Private Kilkenny Tour from Dublin
One city, one day, one driver who waits for you.
Gerry Murphy picks you up at your Dublin hotel and drives you to Kilkenny, about 90 minutes away. You get around 5 hours in the city itself for the castle, the Medieval Mile and lunch, then a door-to-door ride back.
From €650 per day, per vehicle, for up to 12 guests. Price agreed in writing before you travel.
- PSV Licensed & Insured
- NCDA Member
- Family-Run, County Dublin
- Reply Within 24 Hours
A Private Kilkenny Day, Planned Around You
Gerry Murphy Chauffeur Services runs private day tours from Dublin to Kilkenny, the medieval city on the River Nore about 90 minutes south-west of the capital. Gerry collects you at your Dublin hotel, drives you there in his Mercedes-Benz V-Class and gives you around 5 hours in Kilkenny itself. The vehicle is yours for the day, and Kilkenny is the only destination unless you ask Gerry to add another.
The price is per group, not per person: from €650 for up to 12 guests, agreed in writing before you travel. Send your dates and Gerry will reply within 24 hours with a free plan for your day.
Kilkenny from Dublin: The Short Answer
Kilkenny is about 125km from Dublin, roughly 1.5 hours each way by road. That makes it one of the easiest full days out from the city. The centre is compact: Kilkenny Castle stands at one end of the Medieval Mile and St Canice's Cathedral at the other, so you can see the main sights on foot.
On a private Kilkenny tour with Gerry Murphy, about 3 hours of the day is driving and around 5 hours is spent in Kilkenny. You decide how long to stay at the castle, where to eat and when to head back to Dublin.
How Much Time You Get in Kilkenny: Coach, Train or Private
Time in Kilkenny is the biggest difference between the three ways to visit from Dublin. Most coach day tours pair Kilkenny with Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains, which leaves about 2 to 2.5 hours in the city inside a 10-hour day.
Coach reviews often describe the Kilkenny stop as rushed, with a choice between the castle and a proper lunch. The train gives you more time, but your return is fixed to the timetable and there's a walk of about 15 minutes from Kilkenny MacDonagh Station to the castle. A private day with Gerry starts and ends at your hotel and runs to your group's pace. Coach tours do suit travellers who want three famous places in one low-cost day; a private tour suits people who came to see Kilkenny.
| Coach tour | Train | Private with Gerry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time in Kilkenny | About 2 to 2.5 hours | Flexible, but return is fixed to timetable | Around 5 hours |
| Start point | Coach meeting point | Heuston or Connolly station | Your Dublin hotel |
| Other stops | Usually Glendalough and Wicklow | None | Only if you ask |
| Price basis | Per person | Per person, from about €12 booked ahead | Per group, from €650 |
Your Day, Hour by Hour
This is a sample private Kilkenny day from Dublin. Gerry changes the order and timing to suit your group when he plans your tour.
Morning pickup
Gerry meets you at your Dublin hotel or address and loads your bags.
About 1.5 hours: the drive south-west
Mostly on the M9 motorway, with a coffee or bathroom stop if you want one.
Arrive in Kilkenny
Start at Kilkenny Castle, which opens at 9:15am from April to September and 9:30am from October to March.
Late morning
Walk the Medieval Mile towards St Canice's Cathedral at your own speed.
Lunch
A pub or café Gerry suggests for your group, with time to sit down.
Afternoon
Your pick of the round tower climb, the Smithwick's Experience, the Medieval Mile Museum or the shops at the Kilkenny Design Centre.
Drive back to Dublin
Drop-off at your Dublin hotel.
What You'll See in Kilkenny
Kilkenny's main sights sit along one walkable route, the Medieval Mile, which runs from Kilkenny Castle to St Canice's Cathedral. On a private tour you choose which of these to see and how long to give each one.
Kilkenny Castle and the Parklands
Kilkenny Castle was the home of the Butler family and stands over the River Nore in the city centre. A self-guided visit of the restored rooms takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and the 21 hectares of parkland and the Rose Garden are free to walk. Book castle tickets on the official Kilkenny Castle website only: the Office of Public Works refuses entry to tickets bought on resale sites.
The Medieval Mile
The Medieval Mile is the walking route between Kilkenny Castle and St Canice’s Cathedral. Along it you pass Rothe House and Garden, the Black Abbey and St Mary’s Medieval Mile Museum, which sits inside a restored 13th-century church. Cafés, pubs and shops line the route, so it’s easy to stop along the way.
St Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower
St Canice’s Cathedral is Ireland’s second-largest medieval cathedral, after St Patrick’s in Dublin. Its 9th-century round tower is 30 metres high and is one of only two round towers in Ireland that visitors can climb. The climb uses steep, narrow ladders, takes 12 people at a time and closes in bad weather, so plan it for a dry day and for guests who are comfortable on ladders.
Smithwick’s Experience
Smithwick’s ale has been brewed in Kilkenny since 1710. The Smithwick’s Experience on Parliament Street is a guided tour of about 45 to 60 minutes on the old brewery site, ending with a pint or a soft drink. With Gerry driving, nobody in your group has to skip the pint.
Lunch, Shops and the Kilkenny Design Centre
The Kilkenny Design Centre and the National Craft Gallery are opposite the castle entrance, which makes them an easy last stop before the drive home. For lunch, Gerry suggests a place that fits your group, from a quick café stop to a sit-down pub meal.
Price, and What's Included
A private Kilkenny tour from Dublin with Gerry Murphy costs from €650 per group, for up to 12 guests. That price covers the vehicle and driver for the whole day, not each person, and you agree it in writing before you travel.
Included
- Private vehicle and driver-guide for the day
- Pickup and drop-off at your Dublin hotel or address
- On-board Wi-Fi
- Free itinerary planning before you book
Not Included
- Entrance tickets, such as Kilkenny Castle, St Canice’s Cathedral and the Smithwick’s Experience
- Lunch and drinks
- Gratuities, which are optional and at your discretion
The price changes with the size of your group and vehicle, a longer day or an extra stop outside Kilkenny. Ask about deposit and cancellation terms when you request your quote.
Want to Add a Second Stop?
Kilkenny fills a full day on its own, but Gerry can add one more stop if your group wants it. Every extra stop takes time away from Kilkenny, so choose with that in mind.
Kilkenny with Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains
This is the route most coach tours follow. Adding the monastic site and lakes at Glendalough and a drive through the Wicklow Mountains makes a longer day and shortens your time in Kilkenny. It suits travellers who haven’t seen Wicklow and have no other free day. Ask for a quote for this route.
Kilkenny with Waterford
Waterford is about 40 minutes beyond Kilkenny. A visit to the House of Waterford Crystal factory pairs well with a morning in Kilkenny, but it makes for a longer day. Ask for a quote for this route.
Abbeys and Caves Near Kilkenny
Jerpoint Abbey, Kells Priory and Dunmore Cave are in the Kilkenny countryside and are hard to reach without a car. The Rock of Cashel is about an hour’s drive away. Gerry also plans ancestry trips, so a stop at a family parish or townland in the south-east can go into your plan.
Who This Day Suits
Families with children
No coach timetable, stops when the children need them, and a playground in the Kilkenny Castle parklands. See private family tours of Ireland.
Couples
A quiet day with a long lunch. See private couples tours of Ireland.
Older travellers and guests with limited mobility
Drop-off close to each sight and a pace set by the group. The round tower climb isn't suitable for limited mobility. See private tours for seniors.
Friends travelling together
One group price, and nobody has to drive after the Smithwick's pint.
Ancestry travellers
Time to visit a family parish or graveyard in the south-east.
Your Vehicle and Your Driver-Guide
Gerry drives his own Mercedes-Benz V-Class, which seats up to six guests with luggage and has on-board Wi-Fi. Groups of seven travel in a Ford Tourneo, and groups of up to 12 in a Mercedes Sprinter. Gerry holds a PSV licence, carries commercial insurance and is a member of the National Chauffeur Drivers Association (NCDA).
Meet Gerry
Gerry Murphy runs Gerry Murphy Chauffeur Services, a family business in County Dublin. He has spent over a decade driving American families and other visitors around Ireland, and when you message or call, you reach the person who plans and drives your tour. His line for it is simple: come as a visitor, leave as a friend.
Kilkenny is already part of Gerry's longer tours. In April 2026, a family of four adults and two children spent three days with Gerry visiting Waterford, Powerscourt, Kilkenny, Galway and the Cliffs of Moher — read the family's story on our homepage. Learn more about Gerry.
Before You Go: Practical Tips
- Kilkenny Castle is open daily: 9:15am to 5:30pm from April to September and 9:30am to 5pm from October to March, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. It closes over Christmas, so check dates in late December.
- Book castle tickets only on the official Kilkenny Castle website.
- St Canice's is a working cathedral, and visiting hours are shorter on Sundays because of services.
- The round tower climb depends on the weather on the day.
- Wear comfortable shoes for the cobbled streets of the old city.
- Kilkenny is busiest during the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival in June and the Kilkenny Arts Festival in August, so book early for those dates.
Kilkenny Tour Questions, Answered
Is Kilkenny worth a day trip from Dublin?
Yes. It's about 90 minutes each way, and the medieval centre, castle and parklands are easy to see in a day, with a private driver cutting out the dead time of a coach timetable.
How far is Kilkenny from Dublin?
Kilkenny is roughly 125km (about 78 miles) from Dublin, around a 1.5-hour drive each way on good motorway and national roads.
How much time do I actually get in Kilkenny on a day tour?
With a private driver, you get around 5 hours in Kilkenny itself after the drive each way, compared with less time on a scheduled coach tour that has to keep to a fixed return time.
Can I visit Kilkenny Castle and the Medieval Mile in one day?
Yes, both are within walking distance of each other in the old city, and a private day tour gives you time for both plus lunch.
Is the round tower at St Canice's open to climb?
It usually is, but access depends on the weather on the day and is set by St Canice's Cathedral itself, not by us.
Can we combine Kilkenny with Glendalough or Waterford in one day?
Combining Kilkenny with another stop on the same day is possible but makes for a long day on the road. Ask for a quote for this route and we'll advise what's realistic for your group.
Do you provide car seats for children?
Ask about car seats for children when you request your quote, and we'll confirm what we can provide.
Is the vehicle wheelchair accessible?
Ask about accessibility needs when you request your quote, so we can confirm whether we can accommodate them.
Do you pick up from Dublin Airport or Dublin Port?
Let us know your pickup point, including Dublin Airport or Dublin Port, when you request your quote, and we'll confirm it.
Is gratuity included in the price?
Gratuity is optional and at your discretion, and is not built into the quoted price.
What is your cancellation policy?
Ask about deposit and cancellation terms when you request your quote.
How many people can travel together?
Up to six in the Mercedes V-Class, up to seven in the Ford Tourneo, or up to 12 in the Mercedes Sprinter.
Does Gerry drive the tour himself?
Gerry runs a family business and drives tours personally; ask when you request your quote if you'd like to confirm he'll be your driver on the day.
Kilkenny as Part of a Longer Ireland Tour
Kilkenny also works well as one stop on a longer private tour of Ireland. It already features on our multi-day routes alongside the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle and Cork, and more. Multi-day tours are priced per day at a lower rate than a single day tour, from €850 per day for up to 8 hours of touring.
Browse our full range of private tours of Ireland, or ask about a bespoke private tour built entirely around your own itinerary.
Send Us Your Dates
Tell us your travel dates and group size, and we'll send you a quote for your private Kilkenny tour from Dublin within 24 hours.
WhatsApp +353 83 148 4498Email drivers@gerrymurphychauffeurservices.ie