Things to Do in Naas: Discover Kildare's Biggest Town

Naas, Kildare's county town - Nas na Riogh, the meeting place of kings - sits at the heart of Ireland's thoroughbred country. It is best known for horse racing, with Naas Racecourse in the town and Punchestown and the Curragh a short drive away. The Curragh, the Hill of Allen and west Kildare's bog walks are all within half an hour.

Naas is Kildare's biggest town and its county seat, and the old name tells you most of what you need to know: Nás na Ríogh, the meeting place of kings. These days the draw is more horses than high kings, but the racing pedigree runs deep, the Grand Canal still threads right through the middle, and you are barely 30 minutes from Dublin off the N7. Here is what to actually do when you are in Naas, from a morning at the races to a quiet hour feeding swans at the harbour.

The short version: spend an afternoon at Naas Racecourse or the Moat Theatre, walk the Grand Canal harbour and the old railway line, eat well at Vie de Chateaux or Butt Mullins, and give yourself a half day for the Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens a 20 minute drive west.

Get the best of Leinster in your inbox

What's on, where to eat and the best days out across the 12 counties, free every week.

Subscribe free

What is Naas best known for?

Naas is best known for horse racing. It sits at the centre of Ireland's thoroughbred country, with Naas Racecourse in the town and the Punchestown and Curragh tracks both within a short drive. That racing pull shapes the place: it has been an administrative centre since Norman times, and the Three Castles of Naas once guarded the old approaches into Leinster. Add a working theatre in a 1776 church, a Saturday food market, and a stretch of the Grand Canal you can walk straight from the square, and you have a town that rewards a full day rather than a quick stop.

It is also one of the more convenient bases in the region. You can be at the Curragh, the Hill of Allen or the bog walks of west Kildare inside half an hour, and back in Dublin almost as quickly. That makes Naas a sensible overnight if you are working through the county rather than dashing in and out.

Must-see things to do in Naas

A day at Naas Racecourse

The racecourse is a 10 minute walk from the town centre and the easiest way to spend an afternoon here. There are 20 fixtures across 2026, with the flat season opening on Sun 22 March and jump meetings running through the winter. Even if you have never backed a horse, the atmosphere on a busy meeting day carries you. Check the fixtures list before you go and book ahead for the bigger Sunday cards.

A show at the Moat Theatre

The Moat is housed in a former church dating to 1776, just off the main street, and it runs a year-round programme of touring productions, local drama, comedy and music for all ages. There is a café attached if you want coffee and brunch around a matinee. It is a genuinely characterful room, the kind of small venue that makes a wet evening in a country town worth turning out for. See what is on at the Moat Theatre and book early for the popular runs.

The Grand Canal harbour and town walks

The Grand Canal's Naas branch ends at the harbour near the centre of town, and it is the most pleasant free thing to do here. Walk the towpath, feed the swans, and follow the Naas Historic Trail past the playgrounds out to Jigginstown Castle, a vast 17th century ruin on the edge of town. For something flatter and quieter, the Naas Old Railway Line walk runs east past the lakelands, where you will usually spot swans, ducks and herons. Bring decent shoes: parts of the towpath are level but unpaved.

Motorsport at Mondello Park

A short drive north of Naas, Mondello Park is Ireland's only FIA-accredited race circuit. You can come for a race day, book a supercar or single-seater driving experience, or just watch from the banks on a club weekend. It suits anyone who wants a louder day out than the racecourse, and it is an easy add-on if you are travelling with petrolheads. Check the event calendar at Mondello Park before you set off, as track days are not always open to spectators.

Where to eat and drink in Naas

For dinner, Vie de Chateaux at Harbour View does French cooking with Irish ingredients and is the safe bet for an occasion, open Tuesday to Sunday evenings (it closes Mondays). For something more relaxed, Butt Mullins on Poplar Square is a family-run spot of more than 30 years, serving Irish and European plates Wednesday to Sunday, with a full bar and a long wine list. Both sit within a few minutes' walk of the harbour, so you can pair either with a canal-side stroll. Book ahead at the weekend, as Naas fills up on race days.

The Saturday food market

The Naas Farmers' Market trades every Saturday from 10am to 3pm, with organic meat, fruit and veg, cheese, fish, flowers and homemade bakes. It is the easiest way to take the temperature of the town and stock a picnic for the canal in one stop. Arrive earlier rather than later if you want the good bread before it goes.

If you are building a Saturday around it, the market sits a few minutes from both the harbour and the main street, so you can pair a morning shop with a canal walk and lunch without moving the car. It is a low-key, genuinely local affair rather than a tourist set-piece, which is rather the point.

Make a day of it: nearby in Kildare

Naas works well as a base for the wider county. About 20 minutes west, near Kildare town, the Irish National Stud and Gardens is one of the few working stud farms in the world open to the public. One ticket covers the stud, the Irish Racehorse Experience, St Fiachra's Garden, and the Japanese Gardens, laid out between 1906 and 1910 and among the finest in Europe. Free guided tours of the stud run through the day, roughly every hour from 10:30am, and you will want two to three hours to do it justice.

For walkers, Kildare has more on offer than its flat reputation suggests: see our best hiking trails in County Kildare for routes within easy reach of Naas. And if you are mapping out the county properly, our guide to things to do in Newbridge covers the neighbouring town and its silverware heritage.

Getting to Naas

Naas is about 35km southwest of Dublin, roughly 30 to 40 minutes by car off the N7 (Junction 9 or 10). Regular Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann services run from the city, and Sallins train station, a few minutes away, is on the Dublin to Portlaoise and Waterford lines. Parking in the town centre is straightforward outside of race days. For more on the wider region, our things to do in Leinster guide sets Naas in context.

What is on in Naas through the year

The racing calendar anchors the year, with 20 meetings at Naas Racecourse across 2026 and the flat season opening on Sun 22 March. The Naas Midsummer Arts Festival brings outdoor performances and music to the streets in June, and the Saturday Farmers' Market runs year-round. Dates and lineups shift, so check the official listing before you travel. For trip planning across the county, Into Kildare keeps a current rundown of what is on around Naas.

Frequently asked questions

Is Naas worth visiting? Yes, especially if you like racing, walking or a relaxed market town with good food. A day covers the racecourse or theatre, the canal harbour and a meal, and the Irish National Stud nearby easily fills a second half-day.

How far is Naas from Dublin? About 35km, or 30 to 40 minutes by car off the N7. Bus and train services run from Dublin, with the nearest station at Sallins.

What is there to do in Naas for free? Walk the Grand Canal harbour and towpath, follow the Naas Historic Trail to Jigginstown Castle, do the old railway line walk by the lakelands, and browse the Saturday Farmers' Market.

More great Irish days out

Heading further afield? A couple of Ireland's most-booked experiences, all an easy trip from Leinster:

Guinness Storehouse, Dublin. The St James's Gate tour finishes with a pint in the Gravity Bar and its rooftop views over the city. Book a time slot ahead, it sells out at weekends.

Cliffs of Moher day tour from Dublin. A full day out to the Atlantic coast and the Burren, with Galway on the way. A good one-off big day without the driving.

This guide contains affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Where to stay in Naas

Making a night of it? Browse hotels, guesthouses and places to stay in Naas:

See places to stay in Naas on Expedia

Thinking of buying or renting in Naas? See Naas house prices - median sale price, recent sales and rental yield.