My husband and I will be traveling to Ireland for the first time this spring. One of the days, I would like to take a train from Dublin to one city to spend the majority of the day. I was thinking Kilkenny or Galway. Looking for pros/cons to either city, or other recommendations for a day trip by train. Thank you in advance!
Posted by
Colorado Springs
3014 posts
Both are nice. The train ride to Kilkenny is only an hour and a half versus two and a half hours to Galway if that makes a difference.
Might also consider Belfast as a day trip - lots to see and do in one of Europe's most fascinating cities.
Posted by
Florida
509 posts
The answer probably lies in your interests. You might want to use the Search field, above, and enter those cities and look at comments made in response to other inquiries. We enjoyed both; each is certainly on the "touristy" end of the spectrum.
Kilkenny seems to have offered more with respect to history/museums (Rothe House and the Medieval Mile Museum [https://www.medievalmilemuseum.ie/]. Should you visit the latter, sign up for the guided tour; the narrative makes for a much more enlightening hour or so. We didn't visit the castle; can't comment. The Left Bank (restaurant/pub in a converted bank building; at the Castle end of town) is an eyeful and we enjoyed lunch there. https://www.leftbank.ie/
Galway has a busy pedestrian shopping/dining/drinking area with entertainment by street buskers. The stroll along the walkway on the River Corrib was pleasant. We'd seen enough after a morning and lunch.
Good tip, by Robert. We missed Belfast; it will be near the top of our list if/when we return to Ireland.
Posted by
Kamarooka
431 posts
Kilkenny Castle is fantastic.
Posted by
65 posts
I vote Belfast also. Kilkenny and Galway are both nice. To me it would be difficult to spend an entire day in Klilkenny but the castle and town are nice.