Killarney National Park itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Killarney National Park, day by day: Ross Castle, the Lakes of Killarney, Muckross Abbey, Muckross House, Torc Waterfall, Ladies View and Moll's Gap first, then the Gap of Dunloe and the Black Valley on a second day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Killarney National Park in 1 day
Day 1
St Marys Cathedral Killarney
Gothic Revival cathedral by Augustus Pugin in Killarney town, at the edge of the park near Knockreer.
Ross Castle
15th-century tower house of the O'Donoghue clan on the shore of Lough Leane, shown by guided tour, with boats to the islands.
Lakes of Killarney
The three lakes of the park, Lough Leane, Muckross Lake and the Upper Lake, ringed by woods and mountains.
Muckross Abbey
Ruined 15th-century Franciscan friary in the park, with a cloister around an old yew tree.
Muckross House
Victorian mansion of 1843 on the Muckross peninsula between the lakes, with furnished rooms, gardens and traditional farms nearby.
Torc Waterfall
Waterfall of about 20 m in the woods below Torc Mountain, a short walk from the car park on the Kenmare road.
Ladies View
Viewpoint on the road to Kenmare overlooking the Upper Lake and the valley, named after Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting in 1861.
Molls Gap
Mountain pass on the Killarney to Kenmare road, with wide views over the MacGillycuddy's Reeks and a café.
Killarney National Park in 2 days
Day 1
Gap of Dunloe
Narrow mountain pass between the MacGillycuddy's Reeks and Purple Mountain, walked, cycled or crossed by jaunting car past a chain of small lakes.
The Black Valley
Remote glacial valley below the MacGillycuddy's Reeks, one of the last places in Ireland to get electricity, with quiet walking roads.
Molls Gap
Mountain pass on the Killarney to Kenmare road, with wide views over the MacGillycuddy's Reeks and a café.
Ladies View
Viewpoint on the road to Kenmare overlooking the Upper Lake and the valley, named after Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting in 1861.
St Marys Cathedral Killarney
Gothic Revival cathedral by Augustus Pugin in Killarney town, at the edge of the park near Knockreer.
Day 2
Ross Castle
15th-century tower house of the O'Donoghue clan on the shore of Lough Leane, shown by guided tour, with boats to the islands.
Lakes of Killarney
The three lakes of the park, Lough Leane, Muckross Lake and the Upper Lake, ringed by woods and mountains.
Muckross Abbey
Ruined 15th-century Franciscan friary in the park, with a cloister around an old yew tree.
Muckross House
Victorian mansion of 1843 on the Muckross peninsula between the lakes, with furnished rooms, gardens and traditional farms nearby.
Torc Waterfall
Waterfall of about 20 m in the woods below Torc Mountain, a short walk from the car park on the Kenmare road.
Watch: Killarney National Park
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Killarney National Park
May to September has the longest days and the mildest weather for walks and boat trips, though rain is possible all year. July and August are the busiest months, with coaches on the Ring of Kerry. October brings autumn colours and fewer visitors, while winter is quiet and some tours and boats stop.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Killarney National Park on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Killarney National Park on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Killarney National Park on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Ireland from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Killarney National Park
- Muckross House is seen by guided tour, while its gardens and the lakeside paths around it are free to walk.
- Boat trips across the lakes leave from Ross Castle, and the classic Gap of Dunloe trip combines a walk or jaunting car with the boat back.
- Horse-drawn jaunting cars wait at Killarney town and Muckross; agree the route and price before setting off.
- The road through the Gap of Dunloe is narrow and steep, best walked, cycled or crossed by jaunting car rather than driven.
- Ladies View and Moll's Gap are on the narrow Kenmare road, busy with coaches in summer; stop only in the marked lay-bys and car parks.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Gap of Dunloe: Daniel Dudek, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ladies View: Bob Familiar, CC BY 2.0
- Lakes of Killarney: Gw099 at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5
- Molls Gap: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Muckross Abbey: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Muckross House: Emmett.Hume, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ross Castle: Dumphasizer, CC BY-SA 2.0
- St Marys Cathedral Killarney: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Black Valley: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Torc Waterfall: John M, CC BY-SA 2.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
