Renal ciliopathies are a group of disorders characterised by nephronophthisis, cystic kidneys or renal cystic dysplasia whose underlying disease pathogenesis is related to abnormal structure or function of the primary cilia complex. The number of renal ciliopathies continues to expand as genomic and genetic approaches identify novel causes. This in turn provides new opportunities to explore disease mechanisms and therapeutic approaches to target cystic kidney disease and other associated phenotypes. Here we review recent advances in the field of renal ciliopathies and how these allow new insights into this fascinating spectrum of diseases.