The 13 Best Kilkenny Tours

1.Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 601 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $26Our pick

At Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny, a guide leads you through medieval brewing roots, family history, holograms, and hands-on hop and malt displays. The hour ends with a pint or a three-ale paddle. Guides have included Ruby, Chris, Evan, and Gavin, and the tour is in English.

“Not to be missed. This tour is a lot more intimate and entertaining than the Guiness tour, which is very crowded and chaotic. Smithwicks is a smaller brewery with an even longer history. Our tour guide was lovely, very welcoming, and informative - and the environment is much more charming.”

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2.Shenanigans Walks – Guided Walking Tour in Kilkenny

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 485 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $33

Walk central Kilkenny with guide Nevin on a small-group tour of about 90 minutes. Expect castle stories, Smithwick’s brewing lore, medieval markets, tombs, city gates, local sayings, witchcraft tales, and a few playful magic tricks. The walk ends at Kyteler’s Inn.

“Excellent tour. Highly recommend. Kevin was entertaining and full of great stories. He answered all of our questions and gave great advice about Kilkenny. Loved the tour.”

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3.Kilkenny Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 323 reviews · 40 minutes (approx.) · from $18

Cruise the River Nore from Canal Square for about 40 to 50 minutes. Guides such as Cliff, Elder, and Ann Marie point out Kilkenny Castle, St. Canice’s Cathedral, bridges, wildlife, and local stories. The open boat carries small groups and returns to the starting point.

“Perfect experience. Family of 3, one teenage… he loved it. 🤩 Our tour guide was interesting and engaging. She offered to take pictures of our family with the castle. We learned history, mythology and ecology. 10/10”

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4.Kilkenny Walking Tour with Local Certified Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 274 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $14

Join local certified guide John Britton for a roughly two-hour walk through Kilkenny’s medieval center. You’ll see Kilkenny Castle, St. Canice’s Cathedral, the Black Abbey, the Tholsel, and lesser-known corners, with time for questions and local recommendations.

“Great tour. John Britton did an excellent job. Very knowledgeable and wove humor into his presentation. Highly recommend”

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5.Kilkenny Haunted Dark Tours

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 221 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $22

Meet beneath Kilkenny Castle’s wooden entrance at 7:00 PM for a 75-minute walk through the city’s darker past. Sharon, John, or Joe may guide you through sites linked to Dame Alice Kyteler, Cromwell’s siege, plague, crime, and local ghost lore. Expect history first, with a spooky edge.

“Great knowledge about the history of Kilkenny that we weren’t aware of. Meet up was easy and close to the castle. Weather cooperated and we enjoyed the walk around. Followed up with the next day at the medical mile museum. Reinforced it all very interesting.”

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6.Guided City Boat Tour with Kilkenny Castle Views

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 161 reviews · from $17

Cruise the River Nore from Canal Square for 40 to 45 minutes, passing Kilkenny Castle, St Canice’s Cathedral, bridges, wildlife, and the ruins of Ormonde Woollen Mill. An English-speaking guide such as Cliff, Elder, or Anne Marie provides local stories and history.

“Our tour guide was excellent. I loved learning some history about the sights we were seeing.”

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7.Historical and Hysterical Guided City Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 126 reviews · from $32

Walk Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile with local guide Nevin Cody, an Irish storyteller and magician. In 75 minutes, you’ll see major landmarks, hear lesser-known local stories, enjoy magic and comedy, and cover just over a mile at a moderate pace.

“Our guide was tremendous on this very hot day. He didn’t complain once and still gave us a first rate tour. The street magic tricks were mildly amusing, but the stories and personal anecdotes were what made the tour. If you’re in Kilkenny, take the shenanigans tour!”

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8.Smithwick’s Beer Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 108 reviews · from $25

At Smithwick’s Experience in Kilkenny, an English-speaking guide leads you from 13th-century Franciscan brewing to the Smithwick family story and a hands-on look at beer making. Smell hops, taste sweet wort, then finish with a pint or upgrade to a three-ale tasting paddle.

“Very informative and fun, interactive tour. Liked the family portrait room!”

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9.Medieval Mile Museum Self Guided Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 91 reviews · 1 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $9Best value

Use your phone to explore St. Mary’s Medieval Mile Museum in Kilkenny, including its graveyard, crypts, carved stones, high crosses, and hidden wall paintings. The English audio tour runs about an hour, with a child-friendly option and helpful museum staff on hand.

“Very interesting place and the graveyard stories were to die for !!! Lots of crypts history and beautiful history restoration”

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10.Historical Highlights Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 90 reviews · from $14

Walk Kilkenny with John or another certified national guide on a two-hour tour through Hightown, St. John's Priory, Irishtown, the Black Abbey, and Kilkenny Castle. Expect clear history, amusing stories, local tips, and tours in English, French, or German, with private and small-group options.

“Great storytelling, plenty of facts and fun stories, wonderful tour !”

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11.Kilkenny Dark Tours

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 55 reviews · from $22

Walk Kilkenny after dark with local guides such as Sharon, following narrow lanes from Kilkenny Castle to Parliament Street. Hear about witch trials, hangings, grim characters, and the city’s overlooked past. This 75-minute English tour is atmospheric but has no jump scares or promised ghosts.

“It was one of our favorite things we did on our trip. We loved Kilkenny and the tour really brought it all together for us. Highly recommend!”

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12.St Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower Climb

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 17 reviews · from $11

Explore St Canice’s Cathedral with a self-guided map, then climb Kilkenny’s oldest standing structure, one of only two climbable Round Towers in Ireland. An English-speaking host or greeter assists, and the small group is limited to 10 people. The tower climb requires a minimum height of 4 feet 5 inches.

“Wonderful church … interesting climb with amazing view at the top. Steps were steep but manageable.”

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13.Hurling Experience in Kilkenny City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $34

Meet instructor James at O’Loughlin Gaels GAA Club, across from Nowlan Park. You’ll learn hurling’s story in a team dressing room, then use a stick, helmet, and sliotar on the field. It is a friendly 1.5-hour activity for all ages and abilities.

“We absolutely loved this hurling lesson. James was very fun and patient with us. We had just flown in to Dublin and were feeling pretty tired after the drive to Kilkenny but running around a bit gave us energy again. We kind of got into the sport and went to a bar a couple nights later to watch a hurling match between 2 counties. Such fun! Highly recommend doing this if you’re in the area!!”

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