seat!) in the comfortable surroundings of the boutique hotel bar.
If you are visiting Kilkenny during the festive season, make sure to check out the vast range of Christmas experiences that take place around the Marble County.
Christmas at Jurassic Newpark
Meet the elves in Santa’s enchanting grotto and help give a hand around the workshop with tons of fun activities! Gather around as Mrs. Claus shares tales of Christmases past, help the elves make a special reindeer food before visiting the real life reindeer! There are plenty of things to do before jumping on a magical train journey to meet the man himself. With hot chocolate and gingerbread in hand, why not traverse the trails and take part in the scavenger hunt? Learn more about Christmas at Jurassic Newpark.
Santa’s Magical Village at Castlecomer Discovery Park
Join in on the festive fun at Castlecomer Discovery Park’s Magical Santa Village for the festive season. Make memories to last a lifetime with the giddy gang of elves before meeting the man in red. Grown ups have the opportunity to explore the experienced crafters who are based in the Craft Yard or stroll the extensive trails with hot chocolate in hand. Keep an eye on their socials for their Sensory Day dates so everybody can join in on the fun at Castlecomer Discovery Park at Christmas! Learn more about Christmas Experiences at Castlecomer Discovery Park.
Nore Valley Park Santa Experience with MacDonagh Junction
The gang from Nore Valley Park come out of hibernation for their Santa Experience in MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre to bring the joy of Christmas to young and old. Meet the mischievous elves, write letters to Santa before popping them in the express post box for direct post to the North Pole before getting a 1-1 with the big man himself and jumping in for a precious family photo. Furry friends also get the opportunity to meet the Claus family at a special one-night only event for pets. Learn more about the Nore Valley Park Santa Experience.
Mountain View Christmas Markets
With upwards of 100 Irish traders, Mountain View’s Christmas markets need to be on your list for shopping local and sustainably at Christmas. Running every Sunday in December, the festive season often kicks off with a Night Market in November where you can BYOB and bring your doggies along to the action. Enjoy delicious food from a variety of different food trucks and get all your Christmas shopping sorted with a soundtrack of live music playing in the background to get you ready for the busy season! Learn more about Mountain View Markets.
Kilkenny Yulefest
Keeping with Yulefest tradition, the markets and Santa’s arrival via the River Nore coincide on the last Saturday in November to kick off the Christmas season in Kilkenny. Visitors to the festival can expect festive treats, creative crafts, live music and family entertainment each weekend along with special events each week in the lead up to the big day! There’s something for everybody to enjoy during the festive season in Kilkenny. The Yulefest markets are the perfect opportunity to support local and shop small at Christmas time. Learn more about Kilkenny Yulefest.