Traveling the world and seeing all there is to see is one of the things I day dream about most! In 2009, I almost started fulfilling that dream with a trip to Ireland. We had to cancel at the last minute because of health issues, and those travel dreams took a nosedive. Now that I am self employed and working full time on this little’ol blog and my VA business, I’m bringing those travel dreams back to life and I plan to start once again, with Limerick, Ireland!
Pretty frequently overlooked by visitors to Ireland, Limerick’s actually one of the country’s most hidden treasures. With this guide to getting around on a budget, you’ll be able to see the very best of Limerick’s attractions and find out a little something about an often ignored city. A real must see for anyone interested in history or nature, Limerick has some of Ireland’s most beautiful sights and we’ve put together a guide to a few personal favourites.
When you visit Limerick, there’s a fair few hotels around the city to match any level of budget. Unless you’re staying in a hostel you’ll probably get the best deals over at one of the Limerick Travelodge hotels depending on how you’re getting to the city. Both the hotels are some distance from central Limerick, but offer pretty large savings for bookers.
Most of Limerick’s best sights are found outside of the city centre, so we’d advise you to drive in or rent a car if you’re flying – while there’s great public transport and walking routes in Limerick itself, buses simply don’t reach some of the city’s attractions.
1: Lough Gur – Rated by TripAdvisor visitors as the best thing to do in Limerick, Lough Gur is absolutely perfect for anyone fancying a natural day out. Found a few miles south of Limerick, the Lough is unquestionably one of Ireland’s most scenic natural environments. From the lake itself to great walking paths around the woods and a set of ancient attractions (stone circles, castles and more), Lough Gur makes for an unforgettable visit.
2: Hunt Museum – The best museum in Limerick, the Hunt Museum has one of the most varied collections you’ll find in all of Ireland. Starting off back in the Stone Age and moving through time and space to include pieces from Ireland, ancient Egypt and far more, the Hunt Museum can’t really be described as anything but fascinating. If you’re in the mood for something more local, the Limerick City Museum looks through the past of Limerick itself.
3: Bunratty Castle – Over to the west of Limerick, between the Shannon Airport and Limerick itself, you’ll find the Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. A collection of 4 areas, Bunratty is aimed at families. You’ll all be able to explore an ancient castle before moving up to a recreation of 19th century life in Limerick, check out gorgeous art and take some time to relax in a walled garden.
4: King John’s Castle – Originally built centuries ago, King John’s Castle recently saw a huge revamp to make it a standout Limerick attraction. Absolutely perfect for families (and not too shabby for adults), the castle now contains high tech displays and live reenactors to give visitors a look at what medieval history was actually like. Over the year, the castle is used for firework displays, light shows and more so make sure you check out what’s on if you’re visiting around a holiday.
5: Milk Market – One of the most interesting sites for shoppers heading to Limerick, the Milk Market’s always filled with a host of incredible stalls selling everything from food to fashion. Whether you’re looking for a bit to eat, want to take home some souvenirs or are just in the mood to find out a little bit more about the local style of Limerick, we’d really recommend taking a walk on through the market.
Limerick in the modern day is a far cry from how the city was portrayed in the famous ‘Angela’s Ashes’ (though you can still explore the early side of the city with some walking tours), featuring a whole lot of modern sights and activities to suit any visitor.
While my travel dreams for Ireland are still a year or two away, I am having SO much fun planning and dreaming of all things there are to do!
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