Is Limerick Worth Visiting? + Reasons to Visit in 2024

Is Limerick Worth Visiting, during a trip to Ireland. I believe it is – and I’ll tell you why.

Limerick was founded by Vikings and is one of the oldest cities in Ireland. It has buildings that date back to the 1100s and 1200s, which you can explore in the walkable downtown.

Limerick also has some exciting attractions, like King John Castle, the International Rugby experience, some great restaurants and pubs, and museums.

I believe that a day or two in Limerick (more if you want to see the surrounding areas) is worth the time while you’re in Ireland.

While Dublin and Galway are my favourite Irish cities, I am still really glad that I made the time to visit Limerick. You don’t need a lot of time to see everything, but what there is to see in Limerick is worth it.

So, let’s jump in – here are the reasons why Limerick might be worth adding to your Irish itinerary.

What Makes Limerick Worth a Visit

Here are the reasons why you should visit Limerick.

1. Limerick has a walkable downtown

Like other cities in Ireland, Limerick has a really nice downtown core. It has the River Shannon running through it, and many attractions in the heart of the city are near the river.

We enjoyed many walks alone the river’s edge in Limerick, and couldn’t stop taking photos. There are many benches where you can sit down and enjoy views of the river on a nice day.

If you’re staying in the Limerick city centre, then it’s fairly easy to get to most of the attractions on foot.

2. Limerick has impressive medieval buildings and architecture

Limerick was founded by Vikings in 812, and has buildings on-sites that were occupied by the vikings and date back to the middle ages.

One of my favourite thing about Limerick was exploring the history of the city and of Ireland through its landmarks.

Here are some of the medieval buildings to check out in Limerick:

• King John Castle (pictured above) which was built in the year 1200. It was one of my favourite castles to visit in Ireland, because it looked so much like out of a medieval fairy tale
• St. Mary’s Cathedral was built in 1168, and is the oldest building in Limerick. It’s still in use as a church, and an attraction for tourists
• The Treaty of Limerick, a stone that was signed in 1691.

3. Limerick has great day trip options

Limerick’s location in central west Ireland means that it’s quite central to a lot of great places to see around the area.

• Bunratty Castle (pictured above) 20 minutes from Limerick
• The village of Adare. 25 minutes from Limerick. Adare is a beautiful and colourful small town, one of the cutest I’ve ever seen in Ireland!
• Rock of Cashel, a famous abandoned castle just 1 hour from Limerick
• Cliffs of Moher (1 hour and 14 minutes from Limerick) you could stay overnight, see them at sunset, or just do a day trip from Limerick
• The Aran Islands. You can take a ferry from Doolin or Galway, which are less than 2 hours away, or book this day trip to Aran Islands from Limerick 

4. There are great food and pub options

Limerick isn’t the foodie capital of Ireland (Cork is) but Limerick does have some very popular pubs and award winning restaurants, and exciting food scene.

Here are some of the best food experiences in Limerick.

• Donkey Fjords in downtown Limerick is known as the best take out place in Ireland
• The famous milk market (a food market) that has been running since the 1850s. You can visit it on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays in the city centre.
• There is also some elegant upscale dining, as well as diverse ethnic options and vegetarian and vegan options in the Limerick food scene

5. Limerick is the sporting capital of Ireland

This doesn’t fascinate me much, since I’m not a sport person – but if you love sports (particularly football and rugby) then you will feel drawn to Limerick.

The Thomond Park Stadium is in Limerick, which is owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union.

Limerick is also the first and only Irish city to have been awarded the ‘European City of Sport,’ (an annual award given to a handful of cities each year) in 2011.

You can also do a special rugby experience while you’re in Limerick, see a game, or even do a tour of the Thomond Park Stadium.

Best Things to Do in Limerick

Here are the best things to do in Limerick that make it worth a visit

1. Visit King John’s Castle

King John’s Castle is the main attraction in Limerick, and in my opinion, is worth a visit to Limerick in itself.

It’s a very large castle, and a museum with artifacts and some education to teach you the history about the castle and of Limerick.

I recommend giving yourself at least 2 hours to explore all of King John Castle, because there’s a lot to see in the inside and the outside.

It’s from the top of King John Castle that I got this beautiful view overlooking the river.

Tickets to King John’s Castle can be booked in advance on their website.

2. Shop at the Milk Market

Limerick is famous for its Milk Market, which is a food market that has been running in the heart of town since the 1850s.

Whether you intend to buy something or not, this historic market is nice to stroll through in order to take in this historic tradition in Limerick.

You can eat fresh food on site, find groceries to bring back to your AirBnb, and you may even find some good Irish gifts or souvenirs.

Today, the Milk Market in Limerick is open from Fridays to Sundays, with a special focus each day.

• Fridays have live music and specials for lunch
• Saturdays are the farmer’s market
• Sundays are family relaxation day with brunch foods, crafts and yoga

You can find the Milk Market in the heart of downtown, a short walk from the Limerick city library.

3. Check out St. Mary’s Cathedral

St. Mary’s Cathedral is 850 years old, and is one of the most well-preserved buildings of its age in Ireland.

It also is still serving its original purpose as a place of worship. It’s also, because of its age, a very popular tourist attraction too.

You can visit St. Mary’s for free by attending a church service, but you can also drop in to visit it as a tourist.

Tickets for visiting St. Mary’s as a tourist are €5.00 for anyone over the age of 10; those under 10 are free. You can visit during the week between 11am and 4pm.

Visit the St. Mary’s website here. to buy tickets online in advance (you can also buy them in person if you prefer) or to find out about special events.

4. Take a walk along the River Shannon

One of the highlights of our time in Limerick was taking a walk along pathed trail by the river’s edge.

There is a paved river front just south of King John’s Castle. We saw this Flight of the Wild Geece Monument while we were walking along it.

This monument is a stone’s throw from King John’s Castle and St. Mary’s Cathedral, so its right downtown near all the attractions. There’s a paved path right there with great views of the river.

There are also many other places where you can walk along the river in Limerick. Here are other walks and trails along the River Shannon in the area to consider.

5. Admire art the Hunt Museum

The Hunt Museum is a 1700s building in Limerick holding centuries of the city’s past through art.

The museum has sculptures, paintings, and lots of unique artifacts. It’s located right on the River Shannon, has trails on-site, and views of the river from their garden.

I recommend visiting the Hunt Museum in the morning, so that you can have lunch in their café overlooking the river.

Grab your Skip the Line ticket to the Hunt Museum here

7. Tour the Thomond Park Stadium

If you’re a sports fan, then you might be amazed by the Thomond Park Stadium, in the outskirts of Limerick.

The most obvious way to experience the Thomond Park Stadium is to see a game playing there, however you can also do a tour of the stadium.

Tours of the Thomond Park Stadium allow you to visit the museum inside, and explore areas of the stadium that are normally only accessible to players.

Tours of Thomod Park are 10€ for adults and 8€ for kids. They can be booked on the Thomond Park website.

8. Do the International Rugby Experience

Aside from touring the stadium, another cool experience for sports fans in Limerick is to do the International Rugby Experience.

The International Rugby Experience is meant to teach you about the sport of rugby, as well as the history of rugby in Ireland. There are fun videos, interactive displays and games.

The rugby experience is fun for both adults and kids. Dress comfortably, because you will be moving around for a big part of the experience. It was more of a workout that I expected!

Unlike the stadium which is in the outskirts of Limerick, the Rugby experience is right downtown, so its accessible if you’re visiting other attractions in the heart of Limerick.

You can drop in for the International Rugby Experience, but they recommend that you book in advance on their website to guarantee a spot.

9. Check out the Treaty Stone

The Treaty stone is a monument in the heart of Limerick that commemorates the Treaty of Limerick which was signed in 1691.

The Treaty of Limerick was a deal that was made to surrender the city of Limerick to a man named William III who later became King of Ireland, England and Scotland.

Not all of the terms in the treaty were followed, so Limerick became known as the “The City of the Broken Treaty.”

It’s hard to believe this stone has been standing there for 300 years. It’s definitely worth taking a look at while you’re walking around Limerick.

10. Do a walking tour of Frank McCourt‘s home

If you’re a reader, and you’ve read the classic memoir Angela’s Ashes, then you might enjoy a tour of the author’s home.

Frank McCourt wrote Angela’s Ashes in 1996, and its a memoir of his life growing up in Brooklyn, New York but also in Limerick. It’s one of the most popular books that take place in Ireland.

If you haven’t read it – it might be worth it to read it before a trip to Limerick, since it details a lot of Limerick’s past from his experience, and be able to tour the author’s home.

Book your walking tour of Frank McCourt’s home here

11. Get Outside at People’s Park

People’s Park is the main park in Limerick, and has been open since 1877.

The pakr is right downtown within walking distance of attractions. There are landscaped grounds, gardens, a children’s playground, and trails in the pakr to take a stroll on.

The Limerick City Art Gallery located right on the edge of it, as well as the train station right across the street on the north side.

Pro Tip: The Limerick City train station has two coffee places (Starbucks and Siege coffee) and is located just across the street from the park. I recommend grabbing a coffee, and then taking a relaxing walk on the trails of the park.

12. Visit an Art Gallery

Limerick is actually a pretty artsy city, there are a handful of different art galleries to visit. The most well known one is the Limerick City Gallery, located in a Victorian building right on the edge of People’s Park, and pairs well with a visit there.

You could relax outside in the gardens after checking out the art gallery, or vice versa.

Entrance to the Limerick City Art Gallery is free of charge, and there are a variety of different pieces to look at; ranging from

Places to Stay in Limerick

Here are the best accommodations in Limerick that are close to attractions, according to different budget preferences

• Budget: George Limerick Hotel An affordable luxury hotel located in the city centre, a stone’s throw from attractions
• Mid Range: Absolute Hotel Limerick stylish hotel located in the old part of town. Restaurant and spa on-site, breakfast included
• Luxury: The Savoy Hotel Boutique hotel with luxurious bathrooms, swimming pool and hot breakfast

Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a very special luxury experience, there are a couple castle hotels near Limerick to stay in, such as Dromoland Castle and Adare Manor.

Visiting Limerick FAQ

Here are the most commonly asked questions about visiting Limerick, Ireland

Why is Limerick popular?

Limerick is popular because it’s the third largest city in Ireland, and has quite a few famous attractions, such as Treaty Stone, King John’s Castle, and the Milk Market. Limerick is also the sporting capital of Ireland.

Is Limerick or Cork better to visit?

Both Limerick and Cork are great places to visit, but the best one depends on your preferences. Cork has more things to do to fill more time, but Limerick has older buildings. If you’re a history buff, you might prefer Limerick. If you want more activities to fill a longer time, then you might prefer Cork.

Should I go to Galway or Limerick?

Both Limerick and Galway are beautiful cities, but they’re very different. Galway is smaller, and quainter, whereas Limerick is much larger and has more things to do. You can see everything in Galway in less than a day, whereas you need at least a full day for Limerick. Your choice between Limerick and Galway may dependson how much time you have, and which day trip options you prefer best.

Is Limerick Worth a Visit? Final Thoughts

By now, you know all the reasons that make Limerick worth a visit, and an asset to your Ireland itinerary.

In general, I don’t recommend for you to spend all your time in Irish cities while you’re in Ireland – and that includes Limerick. However, what makes Limerick (like other Irish cities) worth a visit isn’t just what’s in the city, but what day trip options it has too.

Limerick has a lot of things to do in the heart of the city, as well as just outside of it. I would recommend spending one day in the downtown core, and another day or two to explore castles and small Irish towns just outside Limerick.

Whether you’re in Ireland with kids, or a group of adults only, there are a lot of fun things to do in Limerick.