You don’t really need to have a list of the best places to go in Limerick: Much of the attraction of this county and city lies in the personalities of its people. Limerick locals have a way of making visitors feel welcome that stays with you. But it’s still good to know where to see a Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece or a Stone Age settlement…

The Hunt Museum

Located on Rutland Street in Limerick city centre, the Hunt Museum is regarded as home to one of the most important private medieval collections in the world. Your jaw will drop at antiquities ranging from pre-dynastic Egypt to Irish archaeological works to a drawing by Picasso and a rearing horse sculpture attributed to Leonardo de Vinci.

King John’s Castle

While you’re in the city, visit King John’s Castle. Built between 1200 and 1210, it was refurbished and extended frequently in subsequent centuries. As befits a fortress, the castle enjoys commanding views over the city and its surroundings. The visitors’ centre uses a creative historical exhibition to tell the story of the castle, which has revealed evidence of pre-Norman settlements and the terrible siege of 1642. Costumed characters illustrate some of the trades and traditions of the 16th century.

Lough Gur Neolithic Settlement

Prepare to travel back to 3000 B.C. when you arrive at Lough Gur visitor centre. Here, you will discover the story of the area’s pre-Celtic settlers, who farmed in a pastoral valley, and left behind evidence of their dwellings, tools, rituals and burial sites. An exhibition of artefacts, display panels, and an audio-visual show bring the whole era to life.

Foynes Flying Boat Museum

The port of Foynes was a pivotal location for air traffic between the United States and Europe in the war years of the 1930s and early 1940s. The famous flying boats transported passengers from the very famous to those displaced by war.

The museum at Foynes recreates the era and features a 1940s style cinema, the original terminal building through which many VIP’s passed, war years’ radio, and the original weather room. The whiskey-infused beverage known as Irish coffee was first made here in 1943, and an annual festival celebrates the warming drink.

Adare Village

Adare village looks like something out of a fairytale. Set in rolling grassland, its pretty little cottages cluster along the main street, many with beautifully maintained thick thatched roofs. Among the village’s medieval highlights are Desmond Castle, The Franciscan Priory, the Trinitarian Priory, and Augustinian Priory.

Curraghchase Forest Park

Situated in Kircornan, County Limerick, this park extends across 313 hectares of mixed woodlands, parkland, and lakes to create the perfect habitat for a wide range of animals and plants.

Georgian House and Garden

Constructed around 1830 by the Pery Square Tontine Company, the Georgian House in Limerick city is one of a terrace of six houses that are collectively considered to be the best example of late Georgian architecture in the whole country.

The Treaty Stone

You cannot leave Limerick without visiting the Treaty Stone. This infamous slab commemorates the famous Treaty of Limerick signed in 1691. It is located on Clancys Strand, beside the river Shannon and opposite King Johns Castle in the city centre.