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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See what travelers are saying
- KarenM1_101,043 contributionsStunning interior and lush groundsWe 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, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 5, 2023
- KyFlynnMunich, Germany1,992 contributionsGreat 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, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited May 2023Traveled soloWritten October 7, 2023
- Andrés AMexico City, Mexico85 contributionsAwesome historical spotA 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, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled with friendsWritten October 11, 2023
- Tracie BAdrian, Michigan6 contributionsCaptivating Guided Tour for All AgesThis 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, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 12, 2023
- Jim CBirmingham, Alabama915 contributionsCastle 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, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 16, 2023
- John HDallas, Texas378 contributionsWorth the visitInteresting 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, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 18, 2023
- Kym G2 contributionsA trip back in timeSean 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, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 20, 2023
- saul gTel Aviv, Israel1,221 contributionsGreat .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, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 21, 2023
- kimmblin155 contributionsA 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 @vanmblinMany 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, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 12, 2023
- lindsey cMissoula, Montana95 contributionsMedieval Castle restored to 1800s glory and opulenceBeautifully 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, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited November 2023Traveled with familyWritten November 23, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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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
6,696 reviews
Excellent
3,789
Very good
2,329
Average
500
Poor
60
Terrible
18
Harper
1 contribution
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
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
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!!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
tkurtz21
Orlando, Florida
What is the best idea for transportation from the Dublin airport to Cork, by way of Kilkenny Castle? Ideally, we would love a day tour that is not a roundtrip and were to end in Cork.
Written January 23, 2023
We rented a car so we could make our own schedule. It's not a bad drive, especially for Americans who are used to driving long distances
Written January 24, 2023
Can a guided tour accommodate a handicapped/wheelchair patron?
Written January 20, 2020
maelle c
Kilkenny, Ireland
Hi there
The period rooms on the ground floor are fully wheelchair accessible. The upper floors are only accessible via staircases at present.
I hope you will find thi information useful.
don't hesitate to contact us if you have any further queries. 056 7704106
Best regards
Maelle
Written February 6, 2020
Sono in vacanza a dublino e vorrei sapere come posso raggiungere il castello di Kilkenny
Written August 24, 2019
Is it worth to go in?Outside is marvellous,but inside? Can we look at the garden without pay ticket?
Written May 27, 2019
How do I get there my public transportation from Dublin?
Written May 6, 2019
Take the easy way, train from Dublin to Kilkenny and a short walk to this amazing castle
Written May 8, 2019
Should I buy my tickets to the Kilkenny Castle ahead of time for the month of June? I was told by a travel agent that they sell out quickly and you may have to wait hours to get in if you do not have a ticket. If i buy the Heritage card will I be able to get right in or do I wait in line as well? Also, is there a place that I can buy the Heritage card cheaper? I read that it varies from place to place. Debating on buying it ahead of time and having it mailed to my house. Thanks so much for your help.
Written March 30, 2019
I haven't stayed in Kilkenny during the summer months but I believe it's a busy place. Visiting the Castle could be a waiting game especially if it's raining. I'd purchase the tickets in advance. Sorry, but I cannot answer your other questions. BTW, it doesn't rain in the pubs!!
Written April 26, 2019
Is there any luggage storage/locker in Kilkenny castle? (For 2 cabin size suitcases)
Written March 5, 2019
trying to decide between kilkenny castle and malahide castle, anyone been to both?
Written October 31, 2018
I would do Kilkenny, but not just for the castle. The town is rich I history and great to walk around. The town was never burned down like most other towns, so the layout has small ally ways that show the towns age.The guided tour at the Mid-evil Mile Museum is a must. Malahide is a cute town, but has a much more contemporary feel.
Written October 31, 2018
Has anyone visited both Kilkenny & Cahir castles? We may be able to visit only one - your pick, and why? Thank you - Laura
Written August 10, 2018
Hi LB, my preference would be Cahir Castle - my profile picture shows it & was taken in June this year!
Cahir is a real castle, a fortress that was built into an island in the river. It still has a working portcullis.
The island is now called the Inch Field & used a lot by locals to sit, picnic & walk in. It's less touristy than Kilkenny.
Also, there's a scaled down model of a battle field - can't remember which one - but if you've got kids, they'll love it. Adults too!
If you've got time, which it sounds like you don't, you could walk along the river - start in the carpark of the castle - to the Swiss Cottage.
Or, again if you had time, & are on main road from Dublin to Cork, you could stop in nearby Cashel to visit the ruins of the Rock of Cashel. But Cahir is 10 times more interesting!! Decent lunch spot across the road from the castle.
Written August 12, 2018
We are heading to Dublin in May and I was wondering it we should take a bus tour out to Kilkenny Castle or if we should take a train there and be on our own. Any suggestions on getting there?
Written February 16, 2018
I took the Bus Éireann from Cork and enjoyed the city for the day. It was easy to navigate and we were able to leave our packs at the train station nearby. We went to the castle, and the Smithwicks Brewery Experience. We really liked Kilkenny and enjoyed just walking around on our own. So I would suggest making it a day trip and just enjoying the quaint city.
Written February 17, 2018
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