Is Killarney National Park Worth Visiting: Best Things To Do

Visit Killarney National Park

While visiting County Kerry in Ireland, one of the best things to do is to see the Killarney National Park. This is Ireland’s oldest national park, spanning over 26,000 acres and has three lakes within its borders. The scenery is gorgeous, featuring a large forested area, mountains, and several water sources.

Since we were staying in Killarney town for several days, my friend and I dedicated a day to exploring the park. It was a great way to discover some of the beautiful natural features of this region, which contrasted with the city visits in Dublin and Galway. And honestly, it provided a nice, relaxing way to spend the day.

This blog details our experience of exploring Killarney National Park in a leisurely manner, and hopefully, it will lead you to a positive answer to the question: Is Killarney National Park Worth Visiting? After what we saw, we certainly think so.

What To Do In Killarney National Park

Where Is Killarney National Park?

The park is located in the southwest part of County Kerry.  It is easily accessible from the town of Killarney since the main entrance is only 3kms away.

How Long Should You Spend At Killarney National Park?

This really depends on your preferences. We spent about six hours at the park and enjoyed the jaunting car ride, a boat ride and seeing the gardens of the Muckross House. If you were thinking of doing one of the hikes as well, this would increase the amount of time needed to complete one of the treks, and you would need the full day there.

Muckross House & Gardens

The Muckross Estate is located within the park. The land was occupied by the prestigious Hebert family, who lived in various houses on the land for over 200 years. The current structure was built in 1843 and is in the style of a typical 19th century Victorian mansion.

The Herberts had a very important guest – Queen Victoria stayed at their home in 1861, and this led them to do extensive work on the house and the gardens in anticipation of her visit.

Over the years, the home was owned by other wealthy families of the area and was even used as a hunting and fishing lodge. Eventually, the property was gifted to the Irish government, and it became Ireland’s first National Park in 1932. The house is now open for tours, and there is a fee to enter.

The gardens on the property are extensive and include flower beds full of annuals, along with hydrangeas and azalea varieties that were from the original gardens. It had a similar feel to the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney – only on a smaller scale.

In the 1900s, the gardens were expanded to include a rock garden and glass greenhouses where they grew peaches and figs. It is a lovely place to wander and imagine how the aristocracy of the time must have lived.

Don’t Have Time To Read This Now? Pin It For Later:

Ross Castle

A significant historical property also resides within the park on the shores of Lough Leane. Built in the 1400s by the Irish Chieftain O’Donoghue, he thought that his location on the lake would be secure from attack. This castle was the last spot to be eventually conquered by Cromwell, and that had to be achieved through an assault by boat.

It is said that O’Donoghue still haunts the lake and rises up out of the water every seven years on May 1st. We visited in September, so no luck seeing him then!

The castle is open for guided tours, where people can see a re-creation of what it may have looked like during the time that O’Donoghue lived there. We didn’t visit inside, but loved the dramatic look of the castle sitting impressively on the banks of the lake.

✅ If you would enjoy walking around the park with an expert then check out this highly rated tour. Meet a local who will guide you through areas of the park on foot, sharing stories and the history of the area.

Boating On Lough Leane

One thing we enjoyed doing was a Killarney National Park boat trip. On the lower lake, there are 30 islands, and taking a guided boat trip was a great option for exploring this part of the park.

Even though it rained during parts of our trip, the surrounding scenery with the mountains is lovely. And with the mistiness of the rain, it seemed almost magical. Thankfully, the boat is covered with a glass roof so you can still see everything around you.

Many of the islands are lush, covered in a variety of plants, including rhododendrons, which are reportedly running wild and being removed due to their invasive nature. Interesting since we buy them at the nursery to add to our gardens at home in Canada!

On the day we visited, our guide was very excited to point out a white tailed sea eagle with a wingspan of 2.5 metres. A pair of these eagles had been sighted there, and it was great to see them since they had previously left the area. 

The boat tour was a nice way for a leisurely view of the lake and learn a little about this part of the park.

✅ We recommend this company for a wonderful 1 hour boat tour. The boat was comfortable, and our captain was friendly and provided some great commentary during the tour.

Jaunting Cars

One of the most popular things to do in Killarney is to take a jaunting car ride. This is a horse-drawn covered carriage ride that allows you to easily explore some of the wooded areas around the park.

This area has been designated a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO for the conservation and research work being conducted here. Interestingly, it is very different then another Biosphere Reserve I had visited in Zanzibar, the Jozani Forest.

We had a wonderful driver, and our horse, Sweetie, reliably brought us around to see the main attractions in the park. We were able to see the lake from different vantage points, including small rivers and a variety of trees and fauna within the wooded areas.

The forest features many birds and a large population of red deer. We saw many on the sides of the road, and it isn’t surprising since there are around 1100 in the park. There is also a sizable number of Japanese sika deer.

While snuggled under our supplied blankets, we thought this was a perfect way to see the park comfortably and efficiently.

✅ This jaunting car tour is the one that we took. It gave us a lovely tour of the park in a relaxed and comfortable way. Our driver was knowledgeable and our horse was very gentle.

Hiking & Walking

If you would like to check out more of the property and the lakes of Killarney, you can take one of the many trails within the park. There are fourteen designated trails throughout the property, ranging from 1 km to 7 km. There is something for everyone, as the trails are graded from easy to strenuous. Depending on your choice, you may see other historical buildings, vistas of the lakes, quaint bridges, and pretty mountain scenery.

And the best part is that the entrance to the park is free! A list of the different trails can be found at this website.

Torc Waterfall

Within the park is also the Torc Waterfall. This can be accessed by one of the longer, identified trails. While we didn’t walk there, we did visit the waterfall on a different day. You can drive to a car park near the waterfall and walk in about 5 minutes to see it.

It is a very nice area to walk through. The tall trees and rocks are covered with moss and lichen, giving them an interesting look. The waterfall is also impressive, cascading 20 metres over large rocks down to a small river bed.

We thought it was a lovely, serene location and would recommend a stop to see it.

Where To Stay In Killarney

If you want to truly enjoy the park, you can stay at Killarney National Park right on the grounds at the Muckross Park Hotel and Spa. This is a five-star property that immerses you within the magnificent surroundings of all that the park offers. With top-notch service, comfortable rooms and a full-service spa onsite, what more could you ask for?

Another notable hotel is The Lake Hotel. This grand hotel from the 1820s is run by an Irish family. It offers breathtaking views of the lake, warm Irish hospitality and has a wonderful restaurant and bar onsite.

If your preference is to stay in town and just drive to visit the park, we recommend the Arbutus Hotel Killarney or the Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa. Both are well-located, reputable properties within easy walking distance of all you need in town.

The Final Word…Is Killarney National Park Worth Visiting?

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in the Killarney National Park and felt it was worth a visit to a protected, natural area of this region. If you will be in County Kerry, we recommend that you add the park to your Ireland itinerary. And be sure to check out our other resources, such as visiting Dingle from Killarney, to help plan your visit to this beautiful part of Ireland.