All by yourself in Kilkenny? Don’t fret, we have a range of different activities for you to take part in while exploring the Marble City and County at your own pace! With vibrant characters to meet, beautiful parklands to explore and action-packed activities, Kilkenny is the ideal destination to go it alone and free your mind. Discover the best of Irish culture in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East and make memories that will last you a lifetime!
GETTING HERE
Kilkenny City is located just 90-minutes by car from Dublin with a direct route via the M9. If you wish to leave the car at home, you can take the train from Dublin Heuston station to Kilkenny MacDonagh Junction, which takes 1h30mins or stay on for longer and reach Thomastown in just under 2hrs.
The JJ Kavanagh 736 Route runs from Waterford City – Dublin Airport, stopping off at Kilkenny Ormonde Road and Paulstown at the Applegreen Service Station.
There are two city bus services KK1 (Danville Business Park to Glenbawn) and KK2 (Cillín Hill to St Luke’s Hospital) that operate every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday and up to every 30 minutes on Sundays. The TFI Local Link bus services are budget-friendly and can take you to a range of towns and villages across the county. You can find the timetable here.
DO
Taking part in tours are a great way to learn more about a locations and meet new people from all over the world. Choose from a range of different tour types in the city including: a Medieval history tour with Kilkenny Medieval Mile Tours, a fast-paced bike tour with Kilkenny Cycling Tours, discover the city from below in a kayak with Riverbend Adventures, try your hand at our national sport with Malzards Hurling Experience or sample local delicacies with Kilkenny Food Tours.
When you visit Kilkenny, it is impossible to avoid our amazing history as you walk along the cobblestoned Medieval Mile, which links Kilkenny Castle with the 13th century St. Canice’s Cathedral. Home to only one of two accessible round towers in Ireland, the 30-metre structure gives you an outstanding 360º view of Kilkenny City and County. On a good day can even see the Blackstairs Mountains! Contrary to popular belief, St. Canice’s Round Tower doesn’t have a spiral staircase inside but rather 121 steps across 7 wooden ladders!
There are plenty of beautiful natural spaces to uncover across County Kilkenny with Canal Walk and the Lacken Boardwalk in the city centre to Jenkinstown Woods and the Castlecomer Loop in North Kilkenny along with the Woodstock Loop and Brandon Hill walks in South Kilkenny. You can find trail maps to all of these locations and more at TrailKilkenny.ie.
Kilkenny is a hive of activity year round and the best way to experience all the fun and festivities of a location is through its numerous festivals. Vibrant festivals that are full of excitement will make you forget that you’re going it alone! Come and visit us during some of the below festivals:
- St. Patrick’s Festival & Kilkenny Tradfest
- Smithwick’s Kilkenny Roots Festival
- Kilkenny Cat Laughs
- Kilkenny Arts Festival
- Kilkenny Animated
- Savour Kilkenny
- Kilkenomics
- Yulefest Kilkenny
STAY
The Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel offers single-occupancy rooms that are ideal for solo travellers. Located in the centre of the city, just a stone’s throw from Kilkenny Castle, it is a great base for your trip to Kilkenny. At the heart of the action, you’ll find vibrant bars, delicious restaurants and enticing boutiques dotted along the cobblestone streets.
The Hoban Hotel Kilkenny invites you and your furry friends to stay in their special dog-friendly rooms, providing a warm retreat after a busy day exploring the lush green spaces around the county.
There are plenty of diverse accommodation options for solo travellers in Kilkenny. From B&Bs and hotels, where you will experience the purest form of Irish hospitality to glamping sites that tuck you into the beautiful Kilkenny countryside, without the hassle of setting up a tent! Find your accommodation options at VisitKilkenny.ie