Killarney town is a popular base for tourists on their Kerry tour,its on the edge of Killarney National Park and the starting point of the famous scenic drive of the Ring of Kerry. Killarney is so popular with tourists that with the exception of Dublin there are more hotel beds in Killarney than in any other Irish town or city. There is a long tradition of tourists basing themselves in Killarney, as far back as 1861 Queen Victoria stayed in the town. The town is very attractive winning the prestigious "Best Kept Town" award and cleanest town in the country.
Killarney is also famous for its jaunting cars (horse drawn carts) operated by local jarvies. The jarvies are famed for their wealth of local knowledge and friendliness. You can take a trip around the town, into Killarney National Park and Lakes of Killarney, or take a jaunting car to the Gap of Dunloe; 10kms of winding pathway alongside 5 lakes.
The town centre is dotted with gift shops many showcasing wonderful traditional Irish crafts. The town also offers a wide range of pubs and restaurants. During the summer pubs and nightclubs are lively seven days a week, there are over 40 pub in the town.
Muckross House and Gardens is a must see when in Killarney. This mansion of sixty-five rooms built in Tudor style is all free and open to the public, with guided tours of the house's rooms available for a small fee. The front foyer boasts the rack of antlers from an Irish Elk which is now extinct.
The medieval tower of Ross Castle has been restored and showcases a great collection of 16th-17th century oak furniture. It is also the departure point for boat tours on Lough Lein.
Killarney has a wide range of quality accommodation to suit all budgets, ranging from hotels and bed & breakfasts to hostels and self catering accommodation. Killarney has a nice variety of pubs which are well worth a visit on a warm summers evening or a cold winters one!.
For diners there are a selection of restaurants
Killarney National Park was the first national park established in Ireland. The 25,425 acres of diverse ecology has the most extensive covering of native forest remaining in Ireland and the only native herd of Red Dear. There are many highlights to Killarney National Park including Torc Waterfall. It is easily accessed from the nearby car park, and there is a public hiking trail stretches from the waterfall to the top of Torc Mountain where red deer are frequently spotted. The park is also famed for its lakes and mountain peaks. There is lots of opportunities to take boat trips on the lakes,Innisfallen Island is a favorite. Fish the lakes with your own ghillie, kayak or there are many marked walking and cycling routes throughout the park. The Eagle Trust a reintroduction program has released over 50 White Tailed Eagles into the Killarney National Park. If you enjoy wild life you can have a great day out at Killarney Falconry it provides group and private hawk walks or Coolwood Wildlife Park.