Castles, Palaces & Monasteries in Ireland
Palaces, castles, residences and monasteries with museums, guided tours and historic rooms.
County Cork (10)
County Dublin (10)
County Kerry (5)
County Galway (4)
County Tipperary (4)
County Wexford (4)
County Donegal (3)
County Roscommon (3)
County Waterford (3)
County Westmeath (3)
County Clare (2)
County Kildare (2)
County Limerick (2)
County Carlow (1)
County Kilkenny (1)
County Laois (1)
County Leitrim (1)
County Meath (1)
County Offaly (1)
County Sligo (1)
County Wicklow (1)
Castles, Palaces & Monasteries in Ireland: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 63 castles, palaces and monasteries in Ireland, spread across 21 counties and 53 towns and cities. Most of them are in County Cork (10), County Dublin (10), and County Kerry (5).
At the city level, Dublin (6), Killarney (3), and Boyle (2) lead the way – ideal if you want to see several castles, palaces and monasteries in a single day.
8 museums are free to visit. For the others with a published price, a regular adult ticket costs €8 at the median, and the middle half charge between €5 and €10.
4 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 31 offer dedicated programs for families, and 34 have a café or restaurant. These figures come from our ongoing research – museums whose details we haven’t verified yet aren’t included in the counts.
Top 10 castles, palaces and monasteries in Ireland
The best-known castles, palaces and monasteries in Ireland
Kilkenny CastleCastles & Palaces · Kilkenny
King John's CastleCastles & Palaces · Limerick
Muckross House, Gardens & Traditional FarmsCastles & Palaces · Killarney
Lismore Castle ArtsArt · Lismore
Reginald's TowerHistory · Waterford
Russborough HouseCastles & Palaces · Blessington
Portumna Castle and GardensCastles & Palaces · Portumna
Castletown HouseCastles & Palaces · Celbridge
Derrynane HousePeople · Caherdaniel
Fort DunreeHistory · Buncrana
Castles, palaces and monasteries in Ireland with free admission
- Áras an UachtaráinCastles & Palaces · Dublin
- Desmond Castle and Banqueting HallCastles & Palaces · Newcastle West
- Dungarvan CastleCastles & Palaces · Dungarvan
- Elizabeth FortCastles & Palaces · Cork
- Farmleigh House and EstateCastles & Palaces · Dublin
- Ferns CastleCastles & Palaces · Ferns
- Killarney House and GardensCastles & Palaces · Killarney
- Maynooth CastleCastles & Palaces · Maynooth
Castles, palaces and monasteries in Ireland with programs for families
- Kilkenny CastleCastles & Palaces · Kilkenny
- King John's CastleCastles & Palaces · Limerick
- Muckross House, Gardens & Traditional FarmsCastles & Palaces · Killarney
- Lismore Castle ArtsArt · Lismore
- Russborough HouseCastles & Palaces · Blessington
National Famine MuseumHistory · Strokestown- Glenveagh CastleCastles & Palaces · Churchill
Wells House and GardensCastles & Palaces · Gorey- Ardgillan CastleCastles & Palaces · Balbriggan
- Athlone Castle Visitor CentreCastles & Palaces · Athlone
Wheelchair-accessible castles, palaces and monasteries in Ireland
By county
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many castles, palaces and monasteries are there in Ireland?
Our directory currently lists 63 castles, palaces and monasteries in Ireland across 53 towns and cities.
What are the best-known castles, palaces and monasteries in Ireland?
Some of the best known are Kilkenny Castle, King John's Castle, Muckross House, Gardens & Traditional Farms, Lismore Castle Arts, and Reginald's Tower.
Which castles, palaces and monasteries in Ireland offer free admission?
8 museums are free to visit – for example Áras an Uachtaráin, Desmond Castle and Banqueting Hall, Dungarvan Castle, and Elizabeth Fort.
Which castles, palaces and monasteries in Ireland are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 41 are open, such as Kilkenny Castle, King John's Castle, and Muckross House, Gardens & Traditional Farms.
Which castles, palaces and monasteries in Ireland are wheelchair accessible?
4 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including Derrynane House, Doneraile Court and Estate, and Dungarvan Castle. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit castles, palaces and monasteries in Ireland?
A regular adult ticket costs €8 at the median, with prices ranging from €3 to €27.95. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other categories: Art & Design · History & Cultural History · Natural History · Science & Technology · Archaeology & Antiquity · Memorials · Open-Air Museums · City & Regional Museums · World Cultures & Ethnology · People & Literature · Special-Interest Museums