Limerick is known for its medieval architecture, Georgian townhouses, pubs, museums, and castles. Which means there are many things to do in Limerick. But if you want to go further than the city, here are some of the best day trips from Limerick that you can also do.
Things you'll find in this article
5 Best Day Trips From Limerick (For 2024)
1. Cliffs of Moher
Cliffs Of Moher, Image by Christine Rogador
The Cliffs of Moher are sea cliffs located in County Clare, Ireland. It is one of Ireland’s most spectacular sights and one of the most visited attractions in Ireland with 1.5 million visitors annually.
Standing 702ft above the ground at their highest point and 8km long, the Cliffs boast one of the most amazing views in Ireland. On a good day, you can see the Aran Islands in Galway Bay.
Cliffs of Moher is also one of the best day trips from Dublin and a day tour from Galway.
Admission Fee
The admission prices include the visitor center and walk along the pathways and platforms, vehicle parking, leaflets, and maps.
Adults €6
Students €4
Senior Citizens €4
Children under 16
Free Group rates available on request
How to get to Cliffs of Moher from Limerick
Take a bus (#302, #343) from Limerick Arthur’s Quay station to Friars Walk, Dunnes. This takes about 45 minutes for €3-11 per trip.
Then from Friars Walk, walk towards Ennis Bus Station and take the bus that goes directly to Moher visitor center. This takes another 50 minutes for €9-11 one way trip. In total, you’ll spend between €12-22 for the bus fare.
Or you can book this tour for €35 but it also includes a stopover in the Burren, Bunratty Castle, and Lemenagh Castle among others. To book, click here.
Recommended hours for the day trip
It might take 2 hours one way to just get to the cliffs so it’s better to allocate at least 7 hours to enjoy the place.
Opening Hours
8 am to 7 pm although, during winter, the cliffs are closed by 5 pm.
Contact Information
Location: Lislorkan North, Liscannor, Co. Clare, Ireland
Phone: bookings@cliffsofmoher.ie
Email: +353 65 708 6145
2. Bunratty Castle
Although Bunratty Castle is not part of Ennis, it is close enough that it can also be done in a 2-to-3-hour tour from Ennis. The castle is only 20 minutes away from the town center.
This large 15-century medieval castle in County Clare is one of the most popular sites to see if you’re landing in Shannon. It located close to the Shannon town and the airport. The Irish name “Bunratty”, when translated to English, means “river basin in River Ratty”. This is because the River Ratty flows alongside the castle and goes to the Shannon Estuary. Bunratty Castle is also one of the must-see castles in Ireland.
The castle was built in 1425 and was restored in 1954 to bring back its medieval charm. Hand in hand with the castle is the Bunratty Folk Park where you’ll get an authentic experience of the home and environment in Ireland during the time of this castle. The park is 26-acres big and is the home of over 30 buildings which replicates a “living village” setup. A walk to the park will give you a glance on the actual farmhouses, village shops, and streets back then.
Admission Fee
Adult €15. Child/Student €9. Family (2 adults and 4 children under 18) €34.25.
Or you can save a few euros by booking your ticket online here. It is only € 45 per person.
How to get to Bunratty Castle from Limerick
Take a bus (Dublin Coach #300, Eurobus #300, Bus Eireann #343) from The Strand Hotel to Bunratty. This takes about 15-20 minutes for €3-10 per trip or €6-20 for a round-trip bus fare.
Then from the bus station, walk towards the castle entrance for about 8-10 minutes. The bus leaves every hour.
Recommended hours for the day trip
Between 3-4 hours.
Opening Hours
Daily 9 am- 5 pm
Contact Information
Address: Bunratty West, Bunratty, Co. Clare, Ireland
Phone: +353 (0) 61 711222
Email: reservations@shannonheritage.com
3. Ring of Kerry
Ring of Kerry is a circular tourist route in the county of Kerry. It covers 13 towns and it is known for its natural and unspoiled beauty. Aside from amazing islands and cliffs, Ring of Kerry is also known for its charming and quaint villages. It is a popular road trip route in Ireland as well.
How to get to Ring of Kerry from Limerick
Killarney is the starting point of Ring of Kerry if you are planning to cover it clockwise. To get to Killarney from Limerick, take a bus from Limerick Arthur’s to Killarney. This takes about 2 hours and it costs between €6-22 for one way or €12-44 for a round trip fare. There are buses every 4 hours (Dublin Coach #300 and Eurobus #300) to 5 times a day (Bus Eireann #14).
Then you can take a bus between towns. Prices vary depending on length.
Or you can also take this Ring of Kerry tour that includes a stop in Killarney National Park and coastal sites along the Ring of Kerry for €45. To book, click here.
Recommended hours for the day trip
Between 8-10 hours depending on the number of towns you would like to visit.
4. Dingle Peninsula
If scenic drives, stunning coastal scenery, and a visit to one of Ireland’s most colorful towns sound interesting to you, renting a car and driving to the Peninsula is a must on a visit to Ireland!
It’s part of Wild Atlantic Way route which is considered one of the most scenic road trip routes in the world. The route consists of breathtaking views of the coastline, offshore islands, and cliff-top roads. It is one of the most popular activities in Dingle.
How to get to Dingle Peninsula from Limerick
Getting from Limerick to the Dingle Peninsula is a bit complicated. Aside from 2-3 connections on bus and trains, getting around and covering the best parts of the peninsula requires private transport in between and it can be quite expensive.
If you would like to take public transport to the Dingle Peninsula, you can take a bus (Dublin Coach #300) from Limerick Arthur’s to Prince’s Street in Tralee. It takes almost 2 hours and it costs €6-9 for a one-way trip or €12-18 for a round trip bus fare.
The bus leaves every hour so plan accordingly. And from Tralee, take another bus to the town of Dingle for another hour. The trip costs between €9-12 for a one-way trip or €18-24 for a round trip bus fare. Bus leaves every 4 hours so make sure to check the bus schedule.
Then from Dingle, take a taxi to the Dingle Peninsula for 20 minutes. This costs about €14-18. You have to spend €29-39 for just one way trip through this route.
Please note, that you might have to take a taxi in between points of interest as well and there’s no assurance you can get one. So you might have to rent a taxi from Dingle and the cost of renting a taxi will add up. To book. click here.
Recommended hours for the day trip
Between 8-10 hours.
5. Rock of Cashel
The Rock of Cashel, also known as Cashel of the Kings and St. Patrick’s Rock, is a historic site located at Cashel in County Tipperary. It is one of the most spectacular attractions in Ireland and also one of the most visited castles in Ireland.
This iconic landmark was the seat of the High Kings of Munster and was built between the 12th to the 13th century. Aside from its beautiful structure and scenic spot, the Rock of Cashel is also known for its important play in history and religion. The Cashel is associated with two famous legendary people in Ireland. It was said that St. Patrick arrived in Cashel and baptized King Aengus in AD 432.
Admission Fee
Adult : €8.00, Group / Senior : €6.00, Child / Student : €4.00, Family : €20.00
How to get to Rock of Cashel from Limerick
Take a train from Limerick to Limerick Junction. This takes about 30 minutes for €7-11 per trip or €14-22 for a round-trip train fare. The train leaves every hour. Then from the train station, take a taxi directly to Rock of Cashel for another 25 minutes and it costs between €30-40.
Recommended hours for the day trip
Between 3-4 hours.
Opening Hours
9 am to 4:30 pm during winter and 9 am to 7 pm during the summer.
Contact Information
Location: Rock of Cashel, Moor, Cashel, Co.Tipperary, Ireland
Phone: 062 61437
Email: rockofcashel@opw.ie