Kilkenny city

Kilkenny city is located in County Kilkenny in the southeast of Ireland, in a beautiful region known as Ireland’s Ancient East.

Set along the banks of the River Nore, it is within the province of Leinster and makes an excellent base for exploring the surrounding counties of Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Laois and Tipperary. It is approximately 115km from Dublin and is easily accessible by train.

Kilkenny is around 115km from Dublin, which makes it an easy place to combine with a visit to the Republic of Ireland’s capital.

The train journey time is around 1 hour and 30 minutes. From Dublin Airport, you can take a bus with a private coach provider, JJ Kavanagh, which will get you to Kilkenny city in around 90 minutes.

Once you’re here, you’ll discover that Kilkenny city is easily walkable, with major attractions including Kilkenny Castle and St Canice’s Cathedral in the city’s medieval heart.

Kilkenny is around 290km from Belfast – the quickest way to get from one to the other is to drive, with a journey time of around 3 hours and 15 minutes, depending on traffic.

A good alternative is to take the train via Dublin. Trains from Belfast to Dublin arrive at Connolly Station, taking about 2 hours and 10 minutes, and trains from Dublin to Kilkenny depart from Heuston Station and take 1 hour and 30 minutes. The Luas tram connects the two stations in about 15-20 minutes, and trams run frequently throughout the day.

Set within Ireland’s Ancient East and just 90 minutes from Dublin, Kilkenny is called the “Marble City” because so many of its buildings were made with local Kilkenny black limestone, which was known as “marble” because of its highly polished appearance. But the city is also famous for much more besides.

There’s the 12th-century Kilkenny Castle, which sits overlooking the River Nore and is surrounded by magnificent gardens and parkland. There’s the craft scene, anchored by Kilkenny Design Centre. And there’s also the much-loved local brew – Smithwick’s. You can find out all about Ireland’s oldest ale on a guided tour at Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny.

There is no “best” time to visit Kilkenny as the city offers lots of different experiences throughout the year. In spring, you’ll find the gardens around Kilkenny Castle in full bloom, and the River Nore springing into life so it can be a nice time to explore outdoors.

Summer sees alfresco dining, outdoor experiences and festivals, including the Kilkenny Arts Festival and the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival, come to the fore, making it a good time for a more lively break.

In autumn and winter, you’ll get quieter days with more indoor activities, so they’re great seasons for heading into museums, churches and galleries; not to mention the city’s traditional pubs and top restaurants.