← All Kilkenny tours via Viator · From €1150 · 9-11 hours 
Dublin to Kilkenny Castle & Waterford Private Luxury Day Tour
Free cancellation 2 traveller reviews Booked securely via Viator
Check availability & prices →
From €1150 per person
A private luxury day tour from Dublin through Ireland’s historic southeast, with a certified English-speaking guide on hand throughout. The day covers two cities that are worth far more than a passing glance.
Kilkenny is around an hour and 40 minutes from Dublin - a city that goes back to the 6th century, when it began as a monastic settlement. The Butler family built their castle on the River Nore in the 12th century, and it’s still one of the most impressive medieval structures in the country. Your entry is included. From there, you head to Waterford - around an hour’s drive through rolling countryside - where the Waterford Crystal factory has been producing its world-renowned glassware since 1783. If time allows, the Vikings Triangle walking tour brings the city’s Norse origins to life.
The full day, including travel time, runs 9-11 hours.
This is a private tour conducted in English. The full day, including travel, is 9-11 hours. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller. Public transport options exist nearby. Suitable for all fitness levels.
In Kilkenny, walk the Medieval Mile on your own terms. Your castle entry is included, so take your time inside - but save thirty minutes to walk from the castle gates up to St Canice’s Cathedral. The round tower at the cathedral is climbable (100 steps, original 9th-century structure) and the view from the top over the limestone city is hard to beat. The walk between the two buildings is just 1.5 km and your guide will know the best slip-lanes and alleyways off the main street.
For lunch in Kilkenny, Foodworks on Parliament Street is a reliable choice - sourdough, good eggs, and a brunch-into-lunch menu that won’t slow you down. Campagne is the Michelin-starred option if the budget is open; book ahead on any weekend. If you’re passing through quickly, Rinuccini opposite the castle (open since 1989, pasta made daily) fits a one-hour lunch window well.
In Waterford, the Viking Triangle is compact and walkable. Reginald’s Tower, the Medieval Museum and the Bishop’s Palace sit a hundred paces apart - they’re the Waterford Treasures trio and form the best-kept urban heritage trail in Ireland. The Bishop’s Palace actually holds the oldest piece of Waterford Crystal in the world, and its ticket is considerably cheaper than the Crystal factory tour. Worth knowing if time is short.
The blaa is a Waterford-specific experience worth having. This soft white roll, dusted in flour and protected by EU law since 2013, is only made by four named bakeries in the city. Walsh’s Bakehouse is the easiest to find. Buy one warm with butter and eat it before you’ve left the car park - they go stale by teatime and nobody minds.