County Kerry
County Kerry is on Ireland’s southwest coast. Plan a trip around the Atlantic peninsulas, Killarney’s lakes, mountain walks and historic sites.
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County Kerry is Ireland’s most westerly county, on the Atlantic coast in Munster and bordered by Limerick and Cork. Tralee is the county town; Killarney is the center of the tourism industry and the gateway to the Lakes of Killarney in Killarney National Park. The county’s three main peninsulas are Dingle, Iveragh and Beara, each with hilly or mountainous ground and a coast of bays and sea cliffs. Carrauntoohil, Kerry’s highest peak, is about 1,039 m high.
The Ring of Kerry follows the N70 around Iveragh, while the Kerry Way, Dingle Way and Beara Way are walking routes. Kerry also suits travelers interested in archaeology, traditional music and Irish-speaking communities: Iveragh and Dingle contain the county’s two official Gaeltacht areas. Skellig Michael’s medieval monastery sits on steep island cliffs. Kerry is among Ireland’s wettest areas, so pack rain gear in any season. The source facts do not establish a best season or a minimum trip length; plan your time around the routes and places you want to visit.
County Kerry in five
- Know Skellig Michael is closed in 2026Heritage Ireland lists Sceilg Mhichíl as closed for the 2026 season and expects to welcome visitors again in 2027. When it reopens, landings are only with OPW-permitted boats.Skellig Ring guide
- Pick the peninsula that fits your daysThe Ring of Kerry is the longer loop and the busier one for coaches; Dingle is shorter, with Slea Head and a livelier base town. The route guide covers direction and where to break the Ring.Ring of Kerry route
- Base in Killarney without a carKillarney has trains from Dublin, usually with a change at Mallow, and tours to the Ring, Dingle and the Gap of Dunloe.Killarney National Park
- Walk or cycle the Gap of DunloeThe mountain pass is narrow and shared with pony-drawn jaunting cars. Walkers and cyclists have the easiest time on it.Gap of Dunloe and the lakes
- Give Dingle its own nightsDingle town has the pubs and the widest choice of rooms, and Slea Head runs clockwise in a summer traffic flow. It rewards two nights more than a stop on the way past.Dingle Peninsula
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in County Kerry, the full guide
Killarney National Park
- Price band: $$
Dingle Peninsula
- Price band: $$
Things to do in County Kerry
See all attractions in County Kerry
Need to know
- Airport
- Kerry (KIR), about 20 min by road to Killarney
- Getting there
- Trains from Dublin to Killarney, about 3.5 hours
- Getting around
- A car for the peninsulas; tours from Killarney
- Best base
- Killarney for the Ring, Dingle town for the peninsula
- Time needed
- 3–4 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain19 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Wet, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 141 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
- FebruaryRain18 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Wet, quietFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 152 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
- MarchRain18 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°ShowersMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 140 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Mild, fewer coachesAprilRain
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, fewer coaches
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Long days, calmerMayRain
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days, calmer
- JuneRain18 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyRain17 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Warm, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustRain18 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°BusiestAugustRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 128 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busiest
- SeptemberRain18 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°CalmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 129 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Calmer
- OctoberRain19 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Wet, windyOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 154 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- NovemberRain19 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Wet, many closedNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 153 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, many closed
- DecemberRain20 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Wet, quietDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 159 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
Average daily high and low in Killarney, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in County Kerry
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
7
- Feels like
- 4°
- Humidity
- 93%
- Wind
- 11 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
County Kerry
08:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today12°0°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue12°-1°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed12°1°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°7°2%Thursday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Fri10°7°4%Friday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sat9°4°4%Saturday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sun10°4°8%Sunday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 8%.
Updated 08:43 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Before you go to County Kerry
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Rules for County Kerry, checked
- Skellig Michael is closed for the 2026 season; Heritage Ireland expects to welcome visitors again in 2027.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
All County Kerry guides
How toGap of Dunloe and the lakes of Killarney: boat, bike or foot
Where to stayWhere to stay on the Dingle Peninsula: five bases, from Dingle town to CloghaneHead to headMuckross House or Ross Castle: which Killarney ticket to buyHow toSlea Head Drive: clockwise rule, stops, timing and backup plansItineraryKillarney National Park in one day: Muckross, Torc, Ross CastleHow toGreat Blasket Island trip from Dunquin: boat, Blasket Centre and weather planPlan around County Kerry
Regions, rail, driving, money and entry
Read the guideKillarney National ParkFree park, Muckross and the Gap of Dunloe
Read the guideRing of KerryThe 179 km loop, direction and stops
Read the guideDingle PeninsulaSlea Head, the Blaskets and where to sleep
Read the guideSkellig RingPortmagee, the Skelligs and Valentia Island
Read the guideBeara PeninsulaThe quieter loop across Kenmare Bay
Read the guideDriving and transportNarrow roads, rental cars and rail
Read the guideCork CityThe eastern gateway, with trains and an airport
Read the guideCounty Kerry FAQ
Which parts of Kerry need booking ahead?
Fewer than you might expect. Killarney National Park has no entry fee, the Ring of Kerry needs no booking, and the Great Blasket boat from Dunquin is arranged by phone. Skellig Michael is closed for 2026.
Is Skellig Michael open in 2026?
Not in 2026. Heritage Ireland lists Sceilg Mhichíl as closed for the season and expects to welcome visitors again in 2027. The Skellig Ring guide covers what to do on that coast instead; confirm any cruise with the operator.
Ring of Kerry or Dingle peninsula?
The Ring is the longer loop, 179 km, and busier with coaches. Dingle is a shorter peninsula with Slea Head and a livelier base. With two days, do both: sleep in Killarney for the Ring and in Dingle town for the peninsula.
How many days do you need in County Kerry?
Three to four days: one for the Ring of Kerry, one for the Dingle peninsula, one for Killarney National Park and the Gap of Dunloe, and a spare for weather.
Is Killarney a good base for the Ring of Kerry?
Yes. Killarney has the widest range of rooms and the rail link, and tours and cars leave from it daily. Dingle town is the better base only if the peninsula is your main goal.