3 Days In Ireland From Shannon (‘Slow-Trip’ For Those Using Public Transport + Good Fitness)

Planning a 3-day Ireland itinerary using only public transport 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…

The itinerary below has taken that experience (and the many mistakes we made along the way) to create an itinerary that we’re confident you’ll love!

In a nutshell, this 3-day itinerary:

• Has been meticulously planned for those only using public transport
• 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 public transport and organised tours
• Looking to explore at a slow 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.

You’re going to be spending two nights in Limerick City.

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: Bus or taxi to Limerick City

Welcome to Limerick City! You will be staying in Limerick tonight and the last night of your trip, so try to make the most of this beautiful city. You can take the bus or a taxi to get to Limerick City from Shannon. We have outlined your options below.

Option 1: Bus

You can take Bus Eireann or Expressway into Limerick City. The buses leave just about every hour and cost around €10.

Option 2: Taxi

A taxi from the airport will take you around 22 minutes and cost anywhere from €35 to €50. There is information at the airport about getting a taxi.

Stop 2: 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 3: 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 4: 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 5: 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 6: 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: The Clare coast

Today, you’re going on an 8-hour adventure-filled tour of one of Ireland’s most popular natural attractions, the magnificent Cliffs of Moher!

First thing first, get yourself some breakfast either at your accommodation or nearby.

We are big fans of Hook & Ladder. They have several locations within Limerick, but the one on Sarsfield Street is a stone’s throw from where the tour begins, plus they open at 8am. 

We’re going to give you an outline of the tour below. It’s an 8-hour trip departing from Arthur’s Quay at 9:15am. 

Keep reading below for an overview of the tour, but please note that 1. You may not always physically stop at all of these sights, and 2. These tours are subject to change, so always check with the provider in advance.

Stop 1: Cliffs of Moher

Your first stop of the day is the Cliffs of Moher and, from what we can tell, we think you’ll have around one and a half hours here to explore the site.

The cliffs are an iconic attraction, with breathtaking views of the wild Atlantic, Galway Bay, and the Aran Islands.

There’s a visitor centre on-site, as well as 800 metres of paved walkways with viewing areas and the historic O’Brien’s Tower.

Stop 2: Lunch in Doolin 

You’ll be stopping for lunch in Doolin, a coastal village just a short drive away from the cliffs. Doolin is filled with great pubs and you’ll have the chance to enjoy a typical pub lunch here. If it’s on the menu, we recommend trying a traditional seafood chowder or a warming Guinness and beef stew! Please note that lunch isn’t included in the ticket price. 

As you make your way toward Bunratty Castle, you’ll pass by Galway Bay, where you may be able to spot distant islands,  or, at the very least, take in the lovely views.

Stop 3: The Burren

The Burren is another scenic drive by on your way to Bunratty Castle. 

It is a gorgeous landscape, characterised by huge limestone plateaus and what is known as a karst landscape, a distinct landform that arises when carbonate rock (such as dolomite, marble, or limestone) is slowly dissolved by water, giving the land its unique shape. In fact, the Burren is still being shaped by the rain to this day!

Karst landscapes have sinkholes, caves, and underground streams, the Burren being no exception, with huge subterranean caverns below its surface. The Burren is one of the best examples of karst landscapes worldwide, and it has a diverse range of flora and fauna thanks to its varied landscape. 

Stop 4: Bunratty Castle

Your final stop is at Bunratty Castle, a 15th-century castle and the last of four castles built on the site.

Bunratty Castle and Folk Park sit on 26 acres of lovely countryside. Visiting the Folk Park feels like stepping back in time as the 19th-century buildings and streets have been recreated to resemble what they would have originally looked like.

However, prior to the castles being built, the site was home to a Viking trading camp in 970. 

Stop 5: Back to Limerick for the night

From the castle, it’s a short 20-minute drive back to Limerick City where you’ll be dropped off at the pick-up point, Arthur’s Quay. 

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

OK, so your final day is completely dependent on how much time you have left/when you fly out from Shannon. If you have time, why not check out anything you missed from day 1? If you need to catch your flight, hop on a Bus Eireann or Expressway bus from Limerick City to  Shannon Airport. The buses leave just about every hour and cost around €10.

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!