Trip Planner: Europe / Ireland / Province of Leinster / County Kilkenny / Kilkenny / Kilkenny Castle

Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny

4.6

#1 of 114 in Things to do in Kilkenny

Must see · Castle · Park

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Preserving more than eight centuries of history within its walls, Kilkenny Castle rises over the Nore River and marks an intersection of several major medieval routes. Although the castle underwent a series of modifications over the ages, it contains three of its original four stone towers, built in 1192 by a Norman invader known to history as "Strongbow." Once a symbol of Norman occupation and a key part of the region's defenses, the castle now attracts thousands of visitors with its extensive gardens and basement art gallery. Also in the basement, the castle kitchen houses a popular tearoom, complete with a Victorian cooking range and rows of pots and plates. To visit Kilkenny Castle on your trip to Kilkenny, use our Kilkenny trip planner.

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Tours to Kilkenny Castle

FROM $29 BOOK WITH VIATOR Shenanigans Walks - Guided Walking Tour in Kilkenny Shenanigans Walks - Guided Walking Tour in Kilkenny

5.0

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Tours from $29 ›

FROM $13 BOOK WITH VIATOR Walking tour of Kilkenny's must see attractions with a certified guide. . Walking tour of Kilkenny's must see attractions with a certified guide. .

5.0

Duration: 2 hours

Tours from $13 ›

FROM $16 BOOK WITH VIATOR Knight For Hire Tour Knight For Hire Tour

5.0

Duration: 60 to 75 minutes

Tours from $16 ›

FROM $109 BOOK WITH VIATOR Private walking Tour of Kilkenny with a qualified Tour Guide Private walking Tour of Kilkenny with a qualified Tour Guide

5.0

Duration: 2 hours

Tours from $109 ›

FROM $98 BOOK WITH VIATOR Fun Family Walking Tour in Kilkenny Fun Family Walking Tour in Kilkenny

Duration: 2 hours

Tours from $98 ›

Kilkenny Castle reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating

6,510 reviews

Google

4.6

By caseyba10

I wanted to enjoy this castle but it was just average. The history was mainly about wallpaper and portraits but not much about the grounds themselves. It was pretty on the inside as well as the...

I wanted to enjoy this castle but it was just average. The history was mainly about wallpaper and portraits but not much about the grounds themselves. It was pretty on the inside as well as the... more »
By john d

We were given a 1 hour guided tour by Jean and the only problem was that we didn't have 3 hours (or more!). It was a fascinating history of both the castle and the Ormonde/Butler family. Jean is a...

We were given a 1 hour guided tour by Jean and the only problem was that we didn't have 3 hours (or more!). It was a fascinating history of both the castle and the Ormonde/Butler family. Jean is a... more »

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Google

By Kyle Fields

Absolutely beautiful castle. We did a guided tour and the guide was phenomenal. Extremely kind, patient, and intelligent. She was fabulous. I highly recommend taking a tour with her as we never would have gotten as much out of it if we didn't go with her. Best decision we made.

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By EJB 3

Beautiful castle and grounds. We bought tickets in advance online which is recommended, though there was no line when we arrived anyway (about 11am on a Sunday). We did the self tour and although I’m sure we missed out on a lot of information that a guided tour would provide, I felt we got enough out of the self tour to make it more than worth it. Especially enjoyed the art gallery. Be sure to take the extra time to explore the castle grounds before or after your visit.

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