To truly get the full Kilkenny city/county experience, we have curated a 3-Day Itinerary that allows you to take part in outdoor adventures, experience the food and cultural scene that takes place in Kilkenny alongside a fun, educational day out to end your break to the Marble City & County. Kilkenny is a great group getaway location during the Spring months.
Spring in Kilkenny brings with it a beautiful, peaceful atmosphere to provide balance and help to rejuvenate your life after the busy festive season.
Follow along for our 3-day itinerary to maximise your Autumnal Escape to Kilkenny! Days are based off of a 9am start time 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 Spring:
St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny: mid- March
Kilkenny Tradfest: mid- March, runs concurrently with SPKK
Day 1
Outdoor Adventure Day:
Where to Stay: Woodstock Courtyard Self-Catering Apartment
Eircode: R95 XW62
Located inside the gates of Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum, the Woodstock Courtyard Self-Catering apartment can accommodate up to 6 guests with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a well-fitted kitchen. The drive up to your apartment brings you through the picturesque village of Inistioge overlooking the River Nore with a stunning mountain view. Check-In from 4pm but early check-in can be arranged
Stop 1:
Brandon Hill
Enjoy a peaceful walk up Brandon Hill, taking in the crisp, fresh air and scenic views across Kilkenny and down to Waterford. You can start at the Raheendonore Carpark, which is located on the L4209 between Graiguenamanagh and Inistioge. The nearest eircode to the turn off for the carpark is R95 YF70. The walk takes approximately 4 hours to complete, covering 11km with an elevation gain of 640m.
Distance to next stop: 9.5km (15 minutes drive)
Lunch
Head back down L4209 in pursuit of Inistioge, grab a coffee & sweet treat in The Coffee Stop outside St. Columcille’s Church and grab some groceries in the local Everyday shop to put together a picnic that will be enjoyed in Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum (before or after checking into your accommodation).
Stop 2:
Located next door to Woodstock Courtyard, Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum date back to the Victorian period and are currently being restored to the period 1840 -1890 with every effort being made to use plants and materials typical of the area during this era. The Gardens are home to an arboretum, walled garden and two stunning avenues: Monkey Puzzle Avenue and Noble Fir Avenue. Tune into Woodstock’s specially curated Spotify playlist to soothe your thoughts as you explore the woodland walk down to the waterfall.
Dinner
After a long day in the great outdoors, wash the adventures off in the comfort of your self-catering apartment before heading for a warm, comforting dinner in the Otter Bar in the heart of Inistioge. The Bavarian-style bar is a superb way to end your eventful day exploring the great Kilkenny countryside- feet up, beside the fire with a cool pint in hand.
Day 2
Food & Culture Day:
Grab a light breakfast in your accommodation before hitting the road to Kilkenny City for your food tour or get on the road first and grab a bite to eat in Kilkenny before the 10:30am tour. Distance to first stop 26km (30 minute drive)
Breakfast Recommendations: Wild Tails, Brewtaly, The Black Cat Café
Stop 1:
Meeting Point: Kilkenny Courthouse
Over the course of 2.5 hours, a small-knit group of foodies will be led around by their knowledgeable local guides to a selection of different cafés, restaurants and independent shops to sample the best of Irish foods. Their motto is “Walk + Chat + Eat + Drink + Laugh with us” make memories to last a lifetime and discover the finest eateries in the city.
Stop 2:
National Craft & Design Gallery & Castle Yard
Eircode: R95 DCX2
Now that you’re full of delicious locally sourced food, head for the National Craft & Design Gallery located across the road from Kilkenny Castle. The gallery is a space for a whole host of Irish crafters from different artistic disciplines to showcase their works. Also located in the Castle Yard are the various workshops of devoted craftspeople from Patrick Joseph knives to JMK Goldsmith (who made one of Ireland’s most famous artefacts, the McCarthy Cup).
Allow 1 hour
Distance to next stop: 650m (5 min walk)
Stop 3:
Eircode: R95 P89C
Rothe House provides visitors insight into what society was like in Kilkenny in the 16th century. The large walled garden extends to the rear of the building and provides respite in the middle of a busy urban centre – aka the most beautiful place to sit back, enjoy nature and delve into a good book. The house itself is over 400 years old and has been restored to showcase treasures from the time, including portraits from The Lavery Collection.
Allow 1 hour
Distance to your accommodation: 2.8km (5 min drive)
Stop 4: Check into accommodation
Beechview Self-Catering Apartments
Eircode: R95 V6FV
Located on the outskirts of the city centre, Beechview Self-Catering apartments provide space from the hustle and bustle of the lively city whilst still being within walking distance of all the fun. Situated above a pharmacy and convenience store, everything that you need is within arms reach, making for an easy-going visit to the Medieval City. With apartments to accommodate for different sized groups from corporate getaways to family holidays, make Beechview Apartments your base for a Spring visit to Kilkenny.
Distance to dinner location: 2.7km (5 min drive)
Dinner
Eircode: R95 XKR7
Indulge in a multi-award winning meal at Ristorante Rinuccini’s, situated just opposite Kilkenny Castle. The top-quality Italian restaurant has been listed on the Michelin guide since 1994 and has had numerous accolades bestowed upon them for their luxurious dishes and service. Dinner in Ristorante Rinuccini’s is truly unforgettable, a dream come true for any food lover visiting Kilkenny.
Final Stop
Evening Show
Location: The Set Theatre (R95 X20K) or Watergate Theatre (R95 D320)
We are blessed to have such great venues to visit for a boogie, a laugh or to immerse ourselves in the arts. End your evening with the scrumptious Italian dinner at Rinuccini’s and a show at either The Set Theatre (pictured) or the Watergate Theatre. There is always something happening in Kilkenny- a hotspot for arts, culture and comedy. Discover the range of shows at: https://set.ie/ or https://www.watergatetheatre.com/
Day 3:
Educational Fun Day:
Check out of your accommodation and head into Langton’s for breakfast before your first activity of the day. Langton’s is a 25 minute walk or 5 minute drive from Beechview Apartments. Sip on freshly brewed coffee accompanied by light, flaky breakfast pastries in the John Street Tea Rooms set in Langton’s Hotel. From there, your first activity of the day begins outside Kilkenny Castle with a magical guided tour of the medieval city with Shenanigans Walks.
Stop 1
Meeting Point: Kilkenny Castle – Eircode: R95 YRK1
Voted the TripAdvisor “Travellers’ Choice Award 2021” and listed in the top 1% of things to do in Ireland on TripAdvisor, you’re in good hands on your extensive tour of Kilkenny City. Your knowledgeable guide will escort you through the winding medieval streets, tell tales of Kilkenny’s witchy past all while performing spellbinding magic tricks. Shenanigans guided tours are a must-do activity when you visit Kilkenny!
Allow 1.5 hours
Distance to next stop: 350m (5 min walk)
Stop 2
Please note that BoatTrips.ie run from April – October
Meeting Point: Canal Square
See the city from a different perspective aboard a peaceful tour with BoatTrips.ie. Your informed captain will give you the lowdown on the vast ecological environment that inhabits the urban city landscape. Be sure to bring your cameras as you’ll have the opportunity to capture some very unique views of Kilkenny including a unique view of the Castle.
Allow 40 mins
Distance to next stop: 8.7km (12min drive)
Lunch
Eircode: R95 PY90
Settle into this cosy roadside café for a comforting cup of coffee, choose from a delicious selection of toasties, wraps or pastries and fuel up for the remainder of your final day in the lush countryside of Kilkenny. Handmade local crafter pieces are also available for purchase in the art café, get a trinket to remind you of your trip to Kilkenny!
Distance to final stop: 4.2km (5 min drive)
Final Stop
Eircode: R95 RXR4
A great activity for kids and grown-ups alike, Nore Valley Park is an animal lover’s dream! Nestled in the serene Nore Valley, the pet farm is a place to get in touch with nature. Bottle feed goats, take the opportunity to pet bunnies or explore the 3km of trails alongside the river. Discover their incubator chick project and bring the miracle of life to a classroom or care home in your community.