Getting Around, Kilkenny Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland)

Transport in and around Kilkenny focuses on bus, taxi and hire car travel, as there is no train service around the smaller towns and villages in the region. The closest international airports are located in Dublin and Waterford, with Waterford the closer at 78 km / 48 miles away and just over an hour's drive.

If you have plenty of time to explore Kilkenny at your own pace, then forget public transport and simply get around on foot. Kilkenny is a highly walkable city and a stroll past the medieval attractions is sure to be a highlight of any visit. Alternatively, if you are based in the suburbs, a bicycle can provide a pleasant and scenic way to travel into the city centre.

Dublin International Airport (DUB) / Arriving by Air

Address: Dublin Road, Collinstown, Dublin, Republic of Ireland, IE
Tel: +353 053 1814 1111
Dublin Airport is located some 10 km / 6 miles from the city, close to the M1 and M50 motorways and is the busiest airport in Ireland, with its terminal handling over 20 million passengers a year. Most major international airlines are served here and the national carrier, Aer Lingus, is based at the airport, where it boasts an extensive list of destinations worldwide. A second terminal has recently opened and provides good passenger amenities. Onward transportation to Dublin, for a rail connection to Kilkenny, is by bus or taxi.

Although several daily train services to Kilkenny are available, they may not coincide with flight arrival times, making car rental one of the faster means of transfer between the two cities. Other onsite airport services include currency exchange and ATMs, car parking and restaurants. If renting a car is not on your holiday agenda, then the JJ Kavanagh bus service provides an affordable way to travel directly from Dublin Airport to the city centre.

Dublin Airport (DUB) Guide

Car Rental

Given the isolated location of many County Kilkenny attractions, a rental car is the most convenient way to make the most of your holiday. Although local bus transport does run outside the city, services are intermittent and may not run close to the area you'd like to explore. In the city itself, most of the important sights are located within easy walking distance of each other. Car rental offices are to be found on the High Street and around the city centre and comprise most of the well-known chains, as well as local companies.

Book your Dublin Car Rental here.

Buses and Coaches

Apart from hiring a car, the other practical means of travel to and from Kilkenny is by bus. The city is served by two companies, Bus Eireann and JJ Kavanagh, which operate from the city's bus station next to the rail station, a ten-minute walk from the city centre. Long-distance bus transport connects Waterford and other nearby cities, but the service between Kilkenny and the rural areas, small towns and villages is somewhat restricted.

Trains

Tel: +353 056 772 2024
The only destinations served by train from Kilkenny are on the Dublin / Waterford line, and include Carlow, Athy, Thomastown and Bagenalstown. Located on St. John's Street, the MacDonagh Railway Station is easy to find and comes with modern facilities.

Taxis

Taxis are easily located in Kilkenny, as there are ranks at the rail station, around the city centre and on the river banks. All taxis are metered, with a standing charge for hire including the first kilometre, and stated charges for each further kilometre up to 14.

Four taxi companies operate in the city, and drivers can be hired for a day for sightseeing trips, although this can be an expensive option.