The Case for Staying in Kenmare While Exploring County Kerry

By Denise Keane
Publisher & Tour Host, Irish Dancing Magazine Cultural Tour of Ireland

Every July, the Irish Dancing Magazine Cultural Tour of Ireland spends several days exploring some of County Kerry's most iconic attractions. We visit Killarney National Park, Muckross House and Gardens, the Dingle Peninsula, and many of the scenic routes that have made this part of Ireland famous.

And while we always enjoy our time in  these popular tourist areas of County Kerry, our group's home base is actually the charming town of Kenmare.

Over the years, I've come to appreciate what makes Kenmare such a wonderful place to stay. It offers many of the things visitors are looking for when they travel to southwest Ireland—beautiful scenery, welcoming pubs, excellent restaurants, and traditional Irish charm—while providing a quieter atmosphere and often better value than some of the region's larger tourist centres.

If you're planning a summer trip to County Kerry, here are a few reasons I think Kenmare deserves a place on your shortlist.

Easy Access to Kerry's Best Attractions

One of the biggest misconceptions visitors have is that they need to stay in Killarney in order to enjoy the area's attractions.

The reality is that Kenmare makes an excellent base for exploring County Kerry. From here, visitors can easily reach Killarney National Park, Muckross House, Ladies View, Moll's Gap, the Ring of Kerry, and the Dingle Peninsula.

Our tour spends plenty of time in Killarney during the day, but at the end of the evening, we return to Kenmare—a town that feels a little more relaxed and less crowded, especially during the busy summer months.

For many travelers, that combination offers the best of both worlds.

A Town Made for Summer Strolls

One of my favourite things about Kenmare is simply walking through town.

Colourful shopfronts line the streets, flower baskets decorate the buildings, and there always seems to be a welcoming atmosphere. The town is large enough to offer plenty to do but small enough that it never feels overwhelming.

Guests on our tour often spend their free time wandering through local shops, stopping for coffee, browsing Irish gifts and artisan products, or simply enjoying the lively yet relaxed atmosphere.

It's the kind of place where you can slow down and enjoy being in Ireland.

A Surprisingly Impressive Food Scene

For a town of its size, Kenmare has developed an impressive reputation for dining.

Visitors will find everything from traditional Irish pubs and casual cafés to restaurants showcasing fresh local seafood and modern Irish cuisine. The variety and quality of dining options often surprises first-time visitors.

Each year, our guests enjoy exploring different restaurants around town, and it's not unusual to hear people discussing their favourite meal of the trip after an evening in Kenmare.

If you enjoy discovering local food experiences while travelling, Kenmare offers plenty of choices.

Our Home Base: The Kenmare Bay Hotel

For the past two years, our tour group has stayed at the Kenmare Bay Hotel, and it has proven to be an excellent base for our Kerry adventures.

One of the things our guests appreciate most is the hotel's location. A pleasant walking path leads directly from the hotel into town, making it easy to enjoy Kenmare's restaurants, shops, and pubs without needing to worry about transportation.  

After a full day of sightseeing, many guests also enjoy taking advantage of the hotel's leisure facilities, which include a swimming pool, fitness centre, and spa amenities.

For families and groups, it offers a comfortable and convenient place to stay while exploring the region. Summer evenings in Kenmare are often cool enough to enjoy with the windows open, allowing guests to take advantage of the fresh Kerry air and the countryside view.

On those rare occasions when temperatures climb higher than usual, fans are available in each room for added comfort.

A Summer Evening on Kenmare Bay

One of the highlights of our itinerary each year is a private cruise on Kenmare Bay with Star Outdoors.

There is something special about experiencing southwest Ireland from the water. The scenery looks completely different from the bay, with mountains rising in the distance and the coastline stretching along the shore.

Our guests always enjoy the opportunity to relax, take photographs, and simply appreciate the beauty of the area from a unique perspective. Wildlife sightings often add to the experience. During one of our recent summer cruises, we were fortunate to spot seals along the shoreline, creating one of those memorable travel moments that guests still talk about long after returning home.

While our group enjoys a private boat cruise, Star Outdoors offers a variety of family-friendly adventures throughout the year. Their activities include kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing experiences, and guided excursions designed to help visitors experience Kenmare Bay from a completely different perspective. For active families looking to add a little adventure to their County Kerry itinerary, Star Outdoors provides opportunities to get out on the water and connect with the area's natural beauty.

Combined with Ireland's long summer evenings, these experiences showcase another side of Kenmare that many visitors never discover.

The Best of Both Worlds

Killarney is famous for good reason and absolutely deserves a place on every visitor's itinerary.

But when it comes to choosing where to stay, I continue to find myself recommending Kenmare.

It offers easy access to Kerry's most famous attractions while providing a quieter atmosphere, excellent dining, enjoyable shopping, and a genuine sense of place that many travellers are looking for when they visit Ireland.

For our Cultural Tour guests, Kenmare has become much more than a convenient stop on the itinerary. It's a destination in its own right—and one that many people tell us becomes one of their favourite memories of the trip.

photo credits: Failte Ireland & Irish Dancing Magazine