County Kerry

St. Mary’s Cathedral

Cathedral Place, Killarney
Tel: +353 64 663 1014

This is Ireland’s finest Neo-Gothic church, built beginning in 1842. The interior is striking for its grey stonework and many stained-glass windows.

Killarney Park Hotel

Town Centre, Killarney,
Tel: +353 64 663 5555

Situated on its own private grounds, this family owned, 5-star luxury hotel is committed to ensuring that every moment will be memorable, relaxing and enjoyable. Rooms overlook either the hotel gardens and the mountains beyond or the historic town of Killarney with the church and cathedral steeples in the background.

Ring of Stellig

Narrow and steep, the Ring of Stellig at the far western promontory of the peninsula offers magnificent views of St Finians Bay, the Skellig Islands, and Dingle Peninsula. If you want to stop for a break, the small, Irish-speaking village of Ballinskelligs has a lovely beach, restaurants, bars, an art gallery and a surf school.

Skellig Islands

Well worth a day trip, these rugged islands off the tip of the peninsula offer an inspiring mix of nature and history. The larger island, Skellig Michael, features a well-preserved monastery, built in the late 7th century – this dramatically located collection of beehive huts, chapels and other ancient structures is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In early summer, breeding puffins inhabit Skellig Michael. Little Skellig is a nature reserve, home to storm petrels and one of the world’s largest colonies of gannets. Boat trips to the islands are available May-Sep from a range of operators around the Iveragh Peninsula (weather dependent).

Staigue Fort

This partially ruined stone fort near Caherdaniel is one of the largest ring forts in Ireland, with 18-foot walls that are nearly 13 feet wide at the base. Approximately 2,500 years old, Staigue Fort likely dates from the Iron Age, and is an impressive feat of engineering, as it was built without mortar.

Considered the focal point of Killarney National Park, this stately Victorian mansion offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the gentry and their servants. The ornate interiors are restored to their original Victorian splendor, while the basements and craft centers give exhibitions of traditional crafts such weaving, bookbinding and pottery. The gardens are renowned for their azaleas and rhododendrons. Nearby, three traditional working farms recreate the experience of farmers in the 1930s and 40s, complete with animals, a blacksmith’s forge and a carpentry shop.

Ross Castle

2km from Killarney, off N71 (Kenmare Road)
Tel: +353 64 663 5851
Open Mar 8-Oct 24, 9:30am-5:45pm
Access to the castle by guided tour only.

Ladies’ View

Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting apparently felt this vista, overlooking Upper Lake, was the finest view in the land. It is indeed spectacular, and a worthwhile stop on your journey through the park.

Gap of Dunloe

Slicing between MacGillycuddy's Reeks and Purple Mountains, this narrow mountain pass is a very popular attraction. Driving through the gap is discouraged, so most people view its scenic river, five small lakes and several picturesque bridges by horse-drawn carriage, bicycle, or on foot.

Park Hotel Kenmare

Tel: +353 64 664 1200

With an idyllic setting over Kenmare Bay, this 1897 Victorian landmark offers both old-fashioned elegance and modern convenience. Readers of Condé Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure voted it the Best Hotel in Ireland 2012. Most of the 46 bedrooms have water views or a private veranda – guest can also enjoy the deluxe SAMAS spa and the Reel Room, a 12-seat cinema.

Sheen Falls Lodge

Tel: + 353 64 664 1600

Once the summer residence of the Marquis of Lansdown, the Sheen Falls Lodge combines the welcoming atmosphere of a country resort with all the comforts you’d expect from a five-star hotel. Set beside a cascading waterfall amid 300 acres of woodland, the lodge offers a wide range of outdoor activities, along with 85 luxurious rooms and several dining venues.

Though less famous than the Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula is arguably just as spectacular, and possibly more compelling, with a rich variety of historic sites, quaint villages, impressive bays, lovely beaches, and excellent surfing, windsurfing and kiteboarding. This region is a designated Irish-speaking area, with many signs written in Irish only. Most points of interest are located on the far western end of the peninsula, and are easily accessible by car. Avid hikers can walk all or part of the Dingle Way, a 112-mile trail that beings in Tralee and winds past most of the peninsula’s major sites.

Fahan Group

Situated along Slea Head Road near Ventry, this cluster of dry-stone beehive huts (clocháns), standing stones and earthen forts is thought to date from the Iron Age. The beehive huts were built using a technique known as corbelling, where overlapping stones formed circular, gradually curving walls. The most dramatically located structure in the group is the Dun Beag promontory fort, perched on a sheer cliff overlooking Dingle Bay.

Gallarus Oratory

The finest of Dingle’s historic monuments is this dry-stone oratory, the best preserved early Christian church in Ireland. Shaped like an upturned boat, it was built between the 7th and 8th centuries. Impressive though simple and unadorned, it has withstood the elements for 1300 years and is still almost entirely intact.