The Punchestown Festival is an annual racing event which takes place on the outskirts of Naas in Co Kildare.

This festival is one of the absolute highlights of any racing fan’s calendar. Therefore, it’s a good idea to plan the practicalities a little while ahead. Here you can get a few tips on accommodation, transportation, and entertainment.

If you are going to the annual Punchestown Festival to experience the horse racing event of the year, there are a few practical things that are good to know about transportation, accommodations and additional activities.

Punchestown is more than a sports event. It is a total experience with lots of festivities, culinary experiences, fashion and live entertainment. It is five days of racing, fun and good times.

This year's Punchestown Festival runs from 26 April to 30 April 2022.

The closest town to the racecourse is Naas, where you can stay if you want to save the trip to and from Dublin. To get a fully detailed guide to preparing for Punchestown, click here.

Rent a house or stay at a hotel

In the town of Naas and the nearby area, there are plenty of accommodation options available for you. You can choose between different types of accommodations to fit your needs. If you have pets with you, you can find houses to rent in Kildare where pets are allowed

There is a wide price range to choose from depending on your preferences. The festival also has collaborations with wonderful hotels in the nearby area. So, if you prefer to stay at hotels, you can do so as well.

Flight, rails, and sails

Naas is located in Co Kildare about 45 minutes outside of Dublin. The racecourse office recommends that you find a place to stay in the area to get the full experience and save transportation time. But you can also stay in Dublin and go back and forth.

To Dublin as well as on the route from Dublin to the racecourse there are several transportation options including flight, rails, and sails. There is a direct transfer from Dublin to the racecourse as well as from the nearest town, Naas, to the racecourse.

Go dancing and enjoy a dinner

Besides watching the races, there are plenty of other fun activities to entertain you during your stay. As mentioned, Punchestown is more than a sporting event. During the festival there are plenty of hours between races to enjoy other things. Many of the bars and restaurants in the area have live music every evening and plenty of options to dance. Also, the festival is stuffed with delicious culinary experiences besides the restaurants in the surrounding area.