Skip to content
Voykit
Set your trip — dates, party, bagsPlanner

Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · Ireland

KenmareAn Neidín

Give Kenmare two nights as a base for the Ring of Kerry and Beara; one night only if you are just breaking the drive from Killarney to Bantry.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
May–Jun, Sep
avoid Jul–Aug (crowds and full beds), Nov–Feb (many places shut)
Airport
KIR
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • Ireland ↗Ireland is in the EU but not in the Schengen area; it sets its own entry rules and a Schengen visa is not valid for Ireland. Check Irish immigration for your passport.
  • Ireland ↗Ireland and the UK form the Common Travel Area, with no routine checks on the land border. Visitors who are not Irish or British must still meet UK rules (including the UK ETA where it applies) to enter Northern Ireland.
  • Ireland ↗Driving is on the left; rural roads are narrow with hedges and few passing places.

Kenmare is a planned 1670 town at the head of Kenmare Bay, where the Iveragh (Ring of Kerry) and Beara peninsulas meet. It is small — about 2,600 residents — but has more beds and restaurants than its size suggests, and it gets busy in summer. Two nights let you do the Ring of Kerry one day and Beara or Moll's Gap the next; one night is a road break, not a visit.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Kenmare, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee€3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course€14–22 (≈ US$17–30)
  • BeerPint of stout€5–6.50 (≈ US$6–8)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€15–30 (≈ US$18–35)
  • Museum or sight ticketDereen Garden entry€12 (≈ US$14) adult, €6 (≈ US$7) child (2026)
  • Budget bedHostel bed, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedB&B or guesthouse double, a night, per room€140 (≈ US$170)
  • High-end bedB&B or guesthouse double, a night, per room€220 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €60 (≈ US$70) · Mid €110 (≈ US$130) · High €200 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Kenmare Stone CircleKenmare laceRing of Kerry and Beara basesThe Square's pubs
Airports
KIR Kerry Airport (Closest airport, midway between Killarney and Tralee; limited flights. Dublin, Shannon and Cork often work better.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Kenmare: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

9°C

4°C

18 rd

Feb

9°C

4°C

15 rd

Mar

11°C

5°C

16 rd

Apr

13°C

6°C

13 rd

May

16°C

8°C

13 rd

Jun

18°C

11°C

12 rd

Jul

19°C

13°C

14 rd

Aug

19°C

13°C

15 rd

Sep

18°C

11°C

14 rd

Oct

14°C

9°C

17 rd

Nov

11°C

6°C

17 rd

Dec

9°C

5°C

18 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The village is walkable in 10 minutes end to end; park at the Railway Rd car park by Holy Cross Church and leave The Square alone. Bus Éireann 270 runs hourly from Killarney (45 min) and five a day continue to Glengarriff, Bantry and Skibbereen; Local Link 281 links Waterville via Caherdaniel and Sneem, and 282 links Castletownbere. For the peninsulas you need a car, a tour bus or a hired taxi; bikes come from Finnegan's Cycles on Henry St.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Ring of Kerry (Iveragh Peninsula)

go

Door to door: Full day, 214 km

N70 west through Sneem and Caherdaniel, or N71 over Moll's Gap

Drive clockwise from Kenmare to meet fewer tour buses; start early.

Killarney and Moll's Gap

go

Door to door: 40 min

N71 north over Moll's Gap, about 30 min to Killarney

Gap of Dunloe and the National Park on the way; park outside Killarney town.

Beara Peninsula and Castletownbere

go

Door to door: 1–1.5 h to Lauragh

R571 south via Lauragh and Ardgroom; Local Link 282 from Castletownbere side

Quieter than the Ring of Kerry; Dereen Garden is on the way.

Staigue Stone Fort

go

Door to door: 1 h

N70 west to Castlecove, then a 4 km access lane

Free, open 24 h; the lane is narrow but in good repair.

Sneem

go

Door to door: 25 min

N70 west, about 20 min

Small village with a sea inlet; pairs with a Ring of Kerry day.

Kilgarvan Motor Museum

caution

Door to door: 20 min

R569 east, about 15 min

Vintage car collection; check opening before you drive out.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

The Square and Henry St

Pubs, restaurants and rooms on foot; no parking, so drop bags and move the car to Railway Rd.

Sneem Road (N70 west)

Hotels and B&Bs 5–10 min walk from the centre; quieter, with parking.

Killarney Road (N71 east)

Hotel and B&B cluster opposite each other; handy if you arrive from Killarney.

South across the bridge

Guesthouses on the far bank; walkable, but the road in has no footpath in places.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€60–95 (≈ US$70–120) excl. bed
Mid
€95–160 (≈ US$120–190) excl. bed
High
€160 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
B&B or guesthouse double1 × 2 nights × €140€280
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × €110€440
Bus Éireann 270 Killarney to Kenmare, one way2 × €12 · check€24
Car hire, one day, small car1 × €60 · check€60
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €20€40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€84
Trip total≈ €232 per person per day, bed included€928≈ US$1,100

2026 estimate in euro; flights and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee€3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Pub main course€14–22 (≈ US$17–30)
Restaurant main course€20–32 (≈ US$25–40)
Pint of stout€5–6.50 (≈ US$6–8)
Dereen Garden entry€12 (≈ US$14) adult, €6 (≈ US$7) child (2026)
Kissane Sheep Farm entry€10 (≈ US$12) adult, €5 (≈ US$6) child (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week€15–30 (≈ US$18–35)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Kenmare is a low-crime small town and safe to walk at night. The real risks are narrow roads with tour buses, wet surfaces on the peninsulas, and summer crowds; use the Railway Rd car park and keep to footpaths where they exist.
  • Summer beds in Kenmare sell out: book weeks ahead for Jul–Aug.
  • The Square is congested and parking is limited; use Railway Rd.
  • N71 over Moll's Gap and the coast roads are narrow with tour buses; drive the Ring of Kerry clockwise from Kenmare to meet fewer of them.
  • The N71 tunnel towards Glengarriff is unsuitable for high vehicles.
  • Mobile coverage drops on the N71 from Killarney: download offline maps.

Emergency numbers

Police, ambulance, fire, coast guard, mountain rescue
112
Alternative emergency number
999

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

KenmareAn Neidín

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Chun an seoladh seo, le do thoilTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, ambulance, fire, coast guard, mountain rescue112
  • Alternative emergency number999

Embassy

No embassies in Kenmare; the US Embassy is in Dublin and most countries keep embassies in Dublin, with consulates in Cork.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bus 270 Kenmare to Killarney: about €12 (≈ US$14), 45 min (check)
  • Taxi in the village: €8–15 (≈ US$10–18) (check)
  • Kenmare to Killarney by taxi: €45–60 (≈ US$55–70) (check)

Say or show

  • Dia duit — Hello (jeea gwit)
  • Go raibh maith agat — Thank you (guh rev mah agut)
  • Le do thoil — Please (leh duh hull)
  • Cá bhfuil an leithreas? — Where is the toilet? (kaw will un leh-rass)
  • Cé mhéad é? — How much is it? (kay vade ay)
  • Sláinte — Cheers (slawn-che)

Tourist Information Centre is on the north side of The Square, open daily 9AM–5PM (check).

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kenmare. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep · avoid Jul–Aug (crowds and full beds), Nov–Feb (many places shut) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for KIR and the Dublin/Shannon/Cork fallbacks: last bus and taxi rungs.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: The Square, Railway Rd and Holy Cross, the Stone Circle and Finnihy, the bridge and south bank.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Stone Circle, Lace and Design Centre, Carnegie Arts Centre, Dereen Garden) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Ring of Kerry and Beara drive fixtures with clockwise/anti-clockwise notes so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Ireland

Sources