A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kilkenny vs. Versailles for Attractions, Food, and Couples

Should you visit Kilkenny or Versailles?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Kilkenny and Versailles can help you decide which place is right for you.

Kilkenny

Kilkenny is a active, ancient, and medieval town. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Versailles

Versailles is a extensive, beautiful, and grand palace. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the museums.

Kilkenny and Versailles: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Popular for food and cuisine
  • Active nightlife
  • Scenic old town
  • Fun shopping
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Impressive beauty
Things to Consider
  • Less popular for food
  • Less family-friendly


Is there more to do in Kilkenny or Versailles?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Kilkenny. Although Kilkenny and Versailles are popular destinations, Kilkenny has more sights and attractions for tourists. Kilkenny is very popular for its food, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Versailles attracts visitors for its museums and impressive beauty. Versailles is more touristy than Kilkenny and is popular for its long running history and its grand architecture. Kilkenny is famous for its medieval castle and long running history. It is also well known for The Kilkenny Castle.

The Kilkenny Castle
The Kilkenny Castle

How is Kilkenny different from Versailles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Versailles and Kilkenny. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Kilkenny or Versailles?

Kilkenny
Versailles

Versailles is terrific for its museums and landmarks. Also, Kilkenny is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Versailles are among the most recognizable in the world. The palace is filled with history and impressive items relating to the royal family. Within and near the palace you should make sure you see the Gardens of Versailles, Grand Trianon, the Hall of Mirrors, and the Royal Opera of Versailles.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Kilkenny can be an interesting and educational experience. It's seeped in history and there are many historic landmarks in the area including Kilkenny Castle. Also make sure you check out the National Design & Craft Gallery, Saint Mary's Cathedral, and the Medieval Mile Museum.


Is the Food Better in Kilkenny or Versailles? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Kilkenny
Versailles

Kilkenny is a great town for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Versailles is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Kilkenny. The town has two Michelin starred restaurants as well as many Irish pubs and international restaurants to choose from.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Versailles. There are a couple of restaurants and cafes on the grounds.

Is Kilkenny or Versailles Better for Nightlife?

Kilkenny
Versailles

Kilkenny is a nice place to visit for nightlife. However, Versailles is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Kilkenny has a few options to choose from. You'll find traditional pubs and local breweries around town. The town also hosts several local music festivals.

Versailles is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Kilkenny or Versailles Better for its Old Town?

Kilkenny
Versailles

Kilkenny is a great town for its historic old town. However, Versailles does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Kilkenny to see the historical old town. Known as the Medieval Mile, the old town dates back 1,500 years and is filled with city walls, cathedrals, and meandering lanes.

Versailles does not have a historic old town.


Is the Shopping Better in Kilkenny or Versailles?

Kilkenny
Versailles

Kilkenny is a nice place to visit for shopping. However, Versailles is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Kilkenny. There's a mix of shopping malls, shopping streets, and local markets. Make sure you check out Market Cross Shopping Centre, MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre, Connolly's Red Mills, and Castleinch Sunday Market.

Versailles is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Kilkenny or Versailles Better for Families?

Kilkenny
Versailles

Kilkenny is a great town for its kid-friendly activities. However, Versailles is not known for its family-friendly activities.

Kilkenny is a very family-friendly destination. The obvious activity is visiting the Kilkenny Castle, but there are so many other adventures that your family can have. You can do the zip line and other outdoor adventures at Castlecomer Discovery Park, try out falconry, or visit the National Reptile Museum. There's also river rafting, kayaking, and many other outdoor adventures in the area.

Versailles does not offer many kid-friendly activities. While there are those unicorn children who fall in love with the grand setting, for most kids, a visit to Versailles can make for make for a long and draining day.

Is Kilkenny or Versailles Better for Couples?

Kilkenny
Versailles

Both Kilkenny and Versailles are excellent destinations to visit as a couple.

Couples visit Kilkenny frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Adventure lovers will enjoy rafting, kayaking, hiking, and cycling through the area. There are also Michelin starred restaurants and other romantic settings that make for a great couple's weekend.

Versailles is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. It's opulence, grandeur, and history make this a wonderful place to explore as a couple. There are gardens and other unique settings that make Versailles very romantic.


Is Kilkenny or Versailles Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Kilkenny
Versailles

Kilkenny is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Versailles is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

It's common for backpackers to visit Kilkenny. The area has some unique hostels that offer interesting experiences while you're in town.

Versailles is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Kilkenny or Versailles Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Kilkenny
Versailles

Versailles is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Kilkenny is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Versailles can get you to some places easily. There are SNCF trains that travel from Gare Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers train station and additional trains that travel between Gare Saint Lazare and Versailles Rive Droite.

While Kilkenny offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are city buses through town.

Is Kilkenny or Versailles a more walkable city?

Kilkenny
Versailles

Kilkenny and Versailles both are excellent when exploring on foot.

Kilkenny is a very walkable town. The town is easy to walk around and most areas can be explored on foot.

Versailles is a very walkable destination. It's approximately a 20 minute walk from the Versailles Chantiers train station to the entrance to the palace. Versailles Rive Droite is slightly closer.


For even more information, also check out Is Kilkenny Worth Visiting? and Is Versailles Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Versailles or Kilkenny?

How long in Kilkenny or Versailles?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Kilkenny or Versailles to fill your time. In our opinion, Kilkenny has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Kilkenny than Versailles. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Kilkenny than Versailles. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Kilkenny, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Kilkenny than Versailles. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Kilkenny that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Kilkenny than Versailles if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Kilkenny.


  • How many days in Kilkenny or Versailles? Ideal Length of Stay
    Kilkenny 1-2 
    Versailles 1-2

One day in Kilkenny or Versailles?

With museums and nightlife around the fascinating town of Kilkenny, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Kilkenny, one day is sufficent for most.

The beautiful palace of Versailles offers museums. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Kilkenny or Versailles?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Kilkenny, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.

Versailles is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this palace makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Versailles, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Kilkenny or Versailles?

Kilkenny, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Versailles is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.


A week in Kilkenny or Versailles?

Kilkenny is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Versailles is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This palace offers something for everyone.


For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Ireland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Ireland, The Best Sightseeing Tours in France, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France.


Which place is cheaper, Versailles or Kilkenny?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kilkenny is €88, while the average daily cost in Versailles is €234. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Kilkenny and Versailles in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kilkenny 44
    Versailles 128
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kilkenny 88
    Versailles 256
Compare Hotels in Kilkenny and Versailles

Looking for a hotel in Kilkenny or Versailles? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Kilkenny


Hotels in Versailles


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Kilkenny Hotel Prices and Versailles Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kilkenny 21
    Versailles 53

Is it cheaper to fly into Kilkenny or Versailles?

Prices for flights to both Versailles and Kilkenny change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Kilkenny 29
    Versailles 67

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kilkenny 15
    Versailles 45

Tours and Activities in Kilkenny

Here are a few actual costs in Kilkenny for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Best of Kilkenny, two hour walking tour with a qualified guide: $13
  • From Dublin: 5-Day Tour of Ireland's South-East: $1,287
  • Fun Family Walking Tour in Kilkenny: $217
  • Fun Family walking tour in Kilkenny: $426
  • Fun Walking Tour during Christmas in Kilkenny: $533
  • Fun Walking Tour during Christmas in Kilkenny: $271
  • Historical tour of Kilkenny in French.: $13
  • Hurling Tours Ireland - Freshford Experience: $32
  • Hurling Tours Ireland - Kilkenny City Experience: $32
  • Hurling Tours Ireland - O'Loughlin Gaels : $33
  • Kayak and SUP Tours Kilkenny: $27
  • Kilkenny Haunted Dark Tours: $21

Tours and Activities in Versailles

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Versailles.

  • Palace Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket: $67
  • Versailles Palace Private Family Tour Designed for Kids: $261
  • Private Guided Tour of the Palace: $261

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kilkenny 12
    Versailles 18

Sample the Local Flavors in Kilkenny

Also in Kilkenny, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Kilkenny Culinary and Brewery Tour: $150
  • Kilkenny Culinary and Brewery Tour : $158


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kilkenny and Versailles, we can see that Versailles is more expensive. And not only is Kilkenny much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kilkenny would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kilkenny and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Versailles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Versailles than you might in Kilkenny.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kilkenny Expensive? and Is Versailles Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kilkenny or Versailles?

Versailles has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Kilkenny. When comparing the sizes of Kilkenny and Versailles, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.


When is the best time to visit Kilkenny or Versailles?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Kilkenny or Versailles in the Summer?

Both Versailles and Kilkenny during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Kilkenny this time of year.

In July, Kilkenny is generally cooler than Versailles. Daily temperatures in Kilkenny average around 15°C (60°F), and Versailles fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

In Versailles, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Kilkenny often gets less sunshine than Versailles. Kilkenny gets 131 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Versailles receives 239 hours of full sun.

Kilkenny usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Versailles. Kilkenny gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Versailles receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Kilkenny 15°C (60°F) 
    Versailles 20°C (68°F)

Should I visit Kilkenny or Versailles in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kilkenny and Versailles. Many travelers come to Kilkenny for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Versailles in the autumn for the natural beauty of the area.

Kilkenny is cooler than Versailles in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kilkenny averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Versailles fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Kilkenny usually receives less sunshine than Versailles during autumn. Kilkenny gets 83 hours of sunny skies, while Versailles receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Kilkenny usually receives more rain than Versailles. Kilkenny gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Versailles receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Kilkenny 11°C (51°F) 
    Versailles 13°C (56°F)

Should I visit Kilkenny or Versailles in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Kilkenny as well as Versailles. Many visitors come to Kilkenny in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Versailles for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Versailles can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Kilkenny is a little warmer than Versailles. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kilkenny in January average around 5°C (41°F), and Versailles averages at about 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Kilkenny often gets less sunshine than Versailles. Kilkenny gets 50 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Versailles receives 56 hours of full sun.

Kilkenny usually gets more rain in January than Versailles. Kilkenny gets 76 mm (3 in) of rain, while Versailles receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Kilkenny 5°C (41°F) 
    Versailles 5°C (40°F)

Should I visit Kilkenny or Versailles in the Spring?

Both Versailles and Kilkenny are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Kilkenny for the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Versailles because of the natural beauty.

In April, Kilkenny is generally cooler than Versailles. Daily temperatures in Kilkenny average around 8°C (47°F), and Versailles fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Kilkenny usually receives less sunshine than Versailles during spring. Kilkenny gets 139 hours of sunny skies, while Versailles receives 173 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Kilkenny usually receives around the same amount of rain as Versailles. Kilkenny gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Versailles receives 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Kilkenny 8°C (47°F) 
    Versailles 11°C (52°F)

Typical Weather for Versailles and Kilkenny

Kilkenny Versailles
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 5°C (41°F) 76 mm (3 in) 5°C (40°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Feb 5°C (42°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 6°C (42°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Mar 7°C (44°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 8°C (47°F) 52 mm (2.1 in)
Apr 8°C (47°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 11°C (52°F) 50 mm (1.9 in)
May 11°C (52°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 15°C (59°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 14°C (57°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 18°C (64°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)
Jul 15°C (60°F) 59 mm (2.3 in) 20°C (68°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Aug 15°C (59°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 20°C (67°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Sep 13°C (55°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 17°C (63°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)
Oct 11°C (51°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 13°C (56°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Nov 7°C (44°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 8°C (47°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Dec 6°C (42°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 5°C (42°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)


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