Paddywagon Tours Review: Dublin to Kerry Day Trip
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If you’re looking for a Paddywagon Tours review, you’re in the right place.
As a student studying abroad in Ireland, I had a set list of places I wanted to be able to explore during my semester so that I could explore as much of the country as possible.
Killarney was definitely on that list, mostly for all of its stunning coastal views and cute Irish towns. So, I had to find out how to get from Dublin to Kerry.
I knew that I really wanted to try to make it to Dingle Peninsula, which was nearly impossible to do with any tour company.
However, I ended up finding my favorite Irish town during my day trip to Co. Kerry with Paddywagon Tours, which I honestly did not expect! Learn all about it in this Paddywagon Tours review.
The Details of a Day Trip to Co. Kerry
Dublin is about a 3.5-hour car ride away from Co. Kerry, so I knew that it was going to be hard to find a way to make a day trip out of it. I knew that I wanted to see some of Dingle Bay and more of the best outdoor areas of Ireland, like Killarney National Park.
After a Google search, I discovered that Paddywagon Tours offered a tour that would suit all my needs! I ended up doing the Kerry Tour from Dublin. The tour was reasonably priced, especially since I was a student. It’s not bad for a day filled with so many beautiful stops!
We chose to get picked up at Paddy’s Palace on Lower Gardiner Street, which was at 6:20 AM. Pickup is so early because the destination is so far away!
We essentially chose to get picked up at the first stop because there are three pickup locations, and we wanted to guarantee that (1) we would be able to sit next to each other and (2) we’d be on the same bus.
I highly suggest getting picked up at the first stop if you want to 100% sit with the people you’re traveling with!
What to Pack for Your Day Trip to Co. Kerry
Obviously, this Paddywagon Tours review had to include what to pack!
I feel like I say this all the time, but I definitely think it’s best to bring a backpack.
My roommate and I each packed a backpack filled with snacks (mostly just too many Penguin bars, which I highly suggest trying), a water bottle, an umbrella, a jacket, and some money.
There is a stop for lunch in Killarney, but you’ll definitely get hungry on the road, so bringing snacks is essential.
Bringing water is always good, too, because it can get stuffy on a bus!
We were lucky enough to go in April, so we got to wear shorts for the day but still brought a jacket just in case.
Stop in Adare, Co. Limerick
About 2 hours into the trip, we stopped at Adare in Co. Limerick. This is a lovely little Irish village that’s well-known for its thatched-roof houses. It’s also one of Ireland’s prettiest towns.
This was about a 20-minute stop, primarily for photo opportunities, but it definitely piqued my interest in possibly visiting Adare for a bit longer!
Sadly, one of the cottages had just lost its thatched roof due to a fire. However, there were still many that I took some photos of.
Just look at how beautiful they are! I loved looking at them. My roommate said they all looked like they just got a fresh haircut, haha!
Muckross House
Our next stop was another 1.5-hour drive away, so getting off the bus while in Adare felt good to get my legs moving! The stop was at Muckross House and gardens, an elegant 19th-century mansion in Killarney National Park.Â
It felt like something right out of Downton Abbey! Even multiple horse-drawn carriages would take people around the gardens, though we opted to walk around.
Most of our drive into Killarney was so foggy, so I was extremely happy that as soon as we got off the tour bus, it lightened up tremendously!
I think the fact that it was nestled in Killarney National Park only added to its beauty. There was a beautiful little lake, too, just a quick 5-minute walk from the mansion, so we went down there for a photo opportunity or two.
On my tour, it was even mentioned that Queen Victoria had stayed at Muckross House and that the mansion’s owners completely redid the inside just for her so she could see the beautiful lake and mountains from her room! How awesome is that!?
You can tell that it’s still a *little bit* foggy in the distance of the photo above, but about an hour before this, we couldn’t even see the mountains because of the fog, so I’m so happy with the way that this shot turned out! It looked like the perfect place to sit and enjoy a picnic. I mean, look at that view!
There is a lovely little cafe near the gardens, and since it was so hot and we had finished most of our water, we decided to treat ourselves to some pink lemonade, which was absolutely splendid! It kind of tasted like pink sparkling lemonade. It sounds like a weird combination, but I swear it was good!
Torc Waterfall
After leaving Muckross House, we hopped back on the bus for a quick 5-minute drive down the road to Torc Waterfall. The waterfall is 66′ tall! It was insane.
It was also crazy how green this area was. I’ve never seen something so vibrantly green in my life!
This was one of the highlights of my day, and I even look back at it as one of my favorite sights in all of Ireland.
The cool thing is that there are hiking trails near the waterfall, though since we were only there for about a half hour, we didn’t have time to do that. I definitely want to go back one day and explore more of the area!
Stop in Killarney, Co. Kerry
Next, we finally got to explore Killarney! This is the best part of this Paddywagon tour.
This town is absolutely stunning and is so quintessentially Irish. I definitely wish I had been able to spend more than two hours here!
We walked around a bit and grabbed lunch at a local place called Salvadors. I definitely suggest the “hot stuff” pizza… I personally didn’t find it that hot, and I usually can’t handle spicy!
Killarney felt so different from Dublin, so it was great to experience it.
We also tried Murphy’s Ice Cream for the first time here, which I recommend. It tastes like soft hard serve… I don’t know how to explain it! But it’s made right in Dingle, which is close to Killarney.
On our way out of Killarney, our tour guide was friendly enough to take us to a great viewing spot in Killarney National Park!
He said they usually don’t make this stop, but it’s one of his favorite views, and he just had to show it to us. The fog seemed to be back this time, but the view was still breathtaking! I could’ve sat there for hours and just enjoyed it.
Inch Beach
After leaving Killarney, we drove a bit to Inch Beach, one of Ireland’s most famous beaches because of its length! It goes on for 3 miles. Yes, you read that right!
There were even surfing lessons for super cheap, which I totally would’ve done if I had more time. This is also an excellent stop to grab some snacks at the cafe if you’d like.
The beach is surrounded by beautiful hills, too, which we would soon drive along to see more of the Wild Atlantic Way! I had to include mention of this beach in this Paddywagon Tours review.
Wild Atlantic Way
Lastly, we drove along the Wild Atlantic Way and enjoyed beautiful views of Ireland’s western coastline. This is one of the most beautiful areas in all of Ireland, in my opinion. I just couldn’t get enough of the views!
After hearing some fun facts and stories about the area, we started the 3.5-hour ride back to Dublin. We made it home around 9 PM, and we were absolutely exhausted!
Ultimately, I’d suggest taking a day trip to Co. Kerry with Paddywagon Tours if you’re visiting Ireland. Hopefully, you got that from this Paddywagon Tours review!
It’s definitely a great way to dip your toes into one of the most beautiful areas of Ireland! It has made me want to go back to Co. Kerry in the future and perhaps spend a week or two exploring the area more in-depth.
Watch our vlog about our day trip with Paddywagon Tours!
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Dublin from Kerry?
Dublin is about 300km from Kerry. You can travel there by car, bus, or train. The journey takes around 3.5 hours.
How far is Inch Beach from Killarney?
Inch Beach is about 40 kilometers from Killarney. To get there, take the R561. The drive takes about 40 minutes.
How far is Killarney from Dublin?
Killarney is about 300 kilometers from Dublin. The drive would take about 3.5 hours.
To get to Killarney from Dublin, take the M7. The journey would take you through Limerick before arriving in Killarney.
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This sounds like a fabulous day trip! Killarney sounds amazing and I’d love too see those thatched roof house, the Wild Atlantic Way, etc. Thanks for sharing!
Of course! Killarney is my favorite Irish town. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Ah Killarney looks so pretty with such quaint towns that I know I’d love. The beaches too look so peaceful as they aren’t crowded. Will save for when I get the chance to visit Ireland!