Kilkee, Ireland
Also within 20 km of Kilkee
- H.M.S. Martin Dive site · 1.8 km from Kilkee
- Doonbeg castle Surf spot · 10.1 km from Kilkee
- Killard Surf spot · 10.1 km from Kilkee
- Doughmore Surf spot · 13 km from Kilkee
Watch this spot We email you when Kilkee is worth the trip.

About Kilkee
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces NW (321°), so it takes swell from the NW. The wind blows offshore from the SE (141°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits beginners and up. It works in 3–14 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves gently: 10 m deep about 550 m out (1 in 54). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would spill softly. The sea is about 9°C in January, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 16°C in July, its warmest (3/2 wetsuit). The town to stay in is Kilkee, 0.9 km away (about 5 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 1 dive site.
Water about 14°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 15 h 50 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Dublin Airport (DUB), direct. About 26 flights a week that month.
See flights ORD → DUB · Skyscanner from about £370 returnAdGetting there. 4 h from the airport to Kilkee, 299 km.
By bus: Citylink, Bus Éireann. Time from the published timetables, on a weekday.
Accommodation.
Stay in KilkeeAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Kilkee (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Kilkee 2 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 13 places to stay · where Kilkee stays
Places to stay in Kilkee · Booking.com AdDoonbeg 18 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 1 places to stay
Places to stay in Doonbeg · Booking.com AdSpanish Point 41 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 10 places to stay
Places to stay in Spanish Point · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Kilkee · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Kilkee · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Kilkee on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 51, good | 4 ft9 ssoft | 230kJ | offshorewind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore | 12°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 0, too big | 6 ft11 ssoft | 903kJ | wind from the east, 4 knots | 11°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 0, too big | 6 ft10 ssoft | 687kJ | wind from the south-south-east, 13 knots | 12°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 0, too big | 11 ft9 smushy | 1,805kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 15 knots | 12°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 0, too big | 10 ft9 ssoft | 1,354kJ | wind from the south-west, 8 knots | 11°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 0, too big | 8 ft9 smushy | 859kJ | wind from the north-west, 18 knots | 11°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 0, too big | 11 ft9 ssoft | 1,887kJ | wind from the south, 16 knots | 15°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 12, poor | 4 ft13 smushy | 559kJ | wind from the west, 31 knots | 11°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 0, too big | 12 ft9 smushy | 2,295kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 14 knots | 11°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 7, poor | 5 ft10 smushy | 511kJ | wind from the west, 21 knots | 10°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight ORD to DUB, then 4h by road (or about 5h 40 by bus, two changes, 5 a day). About 15h 50 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to DUB, then 4h by road (or about 5h 40 by bus, two changes, 5 a day). About 15h 50 door to door
Rough cost
About £1,115–£2,055 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to DUB, estimated from distance and season, 3 airlines on the route, with a hold bag | £370–£770 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £110–£180 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £260–£430 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £245–£455 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £95–£155 |
| Total | £1,115–£2,055 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Kilkee
- Happy Harbour Chinese Restaurant & Takeaway KilkeeChinese · 0.4 km from the centre
- Harris's RestaurantSeafood · 0.4 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.