Limerick, Ireland: travel guide
A Shannon-side city of castle walls, museums and a rugby-loving edge
Once synonymous with urban grittiness, Limerick has reinvented itself as a dynamic, confident city — European Capital of Culture 2014, and home to one of Ireland's finest medieval fortresses.
About Limerick
Limerick stands on the River Shannon, and its medieval heart is King's Island, where King John's Castle looks over the water. It is a city that has reinvented itself in recent decades, with a growing arts scene and a confident, down-to-earth character.
Things to do in Limerick include walking the riverside, visiting the Hunt Museum's collection, browsing the Milk Market at weekends and taking in St Mary's Cathedral. The pretty village of Adare, with its thatched cottages, is a short drive south, and the city is a sensible gateway to the Shannon region and County Clare.
Limerick suits travellers who like history without crowds and a city with a local feel. Late spring to early autumn is the most comfortable time to visit.
- Country
- Ireland
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Dublin
- Nearest airport
- SNN
Last updated
Top places to visit in Limerick
Limerick Bunratty Castle
castle-folk-park · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Limerick to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park — the spectacular 1425 castle with the iconic Medieval Banquet, the recreated Irish village, and the famous shillelagh dancers.
King John's Castle Limerick
Norman castle · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
One of the finest and best-preserved Anglo-Norman castles in Europe — a massive five-towered fortress built on Thomond Island in the River Shannon by order of King John of England in 1210. The castle has survived eleven centuries of…
Adare Village
heritage village · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Ireland's prettiest village — a perfectly composed ensemble of thatched limestone cottages, manicured hedges, medieval ruins, a working Trinitarian priory and the gates of Adare Manor estate lining a single village street 16 km south of…
Limerick Cliffs Moher
atlantic-cliffs · 4.9 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Limerick to the Cliffs of Moher — Ireland's spectacular 214m Atlantic cliffs, with O'Brien's Tower and the Wild Atlantic Way coastal views.
Limerick Hunt Drogheda
treaty-stone · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The Treaty Stone — Limerick's spectacular monument commemorating the 1691 Treaty of Limerick that ended the Williamite War, on the banks of the River Shannon.
Limerick People Park
victorian-park · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
People's Park — Limerick's spectacular Victorian park (1877) with the iconic Spring Rice Memorial, the Carnegie Building, and the famous Pearse Stadium.
Hunt Museum Limerick
private art collection · 4.7 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
One of Ireland's greatest private art collections — an astonishing assembly of 2,000 works spanning 5,000 years of human creativity, collected by antiquarian couple John and Gertrude Hunt and bequeathed to the Irish public. Displayed in…
St Mary's Cathedral Limerick
Romanesque cathedral · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
The oldest building in Limerick city still in everyday use — a Romanesque cathedral founded by Donal Mór O'Brien, King of Munster, in 1168 CE on the site of his royal palace on King's Island. The cathedral has been in continuous use as a…
Limerick Frank McCourt
author-museum · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The Frank McCourt Museum — the spectacular museum in McCourt's former Leamy School, dedicated to the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Angela's Ashes.
Limerick Foynes Flying Boat
flying-boat · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · entry €18 (≈ ₹1,920)
A day trip from Limerick to the Foynes Flying Boat Museum — the historic 1939-1945 transatlantic flying boat terminal, with the original Irish coffee invention story.
Limerick Lough Gur Heritage
prehistoric-lake · 4.6 rating · about 8 h · entry €5 (≈ ₹530)
A day trip from Limerick to Lough Gur — the spectacular prehistoric lake with the Grange Stone Circle (Ireland's largest), the Neolithic settlement, and the heritage centre.
Things to do
- King John's Castle Guided Tour Limerick Cultural · 1.5 h · from EUR 12 per person
Day trips and tours
- Limerick Heritage Day: Castle, Museum & Adare 7 h · from EUR 29
Where to stay in Limerick
- King's Island & Georgian Quarter about EUR 115 per night
Staying on or near King's Island puts King John's Castle and the Hunt Museum within 5 minutes' walk. The Georgian Quarter around Pery Square has Limerick's finest boutique hotel.
Hotels
- Adare Manor 5-star · EUR 500 to EUR 2,500 per night
- No.1 Pery Square Hotel & Spa 4-star · EUR 120 to EUR 295 per night
- Limerick City Hostel 2-star · EUR 15 to EUR 68 per night
Where to eat
- The Cornstore Limerick Steakhouse, Modern Irish · about EUR 60 per person
- Limerick Milk Market Market, Street Food · about EUR 14 per person
- Hook & Ladder Limerick Modern Irish, Café, Wine Bar · about EUR 28 per person
Getting to Limerick
Airport: Shannon (Limerick) (SNN)
Getting around
- Car Rental Self
- Walking
More in Ireland
Frequently asked questions about Limerick
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Limerick?
- The highest-rated places in our Limerick guide are Limerick Cliffs Moher, Adare Village, Limerick Bunratty Castle, Hunt Museum Limerick, Limerick Foynes Flying Boat.
- Where should I stay in Limerick?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Limerick: King's Island & Georgian Quarter.
- How do I get around Limerick?
- Ways to get around Limerick covered in our guide: Self-drive car, Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to Limerick?
- The nearest airport to Limerick has the code SNN.