Top Killarney Outdoor Activities

Discover the highlights of Ireland's oldest national park—and enjoy a one-of-a-kind way to explore—on this private horse and carriage tour. Pick from multiple departure times throughout the day, meet your guide at St. Mary's Cathedral in Killarney, and hop aboard. During your tour, you'll see lakes and mountains, will explore routes that are closed to cars, and can even go for a tour of the 15th-century Ross Castle (additional expense).

Skip a tour by foot, and saddle up for a horseback ride through Killarney National Park, that’s suitable for all abilities. You’ll be at one with nature, as you ride past scenic Lough Lein, along trails that lend themselves to rugged mountain views. Led by a guide, the ride is limited to just 16 people for a small-group experience where assistance is always close by.

Discover Killarney National Park at your leisure with a half-day self-guided bike tour. Pick-up your bike rental and a map guiding the way to popular park landmarks including Muckross House and Gardens, Muckross Abbey, Torc Waterfall, and Muckross Traditional Farms. Enjoy maximum flexibility to explore the countryside at your pace with this self-guided bike tour.

Get up close and personal with Killarney National Park's spectacular scenery on a horseback riding tour. Pick between morning and afternoon tour times, and make your own way to the stables near Killarney Town. Grab your helmet and boots, saddle up, and head into nature. You'll ride along Lough Lein, will admire soaring mountains and rolling hills, and can learn more about the highlights of Ireland's first national park.

The Ring of Kerry and the Killarney National Park take pride of place on the Iveragh Peninsula, with some of Ireland’s finest coastal scenery—but the 110-mile (177-kilometer) journey makes sightseeing a challenge. This convenient full-day coach tour from Killarney makes it possible to complete the route in a day. Plus, take in traditional coastal villages such as Cahersiveen, Derrynane, and Glenbeigh. Visit the historic Bog Village with a guide, and discover top natural attractions including the Killarney Lakes, Rossbeigh Beach, and Macgillycuddy's Reeks.

Lough Leane is the largest lake in Killarney. Travel across its deep blue and green waters while taking in scenes of the 15th-century Ross Castle from the deck of your covered heated vessel on this lake cruise. Spy Innisfallen Island as you sail, home to a medieval monastery that used to house scholar-monks.

Explore Killarney National Park the traditional way, by horse and carriage, which is known locally as a “Killarney jaunting car.” You’ll ride in the carriage with woollen blankets to keep you warm on cooler days, and enjoy a scenic route around the Muckross Park Estate to the historic Muckross Abbey. Even better: The experience is private, so you’ll ride with just your personal group.

The light horse-drawn carriages known as “jaunting cars” used to be key to getting around Ireland, and today they add a uniquely Irish flavor to both photos and excursions. See the sights the traditional way when you book these private jaunting car tours. One route centers the Lakes of Killarney; the other focuses on Kenmare House grounds and Ross Castle. Both collect and drop off at central Killarney hotels.

Explore the scenic lakes of Killarney with a small-group boat tour to Innisfallen Island. Meet your boat captain for a guided tour focused on scenery and history. At Innisfallen Island, visit one of Ireland’s oldest monastic settlements. Cruise along the lake and learn about the heritage and nature of County Kerry from a local guide.

See the best views hidden inside the Nation Park! We bring you on routes closed to motor traffic. A must do as part of your visit to Killarney! The Jaunting cars are an iconic part of Killarney, these historic tours feature some of the best views of Killarney National Park

Get a fuller experience of Killarney than would be possible with a single form of transportation on this combination tour by boat and jaunting car. Sail across Lough Lein in a glass-covered boat then hop aboard a jaunting car to travel through Killarney National Park, to places inaccessible by motor vehicle.

Ride through Killarney National Park on a guided horseback adventure. Explore forests, mountains, and lakes while your experienced guide leads you along scenic trails. Suitable for all skill levels, this trek offers stunning views of MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and Lough Lein and a chance to experience Ireland’s natural beauty up close. This price per person applies to groups of at least 4 people. For smaller groups, a surcharge applies.

Explore Ireland’s most stunning natural landscapes without missing out on natural highlights in a vehicle on this full-day hiking tour of the Gap of Dunloe from Killarney. Don't worry about getting lost on a 7-mile (11 kilometer) trail through the nation’s vast emerald scenery—your guide leads the way and adds context to what you see with commentary. Plus, take an optional Jaunting Cart ride, and kick back and relax during a boat ride on the Gearhameen River.

Experience the rugged beauty of Ireland’s southeast coastline on a coach tour of the Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head from Killarney. Travel through scenic mountain regions and along Ireland’s rocky beaches without having to drive yourself. Stop for lunch in Dingle Town (own expense) and get a splendid view of Slea Head—the most westerly point in Ireland. Learn more from your driver’s commentary than you would going alone.

Do as the tourists of bygone years did, and explore Killarney by horse and carriage. The equivalent to a modern taxi, the jaunting car was popular in Ireland through the 19th and early 20th centuries. On this tour, you’ll learn about the area’s history, hearing tales of the Gaelic chieftains as you ride around Killarney National Park. Ross Castle, St. Mary's Cathedral, and Killarney House Gadens are a few of the landmarks on the route.

Explore Killarney at your own pace and avoid the stress of planning when you book a hop-on, hop-off bus pass. In addition to navigating for you, your bus driver provides useful background information about each stop on the bus route, including Ross Castle, Torc Waterfall, Muckross House, Aghadoe Viewing Point, and the city center.

Explore Killarney at an easy pace with a private jaunting car ride led by a local guide. Traveling by horse-drawn carriage avoids long walks while giving direct access to the park’s highlights, from oak woodlands to Ross Castle. Along the way, gain insights into Killarney’s history and heritage. The tour concludes with a full afternoon tea, providing both a cultural tradition and a relaxed finish to your visit.

Discover Killarney National Park by kayak with this guided paddling tour. Meet your guide for a safety tutorial before heading out into one of Killarney’s famous lakes. Admire mountain and coastline views while kayaking to Innisfallen Island, then explore the ruins of the island’s 6th-century abbey. Learn about local history and see a variety of wildlife during this kayaking tour.

The Killarney National Park is one of the highlights of the Ring of Kerry, but you don’t have to put on your hiking boots to enjoy its stunning scenery. This Lakes of Killarney cruise is the perfect introduction, offering spectacular views of Ross Castle, Innisfallen Island, Tomies Wood, and the wildlife of the Killarney Valley.

Explore Ireland beyond Killarney—without having to plan a route or hire a car—on this full-day tour. Head out to explore the Ring of Kerry, MacGillycuddy Reeks, Dingle Bay, and Kenmare Bay. Pass through Ladies View and the Lakes of Killarney, all while soaking up the scenery and gaining plenty of local insight from your driver-guide.

Experience Ireland’s stunning Gap of Dunloe mountain pass and beautiful Killarney National Park by bus and boat on this tour from Killarney. Skip the planning involved in exploring independently, and admire the scenery on a bus to Kate Kearney’s Cottage at the gap entrance. Then, choose to walk or take a horse-drawn carriage ride (own expense) through the pass before enjoying a guided boat tour around Killarney's lakes and rivers.

Discover the best of Killarney National Park's dramatic, UNESCO-preserved scenery—and enjoy a new way to explore the park—on this small-group horseback riding tour. Make your own way to the departure point in the morning, grab your helmet and boots, and set off. Over the course of several hours, you immerse yourself in the landscapes, see highlights like Lough Lein, admire the rolling mountains, and more.

Discover the beauty of Killarney National Park with a small-group tour to see the lakes of Killarney. Climb aboard a boat for a scenic tour that includes Lough Leane and Muckross Lake plus landmarks such as the Old Weir Bridge. Venture into narrow river channels and admire views from the boat. See the lakes from a unique perspective with this tour.