Kilkenny City
Kilkenny’s castle, cathedral and medieval streets make the city a good stop for architecture and walks. Its compact center is easy to explore on foot.
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Kilkenny is a city in County Kilkenny in southeastern Ireland. Its medieval center includes Kilkenny Castle beside the River Nore and St. Canice’s Cathedral, with its round tower, to the north. The distance between these sights makes it practical to explore the center on foot, with historic streets and buildings along the way.
Plan a full day for a visit focused on the city center, or stay overnight if you want more time to explore at a slower pace. Kilkenny can also be a base for visiting nearby historic sites, though the right length of stay depends on which places you plan to see. The city suits travelers looking for a smaller urban stop centered on architecture, pubs and walking. Choose accommodation in the center for easy access to the main sights, or look near the river if that better fits your plans.
Kilkenny City in five
- Buy Kilkenny Castle tickets only from the OPWThe Office of Public Works says no third party may sell Kilkenny Castle tickets and that resale tickets will be refused at the door. Book through the Heritage Ireland page.Heritage Ireland
- Arrive at the castle early in summerOpen daily: 9:15–17:30 from April to September (last admission 17:00) and 9:30–17:00 from October to March (last 16:30). The OPW warns of delays in summer.
- Plan St Canice's around its Sunday hoursFrom October to April the cathedral and round tower are closed on Sundays. From May to September Sunday opens at 1pm. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.Kilkenny in one day
- Book a Rothe House guided tourRothe House opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–18:00, with guided tours at 11:30 and 14:30. A self-guided visit takes about 45 minutes and fits any time in opening hours.
- Add Dunmore Cave or Jerpoint AbbeyDunmore Cave is about 10 km from the city and Jerpoint Abbey is 2.5 km from Thomastown. Both are Heritage Ireland sites with adult tickets listed at €5.Day trips from Kilkenny
Things to do in Kilkenny City
See all attractions in Kilkenny City
Need to know
- Airport
- Dublin (DUB) or Cork (ORK), then train or road
- Getting there
- Trains from Dublin Heuston; check Irish Rail for times
- Getting around
- On foot; the castle, cathedral and Rothe House are in the old core
- Best base
- The Medieval Mile or near the castle
- Time needed
- 1 day; 2 with Dunmore Cave or Jerpoint Abbey
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low2°Cold, quietJanuaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryRain14 rainy daysHigh9°Low3°Cold, quietFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 87 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchRain15 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°ShowersMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Mild, springAprilRain
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, spring
- MayCloudy12 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Long daysMayCloudy
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Warm, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Warm, busyAugustRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Calm, goldenSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Calm, golden
- OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Autumn colorOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Short daysNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Short days
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°Dark, festiveDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, festive
Average daily high and low in Kilkenny, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Kilkenny City
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 81%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Kilkenny City
08:48 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today12°2°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue11°3°2%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Wed11°4°2%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Thu10°6°4%Thursday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Fri9°5°20%Friday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Sat10°5°12%Saturday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sun8°5°11%Sunday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 11%.
Updated 05:00 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
Day trips from Kilkenny City, the full guide- Dunmore Caveabout 10 km by roadA show cave reached by guided tour only, with about 700 steps.Read the guide
- Jerpoint Abbeynear Thomastown, by car or trainA Cistercian abbey known for its medieval stone carving.Read the guide
- Grennan Loop WalkThomastown, a short train rideA 7 km riverside loop that Discover Ireland rates at about 2 hours.Read the guide
Before you go to Kilkenny City
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Rules for Kilkenny City, checked
- Kilkenny Castle: self-guided adult €8, summer guided adult €12; only the OPW's official booking site sells valid tickets.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Kilkenny City FAQ
How many days do you need in Kilkenny?
One day covers the castle, St Canice's and the Medieval Mile if you choose two paid sights. A second day suits Rothe House at a slower pace, plus Dunmore Cave or Jerpoint Abbey outside the city.
Is Kilkenny Castle worth the ticket?
Yes if you like furnished state rooms and a picture gallery; the interior is restored to its 1830s look. Short on time, walk the parkland and spend the money on St Canice's tower or Rothe House instead.
Can you visit Kilkenny as a day trip from Dublin?
Yes, by train from Heuston or by car. Check Irish Rail for current times, start early and pick two paid sights; the old core is small enough to cover in a long day.
Is Kilkenny open on Sundays?
Mostly. The castle is open daily and Rothe House opens Tuesday to Sunday. St Canice's is closed on Sundays from October to April and opens at 1pm on Sundays from May to September.
Where should you stay in Kilkenny?
The Medieval Mile for a first night, the castle side for green space, and Irishtown or the far bank for calm. The where to stay guide compares four bases and notes the weekend noise in the lanes.