3 Days In Ireland From Knock (‘Slow-Trip’ For Those Using 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:

• 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 Knock
• Using your own car/a rental (if you’re renting a car, read this Irish car rental guide – it’ll save you time and hassle)
• 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. Dublin for 4 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: Sligo’s history and beaches

It’s day one and welcome to Ireland! Today, you’re heading up to Sligo Town from Knock Airport, where you’ll be doing some exploring of Ireland’s gorgeous northwest coast. You’ll spend two nights in Sligo.

If you haven’t already got somewhere in mind to stay, we’ve made a list of our favourite hotels and B&Bs in Sligo town below!

Our Sligo accommodation recommendations

• Budget: Old Fort B&B (great reviews and a 7-minute spin from town) and Tranquility B&B (solid reviews and a 5-minute drive from town)
• Mid-range: Riverside Hotel (central with great reviews) and Sligo Southern Hotel (10-minute stroll into town and nice and comfy)
• Upper-range: The Glasshouse (right by the river in the town – close to everything) and the Clayton Hotel (5-minute drive to town with swimming pool)

Stop 1: Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery

From the airport, it’s a roughly 45-minute drive to the Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery. This is a fascinating spot containing the country’s oldest and densest cluster of Neolithic tombs.

The site dates back over 6,000 years, with around 30 passage tombs still standing today (sadly, many were lost to quarrying and land clearance during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries).

At the centre of the cemetery, you’ll easily spot Listoghil or Tomb 51, by far the largest monument on the site at 34 metres in diameter. It’s the only tomb on the site clearly covered by a cairn and Megalithic art has been found under the roof slab!

The site is free to visit, but we recommend paying extra (around €5, cash only) for a guided tour and access to the exhibition in the restored cottage on site. Most people spend around one and a half hours here.

Stop 2: Lunch in Strandhill

Drive the 10 minutes to Strandhill, a little seaside village, to grab some lunch. If you’re looking to kick off your holiday with some traditional Irish pub grub, then look no further than The Strand Bar.

They have all the classics, and their Guinness beef stew is divine.

Dunnes Bar is our go-to for a mouth-watering burger, with heaps of options, including two vegetarian burgers. If you’re in a group, then consider heading to Stoked for world-cuisine tapas.

They’ve got some bangers on the menu, like Tandoori squid and lamb shoulder bao.

Stop 3: Coffee and a stroll on the beach

If you’ve still got a little bit of room left, walk over to Mammy Johnstons for a coffee to go, followed by a leisurely stroll on the beach.

Strandhill Beach is a beautiful sandy beach with some great views of Sligo Bay and Knocknarea Mountain.

Coffee in hand, walk along the shore and explore the sand dunes or watch the surfers tackling the waves (it’s a popular surf spot throughout the year).

Although the water may look tempting (especially in the summer), Strandhill Beach is not a swimmer’s beach as there are dangerous rip currents further out.

Stop 4: Sligo Abbey

Your next stop is Sligo Abbey, a 15-minute drive from Strandhill. The Dominican friary dates back to the mid-13th century and was founded by Maurice FitzGerald, the founder of Sligo Town.

The abbey ruins are in great condition, considering they survived a fire in 1414, an attack during the ‘Nine Year War’ in 1595, and pillaging during the Rebellion of 1641. Legend has it that during the rebellion, the abbey’s silver bell was salvaged and thrown into nearby Lough Gill. Today, only those “pure of heart” can still hear the peal of the bell through the town…

Despite sustaining heavy damage, the abbey, which is a blend of Norman and Gothic architecture, still has beautiful carvings and monuments. For those interested in literature, the abbey was featured in two of W.B. Yeat’s poems – ‘The Curse of the Fires and of the Shadows’ and ‘The Crucifixion of the Outcast’.

The abbey is open daily with a small admission fee (around €5).

Stop 5: Yeats building

If you’ve an interest in Irish culture, take the short, 6-minute stroll to the Yeats Building. It’s here that you’ll be immersed in all things drama, history, literature and poetry.

There’s a Yeats exhibition that’ll take you into the mind of one of Ireland’s most famous poets, and you can also take a guided tour (advance booking needed).

Stop 6: Dinner, drinks and live music

It’s time to wrap up your first day, and what a day it was! Head back to your hotel to freshen up, or go directly from the museum to grab some dinner. We’ve got some suggestions below.

Our Sligo food recommendations

Hopefully, you’re hungry as there’s some excellent restaurants in Sligo.

Head to Hooked for delicious Irish and international food made from local ingredients sourced from Sligo County. Some of our favourite dishes are the Sherlock of Tubbercurry’s prime beef steak sandwich and the buffalo chicken mac’n’cheese, but they also have some delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes.

For seafood and steaks, we love Coachlane. It’s a little on the pricey side, but their certified Irish angus beef is worth the extra money. If steak isn’t your thing, their seafood platter is incredible, with salmon, scallops, crab claws, cod, monkfish, and shrimp.

Our Sligo pub recommendations

If you’re feeling like after dinner drinks, we suggest hitting up Hargadon Bros (a traditional Irish pub dating back to 1868), Thomas Connolly (a heritage Irish pub and the oldest in Sligo Town), and Shoot the Crows (a cosy and quirky traditional pub with a great pint of Guinness).

For a night of lively trad music, pass by McLynns Bar or Fureys Pub (or both!).

McLynns is in the heart of Sligo town on Old Market Street. The fourth-generation pub has been running since 1889, with live music (Irish folk, acoustic, and bluegrass) every weekend and on mid-week nights. The traditional interior will transport you back in time with wooden furniture and historical decor.

Fureys Pub on Bridge Street is a cosy old-style pub with a great atmosphere, an open fire (great for those cold winter evenings), and live trad music on weekends and certain weekday nights.

Day 2: Sligo – Yeats Country

Today we are exploring more of Sligo. Just a note on today, we have you drive back to Sligo to grab some lunch before heading back out to Lissadel house. If you want to cut down on driving time today, we recommend that you drop into a Centra, Spar, or SuperValu and grab a sandwich or packed lunch to keep in the car with you.

Start the day with a hearty breakfast at your accommodation. Or, if you want to have breakfast out, we recommend Margarets Cafe (a cosy spot with traditional Irish breakfast, french toast, and pancakes) or Lyons Cafe and Bakeshop (hearty-cooked breakfasts and artisanal pastries).

Stop 1: Drumcliffe Church and WB Yeats Grave

After breakfast, hop in the car and drive the 10 minutes to Drumcliffe Church (also known as St. Columba’s Church).

This beautiful church is renowned for being the location of W.B. Yeat’s grave (although it wasn’t his first resting place!). His simple grave is in the churchyard, with an inscription reading, “cast a cold eye on life, on death, horseman, pass by”, written by the poet himself.

The church is in a stunning location, in front of Benbulben Mountain, amongst lush green fields. There’s free parking on-site, and if you’re already hankering for another coffee, there’s a little coffee shop.

Stop 2: Benbulben Forest Walk

Next on today’s agenda is the gorgeous Benbulben Forest Walk. It’s a six-minute drive from Drumcliffe Church, simply type in ‘Benbulbin Walk’ into Google Maps and follow the map to the car park.

The walk is a relatively easy 5.5km loop, which is mostly flat, making it perfect for families. It takes most people around 1.5 hours to complete with unbeatable views of Benbulben Mountain and the Sligo countryside. On clear days, you might even be able to see Slieve League and Classiebawn Castle in the distance.

Stop 3: Glencar Waterfall

Okay, so Glencar Waterfall is technically in Leitrim, but since it’s only 20 minutes from the Benbulben Forest Walk and right on the Sligo border, we had to include it!

Glencar Waterfall is a magical place and the inspiration for W.B. Yeat’s poem ‘The Stolen Child’. The waterfall, a lovely little cascade, is tucked away within an enchanting forest, only a five to 10 minutes walk from the car park.

There’s plenty of parking there, so there’s usually no trouble finding a space. You’ll also find public toilets on-site, in case you need the loo after the forest walk.

Stop 4: Back to Sligo for Lunch (optional)

If you didn’t opt to grab a packed lunch this morning, then drive the 17 minutes back to Sligo town for a cooked meal.

Our personal favourite lunch spot is Hooked (which we recommended last night for dinner). Their brunch menu has Irish classics like beer-battered fish and chips and international dishes like the 12-hour slow-cooked pork belly Vietnamese bahn mi.

If Hooked doesn’t take your fancy, then we also recommend Lyons Cafe and Bakeshop or Bridgefoot House.

Stop 5: Lissadell House

Kick off the afternoon with a visit to Lissadell House, a 19-minute drive from Sligo Town and Glencar. The neo-classical Greek revivalist home dates back to 1830 and was completed in 1835.

The original 32,000-acre estate belonged to the Gore-Booth family and was the childhood home of Constance ( who would become Countess Markievicz, a famous Irish revolutionary) and Eva Gore-Booth (a poet and suffragette), alongside their three siblings. The Yeats brothers also visited the home on holiday, with W. B. Yeats referencing the home and the famous sisters in his poem “In Memory of Eva Gore-Booth and Con Markiewicz”.

Today, the now 500-acre estate and home are privately owned, although it is open to the public. There’s lots to do, whether it’s taking a stroll through the 2.5-acre garden, admiring the lavish rooms, seeing the 1916 exhibition, or visiting the Yeats Gallery, which contains works of painter Jack B. Yeats.

Stop 6: Streedagh Beach stroll

Hop in the car and make your way to Streedagh Beach, a 15-minute drive away. There’s a large car park there, so you usually don’t have to worry about finding a spot.

The beach itself is an impressive 3km long sandy stretch on a sandbar that links the mainland to Connor’s Island. We think the beach has probably the best view of Benbulben Mountain in the county, and you may recognise it from the TV show, Normal People.

It’s a lovely spot for a ramble to take in the fresh sea air and the amazing views. During the summer, there’s a lifeguard service, although we advise against swimming unless you’re experienced as the waters have strong tides and undercurrents.

Stop 7: Back to Sligo town for the evening

It’s time to call it a day and head back to Sligo town. It’s around 22 minutes in the car, and you may want to stop by your accommodation to freshen up before dinner or, if you’re really hungry, go straight to the restaurant!

Our Sligo food recommendations

Hopefully, you’re hungry as there’s some excellent restaurants in Sligo.

Head to Hooked for delicious Irish and international food made from local ingredients sourced from Sligo County. Some of our favourite dishes are the Sherlock of Tubbercurry’s prime beef steak sandwich and the buffalo chicken mac’n’cheese, but they also have some delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes.

For seafood and steaks, we love Coachlane. It’s a little on the pricey side, but their certified Irish angus beef is worth the extra money. If steak isn’t your thing, their seafood platter is incredible, with salmon, scallops, crab claws, cod, monkfish, and shrimp.

Our Sligo pub recommendations

If you’re feeling like after dinner drinks, we suggest hitting up Hargadon Bros (a traditional Irish pub dating back to 1868), Thomas Connolly (a heritage Irish pub and the oldest in Sligo Town), and Shoot the Crows (a cosy and quirky traditional pub with a great pint of Guinness).

For a night of lively trad music, pass by McLynns Bar or Fureys Pub (or both!).

McLynns is in the heart of Sligo town on Old Market Street. The fourth-generation pub has been running since 1889, with live music (Irish folk, acoustic, and bluegrass) every weekend and on mid-week nights. The traditional interior will transport you back in time with wooden furniture and historical decor.

Fureys Pub on Bridge Street is a cosy old-style pub with a great atmosphere, an open fire (great for those cold winter evenings), and live trad music on weekends and certain weekday nights.

Day 3: Back to Knock and home

And that’s the end of your whirlwind trip to Ireland! Depending on what time your flight leaves, you may have to head out early or have some more time to explore before you drive to Knock Airport.

The airport is approximately 50 minutes away, so make sure to give yourself plenty of time to catch your flight!

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!