Ring of Kerry From Dublin: How to Plan It

The loop is a scenic circuit of coast, lakes and mountain viewpoints, far from Dublin. This guide covers whether it fits your trip, how to reach Killarney, how to see the loop and how many days to give it.

Step 1: Decide if the Ring of Kerry fits your trip from Dublin

The Ring of Kerry does not fit in a day trip from Dublin, so plan at least one night in the south-west. Discover Ireland describes the 179km route around the Iveragh Peninsula, and it suggests overnight stops in Portmagee, Waterville, Glenbeigh and Killorglin. That points to a trip of several days, not a few hours.

Dublin sits on the east coast, and Kerry is at the other end of the country. No official page, including Discover Ireland and Irish Rail, publishes the road distance or driving time from Dublin to Killarney or the Ring of Kerry, so this guide does not state one. The one official figure is the train: Irish Rail's timetable has the 09:00 from Dublin Heuston reaching Killarney at 12:21, which is 3 hours 21 minutes. Kerry is at the other end of the country from Dublin, so plan a full day of travel each way, which is why one night is the minimum. Look at tours from Dublin and you will see how far the one-day trips reach. The furthest south is Blarney Castle in County Cork, and that trip alone takes 12 hours.

The stops on the loop are worth the effort. The route passes Killarney National Park and Muckross House, Torc Waterfall, Ladies View, Kenmare, Sneem, Waterville, Portmagee and Valentia Island. It also lists the Gap of Dunloe. Pick two or three, because the loop is long.

Key Takeaway The loop is 179 km around the Iveragh Peninsula, so give it at least one night, and two if you want to stop at Waterville or Portmagee.

A scenic loop is best driven slowly.

Step 2: Get to Killarney first

Killarney is where the route begins, and you can reach it by train or by car from Dublin. The official route says to "begin in bustling Killarney", and the other towns on the loop follow from there.

Irish Rail lists a Dublin Heuston and Cork Kent to Tralee timetable under Kerry. Irish Rail's timetables page says the timetable is valid from 14 December 2025. The web page itself gives no journey time, but its Dublin and Cork to Tralee PDF timetable does. On Monday to Saturday, trains leave Dublin Heuston at 07:00, 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00 and 19:00 and most connect at Mallow for Killarney. For example, the 09:00 reaches Mallow at 11:11, a connecting train leaves at 11:25 and it reaches Killarney at 12:21. That is 3 hours 21 minutes with one change. Irish Rail says connections are not guaranteed, so check the Journey Planner for the day you travel. Sunday times differ.

If you drive from Dublin, the pages used here give no official road distance or time. The train takes 3 hours 21 minutes, so plan it as a full travel day, not as an add-on to a Dublin morning. Kerry is further than Blarney, so expect longer. A mapping estimate puts Blarney in County Cork alone at about 2 hours 50 minutes by car, and Kerry is further on.

Pro Tip Arrive in Killarney the evening before. Torc Waterfall's car park gets busy during the day, so the tourist board advises an early start.

Step 3: Drive the loop yourself or join a coach tour

You can drive the loop yourself or join a guided coach tour from Killarney, and the coach is the easier choice if you do not want to drive. The tourist board calls a guided coach tour "a great way to explore it", with a guide who knows the roads.

The same site's car-free guide says tours spend between four and six hours on the circuit. No official page publishes a driving time for the 179 km loop, so a self-drive is at least four to six hours once you stop. Discover Ireland does not say whether to drive clockwise or anticlockwise, and no official page used here gives a direction, so ask your hire car company or a local before you set off. Discover Ireland's own day tour runs from Killarney towards Kells and Cahersiveen, then Waterville, Sneem and Moll's Gap, and back to Killarney. That is anticlockwise, but the page does not say you must drive that way. It names Wild Kerry Day Tours, which starts from its depot on Ross Road in Killarney. You can also ask for a hotel pickup, but you must say so when you book. Take some cash, because some stops on the way do not take cards. The page suggests carrying no more than €20.

If you drive, the loop is 179 km, so plan for slow, winding roads and many photo stops. Ladies View is the best known viewpoint. It is named after Queen Victoria's ladies in waiting, who admired it on her 1861 visit. It is about 16 km from Killarney town, roughly midway to Kenmare.

The Valentia Island ferry runs from Easter to early October, so a trip to Portmagee in winter may not include it.

Here is how a two day trip can run.

There is one honest limit. A loop this long suits a driver or a tour, so if you have only one day free, it is the wrong trip. Choose a day trip such as Blarney Castle and Cork instead.

Step 4: Book a multi-day tour from Dublin if you do not want to drive

A multi-day tour is the simplest way to see the south without planning a bed and a car. Doing it yourself is enough if you can drive and want to set your own pace; a tour helps if you have no car or do not want to book beds, because transport and rooms are in one price. Browse Ireland tours from Dublin to compare what is on offer. Before you book, check the start point, the length and what is left out of the price; each is listed below for the three tours.

The three tours are run by Paddywagon Tours, Rabbie's Small Group Tours Ireland and EI Travel Group, and each has free cancellation. In Things to Do in Dublin's count of GetYourGuide listings on 25 October 2026, 1 of the 216 listings name Kerry, a 3-day tour from €389. That is the Galway and Kerry 3-day budget tour, run by Paddywagon Tours. Its highlights promise "the best of South Ireland and the Ring of Kerry". It also goes to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren. It costs from €389 per person, lasts 3 days and is rated 3.8 from 86 reviews, the lowest of the tours here. It has free cancellation. The listing gives no group size.

The tour includes a guide, transport, accommodation, breakfasts and entrance fees. Lunches, dinners and extra attractions are not included. It starts at Paddy's Palace on Gardiner Street Lower in Dublin and is not suitable for wheelchair users. The listing does not say how much of the Kerry loop you see, so read the itinerary on the booking page first.

If Kerry is not a must, the Blarney, Kilkenny and whiskey 3-day tour goes south with Rabbie's Small Group Tours Ireland. It costs from €759 per person, is rated 4.4 from 14 reviews and is limited to 15 people. It includes two nights of bed and breakfast, a driver guide and a whiskey distillery tour; meals and attraction entry are not included. It starts at the Kilkenny Shop on Nassau Street in Dublin and has free cancellation. It does not go to Kerry, and the reviews are few. For one day only, the Blarney Castle, Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castle trip costs from €85 per person. It is rated 4.7 from 1,453 reviews and lasts 12 hours. It includes a driver guide and entry to all three sites; lunch and drinks are not included. It starts at the Molly Malone Statue and has free cancellation.

Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 25 October 2026.