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Kilkenny Castle
Kilkenny Castle
4.5
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Founded soon after the Norman conquest of Ireland, the Castle has been rebuilt, extended and adapted to suit changing circumstances and uses over a period of 800 years. Today, Kilkenny Castle is open to visitors all year round and is largely a Victorian remodelling of the thirteenth century defensive Castle
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • KarenM1_10
    1,043 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning interior and lush grounds
    We spent a couple days in Kilkenny and walked to the castle from our hotel. The castle is very beautiful inside and out. The furnishings are beautiful, and I loved the colorful staircase. Make sure you stop by to see the Wallpaper Archive and Tapestry Room. Photos are allowed in the Castle but anything that is the size of a backpack or larger must be checked. Allow at least 2 hours here to explore the castle and grounds.
    Many thanks for taking the time to leave a review. We are delighted that you enjoyed the visit of the Castle and that you took the time to view our exhibitions.
    Written October 9, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 5, 2023
  • KyFlynn
    Munich, Germany1,992 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great castle!
    I first had a look at the gardens, which surely look great when the weather’s a bit better. Then I walked inside and headed left into the Kilkenny Castle Wallpaper Archive, where they displayed a collection of Wallpapers. Next was the Chinese Withdrawing Room whose walls still have some of the original selections of hand painted Wallpaper from 1810. There’s one more room, before you reach a room with a huge marble table and elk antlers on the wall. From here you can now climb the stairs to reach the Tapestry Room, where one of the few examples of Irish produced wallpapers from the 18th century are displayed. It’s then time to climb some more stairs towards the Library. There’s also the Drawing Room before we climb more stairs towards the Blue Corridor. Once you pass those and one more room, it’s time for my two favourite places in the castle: the Moorish Staircase, which is just stunning, and then the The Gallery. This room was originally built with a flat roof, but after it began to cause problems, it was changed into what we see today. Kilkenny castle is really worth a visit and it’s all inside, which means that you don’t have to mind the Irish weather at all.
    Thank you for your lovely review. We are delighted that you enjoyed your visit of the Castle and took the time to view the period rooms as well as the exhibitions. The Moorish staircase is also one of our favourite spot!
    Written October 9, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written October 7, 2023
  • AndrĂ©s A
    Mexico City, Mexico85 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Awesome historical spot
    A beautiful castle restored with most care in every detail. To the right of the box-office, they have a little media presentation - a 8-10 minutes video with the history of the castle. A great stop on the road trip from Dublin to Cork.
    Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are delighted that you enjoyed the visit of the Castle, The Video presentation is a great way to have an overview of the 800 years history of of the Castle before starting a visit.
    Written October 14, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written October 11, 2023
  • Tracie B
    Adrian, Michigan6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Captivating Guided Tour for All Ages
    This was such a fun guided tour that even our 19 yo son, who’s not much of a history buff, enjoyed it. In fact, our guide was so informative and entertaining that we took very few photos because we were listening so intently. It was well worth the money.
    Thank you for leaving such a positive review. We are delighted that you enjoyed your guided tour and you definitively don't need to be a history buff to enjoy the Castle.
    Written October 14, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 12, 2023
  • Jim C
    Birmingham, Alabama915 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Castle in center of town.
    We’ll kept grounds and completely refurbished castle. Recent home to Butler family. Right in center of walkable beautiful Kilkenny. Somewhat hilly to walk to other churches but one of our favorite towns.
    Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are delighted that you enjoyed your visit of the Castle. Kilkenny is a very easy to navigate city with plenty of sights and places to eat.
    Written October 17, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 16, 2023
  • John H
    Dallas, Texas378 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth the visit
    Interesting history of the castle is told in a series of renovated rooms. Despite only having three walls (Cromwell removed one of them) this is well worth a visit. We did not bother paying extra for the guided tour and found the explanations in the guide and the texts displayed in each room perfectly adequate. Tour route around the castle is well posted. There are a couple of staircases and I did not see any elevators. Just before the exit is an excellent tea room with fantastic scones and jam. Worth stopping for a break.
    Many thanks for taking the time to leave a review. We are delighted that you enjoyed the self-guided option. The self-guided visit is a perfect option for anyone looking for a more flexible visit. We have plans to install a lift for visitors access and are looking forward to be more accessible in the future.
    Written October 19, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 18, 2023
  • Kym G
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A trip back in time
    Sean was an excellent tour guide. He was friendly, humorous and very knowledgeable. I would recommend paying for a guided tour over the self guided tour. This allows you to learn so much more about the history of the castle. Wonderful experience!
    Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are delighted that you enjoyed the guided tour of Kilkenny Castle with Seán. We will pass on your lovely comment to him.
    Written October 23, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 20, 2023
  • saul g
    Tel Aviv, Israel1,221 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great .
    You need at least 2 - 3 days to enjoy Kilkenny. We had only one night. So we did not enter the castle but enjoyed a short stroll in the green park and crossed the street (Parade) to visit the calm Castle Yard, where the coach-houses and stables of the castle were located. (nowadays - galleries and shops). Don't forget your cameras .
    Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay in Kilkenny. We completely agree with you that 2-3 days are necessary to fully enjoy everything that Kilkenny has to offer. We hope that on your next stay in KIlkenny you will include a guided tour of the Castle!
    Written October 23, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 21, 2023
  • kimmblin
    155 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A great way to learn about the history of Kilkenny and a great value!!
    Based on the reviews of Kilkenny, it said that you can basically see the Castle from anywhere in the city. We found this mostly true and it is certainly a main reason that tourists make their way to this town. We saw it while crossing the bridge as we hiked to our hotel from the train station. We saw it as we crossed the street to our hotel and all over anytime another building wasn't blocking it or in the way. Once it was time for our tour, it was a beautiful sunny day with bright blue skies, a few clouds, and a good breeze. We opted for the guided tour rather than the self-paced because of the reviews online and we would agree with what others are saying. For an hour long tour, you definitely get your money's worth. Our guide, John Kelly did a fantastic job keeping the group engaged and was a wonderful storyteller. It was really interesting to hear about the history of the castle and it's residents, the Butler family (and company). Our favorite part was the terrace leading our the garden, which the road had to be removed in order to make room for this expansive garden. You could see this all from the "guest rooms" which were decorated to match some of the periods the researchers were able to find picture of and replacate. Most of the items and decor were not originals, as we learned that there was a lot of damage before the castle was turned into a museum. We learned that the last "owner" sold the property for very very little in the 1960's to the community so that they could refurbish and open it to the public. The long room at the end of the tour was incredibly detailed and impressive. It was fairly new in construction compared to the rest of the castle and its design was inspired by an upside down ship hull. After the tour we had plenty of time to explore the park and surrounding area. For more recommendations and tips from our Ireland trip... Follow @vanmblin
    Many thanks for taking the time to leave a review. We are delighted that you enjoyed the guided tour with our colleague John, we will pass on your very positive comments to him.
    Written November 14, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 12, 2023
  • lindsey c
    Missoula, Montana95 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Medieval Castle restored to 1800s glory and opulence
    Beautifully restored medieval castle that was "modernized" in the mid 1800s and then restored again in the 1970s back to its 1800s glory. The grounds are parklike, but only the courtyard was open the day we were there. I really wish we could have seen the front where the fountain was. Also for as large as the castle is, very little of it was open for tours. It's worth a stop in Kilkenny, and great to do when it's raining. A picnic by the fountain would be an excellent way to have lunch! They have public wifi and info via a self guided tour and QR codes (I think it was reading) but cell service and wifi was spotty at best. I missed a bunch of info because it wouldn’t load.
    Many thanks for taking the time to leave a review, Nearly all rooms of the Castle in the central and East wings are open to visitors, the West wing is our dedicated events area and the rooms there can be hired for private events. We are taking on board your comments about the WIFI and a serious of upgrading is taking place within the building to ameliorate the service. For the safety of our visitors and locals, the park and gardens can be closed to the public during weather warning. The grounds of the Castle were recently closed during Storm Debi in early November.
    Written December 6, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written November 23, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles6,696 reviews
Excellent
3,789
Very good
2,329
Average
500
Poor
60
Terrible
18

Harper
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Family
Really let down. After driving from Dublin off the ferry from Wales we were there by 420pm only to be abruptly told by a staff member that we couldn’t come in. This was despite the door he was holding open with the hours saying it was open until 5pm as did the website . When asked why we couldn’t come in he said we need 45 mins to tour. We said we would be happy with 30 mins. He said no. That was our only day in Kilkenny. Very poorly run.
Written March 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for your feedback. We are terribly sorry to hear about your experience. Depending at what time of the year you visited our last admission is 45 minutes or 30 minutes before closing time. Before the Covid 19 emergency we had just introduced new updated opening hours to accommodate our visitors. I would invite you to contact us directly at kilkennycastleinfo@opw.ie to discuss your experience of our customer service, we are always eager to improve our skills on site. We hope you will get a chance to come back to Kilkenny and enjoy a visit of the Castle.
Written April 15, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

SuperSaint72
Dublin, Ireland61 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021
Really good experience, probably missing the person touch that a guided tour would bring (will definitely revisit once guided tours are allowed again). The self guided tour was free and you just needed to book a time slot on their website. the grounds are amazing and we really enjoyed the stroll after the castle visit. the castle itself has great artwork and have the rooms laid out very well with information plaques for each room. Well worth a visit.
Written June 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CarolinaNurse323
Kernersville, NC6,403 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019
My husband & I got to visit this magnificent castle when our tour group travelling with Gate 1 Travel took a break here before heading to Dublin.
We just finished riding the Kilkenny City Train and couldn't wait to tour the castle.

Lord and behold....my husband was in heaven because before we went into the castle for a tour there just happened to be the Kilkenny Motor Club sponsoring a Charity Car Run out on the front lawns of the castle.
Naturally, we had to see the cars first!!

Kilkenny Castle is a 12th century castle set in extensive parklands, built for William Marshall and remodeled in Victorian times. This was the principal seat of the Butler family, Marquesses and Duke of Ormonde.
We took the self-guided tour ( 6 Euros each) and off we went!
Majestic and unbelieveable are only a few of the words I could use....from room after room.
In the Library, the interior decorations are a faithful recreation of the furnishing style of the mid to late 19th century.
Oh, the Picture Gallery and the Painted Roof are breath-taking.
The Moorish Staircase is gorgeous .
But...my favorite place was the Rose Garden since I love roses this place was absolutely beautiful!
With the fountain and roses in every direction just blew me away!
If ever in Kilkenny, please don't miss seeing this castle!!
Written June 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ocean-Traveler55
Fernandina Beach, FL1,170 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
Touring Kilkenny Castle was one of the highlights of our trip to Ireland. Loved the tour and the expansiveness of the castle. Built in 1195 by Strongbow, it was a symbol of Norman occupation. The Butler Family lived in and controlled the castle for 600 years! The property was transferred to the people of Kilkenny in 1967 for ÂŁ50 and the castle and grounds are now managed by the Office of Public Works. The gardens and parkland adjoining the castle are open to the public. Highly recommend this tour!
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Michelle C
Dublin, Ireland19 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Couples
Visited the castle on a weekday, was great value for money. The set up was very good considering the current regulations. The tour wasn't guided but there was staff at every room happy to answer any questions !! It's an indoor tour and while we had pre booked we still had to queue outside the building for a short time before entering due to social distancing and while the weather was dry while we were waiting there did not seem to be any covering in place if it rained? Overall an enjoyable experience.
Written August 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your feed back. WE are delighted that you enjoyed your visit and had some lovely weather. Due to COVID-19 restrictions all visitors including visitors with pre-paid tickets need to queue before entering the building, it allows us to ensure that social distancing is adhered to in the Castle. It is indeed an outdoor queue and we would advise our visitors to wear weather appropriate clothing.
Written September 8, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tanya L
Gloucester, UK5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Friends
I loved this tour.. the young girl was absolutely lovely. She really knew her stuff and I wished she’d been my history teacher. I’m not sure if her name was Dianne? But she’s a credit to you, she was so informative without being boring, she had a great sense of humour, spoke clearly, not too fast and no mumbling. It’s not easy capturing people’s attention but she obviously loves her job. Thank you
Written January 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for your feedback, we are delighted that you enjoyed your guided tour and we will foward your lovely comments to Dianne!
Written February 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jaimee G
Urbana, IL452 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
There are a LOT of castles in Ireland and this one was only okay. It was our first castle on our trip so it felt pretty neat at the time, but looking back, it wasn't the most interesting by far. The grounds are free to walk around (fountain, garden, grass) and you could get some decent pictures of the castle from the outside. The tour allows you inside to see some reconstructed rooms with a pamphlet and signs to guide you. So depending on if you plan to see other castles or not, this one might or might not be worth it. We enjoyed Cahir castle more than this one.
Written June 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sugarloaf65
Dublin, Ireland50 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Family
All OPW sites are free at the moment with no guided tours on offer, you have to book your time slot and get a free E ticket. On arrival you get a sheet with info for a self guided tour. Castle is interesting, lots to see, there are number restrictions for each room as you go around its probably not ideal for little kids as you find yourself waiting in corridors. Takes approx 1 hour and gardens, park outside are fantastic, very well maintained. If its busy on grass next to castle take your food about half way through park beyond the playground theres more picnic tables in a lovely wooded setting.
Written June 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ali99
Dublin, Ireland50 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
Visited today with our 10 year old daughter. Staff were very friendly at the ticket desk and couldn't have been any more helpful in helping me locate my booking. We had booked tickets online before we went.
Our tour guide John Walsh was the epitimome of professionalism. His knowledge of the history of the castle was amazing and he gave us such an informative tour.
The gardens were amazing and are well worth a look around after the tour. Even in the heavy fog that was there today you could appreciate their beauty and how magnificent they must be in Summer.
Overall a great day out and would recommend to all.
Written January 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for your feedback, we are delighted that you and your daughter had a lovely time at Kilkenny Castle. We will pass on your lovely compliments to John!
Written February 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

734runner
Drogheda, Ireland251 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Family
This was our second time to visit this impressive castle. The opw have done a first rate job as it is in pristine condition and if in kilkenny it cannot be missed. The grounds are also a great place for families and for running if you like to exercise.
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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