Kyteler's Inn
What to order: the Kilkenny pork sausage with Guinness and leek, from the local butcher, or the Irish stew.
In high season, music at 20:00 from Monday to Thursday and at 18:30 and 22:00 from Friday to Sunday
geocalia
Day itinerary · 52.65° N · 7.24° W
Kilkenny in a day, an hour and a half by train from Dublin.
Intercity from Heuston, the Butlers' castle first thing, the Medieval Mile, lunch at the 1324 inn and St Canice's round tower.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Dublín fromBilbao 2 h 15Santander 2 h 15Madrid 2 h 30Barcelona 2 h 45Valencia 2 h 45Alicante 3 hMurcia 3 hSevilla 3 hMálaga 3 h 15Fuerteventura 4 h 30
Part of KilkennyIrish pubs
Add to my trip
Total time11 h
By car1 h 45 each way
From Dublin1 h 30–1 h 45 by train
TicketsCastle €8 · tower from €12 · museum €8
WalkingAbout 2 h, flat
DifficultyEasy
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Dublin 1 h 45 by train
Intercity from Heuston · arrives at 9:05
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1
Kilkenny Castle, home of the Butlers
self-guided €8 · buy on the official website
- Carry on on foot
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2
Castle park and a walk beside the River Nore
rose garden and view from the river
- 8 min on foot
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3
Medieval Mile Museum and the guided walk
audio guide €8 · Wednesday to Sunday
- 5 min on foot
- 4
- 10 min on foot
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5
St Canice's Cathedral and the climb up the round tower
cathedral and tower from €12 · closed on Sundays from October to April
- 10 min on foot
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6
Smithwick's Experience, Kilkenny's brewery
45-minute tour with a pint · from €21
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Back home 1 h 45 by train
Intercity to Heuston; check the last departure
Approximate cost
About €20–35 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Kilkenny Castle, home of the Butlers
A day trip from Dublin by train: Kilkenny is Ireland's medieval city, a good hour and a half from Heuston, and you can see all of it on foot. This plan is designed for a day from Wednesday to Saturday, when the Medieval Mile Museum and St Canice's Cathedral are open.
The day, hour by hour
7:20 · Intercity from Heuston. It reaches Kilkenny at 9:05. From the station, fifteen minutes' walk to the castle.
9:30 · Kilkenny Castle. The Butlers' rooms and the portrait gallery; an hour and a half. Self-guided, €8.
11:00 · Castle park. Walk down to the river for the classic photo.
11:45 · Medieval Mile Museum. In a restored medieval church, with an audio guide. If you prefer to walk with a guide, their Mile walk leaves at 11:00.
13:15 · Lunch at Kyteler's Inn. The 1324 inn linked to the "witch" Alice Kyteler: Kilkenny sausage with Guinness, or a stew.
15:00 · St Canice's Cathedral. Climb the round tower from the inside; go before the late queue.
16:30 · Smithwick's Experience. 45 minutes of brewing history with a pint at the end.
18:15 · Train back. To Heuston in a little over an hour and a half; check the last departure with Irish Rail.
Time1 h 30
Change the route
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Ristorante Rinuccini
What to order: the early evening menu, between 17:00 and 18:00.
Open every day; bookings on its website
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Kilkenny
All year, Wednesday to Saturday, when the Medieval Mile Museum and the cathedral are open. On Sundays from October to April the cathedral is closed, and the museum is not open on Mondays or Tuesdays.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Choose the day carefully
The museum is closed on Monday and Tuesday; on Sundays from October to April, the cathedral.
- 2Buy the castle ticket online
Only on the Heritage Ireland website.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth doing in a day?
Yes: everything is on foot and the train is direct.
What is open on Sunday?
The castle and its park, the Medieval Mile Museum and Rinuccini for lunch; the cathedral only from May to September in the afternoon.
Is there music?
At Kyteler's, every night in high season; for the 18:30 session, stay overnight.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/ireland/kilkenny/itineraries/by-train-castle-and-medieval-mile
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.