Dingle Peninsula
Explore County Kerry’s western peninsula for Atlantic coast walks, mountain routes, Irish-speaking communities and the Blasket Islands.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
The Dingle Peninsula lies west of Tralee Bay in County Kerry, with Dingle town as its main town and a base for exploring the coast. It reaches Dunmore Head, the westernmost point of mainland Ireland. Dingle Bay separates it from the Iveragh Peninsula to the south. The peninsula’s scenery ranges from the Slieve Mish mountains in the east to the Brandon Group and central mountains farther west. Conor Pass runs from Dingle towards Brandon Bay and Castlegregory; Mount Brandon rises to 951 m and has a high ridge with wide views.
Walking routes include the coastal paths and the long-distance Cosán na Naomh and Slí Chorca Dhuibhne. Off the west coast, the uninhabited Blasket Islands are known for the writing of former residents including Peig Sayers and Tomás Ó Criomhthain. Irish is widely heard in the peninsula’s western Gaeltacht. You can also visit Gallarus Oratory, Kilmalkedar’s monastic site and the clochán huts at Glanfahan. A car makes it easier to reach sites across the peninsula, while longer hikes call for extra time. The draft’s two-to-three-night estimate and seasonal advice are not supported by the checked facts, so plan your stay around the places and walks you want to see.
Dingle Peninsula in five
- Drive Slea Head clockwise in summerKerry County Council's visitor traffic flow runs July to 11 September, 10:30am to 4pm: clockwise from Dingle, and no buses or campervans going anticlockwise. Follow signs, not satnav.Slea Head Drive
- Spend a wet hour at the Blasket CentreIonad an Bhlascaoid, 16 km from Dingle, is open daily 10:00 to 18:00 from 6 March to 8 November 2026, last admission 17:15. Adults pay €5, under 12s are free.Blasket trip
- Phone for the Great Blasket boatBlasket Ferry sails from Dunquin pier between Easter and the end of September, four trips a day, weather permitting. Booking is by phone, and passengers transfer from a dinghy to the boat.
- Sleep in Dingle town, or out west for the darkDingle town has the pubs, restaurants and the widest choice of rooms. Dunquin and Ballyferriter put you nearer the Blasket Centre and the pier, with quieter nights.Where to stay
- Choose your arrival road with the weatherFrom Tralee, the main road runs along the south side via Annascaul. The high Conor Pass is the alternative, and a poor choice in fog or in anything wide. Read the signs at the foot of the climb.
Things to do in Dingle Peninsula
See all attractions in Dingle Peninsula
Need to know
- Airport
- Kerry (KIR) is nearest; Shannon and Cork are longer drives
- Getting there
- By road from Tralee or Killarney; check bus options from Tralee
- Getting around
- A car or bike; one-way flow on Slea Head in summer
- Best base
- Dingle town; Dunquin or Ballyferriter for the far west
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain20 rainy daysHigh9°Low6°Wet, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 161 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
- FebruaryRain21 rainy daysHigh9°Low6°Wet, windyFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 185 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- MarchRain19 rainy daysHigh10°Low6°ShowersMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 165 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- AprilRain16 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Mild, Easter ferryAprilRain
Best
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 96 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, Easter ferry
- MayRain15 rainy daysHigh14°Low10°Long daysMayRain
Best
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 96 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JuneRain19 rainy daysHigh16°Low12°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 108 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyRain19 rainy daysHigh17°Low13°Warm, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 131 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustRain23 rainy daysHigh17°Low14°BusiestAugustRain
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 171 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busiest
- SeptemberRain21 rainy daysHigh16°Low12°CalmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 150 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Calmer
- OctoberRain21 rainy daysHigh13°Low11°Wet, windyOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 197 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- NovemberRain21 rainy daysHigh11°Low8°Short daysNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 189 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Short days
- DecemberRain23 rainy daysHigh10°Low7°Dark, quietDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 202 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, quiet
Average daily high and low in Dingle, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Dingle Peninsula
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 88%
- Wind
- 11 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Dingle Peninsula
08:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today12°7°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue11°7°0%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed12°7°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu11°9°2%Thursday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Fri11°9°4%Friday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sat10°7°6%Saturday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Sun11°9°8%Sunday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 8%.
Updated 08:47 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
Day trips from Dingle Peninsula, the full guide- Great Blasket Islanda short boat ride from DunquinEaster to September, weather permitting, with a dinghy transfer to the boat.Read the guide
- Killarney and the Ring of Kerrya long day by roadA separate drive; the County Kerry guide compares the two peninsulas.Read the guide
- Traleeby road, on the way in or outThe usual gateway town for buses, cars and the main road west.
Before you go to Dingle Peninsula
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Dingle Peninsula, checked
- Slea Head visitor traffic flow: clockwise from Dingle, July to 11 September, 10:30 to 16:00. Signs bar buses, campervans and lorries anticlockwise.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
- Blasket Centre: 6 March to 8 November 2026, daily 10:00 to 18:00, last admission 17:15. Adult €5, family €13, under 12 free.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Plan around Dingle Peninsula
Dingle Peninsula FAQ
How many days do you need on the Dingle Peninsula?
Two full days cover Slea Head Drive, the Blasket Centre and Dingle town. Add a third for the Blasket boat, a beach or a hill walk, and a spare for weather.
Is Slea Head Drive one way?
Not as a standing rule. In summer Kerry County Council runs a visitor traffic flow initiative, July to 11 September from 10:30am to 4pm: signs advise clockwise travel from Dingle, and large vehicles are signed against going anticlockwise.
Can you do the Dingle Peninsula without a car?
Dingle town works on foot, and tours and bike hire cover the loop. Remote bases like Dunquin and Cloghane need a car, and bus times should be checked in advance.
Is the Blasket Centre worth it?
Yes for the story of the island community, which left the Great Blasket in 1953, and for a clifftop view of the islands. It also suits a rainy hour, with adult admission at €5.
Where should you sleep on the Dingle Peninsula?
Dingle town for pubs, restaurants and the most rooms; Dunquin or Ballyferriter for the Blasket Centre, the pier and dark nights. Slea Head is a short drive from either, and the where-to-stay guide compares five bases.