Our most recommended things to do in Kildare

Dublin: Cliffs of Moher, Atlantic Edge & Galway City

1. Dublin: Cliffs of Moher, Atlantic Edge & Galway City

Escape the hustle and bustle of Dublin for a scenic full-day drive through the counties of Kildare, Limerick and Clare, passing the 15th-century Bunratty Castle and world-class golf and surf resort of Lahinch. Your ultimate destination is the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, where you will get 2 hours of free time to explore and premium entrance to the new Atlantic Edge, an interpretive visitor experience that gives you a virtual reality birds’ eye view of cliff edge life above and below sea level. Then, you can choose to walk along the cliff face and experience the power of nature at work. Feel the fresh air blowing off the ocean, and the sheer height of the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic. Visit O'Brien's Tower, standing proudly on the headland, with panoramic views of the Aran Islands and Galway Bay. Next, drive deep into the Burren, traveling along Europe’s edge! See native flora, ancient monuments, and megalithic tombs in Burren National Park, and look out for the unique Fairy Forts and Celtic Crosses. Continue around Galway Bay to medieval Galway City, passing the Blackhead Lighthouse and fishing village of Kinvara, famed for its Galway Hookers (boats). Upon arrival in Galway, described by W.B. Yeats as “The Venice of the West”. Enjoy a 30-minute guided walk, and learn about the city’s trade connections with Spain. You will have some free time to explore the narrow streets on your own, or relax in boutique stores and quaint cafés. 2 hour stop. Then, sit back on the return drive to Dublin, enjoying the on board entertainment, including extracts from the show “Riverdance” and other examples of Irish culture.

Dublin: Go City All-Inclusive Pass with 40+ Attractions

2. Dublin: Go City All-Inclusive Pass with 40+ Attractions

With the Dublin All-Inclusive Pass, you get to enjoy access to all the top sites attractions and sites including the Guinness Storehouse, Chester Beatty Library, Christchurch Cathedral, and many more. Explore all there is to do in Dublin at your own pace. With this ticket you can save up to 50%* off top Dublin attractions and activities. Pay nothing at the gate; simply show your QR-coded digital pass on your phone (or print at home and take it with you) and you're in. Your pass includes free entry to over 40 Dublin attractions, including (the attractions marked with an (R) require advanced reservations): Popular Attractions • Guinness Storehouse (R) • Dublin Hop-on Hop-Off Big Bus Tour • EPIC The Irish Immigration Museum • Jameson Distillery Bow St. Tour (R) • Saint Patrick’s Cathedral • Christ Church Cathedral • Dublinia • Dublin Castle Museums & Heritage • National Wax Museum PLUS • GPO Museum • Little Museum of Dublin • Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) • 14 Henrietta Street • Jeanie Johnston Tallship and Famine Museum • Irish Rock 'n Roll Museum Experience • Malahide Castle • Casino Model Railway Museum • Newbridge House & Farm • Skerries Mills • Airfield Estate • Castletown House and Parklands (R) • Farmleigh House & Estate • Irish National Stud & Garden • National Gallery of Ireland • Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) • National Botanic Gardens • National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology • National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History • Chester Beatty • Casino Model Railway Museum Tours & Experiences • Teeling Whiskey Distillery Tour (R) • Walking Food Tours - Food on Foot (R) • Walking Food Tours - Drinks on Foot (R) • Lazy Bike Tours - Half Day Hire (R) • Dublin Zoo • The Murder at Trinity College • Big Bus Dublin Coastal Tour • Rock Shop at the Hard Rock Hotel • Bus Dublin Coastal Tour • Game of Thrones Studio Tour • SEA LIFE Bray Aquarium *Savings based on sample itineraries on the local partner's website.

Kildare: Irish National Stud & Gardens

3. Kildare: Irish National Stud & Gardens

Experience one of Ireland's true gems with this ticket to the Irish National Stud and Gardens, just 40 minutes outside Dublin. Discover the historical grounds which is one of the only thoroughbred breeding farms open to the public. Once inside, stroll through the stud farm and its picturesque gardens, and learn of its unique history. Join a free tour and view immaculately bred stallions. Admire protective mares alongside their frolicking foals. Meet retired equine racing stars like Hurricane Fly, Beef, Salmon, and Faugheen on the stud "Living Legends" Team. Enjoy a stroll through two remarkable gardens; The Japanese Gardens and St Fiachra's Garden. Enter an oasis of calm in the Japanese Gardens and travel the "Life of Man" path which traces the passage of a soul from birth to death and beyond. Visit St Fiachra's Garden which is an inherently Irish Garden that symbolises the power of the Irish Landscape. Spot various native species and an array of Irish wildlife. Take part in the award winning interactive Irish Racehorse Experience which takes visitors on a journey from the birth to the retirement of a racehorse. Receive a "horse box" that gives you the opportunity of "owning a racehorse". After learning about foaling, the early years, and the history of the thoroughbred, enter an interactive auction where you can purchase an unbroken yearling. Through a series of beautifully appointed rooms learn about training, racecourses, jockeys, and the anatomy and physiology of these magnificent athletes. Experience the fashion, betting, and animated commentary style as you witness your chosen racehorse on race day. Visitors will even get the chance to ride their horse on a simulated ride to find out how their investments work in a race. Conclude your experience in the Living Legend room which has floor to ceiling large windows overlooking the elite, retired racehorses as they graze in the paddock. Not only will this room explain life after racing but also the diaspora of all the famous horses and people around the world. Beautifully set on 850 acres of lush green rolling hills, the Irish National Stud & Gardens is a must visit for anyone travelling to Ireland and looking to discover a true Irish treasure.

Dublin: Go City Explorer Pass - Choose 3 to 7 Attractions

4. Dublin: Go City Explorer Pass - Choose 3 to 7 Attractions

Choose 3, 4, 5, or 7 top Dublin attractions to explore from a list of 40+ hand-picked activities and tours. Pay nothing at the entrance and save up to 50%* compared to buying individual tickets. Valid for 60 days from first use, the pass gives you plenty of time to discover the city at your own pace. Taste the world-famous Irish drink at the Guinness Storehouse, see the sights on a Big Bus hop-on hop-off tour, or visit Dublinʼs most ancient building, the 1,000 year-old Christ Church Cathedral. Get your pass instantly delivered by email to print out, or use it directly from your phone. With the Dublin Explorer Pass, you can choose 3, 4, 5, or 7 attractions from the following (the attractions marked with an (R) require advanced reservations): • Guinness Storehouse (R) • Big Bus Dublin Coastal Tour • Big Bus Dublin Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour • EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum • Jameson Distillery Bow St. Tour (R) • Christ Church Cathedral • Saint Patrick's Cathedral • Dublinia • The Teeling Whiskey Distillery • Dublin Castle • National Wax Museum Plus • GPO Museum • Game of Thornes Studio Tour • The Little Museum of Dublin • Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) • 14 Henrietta Street • Zampas at the Hard Rock Hotel Dublin • Jeanie Johnston Tallship & Famine Museum • Irish Rock n' Roll Museum Experience • Malahide Castle • Newbridge House and Farm • Dublin Zoo • The Murder at Trinity College • Irish National Stud & Garden • Walking Food Tours - Food on Foot (R) • Walking Food Tours - Drinks on Foot (R) • Lazy Bike Tours Half-day Hire (R) • Roe & Co Distillery (R) • and more!

From Dublin: Kilkenny and Wicklow Mountain Full-Day Tour

5. From Dublin: Kilkenny and Wicklow Mountain Full-Day Tour

Travel through Kildare to historic Kilkenny on this full-day scenic tour from Dublin. Once the medieval capital of Ireland, Kilkenny boasts Ireland’s finest Norman castle, and have the chance to buy a pint of Kilkenny beer in the city where it is produced. Board the comfortable and climate-controlled bus in Dublin and begin your day trip. Relax on the drive to Kilkenny past sparkling lakes, dense forests and babbling brooks.  Arrive in Kilkenny and enjoy free time to shop for traditional Irish crafts like unique knitwear, pottery and glass. Spend your time strolling through quaint streets or popping into a local pub for a delicious Kilkenny beer. Continue to the monastic city of St. Kevin at Glendalough, best known for the wedding scenes in the blockbuster movie “Braveheart” and famous as the location for the film “PS I Love You.” Head to the megalithic portal tomb of Brownshill Dolmen to uncover how ancient Irish ancestors buried their dead and celebrated their passage into the next world. Return to your meeting point in Dublin at the end of your day trip. 

Ireland: Blarney Castle, Kilkenny & Irish Whiskey 3-Day Tour

6. Ireland: Blarney Castle, Kilkenny & Irish Whiskey 3-Day Tour

Discover the scenic splendor of southeast Ireland on a 3-day tour of the lush farmlands of Kildare, the stunning Wicklow Mountains, and the fabled Copper Coast road to Waterford. Stop at historic monasteries and castles, learn about the fateful voyage of the Titanic from Cobh, and go to the famous Waterford Crystal Factory.  Enjoy a more personal experience in this small group tour with maximum of 16 passengers on a top of the range Mercedes luxury mini-coach, while a quaint bed and breakfast accommodation for 2 nights provides a more intimate experience. Day 1: Depart Dublin for Cork, driving through the lush farm counties of Kildare, Laois, and Tipperary. Make a short stop in the heritage town of Cahir to see the ruined abbey and impressive castle on an island in the River Suir. Continue to Blarney on the outskirts of Cork. Visit the castle and take one of the woodland walks to the mystical Rock Close. Explore the village of Blarney, stopping for lunch.  There may even be time to kiss the famous Blarney Stone. After this, there is a chance to discover Jameson Whiskey Distillery and taste one of Ireland's favorite exports. In the afternoon, tour the beautiful coastline of West Cork, and see some of the magnificent beaches, tiny inlets and coves. End the day in the fishing village of Kinsale, where you will be based for the night. Kinsale is famous for its food, and the evening is free to wander the narrow streets, popping into traditional pubs and restaurants. Day 2: Explore some of the highlights of southeast Ireland, starting with the historic port of Cobh, the main departure point for Irish emigration in the 19th and 20th centuries. It was also from here that the Titanic ocean liner set forth on her ill-fated maiden voyage. Continue east to Waterford, traveling along the “Copper Coast” (a designated UNESCO geo-park for its spectacular beauty). Stop at the popular surfing beach of Tramore, before heading into Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city. Founded by the Vikings in the 9th century, it’s also famous for the Waterford Crystal Factory, which you are free to visit along with one of the excellent museums. Alternatively, explore the Viking Triangle on foot. In the late afternoon, depart for the busy city of Kilkenny with its fine castle and park, as well as some lovely riverside walks. Go to the National Craft Centre, or hang out in one of the pubs and enjoy a glass of Guinness! Day 3: Enjoy a free morning to explore Kilkenny before driving to the Wicklow Mountains. Marvel at some of Ireland’s highest granite peaks and see impressive valleys carved by glaciers. One of the area’s highlights is Glendalough, known as the “Valley of the Lakes.” Take one of the walking trails, or explore the ruins of the 6th-century monastery to see its round tower. The last section of your tour takes you into the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park, before crossing the famous Sally Gap to descend into Dublin for an approximate 18:30 arrival.

Kildare: Eco-Printing on Paper Natural Dye Workshop

7. Kildare: Eco-Printing on Paper Natural Dye Workshop

Harness the power of natural dyes when you join a taster eco-printing workshop at the Blueway Art Studio. This hands-on beginners’ workshop is an excellent taster experience if you’d like to learn how to make natural dyes. The fun and informative experience will give you the chance to create your own natural, botanical art print on paper using leaves and flowers from the local trees and plants in Ireland’s Ancient East. The majority of the natural dyeing workshop will take place outdoors at Blueway Art Studio, located in the band hall in the gorgeous village of Narraghmore. We will take time to chat over a cup of tea as we wait in anticipation for the dyes to fix. I’ll introduce you to the history and traditions of the dye process, from natural dyeing techniques to the bright colours associated with our ancestors. When the natural dyes have set, you’ll get to reveal original and unique design, which can be used as a wall print, card design, or book cover. It’s a beautiful experience to watch nature and your creations transform into something new in this fun and creative workshop.

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What people are saying about Kildare

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 1,967 reviews

Fabulous day trip. Richard and Chrisna were both very nice and knowledgable about the area, things to see or do while out. Safety was their most important aspect while guiding us throughout the day, which I appreciated. The commentary was hilarious and the Irish history tidbits along the way kept us all interested.

This saves you a ton of money!!! Easy and no hassle and especially if you have to go to Guinness ( that is always full ) with this pass you get access and it gives you a peace of mind don’t have to worry about buying tickets . You just need to worry about what to do and when

Highly recommended!! Good value for money,.. Easy to use it.

Great value for money. Easy to use and strongly recommend.

Great value & flexibility for a family trip to Dublin!