Holiday in Killarney & Ring of Kerry

What makes Killarney & Ring of Kerry special as a destination?

Killarney and the Ring of Kerry in the southwest of Ireland combine everything that the Emerald Isle has to offer: lakes that lie like mirrors in wooded valleys, mountains that constantly reinvent themselves in changing light, ancient monastery ruins on misty islands, and a coastal road that is among the most spectacular in Europe. Killarney National Park, Ireland's oldest national park and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is a landscape of almost supernatural beauty: Three lakes — the Upper, Middle, and Lower Lake — lie in a valley framed by purple mountains and the last remaining primeval forest in Ireland. The oak forest of Derrycunnihy and the Muckross Peninsula are home to plants and mosses that have been growing here since the last Ice Age — a piece of original Ireland that has survived nowhere else. Muckross House, a Victorian mansion on the shores of Muckross Lake, is one of the most visited buildings in Ireland — but the true magic lies behind it: A ride in a traditional Jaunting Car (horse-drawn carriage) to Torc Waterfall and further through the Gap of Dunlö — a narrow mountain pass road lined with rocks and lakes — is one of the unforgettable experiences. The Ring of Kerry, a 179-kilometer coastal road, circles the Iveragh Peninsula and offers a new panorama at every turn: Rugged cliffs plunge into the Atlantic, prehistoric stone circles crown hills, and tiny villages with colorful pubs and live music invite you to take a break. Those who want to avoid the tourist buses can take the Skellig Ring route to the Kerry Cliffs — with the dramatic view of the Skellig Islands, whose beehive-shaped monastic cells have become world-famous since "Star Wars."