Study Ireland – Stories & Guides from International Students

There are so many easy day trips from the University of Limerick, not including the amazing trips offered through the University of Limerick! 

One of the first day trips I went on was to Killarney. You can get there from the student centre using your Leap Card for about €8. The views from the national park are amazing, and the town itself is gorgeous. I did the hop-on hop-off tour bus, which let me visit Ross Castle, Torc Waterfall, Muckross House, and Muckross Abbey.

The ticket is €12 with a student ID, and it’s the easiest way to explore the park if you don’t have a car. I highly recommend checking the weather beforehand because the bus only comes once an hour, so you can end up standing in the rain if the weather is bad. The town of Killarney also has lots of culture, along with super cute shops and great restaurants.  

Adare is another easily accessible town from the Limerick Student Centre by bus. Adare is honestly one of the prettiest heritage towns around, with famous thatched cottages that look like something straight out of a movie. There is a really nice riverbank walk you can do there too, and the views are super gorgeous.  

The best day to go is definitely Saturday because that is when the Adare Country Market is on. They have local food, crafts, and all sorts of cool stuff. Overall, Adare is a great little escape from Limerick and totally worth the trip. 

One of my favorite places near Limerick is Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. Bunratty Castle is known for being the most complete and authentic castle in Ireland, and it’s only 30 minutes from the University of Limerick. It is quite easy to get to using bus 300 from the UL Student Centre, and you can get discounted tickets with your Leap Card. Bunratty has so much to see, including the fairy trail, farm animals, the historic village, and the medieval castle. My favorite part is definitely the Irish Wolfhounds they have at the Folk Park.  

It is also magical during the holidays, with amazing Christmas and Halloween events. There is an entry fee of around €15, but it is definitely worth the trip.  

Another amazing day trip to take is to Galway! Galway has some of the most vibrant Irish culture I experienced while in Ireland. There is incredible live music, great food, and so much more. One of my favorite parts of visiting Galway was seeing the stunning Galway Cathedral. The cathedral is free to enter, though it does suggest an optional donation. You should also definitely check out Quay Street. 

It is filled with pubs, shops, and an amazing nightlife scene. Galway has beautiful scenery as well. Be sure to visit Nimmo’s Pier for great views of Galway Bay and the Mutton Island Causeway. Galway is also quite easy to reach from Limerick City Centre using Bus 51. I would highly recommend staying later in the evening in Galway to experience the nightlife and live music.