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It's hard not to fall in love.
key points
- Kenmare sits between the Ring of Kerry and Ring of Beara, making it an ideal base for exploring southwest Ireland's scenic landscapes.
- Visitors can enjoy ancient stone circles, hiking trails, boat tours, gardens, local markets, and one of Ireland's strongest food scenes.
- The town is also known for its award-winning hotels, luxury spas, and long-standing reputation as one of Ireland's cleanest and best-kept communities.
Located along the Wild Atlantic Way, at the crossroads of two of Ireland’s most scenic road trip routes, the Ring of Kerry and the Ring of Beara, you’ll find Kenmare. This County Kerry town might be tiny, but it’s full of charm—with quaint streets full of independent shops, award-winning restaurants, and traditional pubs, all surrounded by some of southwest Ireland's prettiest landscapes.
Set between the Caha Mountains and Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, at the head of Kenmare Bay, Kenmare is the perfect home base for exploring nearby Killarney National Park, neighboring towns, and historic sites, with plenty of opportunities to hike, bike, horseback ride, and kayak. It's also home to several standout restaurants and some of the region's most well-known hotels, with spas you'll be thinking about long after your trip.
But even if you're not much of a busybody, one of the best things to do here is to simply ... soak it all in. Kenmare is considered one of the most beautiful towns in Ireland (if not Europe) and also holds a reputation as one of the cleanest, thanks to its fastidious and passionate volunteer group, Kenmare Tidy Towns, dedicated to preserving the beauty and heritage of the area. As a result, Kenmare has repeatedly won accolades honoring it as one of the tidiest and best-kept towns in the whole country. I live in Scotland and have visited Ireland for over a decade and have yet to find a place as uniquely charming (and squeaky clean) as Kenmare.
Here’s what to know before planning a trip to Kenmare, Ireland.
Best Things to Do
Road trip lovers, rejoice. One of the most famous scenic drives in Europe, the Ring of Kerry, takes travelers through some of County Kerry's most mesmerizing scenery and passes through Kenmare. The 111-mile route unofficially begins and ends in nearby Killarney, and in under four hours, you can see and explore mountains, waterfalls, placid lakes, and small towns.
Once you arrive in Kenmare, though, you'll want to make plenty of time to explore the town's colorful thoroughfares, Henry Street and Shelbourne Street, which are packed with picturesque corners and indie shops. And if you want to sample the local produce, the Kenmare Market takes place in the town square every Wednesday, where you'll find farm-fresh veggies, cheese, bread, and homemade goods. But, if you can't make the market, nearby Heidi Ryan’s or The Pantry are both great places to pick up locally grown and made products.
Afterwards, take Market Street to Kenmare Stone Circle—a 3,000-year-old monument from the Bronze Age that's considered one of the largest of its kind. You can find another remnant of Kenmare’s ancient past, Cromwell’s Bridge, which dates back to the 1600s, in the forest nearby.
One of the best ways to take in Kenmare is by boat. Kenmare Bay is considered a Special Area of Conservation, and is home to some of County Kerry's most memorable sights including the Caha Mountains and Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, considered the tallest mountains in the country. Family-run Kenmare Bay Boat Tours offers a variety of tours captained by guides with extensive knowledge of the area—you may even spot a seal or two if you're lucky.
If hiking is your thing, the Old Kenmare Road trail stretches between Kenmare and Killarney National Park and was once used to connect the two towns. Heading out on this path takes you down country lanes, through ancient woodlands and mountains, and past waterfalls and lakes for unforgettable views of the Irish countryside.
Kenmare is also home to historic gardens and parks you can easily explore in a few hours. Reenagross Woodland Park has plentiful walking trails and is famous for its picture-perfect tunnel of rhododendrons that blooms each spring. Nearby, 19th-century Derreen Garden is famed for its rare tropical plants and sea views.
Located 30 minutes away by car, Gleninchaquin Park is a well-known, family-run park with spectacular waterfalls, lakes, and mountain paths well worth the drive. On your way there, make a quick turn just before the entrance to see Uragh Stone Circle, a sacred site from the Bronze Age overlooking two lakes surrounded by hills.
County Kerry is also home to the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve. Just an hour from Kenmare, in Castlecove, Kerry Dark Sky Tourism runs expert-led tours combining astronomy, archaeology, and storytelling, bringing Ireland’s ancient past to life in a truly unique way. Stargazing here, with its dreamy setting between the mountains and sea, is otherworldly.
Where to Eat and Drink
Travelers in the know have been coming to Kenmare for its food scene for decades. Mulcahy’s Bar & Restaurant has been a local favorite since 1995. It ranks among the best in all of Ireland for dishes that are crafted with hyper-local, seasonal produce. Rookery Lane Food & Lodging is a newer option, serving some of the town’s best coffee with a laid-back menu of tacos, burgers, sandwiches, and breakfast and brunch items. Don’t miss No. 35 Kenmare, an award-winning, family-run restaurant serving locally grown ingredients and free-range pork sourced from its farm just a mile up the road (there are vegetarian and gluten-free options, too). The Lime Tree Restaurant, located in a historic 19th-century building, is a highly praised spot and considered Kenmare’s “landmark” restaurant, thanks to its focus on local ingredients and creative vegetarian options.
Where to Stay
There are quite a few charming and illustrious properties in Kenmare, but one of the favorites in the area is Sheen Falls Lodge. Named the No. 1 resort in the U.K. in Travel + Leisure's 2026 World's Best Awards, this historic property is located on Kenmare Bay overlooking a cascading waterfall. Once the summer home of a marquis, the property is now a serene 72-key hotel with two on-site restaurants, a spa, and plenty of activities like falconry sessions and horseback riding.
There's also the Park Hotel Kenmare, which was established in 1897 and has 43 rooms that were freshly restored in April 2026. It's known for its sumptuous on-site spa and its prime location near the Caha Mountains with views overlooking the bay. Mountains overlooking Kenmare Bay, travelers have been coming here since 1897.
Finally, there's The Lansdowne Kenmare, a stylish hideaway that's perfect for unwinding after a long day exploring. The family-run property dates back to 1790 and has 28 modern guest rooms as well as two on-site food and beverage venues.
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
