The Ancient East is bursting with nooks and crannies to explore, from enchanting forest walks, to beautiful castle hotels, we even have some of the finest golf courses in the country to practice your swing.
Kildare has so much to offer, so why not add a few of our recommendations to your staycation Bucket List!
Known as the Thoroughbred County, Kildare is home to the impressive Irish National Stud. The horse-breeding facility in Tully is home to some of the most magnificent horses in the world and also boasts beautiful Japanese Gardens to explore.
Looking for your next thrill in Kildare? Mondello Park’s got you sorted!
An exciting programme of car and motorbike racing is held at Mondello every year. In addition there is a Racing Driving School where people can get instruction and tuition. Contact the circuit for details.
Experience the best of Irish Rural life for free, only a few minutes outside Kildare town!
Kildare Farm Foods Open Farm & Shop offers visitors a family-friendly open farm experience, where you will see a wide variety of farm animals in a natural and relaxed setting without charging a penny.
Visitors will enjoy a quiet countryside atmosphere, and can make the very most of their visit by feeding our farm animals or enjoying a tasty treat in the Tractor Café.
Keep your little skippers entertained this midterm break with a cruise down the canals of Kildare with Barge Trip! Beginning in Sallins, Barge Trip’s traditional canal barge boats sails through the Kildare countryside.
Kids can keep their eyes peeled for wildlife along the banks like kingfishers, dragonflies, ducks, swans and more. The little ones will enjoy a day out in the fresh air, all the while learning about the history of the canals, barges and bridges. Leave the world behind and set out on an adventure on the waters!
Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park is a day-visitor attraction located on a mineral island in the Bog of Allen in Rathangan County Kildare-a perfect setting for exploring Irish heritage and the natural environment.
Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park is also the venue for family fun with a large adventure play area train trips crazy golf the funky forest indoor play centre and the pet farm with the famous Falabella horses-this great combination of fun and learning make Lullymore a “must-see” when visiting Kildare.
Miles and miles of walks and wildlife – perfect to blow the winter cobwebs off all ages! Situated in north-west Kildare, Donadea Forest Park is 243 hectares of mixed woodland and pure bliss.
Aeroplane-run through the grass, meander in the walled gardens and chill in the ice house before feeding the ducks on a 2.3 hectare lake. Stress-free living at its finest. More information on the designated National Heritage site can be found here.
Animals are always a hit with the kids! As well as furry friends, Clonfert also have two outdoor playground areas both with bouncy castles, an indoor play area, go-karts, a football pitch, plenty of picnic areas and lots more to keep your family entertained.
Bring the kiddies along to the open farm where they can meet the animals and hang out with the resident celebrities, Rizzo, Sandy and Hector, the famous alpacas!
Kildare really has it all – world-class horses, ancient Irish castles, and of course, retail therapy!
Kildare Village is located less than an hour from Dublin with over 100 boutiques of world-class fashion and homeware brands. Kildare Village offers savings of up to 60% on the recommended retail price seven days a week and all year round! So what are you waiting for? Get shopping!
Whitewater is Ireland’s largest regional shopping centre located outside of Dublin. They have over 60 leading retailer brands with a spacious food court and many other facilities including a Cinema. Offering something for everyone in the family!
It wouldn’t be an adventure around Kildare without a trip to an ancient Irish castle!
Steeped in history, the Leixlip Castle was built in 1172 and contains many items of antique furniture, tapestries, paintings and drawings and some unusual items like a large 18th century doll’s house, and more.
The castle is also home to a gothic greenhouse, the temple seat, the gazebo and the gate lodge.
Just a short distance outside of Rathangan Village lies one of Ireland’s best kept secret for nature! Killinthomas Wood in County Kildare is like something straight from a fairytale and we here at Into Kildare believe this is one of the most stunning woodlands in all of Ireland!
The 200 acre amenity area is a mixed hardwood conifer forest with very diverse flora and fauna. There are about 10 km of signposted walks in the wood for all those hiking lovers, and these give access to a wide variety of ecosystems.
The Kildare Maze is something everyone should experience! Leinster’s largest hedge maze provides a challenging and exciting day out with good old fashioned fun for families at an affordable price. Out in the fresh air, this is a great place for families to enjoy a day together!
The hedge maze was established in the late 1990’s and opened to the public in 2000. Since then it has undertaken a major-development programme, adding great new attractions to give you a more enjoyable and fun day out.
For something s little different, visit Michael of Irish Working Sheepdogs for a taster of true Irish heritage and culture.
This is truly a memorable experience which allows you to see working border collies in action accompanied by their renowned sheepdog handler in a most picturesque location.
For over 80 years Newbridge Silverware has been designing and crafting quality tableware at its manufacturing facility in Newbridge, Co. Kildare Today, craftsmen each with a lifetime’s experience continue to fashion the finest tableware with the same skills and loving care in addition to jewellery and giftware.
Their free-to-enter Museum of Style Icons houses fashion collections and artefacts which once belonged to some of the greatest style icons of modern times such as Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Princess Grace, Princess Diana, the Beatles and many more. Take a trip to the Visitor Centre to visit the museum, grab some lunch and browse some exclusive in-store offers!
Escape the Ordinary with a day out at Redhills Adventure Kildare. Redhills Adventure is set on what was once an old working farm only a few kilometers from Kildare Village, just off the M7 and under 35 minutes from the Red Cow roundabout. Offering visitors an action-packed day out with a range of different to the norm, fun and safe activities. Their activities are land based soft adventures that are suitable for all fitness levels and interests.
They are open all year-round, Monday to Sunday for group bookings for eight or more and individuals can join our open tag gaming sessions every weekend so you don’t need a group.
Enjoy the parklands at beautiful at Castletown. There is no admission fee to walk and explore the parklands. Dogs are welcome, but must be kept on a lead and are not allowed in the lake, as there is wildlife nesting.
A visit to the Thoroughbred County wouldn’t be complete without experiencing race day at one of our world-famous racecourses. Horse racing in Kildare has been around for centuries, and these venues symbolise a big part of the county’s DNA. The thrill of race day is so steeped with tradition, giving visitors a taste of culture so unique that it’s an experience you can’t get anywhere else. The county is home to three major racecourses, Naas, Punchestown and The Curragh, each of which offer a full season of meetings and events. May brings the annual Punchestown Festival, such a high-profile event that it is on everyone’s bucket list.
The beautiful rolling countryside in Co. Kildare is the perfect setting for high-quality golf courses, so it’s not surprising that there are plenty to choose one.
For any golf lovers a visit to Kildare wouldn’t be complete without a round (or two!) on one of our championship courses designed by some of the golfing greats, including Arnold Palmer, Colin Montgomerie and Mark O’Meara.
Undoubtedly one of the top golfing resorts in Europe, the K Club Hotel & Golf Resort is home to two magnificent golf courses that have welcomed the best of golfers through many championships including the Ryder Cup in 2006.
Home to not one but two championship golf courses, Carton House Golf is one of Ireland’s most famous and prestigious golf venues. Nestled within 1,100 acres of private parkland, the courses benefit from beautiful views, natural woodlands and the backdrop of the historic Palladian Manor House.
With a choice of parkland or inland links, there is something to suit all styles of golfing in Kildare. Book a tee-time and experience it for yourself.
The enchanting Royal Canal Greenway is 130km of level towpath, ideal for walkers, runners and cyclists of all ages and stages. Starting in cosmopolitan Maynooth, it follows the 200 year old canal through charming Enfield and lively Mullingar to charming Cloondara in Longford, with cafés, picnic spots and attractions along the way. Rustic and industrial landscapes combine, with rolling fields, pretty waterside villages, working locks and historic landmarks. Cycle or walk between any of the main towns and return by train to where you started. Follow where once horse‐drawn barges journeyed and keep an eye out for hidden wildlife wonders along the way.
The “Legends of Kildare” immersive 3D experience transports visitors back in time to discover the heritage and mythology of ancient Kildare through stories of St. Brigid and Fionn Mac Cumhaill.
With your very own medieval guide available, you can learn the history of Kildare’s medieval sites including St. Brigid’s Cathedral and Round Tower and the ancient Fire Temple through virtual reality.
This tour brings the art of Irish storytelling to a whole new dimension, capturing the romance, heroism and tragedies of Kildare’s ancient past that echo in the ruins of our abbeys and cathedrals. The tour is the perfect introduction to Kildare, whetting your appetite for when you visit our ancient sites in person.
Located in the former 18th Century Market House, the Shackleton Museum follows the exploits of the famous Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. Its highlights include an original sledge and harness from his Antarctic expeditions and a 15ft. model of Shackleton’s ship Endurance.