Kilkenny attractions

Our boats carry 12 passengers each. This allows for small intimate tailored tours. For group booking larger than 12 people, they will be seperated into two boats. Be sure to bring your camera as there are some fantastic views of the Castle and other sights of kilkenny. See the city as both invaders and settlers did, from the river. Our guides cater each trip individually depending on your knowledge of kilkenny history and that of the river Nore, including it's wildlife. This trip will leave you feeling relaxed and having a little more knowledge of the city's colourful characters and past.

Delve deep into the history of Smithwick’s, Ireland oldest beer brand, with a visit to Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny. With Franciscan monks, living portraits of the Smithwick family and giant holograms, set off on an immersive, guided tour of the Smithwick’s Experience, located in an old Victorian brewing building in Kilkenny city center. Travel from the 13th century right through to modern day as you trace the beer’s history, and learn how the ale is made. Then toast your tour with a meticulously poured pint of Smithwick’s.

Meeting Point: Main entrance of Kilkenny Castle Discover the darker side of Kilkenny along the city’s famous Medieval Mile. Kilkenny Haunted Dark Tours offers a captivating blend of history, folklore and spine-chilling tales. Walk in the footsteps of infamous characters who once roamed these streets. Hear of witch trials, ghostly happenings and the city’s most notorious events brought vividly to life by our local guides. Our guides will entertain and intrigue you with centuries of history and mystery revealing the chilling secrets that shaped Ireland’s medieval city. Private group bookings (6 people or more) are available on request. Please contact us directly for availability on alternative dates.

Think You’ve Seen Kilkenny? Think Again — The City’s Best Stories Aren’t in the Guidebooks! Get ready to wander through Kilkenny’s colorful past with a fun, easygoing walking tour that’s as entertaining as it is eye-opening. Snap photos at the stunning Black Abbey, stroll past the quirky Hurling Statue, and soak up the atmosphere of the Medieval Mile like a true insider. In just 2 hours (and only 4 km of strolling!), you’ll laugh, learn, and uncover the hidden gems that make Kilkenny one of Ireland’s most charming cities. Forget boring history lessons — this is history with personality! Bring your camera, bring your curiosity… and get ready to fall in love with Kilkenny all over again.

Walk the Medieval Mile, hear the stories of Kilkenny. Quirky tales of medieval life and lives. Witches, merchants, psychopathic bishops and why they grow yew trees in graveyards ! We welcome children on the tour but the stories are of witches, political skulduggery, irish history and murder. So therefore it speaks more to adults than small children. Guide in costume - great for Insta photos !

A modern twist on traditional tours, Shenanigans Walks local, expert and entertaining guides lead a fun and informative adventure of Kilkenny's Medieval Mile. The real magic of Shenanigans is an engaging and refreshing blend of history, compelling stories, interesting fun facts, with a clever sprinkle of magic effects which bring it all to life topped off with plenty of Shenanigans. Weaving a path through the picturesque narrow city streets discover the hidden history and stories of the cities breathtaking landmarks, The Normans, Merchants and trace the footsteps of famous characters like “The Greatest Knight”, who ever lived, William Marshal and Kilkenny’s infamous witch Alice Kyteler. The best way to discover Kilkenny is with Shenanigans Walks. For all ages come enjoy 90minutes of fun on Shenanigans Walks. Not just a Guided but we are a MIS-Guided tour. Check us out it is MAGIC.....

This experience gives you a chance to tour Kilkenny City, with a jovial medieval knight as your guide. Especially suited to families, the tour involves a little bit of walking, a little bit of history, and a whole lot of fun for all ages.

Book now if you dare... About Discover for yourself Kilkenny’s Medieval deepest secret’s, a warren of hidden streets that has remained frozen in time since the 13th Century. For more myths and mysteries, with blood curdling tales of ghosts and murders, and of plague victims being walled up and left to die. Learn about Kilkenny’s spooky past with this evening walking tour.

Discover the story of Medieval Kilkenny by starting your visit of the city in this museum. The building was once a church and now is a museum with artefacts and stories of long ago. Listen to stories on our audios or read all about the history of Kilkenny's Medieval times. Chat to our friendly expert guides who will guide you on your journey.

Embark on an extraordinary journey through the annals of Medieval Ireland with our guided tour of the Medieval Mile Museum. Our knowledgeable guides breathe life into history as they recount the epic tales of Strongbow and Aoife, the 'best knight that ever lived' William Marshall, and Isobel, who shaped the very foundations of Kilkenny City. You'll delve into the city's origins and its cosmopolitan roots, exploring the rise of rich merchants who held sway over its destiny. Gain insights into the starkly contrasting lives of the affluent and the underprivileged, uncovering the stories hidden within the hallowed walls of St. Mary's Church. Discover the pivotal role this church played in the Medieval era, serving as a sacred sanctuary and a testament to the devotion of the people. This guided tour offers an enriching and enlightening experience, making it an indispensable addition for anyone seeking to know the vibrant tapestry of Medieval Kilkenny. A must visit on your Kilkenny visit

The tour only takes place in German. The city guide who takes you on this tour is a local expert who was born and raised in Kilkenny.

At Hurling Tours Ireland, we provide a unique cultural Irish experience for visitors. Established in the home of hurling, Kilkenny, we give guests an opportunity to fully immerse themselves in Irish culture, by attempting our most ancient sport, hurling. Hurling is a game steeped in tradition and history, played with a passion and intensity that is unmatched in any other sport. Our hurling experience in Freshford gives visitors the opportunity to experience this sport in a tradional Irish pub in the heart of the village. Here we give visitors a presentation information them of the history and rules of Hurling. We have had visitors from many different nationalities and backgrounds fall in love with Hurling and the culture it creates in Ireland. Visitors from Canada, USA and Australia even promising to join a GAA Club when they return home, it is never too late to try new things and why not the sport that is at the heart of Irish culture and community.

This tour will introduce you to the highlights and hidden gems of Kilkenny in an interactive way. You'll follow an app-based game as you make your way around the city, solving a series of location-based riddles. You'll see landmarks like castles, medieval merchant homes, abbeys, Black Feren Gate, a famous witches' home, street art by Oscar-nominated animators and more. As you answer the riddles, you'll unlock fascinating facts about Kilkenny's medieval history as well as recommendations for local hotspots and activities.

Early visits are advised as we operate on a first come, first serve basis and can experience long queueing times The minimum height requirement for climbing the Tower is 4.5foot Admire the Cathedral's history and the stunning views from the Tower About the Cathedral St Canice’s Cathedral has been an important site of Christian worship since the 6th Century. For both pilgrim and tourist alike, the Cathedral remains both a hallowed place, and one of significant historical interest. Additionally, St Canice's is the mother church of a bishopric which includes six dioceses and eight counties. It continues to be used as a place of prayer and pilgrimage by those who seek the challenge, comfort, and consolation of God. Regular services are held in St Canice’s Cathedral, and all are welcome to participate. The Cathedral houses the memorials of the many generations that have gathered within its confines to worship the Lord. Apart from its role as a house of prayer, the Cathedral is at the heart of the heritage of the vibrant city of Kilkenny. The building’s exemplary acoustics are widely enjoyed each year during the Kilkenny Arts Festival, when the sounds of many voices and instruments entertain audiences who arrive from both near and from afar. About the Tower One of the only two round towers in the country that people may climb, the round tower at St Canice’s Cathedral provides a magnificent view of Kilkenny and the surrounding area on a clear day. The structure is 30m (100ft) high, tapering from 4.5 to 3.3m (15 to 11ft) in diameter. When the tower was originally built it would have had a conical top, adding a further 5m (18ft) to its height. The present day lack of this conical top allows for access to a safe viewing platform at the tower’s summit, which may be reached via a series of internal ladders comprising seven floors and 121 steps in total. Each year, many local archaeologists, architects and town planners – as well as thousands of visitors – climb the round tower not only to climb up through a unique heritage, but to view a beautiful city and stunning landscape.

Join us on a guided public Boat Trip through the historic city of Kilkenny. Learn of the often unspoken and local history that the river holds. Witness the wildlife that thrive in the urban environment and that have shared the waterways with man for thousands of years