Ring of Kerry day trip from Killarney
A day trip around the Ring of Kerry from Killarney, driving anticlockwise: Rossbeigh Beach on Dingle Bay, the fishing village of Portmagee, Derrynane House and beach, the Staigue stone fort, the villages of Sneem and Kenmare, then back over Moll's Gap and Ladies View through Killarney National Park. A car or a coach tour is needed. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Ring of Kerry in 1 day
Day 1
Rossbeigh Beach
A long sandy beach on a spit reaching into Dingle Bay near Glenbeigh, with views across to the Dingle Peninsula and room for a bracing walk.
Portmagee
Small fishing village of colourful houses on the channel to Valentia Island, the departure point for Skellig boat trips, with seafood pubs.
Derrynane House and beach
Ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell, now a museum in a coastal park, next to a sheltered sandy beach and dunes for a walk.
Staigue Fort
Large Iron Age stone ringfort at the end of a narrow valley, with thick dry-stone walls and stairways built into them.
Sneem
Village on the Sneem river estuary with two greens, bright painted houses and pubs, a classic tea or pint stop on the Ring.
Kenmare (The Square)
Neat, colourful market town at the head of Kenmare Bay, with good restaurants, craft shops and pubs around its square and main streets.
Moll's Gap
Mountain pass on the road from Kenmare to Killarney, with a café and wide views over rocky moorland to MacGillycuddy's Reeks.
Ladies View
Viewpoint above the lakes and valley of Killarney National Park, named after Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting, who admired it during her visit in 1861.
Watch: Ring of Kerry
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
The Ring of Kerry is a loop of about 180 km around the Iveragh Peninsula, starting and ending in Killarney; a car or a day coach tour is needed, as public buses are few. Rossbeigh is about 45 minutes from Killarney via Killorglin and Glenbeigh, and the road back from Kenmare over Moll's Gap and Ladies View takes under an hour.
Staying in Killarney? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Ring of Kerry
May to September brings the longest days and the best chance of clear views, with July and August the busiest months on the road. Rain is possible in every season, and spring and autumn are quieter but often windy. Skellig Michael boats run only from around mid-May to the end of September, weather permitting.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Ring of Kerry on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Ring of Kerry on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Ring of Kerry 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 Ring of Kerry
- The plan drives anticlockwise from Killarney, the same way as the tour coaches; leave early to stay ahead of them on the narrow roads, or stop where they don't.
- Start early: the loop is long, roads are slow and winding, and the light on the coast is best in the morning and evening.
- Boat trips to Skellig Michael leave from Portmagee in summer only, are cancelled in rough seas and sell out months ahead; book early.
- Bring a rain jacket and layers whatever the forecast: the weather on the peninsula changes quickly, and the views can vanish in low cloud.
- Stop for seafood chowder or fresh fish in Portmagee, Sneem or Kenmare, and keep some cash for small car parks and entry fees at a few sights.
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
- Derrynane House and beach: August Schwerdfeger, CC BY 4.0
- Kenmare (The Square): Podstawko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ladies View: Bob Familiar, CC BY 2.0
- Moll's Gap: Trevor Rickard, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Rossbeigh Beach: Podstawko, CC0
- Sneem: David Jones from Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0
- Staigue Fort: Podstawko, CC0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
