A Travel Price Comparison for Ireland Limerick vs. Dingle for Couples, Backpackers, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Limerick or Dingle?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Limerick and Dingle can help you decide which place is right for you.

Limerick

Limerick is a fun-filled, historic, and outdoorsy city. Limerick offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Limerick travel costs.

Dingle

Dingle is a rustic, picturesque, and serene peninsula. With stunning beauty, Dingle attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the hiking, food, and beaches. See Dingle travel costs.

Limerick and Dingle: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Limerick or Dingle?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Dingle. Although Limerick and Dingle are popular destinations, Dingle has more sights and attractions for tourists. Dingle is very popular for its beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Limerick attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, nightlife, and shopping. Dingle is more touristy than Limerick and is popular for its traditional pubs, stunning coastline, and rugged cliffs. It is also well known for The Gallarus Oratory. Limerick is famous for its castle, old town, and outdoor activities.

How is Limerick different from Dingle?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Dingle and Limerick. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Limerick or Dingle?

Limerick is a popular place for its museums and landmarks. However, Dingle is a peninsula with minimal options for its historical sights.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Limerick. The town is famous for King John's Castle as well as St. Mary's Cathedral, and St. John's Square and Cathedral.

While most people don't head to Dingle specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Most people visit for the natural beauty, but there are a couple of landmarks in the area including the Eask Tower, Gallarus Oratory, and the Blasket Centre.

Is the Food Better in Limerick or Dingle? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Limerick and Dingle.

Limerick is becoming an appealing option for foodies. You'll find a mix of traditional Irish restaurants and more modern international cuisine. Local specialties to try include Limerick Ham, Cahill's Whiskey Cheese, and Walnut Cheddar.

Dingle offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You'll find great seafood throughout the peninsula. There's also traditional Irish food available including Irish stew or cabbage and bacon.

Is Limerick or Dingle Better for Nightlife?

Limerick is a popular place for its evening party scene. However, Dingle is a peninsula with minimal options for nightlife.

Limerick has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. It's a student town so much of the nightlife scene centers around the student population. There are lively pubs and clubs around town so it's not hard to have a fun night out.

Dingle doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. The area's not known for its nightlife but you can visit The Hillgrove, which is the peninsula's only nightclub. It's in a hotel and there is weekly entertainment.

Is Limerick or Dingle Better for Beaches?

Dingle is a great peninsula for the beach. However, Limerick is not a beach destination.

Dingle is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. It's not hard to find a quiet beach with scenic views and a serene setting. Some of the best beaches in the area include Coumeenole, Brandon Bay, and Ventry.

Limerick is not a beach destination.

Is Limerick or Dingle Better for Hiking?

Dingle is a great peninsula for hiking. However, Limerick is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Dingle for the hiking trails. There are a variety of walking paths and hiking trails that take you through the coastal setting, rolling mountains, and remote nature. Some of the best trails in the area include the long distance hiking trail the Dingle Way, Mount Brandon, and Glenteenassig Forest Park.

Limerick is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Limerick or Dingle?

Limerick is a popular place for its shopping areas. However, Dingle is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Many visitors go to Limerick to go shopping. You'll find a mix of brand name chains and independent boutiques in the city center. There are several major shopping streets in town including O'Connell Street, and the pedestrian streets of Bedford Row and Cruises Street.

Dingle is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Limerick or Dingle More Beautiful?

Dingle is a great peninsula for its scenery and beauty. Also, Limerick is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its scenery and beauty.

With stunning beauty, Dingle attracts visitors from all around. With its beautiful viewpoints and stunning coastline, you'll find plenty of natural beauty throughout the peninsula.

Limerick is a gorgeous place to visit. It's a notable city in Ireland that's known for its compact old town and beautiful parks.

Is Limerick or Dingle Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Limerick or Dingle.

Limerick offers lots of family activities. Families will enjoy visiting King John's Castle but for kids who need a break from the sightseeing, there are kid-friendly activities around town like Curraghchase Forest Park and the Peoples Park. Families should also check out the Dreamland Fun Center. Museums like Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum are also fun for the whole family.

Dingle is a family-friendly place to visit. There are coastal walks and beaches that are perfect for kids. You can also visit the Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium, do a dolphin tour, or enjoy some watersports. Horseback riding and Sandy Feet Farm are both fun as well.

Is Limerick or Dingle Better for Couples?

Dingle is a great peninsula for couples. Also, Limerick is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Dingle is a great peninsula if you're traveling as a couple. Boat rides, sunset walks, and natural beauty all make this a fun place to explore with your significant other.

Limerick is a nice destination for couples. There are river cruises, kayaking, and nature to explore. Head to the Curraghchase Forest Park or any of the many beautiful parks around town. Couples can combine history with nature and enjoy a nice, romantic trip through Limerick.

Is Limerick or Dingle Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Dingle is a great peninsula for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Limerick is not known for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Dingle. There are a good number of hostels on the peninsula and there are interesting music festivals and other events that make this a good backpacker destination.

Limerick is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There aren't many hostels in the area so it can be hard to find other likeminded travelers.

Is Limerick or Dingle Better for Students?

Limerick is a popular place for students. However, Dingle is not popular with students.

Limerick is popular with students. The city has a nice student scene with plenty of areas to explore.

Dingle is not popular with students.

Is Limerick or Dingle Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Limerick is a popular place for its public transit. However, Dingle is a peninsula with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Limerick, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's a city bus service that travels around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Dingle. Bus Eireann offers buses daily to Tralee and then there are connections to other destinations.

Is Limerick or Dingle a more walkable city?

Limerick is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Dingle is a peninsula with minimal options for its walkability.

Limerick is a somewhat walkable city. There are compact and walkable parts to the city that can be explored on foot.

Dingle is generally not a very walkable city. If you have enough time, there are countless walking trails throughout the peninsula.

For even more information, also check out Is Limerick Worth Visiting? and Is Dingle Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Dingle or Limerick?

How long in Limerick or Dingle?

In either Limerick or Dingle, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Dingle than Limerick because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Limerick, and 2-5 days is enough time in Dingle.

Families should spend more time in Limerick than Dingle. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Limerick, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Dingle than Limerick. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Dingle that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

One day in Limerick or Dingle?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Limerick. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

The beautiful peninsula of Dingle offers food. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Limerick or Dingle?

Limerick is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Dingle is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this peninsula makes for a great vacation. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Dingle, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Limerick or Dingle?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Limerick. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Dingle is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Dingle, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Limerick or Dingle?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic destination of Limerick. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Dingle is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This peninsula offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Dublin, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ireland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ireland, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Ireland.

When comparing the travel costs between Limerick and Dingle, we can see that Dingle is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Limerick Expensive? and Is Dingle Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Limerick or Dingle?

Limerick has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Dingle. When comparing the sizes of Limerick and Dingle, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Limerick or Dingle?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Limerick or Dingle in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Limerick as well as Dingle. Most visitors come to Limerick for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Dingle because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

Limerick is around the same temperature as Dingle in the summer. The daily temperature in Limerick averages around 16°C (60°F) in July, and Dingle fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

In the summer, Limerick often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Dingle. Limerick gets 142 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dingle receives 140 hours of full sun.

Limerick usually gets less rain in July than Dingle. Limerick gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Dingle receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Limerick or Dingle in the Autumn?

Both Dingle and Limerick are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Limerick because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Dingle this time of year.

In the autumn, Limerick is around the same temperature as Dingle. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Limerick in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Dingle averages at about 12°C (53°F).

Limerick usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Dingle during autumn. Limerick gets 82 hours of sunny skies, while Dingle receives 79 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Dingle. In October, Limerick usually receives less rain than Dingle. Limerick gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Dingle receives 156 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Limerick or Dingle in the Winter?

Both Dingle and Limerick during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Limerick this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Dingle for the museums and the cuisine.

In January, Limerick is generally cooler than Dingle. Daily temperatures in Limerick average around 6°C (42°F), and Dingle fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Limerick often gets more sunshine than Dingle. Limerick gets 49 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dingle receives 44 hours of full sun.

Dingle gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Limerick usually gets less rain in January than Dingle. Limerick gets 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Dingle receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Limerick or Dingle in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Limerick and Dingle. Many travelers come to Limerick for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Dingle in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

Limerick is around the same temperature as Dingle in the spring. The daily temperature in Limerick averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Dingle fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Limerick usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Dingle during spring. Limerick gets 148 hours of sunny skies, while Dingle receives 150 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Limerick usually receives less rain than Dingle. Limerick gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Dingle receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Dingle and Limerick