Big scenery, winding roads, unforgettable villages and the sort of views that make you pull over every five minutes.
If there's one county that knows how to show off Ireland's natural beauty, it's Kerry.
Towering mountains, sparkling lakes, golden beaches and rugged Atlantic islands: the Kingdom has an extraordinary range of landscapes, plus two of Ireland's most famous road trips, the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula.
But there's much more beyond the postcard views: ancient monasteries, colourful harbour towns, historic houses and stories going back centuries. Kerry isn't somewhere to rush. It's the kind of place where the journey is often just as memorable as the destination.
Lakes, ancient oak woods and mountains make Killarney National Park one of the most beautiful protected landscapes in Ireland. It was the country's first national park and is home to Ireland's only native herd of red deer.
Walk, cycle or take a jaunting car along the lakeshores and woodland paths, and keep an eye out for the deer.
Why visit? Nature, walking, photography and outdoor adventures.
This grand 19th-century mansion sits inside the national park beside Muckross Lake. Its rooms and landscaped gardens give a glimpse of life on a great Irish estate, and Queen Victoria visited in 1861.
Nearby, Muckross Traditional Farms show a very different side of Kerry life.
Why visit? Historic houses, gardens and family heritage.
A short walk through woodland brings you to this roughly 20-metre waterfall, at its most impressive after heavy rain.
Why visit? Woodland scenery and photography.
This 15th-century tower house stands on the edge of Lough Leane, the ancestral stronghold of the O'Donoghue chieftains. The lakeside setting is gorgeous, and boats to Innisfallen Island leave from here in season.
Why visit? Castles, history and lakeside scenery.
A dramatic mountain pass near Killarney, with a winding road, small lakes and rugged scenery. Many people walk or cycle it, and some arrange a boat back across the lakes to Ross Castle.
Why visit? Mountain scenery, photography and outdoor adventures.
One of Ireland's most famous drives: a loop of roughly 180 km around the Iveragh Peninsula, through mountains, coastal villages and huge Atlantic views.
Killorglin, Cahersiveen, Waterville and Sneem are all worth a stop, and Derrynane and Kenmare make lovely detours.
Why visit? Scenic driving, villages and photography.
Dingle is a colourful harbour town with a lively atmosphere, independent businesses and deep roots in Irish-language culture. It's the perfect base for exploring the peninsula.
Why visit? Harbour towns, food, music and culture.
A spectacular loop around the western tip of the Dingle Peninsula, with huge ocean views, the Blasket Islands offshore and ancient sites, including stone beehive huts, along the way.
Why visit? Coastal driving, archaeology and scenery.
Rising sheer out of the Atlantic, Skellig Michael is one of Ireland's most extraordinary places. Early medieval monks built a monastery near its summit, reached by hundreds of ancient stone steps. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Landings are strictly limited, run only by licensed boats in summer, and depend entirely on the weather. Many trips are cancelled at short notice. Boat trips around the islands, without landing, are another option.
Why visit? Archaeology, history and exceptional Atlantic scenery.
Valentia played a starring role in communications history: the first transatlantic telegraph cables came ashore here in the mid-1800s, linking Europe and North America.
Today you can explore its viewpoints, heritage sites and dramatic coastline. It's reached by bridge from Portmagee or by car ferry from Reenard.
Why visit? History, coastal scenery and unusual attractions.
Derrynane was the family home of Daniel O'Connell, 'the Liberator', one of the most important figures in Irish history. The house displays relics from his life, including the triumphal chariot given to him by the people of Dublin in 1844.
The parkland and nearby beach make it a lovely mix of history and scenery.
Why visit? Irish history, coastal walks and beaches.
An attractive heritage town with colourful streets, independent shops and a relaxed feel. It's well placed for both the Ring of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula.
Why visit? Relaxed town breaks and scenic exploring.
A mix of free viewpoints, beaches and seasonal attractions, labelled so you can plan around them.
A sweeping sandy spit stretching out into Dingle Bay, with big skies and mountain views.
A remarkable early stone church on the Dingle Peninsula, built from dry stone in the shape of an upturned boat, and still standing after many centuries.
Atmospheric castle ruins above a storm beach on the Dingle Peninsula.
That famous zig-zag path down the cliff is one of the most photographed spots on the Dingle Peninsula, and the pier is where ferries leave for the Blasket Islands.
A seaside town in North Kerry with sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs and a ruined castle perched above the strand.
Ireland's highest mountain, at 1,038 metres, in the MacGillycuddy's Reeks.
A famous viewpoint on the road between Killarney and Kenmare, named after Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting, who loved the view in 1861.
A scenic mountain-road junction between Killarney and Kenmare with big views over the surrounding peaks.
Historic monastic ruins on an island in Lough Leane, where the Annals of Inisfallen, a medieval chronicle of Irish history, are believed to have been written.
A colourful harbour village and the main departure point for Skellig boat trips.
Our Hidden Ireland collection is where we keep the places most visitors drive straight past.
We've kept history and legend clearly labelled, because the best Irish stories are usually a bit of both.
Sometime around the 6th to 8th centuries, a small community of monks chose to live on a jagged rock eight miles out in the Atlantic. They built beehive-shaped stone cells and oratories near the summit, terraced gardens, and stairways cut into the rock.
How they survived the storms and isolation is one of the great stories of early Irish Christianity. The monastery was eventually abandoned, but its buildings still stand, astonishingly intact.
Ross Castle was the stronghold of the O'Donoghue chieftains, and legend says one of them vanished into the waters of Lough Leane.
According to local folklore, he rises from the lake on a white horse on May morning every seven years, and anyone who catches a glimpse of him will have good luck. It's folklore, of course, but it's a lovely one.
This famous legend isn't from Kerry, but it belongs to the whole of Ireland. Four children turned into swans by their jealous stepmother spent 900 years on Ireland's waters, from Lough Derravaragh in Westmeath to the Sea of Moyle and finally the wild Atlantic coast.
It's one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking stories in Irish mythology, and we told it in our Friday Night Frights series.
Born near Cahersiveen and raised at Derrynane, Daniel O'Connell became a lawyer and politician who campaigned for the rights of Irish Catholics. His campaign led to Catholic Emancipation in 1829, earning him the title 'the Liberator'.
He returned to Derrynane almost every summer, and the house remains the best place to learn about his life.
Kerry is big, so each of these focuses on one area.
Prefer a guide, a ready-made tour or someone else to do the driving? These are good places to start:
Disclosure: GetYourGuide, Klook and TourRadar links are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Tours on TourRadar are our picks, not trips we've taken ourselves. Availability and prices change, so always check the provider's page before booking.
Opening times, seasons and access arrangements change, so please check official websites before you travel. For general visitor information, see Discover Ireland.
Kerry is easy to combine with its neighbours on a south-west road trip:
Slán go fóill, and safe travels! — Nicola & Podge