Hire Car Killarney Tips, Experiences & Comparison

Discover Killarney by Hire Car

Killarney is the tourist capital of County Kerry and a much visited destination for all tourists travelling by hire car through the southwest of Ireland.

The town, with a population of just over 7,000, has been firmly in the hands of tourists since the 19th century.

This is partly due to the nearby airport, but mostly to the beauty of the surroundings and especially the attractions of Killarney National Park.

Killarney National Park

The 10,000-acre Killarney National Park to the south and east of the town is characterised by three lakes and the lovely rolling countryside all around.

The centrepiece of the National Park is Muckross House, a magnificent mansion built in 1843, and the surrounding gardens. The mansion can be visited and gives a glimpse of the life of the landed gentry in the 19th century.

Quite nearby, you can visit the well-preserved ruins of Muckross Abbey, a 15th-century Franciscan monastery. On a peninsula in Lough Leane, one of Killarney’s lakes, is Ross Castle, a fortress complex more than five hundred years old.

Exploring the Killarney area

Killarney, with its numerous hotels and B&B houses, is an excellent starting point for all travellers to Ireland who want to drive the Ring of Kerry, the famous coastal road around the Ivereagh Peninsula, by hire car.

On the first leg towards Kenmare, don’t miss stopping at “Lady’s View” for fantastic panoramic views of the Lakes of Killarney.