kilkenny city tours road train

Kilkenny for All - Kilkenny.ie

Kilkenny City Tours

• Lifestyle and Leisure
• Lifestyle and Leisure › Places to Visit
• Lifestyle and Leisure › Things to do

A fantastic way to view the City is to take the Kilkenny City Road Train tour.

The tour starts off at Kilkenny Castle and brings you on a 25 minute tour of the Medieval Kilkenny City.

While on board you will get a full commentary giving a historical and fascinating insight into the history of Kilkenny.

Tours run daily, every hour, on the hour, from 10am to 5pm inclusive, from March to October.

German and French commentary available.

Contact: 

Last modified: , town/district: .

Explore all that Kilkenny has to offer

Both the City and County quietly emanate the very best that Ireland has to offer. From culture to creativity, fine eateries to vibrant nightlife and outdoor adventures to medieval magic, this is the place that has something for everybody.

• Bennettsbridge
• Castlecomer
• Graiguenamanagh
• Ireland's Medieval Mile
• Things to do in County Kilkenny
• Things to do in Kilkenny City Centre
• Kilkenny City and County Maps
• #MoreToExplore Flip Books

Things to do in Kilkenny

Kilkenny is a place with a warm welcome and the promise of an unrivalled experience that resonates long after leaving.

• Arts & Culture
• Distilleries & Breweries
• Family Activities
• Festivals & Events
• Heritage & History
• Parks, Gardens & Open Farms
• Rivers & Water-Based Activities
• Walking & Cycling

Accommodation in Kilkenny

Kilkenny City and County offers an excellent selection of accommodation that will make your visit enjoyable and memorable for all the right reasons.

• Camping & Glamping
• Guesthouses
• Hotel Packages
• Self-Catering

Dine in Kilkenny

Dine like a local and discover the Insiders guide to Kilkenny. These are the unmissable faces and places of a magical destination.

• Taste Kilkenny
• Restaurants in Kilkenny
• Breakfast & Brunch
• Afternoon Tea & Brunch
• Cafes in Kilkenny
• Bars & Nightlife
• Al Fresco Dining
• Beer Gardens
• Artisan Food Producers
• Cookery Classes Kilkenny
• South East Food Stories
• Search our website and discover more about the best places in Kilkenny to Experience, Explore, Do, Stay and Dine.
• Members List
• Getting Here
• Ireland’s Ancient East
• Members Site
• Become a Member

Tours Galore in Kilkenny

Header image: Kilkenny City Tours

The best way to fully uncover a destination is through immersive tours with knowledgeable guides and Kilkenny certainly has no shortage of excellent tour options. As well as taking a tour of some of Ireland’s top attractions, Kilkenny is also home to a number of independent tours that allow you to discover the Marble County on foot, bike or even by boat!

From history and sports to food and witchcraft, you will find a tour in Kilkenny that will paint a picture of this vibrant destination, its extensive history and the true character of the county.

Please note: Some tours may run on specific days of the week or operate on a seasonal basis, so check with each individual tour provider for their operational dates.

BoatTrips.ie Embark on an informative tour along the River Nore with BoatTrips.ie. View the city from a unique perspective as your knowledgeable tour guide Cliff gives you facts about the sights that you encounter along your journey. The tour lasts approximately 40 minutes during which you sail along the river hearing the history of the buildings you pass by and perhaps even spotting some river wildlife.

Hurling Tours Ireland Hurling is one of Ireland’s national sports, so why not give it a go? It is one of the fastest field sports in the world and Kilkenny is known nationally as the home of hurling. Tour leader James will introduce you to the hurley and the sliotar before teaching you the basics of the fascinating ancient sport. We can guarantee that attending a hurling match will make it onto your bucket list after getting a flavour for the sport!

Kilkenny Cycling Tours Explore Kilkenny on two wheels with Jason from Kilkenny Cycling Tours. With a variety of tours giving you the opportunity to discover lush countryside or cycle through the city at sunset, it is a brilliant way to see a lot in just 2 hours. Have longer to spend exploring Kilkenny? They also offer a bike rental service for up to 8 hours, so you can discover the county at your own pace.

Kilkenny Foodie Tours All that exploring by bike can work up an appetite, so stick with Jason who also leads Kilkenny Foodie Tours. Sample local food and drink while you uncover the stories behind Kilkenny’s vibrant food scene. With culinary delights at every stop of the way, you’ll quickly see why Kilkenny was previously named Ireland’s Foodie Destination and you will be eager to make a dinner reservation for even more glorious food!

Kilkenny Foodie Tours at Ballykeefe Distillery

Kilkenny Ghost Tours Who says ghost stories are just for Halloween? Starting at Lanigans Bar, Kilkenny Ghost Tours are guided by one of their ghastly characters: The Witch, Dr Death, Highwayman, Priest Hunter, the Monk or the Banshee. Pop on your witch hat and cape before following your guide into the night and brace yourself for the terrifying tales that follow. If you’re brave enough, join the graveside tour that takes visitors through St. Mary’s graveyard on the site of the Medieval Mile Museum.

Kilkenny Hydrobikes Have you cycled on water? Drop by the picturesque village of Graiguenamanagh and you will be able to back up this mad claim with proof! Kilkenny Hydrobikes are a mix between a kayak and a bike that you pedal to propel yourself along the water. Just pop on a lifejacket and follow your guide along the river on a tranquil and unique tour that you won’t forget.

Malzards Hurling Experience Not only is Malzards an award-winning pub, but you can also learn a thing or two about hurling while you’re there. Fred will start by telling you about the pub – which has been run by his family for over 200 years – before you head onto the field for a puck about. It is an intense sport which will no doubt work up a thirst, so quench it with a pint of local beer or a locally distilled spirit in the pub afterwards!

Ormonde Language Tours Nothing beats learning about the places you visit from the people that live there. Ormonde Language Tours are led by John who is a local and he offers informative walking tours in English, French and German. Tours last 2 hours and will take you past a dozen points of interest across the city. So whether you prefer a tour in English, en français or auf Deutsch, John will be able to communicate the stories of Kilkenny through all of these languages to really bring it to life.

Pat Tynan Kilkenny Walking Tours Kilkenny Walking Tours delves into the medieval stories of Kilkenny city. Follow Pat through the cobbled streets and ancient alleyways which are bursting with stories of days gone by. Find out how Butterslip Lane got its name, hear about the Tholsel’s importance in the city and learn about the ecclesiastical sites across the city. So, grab your walking shoes and start discovering!

Riverbend Adventures Learn historical facts and spot native wildlife from a new viewpoint: the water! Riverbend Adventures run a variety of water-based tours along the rivers in Kilkenny so you can explore the city and the countryside from a kayak or stand-up paddleboard. Take to the water with Roger on the River Nore in the city or paddle through the countryside along the River Barrow. It is a relaxing experience – as long as you can keep your balance!

Shenanigans Walks Shenanigans Walks walking tours are a unique blend of history and humour, ensuring an entertaining exploration of Kilkenny’s streets. Tour guide Nevin will tell you all about the fascinating history of the city while making sure that you’re paying attention with jokes and even magic tricks sprinkled in throughout. They also offer a mobile puzzle tour where you have to solve riddles at different points of interest.

Kilkenny City Tours All aboard! It’s hard to miss the Kilkenny City Tours black and amber train roving through the streets. Hop on and tour guide Paul will take you past all of the city’s key sights. Tours are offered in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish and are weather-proof with the covered caboose – perfect for the unpredictable Irish weather!

Kilkenny Road Train Tours A tour with Kilkenny Road Train Tours is one of the most comfortable and efficient ways to see the city. Lasting 30 minutes, sit back as the train takes you through Kilkenny and join the inevitable singalongs on the journey with Jimmy! With a variety of languages and a panoramic, you won’t miss a single detail.

The Kilkenny Way Hurling Experience The Kilkenny Way run daily midweek hurling tours during the summer months, so make the most of the sunny south east by giving hurling a go. You will also get the unique opportunity to visit Nowlan Park for a tour of the home grounds of Kilkenny GAA before taking to the pitch with Andrew and Peter to practise your newfound skills. Who knows, you may even be a future hurling star!

#VisitKilkenny

© 2018 Kilkenny Tourism - Privacy Policy | Cookies | Sitemap

Waterford Crystal & Kilkenny City

Train to ireland's ancient east.

• The Suir Valley

Visit part of Ireland's Ancient East, where there are Medieval and Viking cities to be explored!

Enjoy a full day tour to a big chunk of Ireland's Ancient East - in Ireland's sunny south east. We visit the ancient city of Kilkenny or as it is known "The Marble City". We continue on to explore the historic Viking City of Waterford where we visit The Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre. The tour returns to Dublin via the lovely Suir Valley.

• Return Rail Travel.
• Reserved Seats on the train.
• Railtours Ireland Host throughout.
• Visitor Attraction Admissions.

€139pps

"Highly recommended"

Aug 2018 by Emily G

I have been a number of these trips and love them. This trip was one of the shorter ones, but, it was a packed day of fantastic tours, events and wonderful locations. These trips are incredibly well organised and always move smoothly. Highly recommended.

"MUCH MUCH better on rail than on any bus"

Jul 2018 by Roger O

This was our 3rd day trip in three days and in hindsight, all of our tours should have been with Railtours Ireland. The space, the convenience, the comfort and the attentive service qas MUCH MUCH better on rail than on any bus. The tour was interesting and informative. Liam is an absolute gem. Knowledgeable, witty, father-like and overall just a superb ambassador for Railway Ireland and Ireland in general. The additional service to be returned to our hotel made a great day end on a fabulous note. Keep up the great work at Railway Ireland and please ensure to recognize and reward Liam. He was the ABSOLUTE best and now represents for us, the face of Ireland!!!

"one of the best days we had in Ireland."

Nov 2017 by ICS20

My parents and I booked a Railtours day trip out to Waterford. It ended up being one of the best days we had in Ireland. The scenery was lovely – what a treat to get out to the countryside. And both Waterford and Kilkenny were beautiful. But the true star of the day was our guide, Paddy. He was an absolutely delight. Paddy made the time fly by with both the history of the area, and his fun jokes and stories. We have many pictures and many happy memories of our jaunt out to Waterford. Thank you, Paddy, and thank you Railtours! We feel very lucky to have taken this tour.

"Fantastic Trip to Waterford and Kilkenny"

Aug 2017 by Schwartzkin

We booked this trip to Waterford and Kilkenny from Dublin. It was fantastic. We meet our group at the train station and the Railtour workers wearing bright yellow. Our tour guide, Liam, was great. He knew the history of the area as well as the history of the Irish people. He was warm and friendly. Our first stop was to the town of Kilkenney where we took a city tour. We then headed to Waterford. We stopped for lunch and then toured the factory. The craftsmanship was unbelievable. We had some free time to shop and then headed back. The train ride home takes you through rolling hills and beautiful countryside. I woudl definitely do it again.

"Wonderful Tour Guide"

Jun 2017 by Finksbug

We took this trip with Liam, who was a wonderful, thoughtful, knowledgeable guide as well as a very wonderful person. The tours of Waterford and Kilkenny were very informative and the restaurant choice was ideal as well. We were so glad that we added this tour to our trip to Ireland and that it was Liam who shared it all with us! Thanks, Liam!

"Fun tour of two interesting towns with a great chance to see the countryside from rail"

Jun 2016 by Dennis B

Fun tour of two interesting towns with a great chance to see the countryside from rail. Paddy (our guide) was great at adjusting the itinerary based on the interests of the group so we could see things that attracted our attention. Be sure to allocate time in Waterford to see the tower down the street along with the replica Viking boat. Kilkenny Castle was fantastic. Love how they have researched it like a team of detectives to restore it to the original shape where they can. Appreciate that Paddy also researched info for us on Ireland not related to our tour. Will help make the rest of our stay better.

"Well worth the money, lovely rail trip with beautiful scenery"

Jul 2015 by Margaret B

Well worth the money, lovely rail trip with beautiful scenery. Liam was our tour guide and he was wonderful. Liam was very knowledgeable and took excellent care of us bon the tour.

"The day couldn't have been much better"

Jun 2015 by Janice B

Our tour guide, Liam was the absolute best! He is a wonderful tour guide and conversationalist. The day couldn't have been much better.

"Took the train tour which allows one to see the sights from a more personal level."

Jun 2015 by Tammy B

Kilkenny was great. Took the train tour which allows one to see the sights from a more personal level. The crystal factory was incredible. Again, the Irish people are wonderful, the driver and guide were great.

Visitor Attraction Admissions Included: Kilkenny Road Train and House of Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre.

Dublin to Kilkenny & Waterford

Check-in is 20 minutes prior to Train Departure Time.

Check in beside the Customer Service Desk at Heuston Station where our representative will be waiting for you in their bright yellow jacket!

Check-in for 07:25 departure from Dublin Heuston Station, opened in 1844 as the headquarters of the Great Southern & Western Railway, now the official principal station of Iarnród Éireann, Ireland’s national railway company. As your train departs, we travel in a south westerly direction, through Dublin's western suburbs and then through the lush fertile countryside of Co. Kildare. Our journey takes us through the Curragh which is famous for its racecourse, home of the Irish Derby, and there are many stud farms in the vicinity, see the best of Irish bloodstock training as your train passes. We pass through Co. Carlow, birthplace of the father of Irish Railways - William Dargan and then enter Co.Kilkenny.

At 09:00 we arrive into Kilkenny, known as the Marble City, situated on the river Nore. We have over two hours free time to explore all this medieval city. Kilkenny is a beautiful small Irish city. Most buildings are built of black limestone thus the name the Marble City. Kilkenny is dominated by its castle. A guided tour of Kilkenny by Road Train is included April to October. Admire Kilkenny Castle and its rose garden. We depart Kilkenny by train at 11:40.

We arrive into Waterford at 12:20, a Viking city on the banks of the River Suir, and we pass Jerpoint Abbey, from the 12 th century en route. On arrival in Waterford Station we are transferred to the Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre for a guided tour, where you will see craftsman engaged in the traditional tasks of blowing and cutting the world famous crystal glass. Our lunch stop is here at the Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre (not included). You are of course welcome to have lunch yourself at any of the many attractive local authentic pubs and bars in Waterford city. We depart Waterford by train at 16:25 and travel west through the beautiful Suir Valley through Co. Tipperary. We pass Tipperary town and change trains at Limerick Junction for your Dublin bound express. You don't need to worry about this change as your host who has been with you since the start of the tour in Dublin will still be there to escort you onto the train and your reserved seats.

20:00 Arrive back to Dublin Heuston Station.

Post comment

or continue as guest

Irish Tourist Trains

Kilkenny Road Train Tours Gallery

Home | Gallery | Why Choose Us? | Map | Tour Highlights | Tickets & Prices | Terms & Conditions | Contact Us