Muckross House

10/10. One of my favorite sites we visited in Ireland. Incredibly well preserved Victorian home. Guides were present to answer any questions (and they were so kind and helpful when we did have questions!) but the tour is self-guided. Thoroughly well organized and clear path through the house. We spent several hours wandering the house and it was incredible to step back into history in such a beautiful home.

A well preserved house showing the history with artifacts dating back to late 1800's. There is an information and cafeteria building that serves hot and cold food choices as well as beverages. A gift shop with locally (Irish) made items. 🚻 Restrooms are also located in this building. This is a state park so wondering the grounds all year is beautiful.

It was lovely to wander around the house. The two guides were available to answer any questions or give you all sorts of information about the previous occupants. They had a wealth of information about the paintings and any other questions i had for them. It was a lovely visit and it was great that we could take our time and get a sense of life upstairs and below stairs in the "big" house.

Really enjoyed the serenity in and around Muckross house. We didn’t have time to walk on many of the trails, but still had time to view the natural beauty surrounding the home. Such a peaceful little hour. Highly recommend to check it out if you’re in the area in Ireland.

The house itself is a beautifully preserved example of the lifestyle of the landed Gentry in previous centuries. Moreover the natural setting outshines the house, forest, gardens, lakes, and mountain views are stunning, no matter what the weather.

Used to come to muckross on family holiday as a child and recently returned as an adult with my own family. Charm and beauty are timeless. Stunning grounds, plenty of parking, self paced tour with information shared by staff in every room. The details and beauty are hard not to appreciate long after your visit. Cafe has great food and beverage options. Farms are closed seasonally beginning in November which is something to keep on mind if that's of interest. Honestly visiting in early November meant very few crowds which was great. Highly recommend during your trip to Killarney, like 11k others have also shared 😀

Well priced for all that you get to see and learn. The booklet guide is very useful from room to room. The exhibit attendants were full of knowledge about each room as well as very polite and helpful sharing their favorite parts and other stories not in the guidebook.

Other worldly. Entering the house is like going back into a moment of time. Horse drawn carriages passing by the lake infront of the house, the majestic trees that line the victorian gardens, all add to the feeling that life here was a real privilege.

Muckross House is a 19th-century Victorian mansion located in Killarney National Park, Ireland, built between 1839 and 1843 for the Herbert family. After spending loads of money to host Queen Victoria at the time, the owners went into financial decline, leading to changes in ownership, and eventual gifting to the Irish Nation in 1932. Our tour group recently visited this popular (and well-maintained) tourist destination that features period rooms, expansive gardens, and traditional farms. We spent most of our time at the mansion, of which the self-guided tour was well laid out and very interesting to learn about. It's all kind of Downtown Abbey-ish, with the basement servant's work areas were fascinating. There's also a craft center at the end of the tour that's worth a look. The grounds (with Lake views) add to the relative magic to this place.

Muckross House is an incredibly maintained 19th century Victorian mansion. We strolled through on a self guided tour. They offer a pamphlet that you can read as you go through the house which describes the room, furniture and sometimes interesting history. There is even a Queen's room that was put together for the Queen's visit. The basement level was really interesting. It offers quite a glimpse of life below for the servants. If you loved Downton Abbey you will likely feel it coming to life in this home. The grounds are absolutely stunning. You could spend an hour or half a day here.

Muckross House and their property is so stunning I've had to come back twice in my lifetime. I'm in awe every time I come and it hasn't rained either time so I like to think that's the Muckross family welcoming me every time because of how much I like it :) Muckross house is a nice 20-30 minute walk from the main road. However, it's seems like majority take taxis, buses or personal cars in. Just noting it is walkable if you are staying across the street at the Muckross Park Hotel. For those that want an elevated experience they do have horse drawn carriages, I've never partaken but it's neat to watch. The grounds/park of the Muckross House are astonishing. Green for as far as the eye can see. The landscaping and grass go on and on. Lots of beautiful flowers and roses throughout the grounds. The grassy landscaping goes all the way to the lake. It's breathtaking. So many families enjoy a summer picnic and kids playing futbol, the lands are so vast there's room for everyone. I love walking the different paths and garden areas. Walking the grounds and into the gift shop is free. Also public toilets. You have to pay for the house tour and it's worth doing once. I love the grounds the most so if you want a freebie activity that's surely enough but learning about the history and touring the large house was also definitely worth it. A must stop if you are in Killarney or any neighboring areas.

Muckross House and Gardens is a fantastic place to visit, especially if you are on a budget and want to see some beautiful grounds. The gardens themselves are free, so if you can get there for a reasonably low price then you are set. The house has a guided tour that shares some great history but it is a bit pricey. The farms are fantastic and a great way to spend the day if you're into that kind of thing. It is more tailored towards kids so be ready for a bunch of kids everywhere if you go. The farms also have a price attached to them. The garden restaurant is fantastic but again a bit pricey. You get a lot of food though so if you do it for lunch you can probably skip dinner too. The desserts are especially delicious, so you should definitely get at least one - if not more!

Muckross is a lovingly maintained manor home. They offer guided tours on a regular schedule or you can self guide around the home. The history of the home is interesting as well as the fact that they keep traditional crafts alive here such as weaving, book binding and pottery. The traditional farms is also very worth a visit - we enjoyed the blacksmithing demo that was going on as well as all the homes on property. The schoolhouse was actually used into the 80's which is pretty cool!

This was a fun & interesting tour. There are workers spread out throughout the house who are available to answer any questions. I'd definitely recommend starting a chat with them; it made the tour that much more fun. It wasn't busy the day we went and took our time walking and admiring everything. I think we spent about 2 hours just walking and reading all the history. The grounds around the house is quite pretty as well! It was drizzly and windy in the day we went and didn't get to explore the outside much.

Gorgeous mansion that you can tour. We came here on a Wednesday afternoon and walked here from Torc waterfall. You purchase tickets there. Cash and credit cards accepted. We spent an hour and a half here, but we were able to move at our leisure since there were no other patrons there. The employees in each of the rooms who worked there were very knowledgeable and also friendly. Definitely ask questions, it'll make the experience that much better! There are grounds that you can also wander as well. This is a kid friendly spot and there are benches outside a you need to have a sit. There is also a cafe where they serve hot food and snacks. We got some hot chocolate with marshmallows before we hit the road again to walk to Muckross Abbey, and I think that is the right move.

We were out for a drive through the park via a section of the Ring of Kerry and it started pouring rain which made driving and stopping to enjoy views less possible. We originally had a tour of Muckross House as something "optional" on our trip plan, but the weather moved it into the "definitely yes" part of our plan! There is lots of free parking at the visitor center and the walk to the house is short. The cost for the self-guided tour was around 7€ and was definitely a good value. They have umbrella bags ready as you enter. We were truly impressed with how much restoration work had been done on the house and how many rooms were available for visitors to tour. They have put so much work into the restoration efforts and we found the tour experience to be very enjoyable and interesting. We walked around outside in the rain and wind a bit, but after getting soaked despite raincoats and attempts to use umbrellas, we had some tea and scones in the cafe while we waited for the weather to settle down a bit before driving back. This was an excellent rainy day activity! The drive from Kenmare was not bad; we just took it slow given the rain on the way back. The views along the way are gorgeous and we were glad the weather held on out way there so we could enjoy those as well. Definitely don't miss this if you're driving the whole Ring of Kerry or just this section.

The Muckross house may be nice but the Muckross hotel and spa is horrible. That was the worst hotel experience ever I. All of our travels.

The Muckross House is stunning and a must visit while in Killarney. It is a 19th century Victorian mansion that sits on the shores of Muckross Lake. Construction started in 1839 and was completed in 1843. It is amazing that it still stands in what appears to be perfect condition. They do not allow photos to be taken while on tour of the house. The tour is about 45 minutes to an hour and it is loaded with information and fun facts. The tour guide was engaging and the rooms are decorated to give you a sense of their elegant lifestyle. Outside the property is well manicured and inviting. You are welcome to stroll around and enjoy the beautiful gardens and view.

In my opinion if you only had a couple of hours to spend in Kilarney, I would suggest going to the Muckross Estate which comprises heaps of attractions within it's grounds like a lovely Victorian fairytale manor where Queen Victoria slept ($ fee), fabulous English Gardens (free) a Traditional Farm attraction ( $fee) an abbey (free) and info about Killarney National Park. W.B Yeats apparently also loved this place so much, he visited and stayed here a couple of times. I only went around the house and the external gardens, and then did the 1k walk from the house to the abbey. The grounds are so so so lovely - beautiful rock garden, lovely streams, gorgeous flowers, and towering ancient trees with gnarled trunks all situated alongside a lovely lake and as far as your eye spans, you can see the mountains that form the Ring of Kerry. Some places are breath-giving and precious, and that's what Muckross is to me. Even if you don't actually go into the house, just wander to the ticket office and scroll thru the books they have there, to get an idea about the tragedy and generosity thru which the house and grounds became part of Ireland's first national park system as well as the links it has to that famous painter, Mary Herbert who lived here. Frankly with the free parking, this place is an absolute steal! And yeah, if I was a local, I would absolutely be visiting here frequently and recommend it whole-heartedly. A +++ Note: #257 of Yelp 100 challenge for 2016

We missed the last guided tour, but we hate guided tours anyway, so we just had a pleasant walk around the pretty grounds and gardens. Pro Tip: Beware of your GPS device if you're arriving East from N22...it'll send you on some scenic but crazy backroads!

This house is very well maintained and the tour guide was very informative. It is located on the Killarney National Park property and the surrounding area is beautiful. This mansion was the model for our own Filoli Mansion in Woodside CA.

A must see in your adventures through Ireland! Beautiful inside as it is outside. Patsy was an awesome guide.

I can imagine living in the 1800's & taking a stroll through the gorgeous green woodlands surrounding the mansion. It's so peaceful & calm. You can even take a carriage ride to the nearby hiking path where you can see a cascading waterfall. The house is lovely, the tour was interesting as well.

If you are touring the Kilarney area (Kerry County), this is a must see! Really impressive, gorgeous Victorian house sitting on a spectacular site within Killarney National Park. The home is massive, impressive, and worth a tour! Our kids even enjoyed the visit as well as running around the grounds. It is worth a tour of the house, and then take the time to stroll around the vast and immaculately kept grounds. From a brief history standpoint, I believe the house was built by a very wealthy and prominent family in the 1840s and then experienced a succession of owners in the 150 years that followed. The last owner, an American, left the house to the Irish government in the 1930s, and it was opened to the public in the 1960s. It's maintained beautifully as part home and part museum, and is fascinating. A great 4-star attraction!

For the grounds alone this place is worth a visit. I am sucker for good gardens/green space. Muckross House is part of a national park. The grounds of this place were so big that they had to become a park! We spent time wandering around checking out the gardens, walking through the woods, and looking out on the lake/mountains. Again, that alone is worth it. We also took a tour of the inside of the house. I'm not the biggest architecture tour person, but it was an enjoyable tour. These poor people had some terrible luck. Also getting visited by royalty really sucked. Still, they left their house and grounds to the people of Ireland, so not all bad in the end. The cafe here is worth a skip, but it wasn't so bad that they should be dinged for it. If you enjoy green spaces, walking, and hearing an interesting story then this place is worth a visit. 83/100

We visited Muckross on a weekday afternoon in September. They have tours that leave on a regular schedule. You can park in their parking lot or take a jaunting car from one of the many parking lots that are further away. The tour lasted under an hour and it was interesting to learn more about the (somewhat tragic) history of the family that owned the house. The grounds are well kept but the garden seemed lackluster. The cafe was also unimpressive. 3 stars.

Absolutely worth a visit. The grounds alone are absolutely gorgeous and the house is filled with so much interesting history. Many of these kinds of tours only take you through a tiny fraction of the house but I was impressed with the scope of this particular house tour. I found the docents to be knowledgeable, interesting and helpful. One docent even helped me find kayak tours for the lake. Parking was very full. Since the paved lot was filled, I had to park far away out on a grass area for overflow parking. I recommend good shoes so you can enjoy the grounds as much as you please. There's also an option to take a carriage ride.

This was one of the most interesting tours I've been on. The tour guide was absolutely fantastic and extremely knowledgeable. The tour lasts about an hour and guides you through the Muckross house which is immaculately maintained. They don't allow you to take pictures inside the house for preservation reasons. The grounds outside of the house were breath taking. The whole site was so much fun to explore!

Amazing! The house and gardens are incredible. Couple of suggestions: * I wouldn't take a camera into the house as no pictures when we went * Stay close to the guide through the house so you can hear them - groups get large * Take a Jaunty Cart through the gardens/park and make sure you see the old church - you will see so much more than walking or even riding a bike * Pick up the Jaunty Cart at the waterfall, which is a better price than in the main parking lot area We really had a nice time and were amazed at the house, the story of the house, the grounds/gardens and the hold church. Our Jaunty Cart guide was also very nice and informative. We even saw the original Gardners house which is lived in today by the person who is the current Gardner - pretty cool.

After our sat in Dublin, this was over the top glamorous !1 The entire staff is there to please and assist you. A dream of a place, right across the street from the park, the estate and the jaunting carts.

Absolutely beautiful and wonderful guided tour. Only didn't give it 5 stars as the guide mumbled a bit and it was hard to hear him at times.

Very cool place to visit if you are in the Killarney area. I was here when the weather was perfect which accentuated how beautiful the estate is. Do the house tour - it's well worth it. Guide is knowledgable and the stories of the house and its previous owners were interesting. Take a hike or jump on a horse carriage for a short ride to Torc Waterfall. Carriage ride is expensive at 30 euros so I would have walked to the falls if I did it again. Probably a 30 minute walk.

this is the coolest property you can roam about for free in Ireland. The Muckross House is a must see and I always bring my fellow guest for a tour. its a deal, has cool stuff to see and is massive.

Our tour guide was sooooo nice and knowledgeable. She gave us a very thorough tour of this house, and made sure we were all comfortable. I also loved her sense of humor! This mansion has a long history - very interesting to be able to walk through the house and imagine what life was like back in the late 1800s. Muckross House is located just a few miles down the road from Main Street Killarney (about a 10min drive). We came on a day when it was pouring rain - wish we could've walked around the grounds a bit more.

If I could give negative review I would. It was just a regular park with some garden and a cruel petting zoo where poor animals where confined to a tiny spot and exploited for money. I saw a goat chained in the middle of a field. Made me sick to my stomach. The pigs looked miserable. Given the happy animals I've seen around Ireland this place made me sick to my stomach.

both the muckross farm and house are definetely well worth stopping at when you're in killarney...and if you're hungry, the cafateria in the gift shop right next to the muckross house is a nice place to look out, enjoy the garden and get some snacks in your stomach!

We just viewed the large acres of Muckross House Gardens. Quite lovely. It was an adventure.

A great spot. A beautiful part of Ireland. You can get a combined ticket for a tour of the house and to visit the traditional farms. It's great value. A real professionally run place and really well kept. In comparison to similar attractions like blarney castle, muckross house knocks it out of the park.

Really a beautiful place. The gardens are lovely, you can get a sandwich or treat from the cafe and eat outside overlooking them if you like. We did'nt walk through the house, the grounds were enough for us but I'm sure its lovely.

This place is full of memories for me, went here a lot as a kid! It is definitely kid- and family-friendly, and I would suggest a game of hide-and-seek in the rockery. Can't beat it. Love this place.

This is a magnificent place! A must see! I've visited Muckross house and gardens many times with family and friends. The house itself is lovely, there is a very nice cafe here too. I would recommend the country farm too, it is very well done :-)

Hi- definitely worth a visit. The tour was very well done. The grounds are beautiful- make sure to do the walk from the house to the waterfall.