Getting from Dublin to Limerick (and return)
Being located in the heart of Ireland’s Shannon Region, Limerick attracts visitors thanks to its beautiful sights, including King John’s Castle. Since most travelers arrive in Ireland by way of Dublin, it’s important to know which is the cheapest and/or the fastest way to travel between the two cities.
Quick summary
Since there aren’t any direct flights between the two cities, you’ll have to choose between traveling by train, bus or rental car. The train is the fastest option but costs twice as much as the bus ticket. So, if you are on a budget, your best bet is the bus and you’ll get between Dublin and Limerick in about 3 h – 3 ½ h.
Flights from Dublin (airport code: DUB) to Limerick
Limerick is served by Shannon Airport (SNN), which is one of the important Irish airports. It is hub for both Aer Lingus and the low cost carrier Ryanair.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any direct flights between the two cities. The options are to fly via Manchester, Edinburgh or London, which also means a single adult fare starts at €366 (during the shoulder season).
>>read more about Airfare to Dublin
Trains from Dublin to Limerick
Iarnród Éireann , the national railway, runs hourly services, every day, between Dublin and Limerick. Trains leave from Dublin Heuston and arrive at Limerick Junction. The travel time is 1h 45 min. The single adult fare is €30 and the child fare is €15.
Dublin Heuston Station is located on St. John’s Road and has been open since 1846.
>>read more about Train Travel in Ireland
Buses from Dublin to Limerick
Bus Eireann runs services nr. 12 between Dublin and Limerick, every hour each day , starting at 7:30 a.m.
A single adult or child fare is €10.45 , while return fare is €20.90 for an adult and €16.15 for a child during midweek. The travel time is 3 h 15 min.
JJ Kavanagh & Sons also operates services from Dublin to Limerick , several times a day. The travel time is between 3 h and 3 h 40 min depending whether you travel by day or night. The single adult fare is €11. The single child fare is €6.
>>read more about Bus Travel in Ireland
Driving from Dublin to Limerick
Should you prefer to rent a car , you should know that there are three possible routes to take. The shortest is 197 km and you should be able to cover it in about 2 hours. Please note that you’ll be driving on toll roads.
Photo credit: Dublin Heuston Station
