3 Days In Ireland From Shannon (‘Fast-Trip’ For Those With A Car + Good Fitness)

Planning a 3-day Ireland itinerary can be a pain in the backside… So, we’ve done all of the hard work for you!

We’ve spent 25+ years travelling around Ireland and the itinerary below leans on that experience and the many mistakes we made along the way!

In a nutshell, this 3-day itinerary:

• Starts and ends in Shannon
• Has been meticulously planned
• Has an hour-by-hour itinerary for each day to save you time/hassle
• Follows logical routes that take you to hidden gems, tourist favourites and great pubs and restaurants

Who this itinerary will suit

Now, before you scroll down, take 10 seconds to look at the graphic above – each of our road trip itineraries have been tailored to specific needs.

This road trip is specifically for those of you:

• Starting in/near Shannon
• Using your own car/a rental
• Looking to explore at a fast pace
• With a good level of fitness (i.e. it includes long walks and hikes)
• Remember, we have hundreds of different itineraries here if this one doesn’t suit you

An overview of this itinerary

The map above gives you a very high-level overview of where this route will take you.

It uses several bases (e.g. Cork for 3 nights) and provides you with day-long road trips you can head off on, so you avoid having to change accommodation constantly.

Now, I’ll stop rambling on – here’s a day-by-day insight into each of the days below!

Day 1: Arrive in Shannon and head to Limerick

Day 1 of this 3-day Ireland itinerary is going to be very dependent on the time that you arrive into Shannon.

For this itinerary, we’re going to make an assumption that you’ve landed in the morning and are ready to explore from mid-afternoon.

After you touch down, pick up your rental car and make your way to Limerick City. You’re going to be spending two nights here.

Recommended accommodation in Limerick

• Budget: Woodfield House Hotel (15-minute walk from the city with excellent reviews) and Shelbourne House (cosy spot 20 minutes walk from the castle)
• Mid-range: Limerick City Hotel (very central hotel near the river) and The Bedford (very central boutique townhouse with exceptional reviews)
• Luxury: The Savoy Hotel (central, boutique 5-star) and The George (central spot on O’Connell Street in Limerick city centre)

Stop 1: Bunratty Castle Park

Bunratty Castle and Folk Park sit on 26 acres of lovely countryside only 15 minutes from Shannon Airport.

Visiting the Folk Park feels like stepping back in time as 19th-century buildings and streets have been recreated to resemble what they would have originally looked like.

The park has over 30 buildings, including village shops, rural farmhouses, and Bunratty House, a beautiful Georgian home. 

You can also take a tour of 15th-century Bunratty Castle, the last of four castles built on the site. However, prior to the castles being built, the site was home to a Viking trading camp in 970.

You can also take a tour of Bunratty Castle, the last of four castles built on the site (grab your skip-the-line ticket online before you go.)

Stop 2: Limerick City 

Welcome to Limerick City! It takes between 25 and 30 minutes via the N19 and N18 from Shannon Airport. There’s a toll through the tunnel, so make sure you have some euro coins or a contactless card so you can get through. Once you arrive, we recommend checking into your accommodation and leaving the car, as you’ll be heading to the rest of today’s stops on foot!

Stop 3: Lunch 

It’s probably close to lunchtime by now and we’ve got a couple of suggestions for you. We usually head to Coqbull, The Buttery, or the Hook and Ladder when we’re in the city. Coqbull is a casual dining restaurant serving up top-notch burgers and wings. The Buttery is our go-to for brunch, and the Hook and Ladder (the one on Sarsfield Street) has delicious sandwiches and a mouth-watering vegan burger. 

Stop 4: King John’s Castle

Head off to King John’s Castle, a 10-minute walk from the centre of the city. The 13th-century castle sits on King’s Island, on the banks of the River Shannon. The castle is in fantastic condition and is one of Europe’s best-preserved Norman castles. 

King John’s Castle was built under the orders of King John, the “Lord of Ireland” and Richard the Lionheart’s brother. It was built in between 1200 and 1212, with numerous repairs and extensions over its 800-year history. 

The castle was a military stronghold with solid curtain walls, turrets, and strong fortifications. However, despite this, it sustained heavy damage during the 1642 siege of Limerick (the first of five Limerick sieges during the 17th century). There’s a fantastic exhibition on the siege inside the castle if you’d like to learn more. 

Most people spend around one and half hours visiting the castle and visitor centre. You can have a look at the interactive exhibits, try on historic costumes, and in the summer, play Medieval games in the courtyard!

Stop 5: St Mary’s Cathedral 

The next stop is St. Mary’s Cathedral. It’s a 3-minute walk from King John’s Castle, and you probably passed it on your way to the castle. The cathedral was founded in 1168, making it even older than King John’s Castle and the oldest building in Limerick that’s still in use today!

The cathedral contains six chapels, but if you’re pressed for time, the Lady Chapel is a must-visit. The Lady Chapel contains its original pre-reformation altar, which is four metres long and weighs three tons. During the mid-1600s, the altar was removed and dumped by Oliver Cromwell’s troops when they captured the city. But, by some miracle, it was recovered in the 1960s and reinstated to its rightful place. 

Another highlight of St. Mary’s Cathedral is its misericords (small wooden carvings). They are the only complete set in Ireland and the only remaining pre-Elizabethan carvings. 

Stop 6: The Hunt Museum 

It’s time to walk another 3 minutes to the Hunt Museum. Again, you probably already passed it on your way to the castle. 

The Hunt Museum was established after John and Gertrude Hunt decided to donate items from their personal collection to the people of Ireland.

The museum has a large collection with over 2,500 artefacts, including pieces from Ancient Egypt and Stone-Age Ireland. Highlights of the collection include works by Picasso and dresses by famous Irish fashion designer Sybil Connolly. 

Recently, the museum launched the “Museum in a Garden”, a beautiful garden dotted with 3D printed replicas of historical artefacts (you can grab a ticket online here).

Stop 7: Dinner, drinks and live music

There’s some excellent restaurants in Limerick and there’s some mighty old-school pubs in Limerick, too.

Our Limerick food recommendations

Our absolute favourite spot for dinner is the Curragower. It’s right on the banks of the River Shannon with beautiful views of King John’s Castle across the water.

Grab some delicious pub grub like the roasted lamb rump or the lightly breaded scampi, then stick around for some pints after dinner.

Otherwise, we also like SpitJack (the rotisserie pork belly is a customer favourite) and The Locke (they have a delicious steak and ale pie and great vegetarian options).

Our Limerick pub recommendations

For drinks, again, we love the Curragower but Tom Collins is another lovely pub.

Another great trad pub is Nancy Blakes and depending on the night, they might have some music on. However, if you don’t mind heading a little out of the city centre, then Charlie Malones is a must-visit.

In our opinion, it’s one of Limerick’s best-kept secrets, with a real old-school pub vibe. 

Limerick is a great city for trad music. The Locke often has music and even dancing on some nights if you’re lucky! Dolans is also great, but it’s a short walk from the city centre. 

Day 2: Limerick, Tipperary, and Clare

Today you are exploring Limerick, Tipperary, and Clare. You will be hiking the highest peak in Clare today so make sure to bring good hiking boots, clothing for all weather, and plenty of water and snacks!

Grab some food at your accommodation or nearby. We like Cafe Rose or Aroma Coffee for breakfast.

Stop 1: The Moylussa Hike

Moylussa, Clare’s tallest peak, is an admirable 532 metres tall. The 12.75km hike is a moderate one, but towards the summit, the difficulty ramps up.

It takes most people around 3 hours to finish, but it’s well worth the effort, as you’ll have awesome views from the top!

The weather at the summit can be unpredictable, so as we mentioned earlier, make sure to bring clothing for all kinds of scenarios. 

Stop 2: Lunch

It’s probably around lunchtime by now, so head over to Killaloe, which has some lovely lunch spots. We recommend checking out The Wooden Spoon or Pontevecchio. 

The Wooden Spoon is a top choice for light bites like salads, sandwiches, and soups. Whereas Pontevecchio is a beautiful little restaurant with a bookshop, wine bar, and Italian deli vibe serving up delicious Italian light bites. 

If you’re not feeling like a ‘light bite’ after your mega hike (very understandable), head to the Pipers Inn, an Irish gastropub open from noon, which serves hearty dishes like burgers and roast beef. 

Stop 3: Coffee and a stroll around Killaloe

After lunch, it’s time to explore the gorgeous little town of Killaloe, which is an absolute joy to saunter around.

Grab yourself a coffee to go from Bless Cafe or Derg House Cafe and go for a little wander through its streets and down by the river where you’ll see the boat cruises take off.

Stop 4: Clare Glens

Next up is the Clare Glens, a gorgeous waterfall and walk, a 23-minute drive from Killaloe.

There are two walks: a 2km Nature Loop (which takes 30 minutes to one hour) and the Clare Glens Loop Walk (which takes one to 1.5 hours).

Both loops start on either side of the Clare Bridge. Since you’ve already had a big walk today, we recommend the shorter Clare Glens Nature Loop. 

Stop 5: Back to Limerick for the night

Once you’re ready to head back to Limerick, jump in the car and drive the 34 minutes back to the city. 

There’s some excellent restaurants in Limerick and there’s some mighty old-school pubs in Limerick, too.

Our Limerick food recommendations

Our absolute favourite spot for dinner is the Curragower. It’s right on the banks of the River Shannon with beautiful views of King John’s Castle across the water.

Grab some delicious pub grub like the roasted lamb rump or the lightly breaded scampi, then stick around for some pints after dinner.

Otherwise, we also like SpitJack (the rotisserie pork belly is a customer favourite) and The Locke (they have a delicious steak and ale pie and great vegetarian options).

Our Limerick pub recommendations

For drinks, again, we love the Curragower but Tom Collins is another lovely pub.

Another great trad pub is Nancy Blakes and depending on the night, they might have some music on. However, if you don’t mind heading a little out of the city centre, then Charlie Malones is a must-visit.

In our opinion, it’s one of Limerick’s best-kept secrets, with a real old-school pub vibe. 

Limerick is a great city for trad music. The Locke often has music and even dancing on some nights if you’re lucky! Dolans is also great, but it’s a short walk from the city centre.  

Day 3: Back to Shannon Airport

It takes about 15 minutes to get to Shannon Airport. What you do today is up to you. If your flight leaves today, then head on over to the airport. If you have some free time, why not head to check out something you didn’t have time for on day 1 or 2? 

And that’s a wrap on this road trip

We hope you found the above road trip guide useful. If you have any questions, ask in the comments below and we’ll do our best to help.

Or, if you’d like to browse our other Irish Road Trip itineraries, visit our Road Trip Hub – cheers!