There are many reasons to visit County Kerry, but here are the top 10.
Unparalleled scenery
Picture perfect villages, Wild Atlantic cliff views and lush mountainscapes – it’s no wonder that Kerry is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ireland.
Island life
Kerry is home to some of Ireland’s most famous islands, with Skellig Islands, Valentia Islands, Blasket Islands and Fenit Islands all attracting visitors throughout the year.
Get back to nature and explore the breathtaking scenery in County Kerry
Drink like a local
As you travel through the county, you’ll find several distilleries and breweries, making beer, whiskey, gin and vodka. Most distilleries operate tours for visitors, including an opportunity to taste their wares at the end.
Trad sessions
To visit Kerry is to experience the music so deeply rooted in Irish heritage. Up and down and across the county each night you’ll find tradition seisiúns taking place in bars, where local musicians come together to sing the songs of their locale.
Stunning beaches
No matter where you find yourself in Kerry, you are never far away from a magnificent stretch of sand. Whether it’s the epic sandbar of Inch beach or Banna, known for its surfing, you won’t be disappointed by any beach here.
Soak up the sun at Derrynane Beach
The Irish language
It has been said that to know a people is to speak their language. As one of the few Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) areas in Ireland today, Kerry maintains strong links to the Irish language, offering lots of opportunities for visitors to learn a cúpla focal (few words).
Star Wars
Fans of Star Wars flock to Skellig Michael, a sheer-sided island 12 miles off the Wild Atlantic Way since it featured in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. Rising majestically from the ocean, Skellig Michael towers 218 metres above sea level and is home to a remarkably well preserved sixth century monastic settlement and some Atlantic puffins too!
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- A visit to the impressive Skellig Michael Island is a must for Star Wars fans
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- See if you can spot the puffins on Skellig Michael
The Rose Of Tralee
The Rose of Tralee is one of Ireland’s oldest and most famous festivals, taking place each August. The heart of the festival is the selection of the Rose of Tralee which brings young women of Irish descent from around the world to County Kerry for a global celebration of Irish culture.
Take to the lakes
Lough Leane (the Lower Lake), Muckross Lake (the Middle Lake) and the Upper Lake are threaded together across a quarter of Killarney National Park’s 25,000 acres. They support a rich variety of wildlife, from the trout and salmon that flourish in their waters and the swans and multitudes of other water birds that feed on them, to the deer that swim across their surfaces at night.
Visit the stunning Upper Lake in Killarney National Park
The night sky
Kerry’s Dark Sky Reserve stretches from Kells to Caherdaniel, offering an exceptional opportunity to view the clearest view of the night sky. It is the only Gold Tier Dark Sky Reserve in the Northern Hemisphere and one of only three in the world.
Read more about County Kerry
