Car Rental in Shannon

Why rent a car in Shannon?

The Shannon Region is a fun place to explore. Made up of County Clare, County Limerick, and County Tipperary, it contains Limerick City with a buzzing nightlife as well as historic sites, quaint villages, and impressive natural areas. With a rental car, the rest of west and south of Ireland are within an arm’s reach.

Top ways to enter Shannon

• Shannon Airport: The third-busiest airport in the Republic of Ireland, Shannon serves nearly two million travelers every year. In addition to serving a number of European routes, the airport also has flights to and from New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Toronto in North America. Shannon Airport is just 6km (3.7 miles) southwest of the village of Shannon and can be reached in about ten minutes. Limerick, the nearest city, is 27km (16.7 miles) east of the airport and can be reached in about 30 minutes.

• Kerry Airport: Also known as Farranfore Airport and serving County Kerry, this small airport handles about 300,000 travelers every year. As of March 2023, the airport hosts some domestic flights as well as flights to and from the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and Portugal. Located 93km (57.7 miles) southwest of Limerick, the airport can be reached in about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

• Cork Airport: Serving the country’s second-largest city, it is also the second-busiest in the Republic of Ireland having handled 2.2 million travelers in 2022. The airport is a focus city for Aer Lingus and Ryanair and is also served by seven other airlines. Located in the south of Ireland, Cork Airport is 115km (71 miles) from Limerick and can be reached in about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

• Knock Airport: Also known as Knock-Ireland West, this small airport has been growing steadily over the past ten years and is expected to serve 800,000 travelers for the second time in its history in 2023. The airport offers flights to holiday destinations in Southern Europe as well as to large cities like London in England, Edinburgh in Scotland, and Cologne in Germany. Located 170km (105 miles) north of Limerick, it takes 1 hour and 50 minutes to reach it.

• Dublin Airport: By far the largest in the country, Dublin Airport handled 28 million travelers in 2022. The airport primarily serves the capital city region but is the port of entry for most travelers coming to Ireland regardless of their final destination. A hub for the flag carrier Aer Lingus, the airport is also served by around another 30 airlines. Located 210km (130 miles) northwest of Limerick, the airport can be reached in just over two hours.

City facts

• Located on the coast of the Atlantic, the Shannon region has an oceanic climate. The average high temperature is 20°C  (68°F) in July and August, the warmest months, and 9°C (68°F) in January, the coldest. Like the rest of Ireland, Shannon has rather high precipitation which is steady throughout the year with an exceptional increase in October as well as in December and January.
• With a population of just under 10,000, the town of Shannon is one of the smallest settlements in Europe to have its own international airport. It is also one of the youngest towns in Ireland, having been built only in the 1960s in the place of a drained bog. Despite its short history, the surroundings of Shannon have many attractions, from scenic nature areas to old Celtic and Viking sites. 

Top sights and activities

• Limerick. The largest city in the Shannon Region, Limerick has its fair share of attractions. Tourists enjoy visiting King John’s Castle, St. Mary’s Cathedral, and a number of beautiful Georgian buildings. There are also interesting museums, the standout among them being the Hunt Museum which tells the story of prehistoric Ireland and the arrival of Christianity.
• Bunratty Castle & Folk Park. Located in a cozy village of the same name, Bunratty Castle dates back to the 15th century. Other castles stood in its place even earlier as the area might have had a 10th-century Norse settlement. The castle is accompanied by Bunratty Folk Park which has a detailed recreation of a 19th-century Irish village with workshops, an Irish pub, and actors playing typical characters of the time.
• Doolin. A coastal village, Doolin is famous as one of the centers of traditional Irish music. The village only has one street, but many of the pubs along it host nightly music sessions. Doolin is also famous for the Doolin Cave which has one of the world’s largest free-hanging stalactites and Doonagore Castle, a 16th-century tower house.
• Discover more of the best things to do in Ireland.

Traffic and parking

• Driving takes place on the left side of the road in the Republic of Ireland.
• Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limits are 120km/h (75 mph) for motorways, 100km/h (62 mph) for national roads without motorway status, 80km/h (50 mph) for local and regional roads, and 50km/h (31 mph) for urban zones and built-up areas. Unlike in neighboring Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom, the speed limits are indicated in kilometers, not miles, per hour.
• Finding a parking spot in Dublin city center can be quite difficult. Short-term paid parking is available, but be careful not to keep your car parked longer than allowed - your vehicle can be “clamped” by the companies in charge of the parking areas and having it “unclamped” can be quite expensive. A better idea, perhaps, is to park for a longer period at one of the multi-level car parks. 
• On the other hand, there are plenty of available parking spaces outside the center of Dublin. Dublin is not too large, so parking near the center and walking the rest of the way can be a good idea.
• Most road signs are displayed in both English and Irish. However, in some Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) areas, road signs are only in Irish. This is important to keep in mind because some Irish city names are different than their English names - for example, the Irish name of Dublin is Baile Átha Cliath.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.02% for novice drivers. Exceeding the limit can lead to large fines, an EU-wide license ban, or imprisonment.
• Proof of insurance and the car’s registration needs to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
• When driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The emergency number, like elsewhere in the EU, is 112.

Toll roads

There are 11 toll roads in the Republic of Ireland. There are also two toll tunnels and two toll bridges. Some of the toll roads are near Shannon.

Payment for using any of the toll roads, bridges, or tunnels can be made with cash at the toll gates. The tolls for some roads are able to paid with a credit card. Some rental cars are also equipped with an electronic toll tag that will make the toll payment automatically. Some car rental providers might charge an additional fee for this service. Ask your car rental provider about it in advance. 

For more information about the toll roads in the Republic of Ireland and for the toll road map, visit the Republic of Ireland’s official toll road website. 

Ideas for day trips

• Clonmacnoise. A monastery founded in the 6th century, Clonmacnoise was an important Irish center of religion and study for centuries. Although the monastery was abandoned in the 16th century, many churches, towers, and high crosses survive to this day (although some only as ruins), making Clonmacnoise a fascinating place to visit. Located 105km (65 miles) north of Limerick, the former monastery can be reached in about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• The Burren. A national park spanning 530 square kilometers (220 miles) in both County Clare and County Galway, the Burren is famous for its karst rock landscape which gives it a desolate, otherworldly look. The area also has woodlands, meadows, and lakes, making it a nice place to run away from the city to spend a day outdoors. The Burren is surprisingly diverse in flora, having Alpine-Arctic and Mediterranean plants growing side by side. Many bird species, like the peregrine falcon and puffin, also live here. The park’s coastal area and surrounding waters are inhabited by porpoises, seals, dolphins, and basking sharks. Located 56km (35 miles) northwest of Limerick, the Burren National Park can be reached in about 50 minutes.
• The Aran Islands. An archipelago of three small islands, the Aran Islands are home to impressive cliffs, dramatic views of the sea, 3,000-year-old fortresses and other archaic stone buildings, ancient churches, and even a few pubs. The Aran Islands can only be accessed by ferry and you cannot take a car, but it’s possible to drive to the port in Doolin, park your car, and take a boat from there.
• Killaloe. A village on the River Shannon, Killaloe is as scenic as they come. Best known for its 13th-century architecture and beautiful bridge, the town has several other historical and nature sites in and around it. On the other side of the river, in County Tipperary, is the town of Ballina known for the traditional celebration of Brian Boru that takes place every July. The drive from Shannon Airport to Killaloe takes about 45 minutes.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car type in Shannon is a standard, followed by intermediate and mini. The most popular rental cars are the Toyota Corolla, the Ford Fiesta, and the Toyota Avensis. 

Further destinations

• Cork. Its original Irish name, Corcaigh, literally means ‘marsh,’ but the largest city in the south west of Ireland has become so much more than that. Visitors love it for landmarks like the Elizabeth Fort, St. Finbarr’s Cathedral, and the Blackrock Castle Observatory, but also for the local Corkonian sense of humor. Located 98km (60 miles) south of Limerick, Cork takes only 1 hour and 20 minutes to reach.
• Galway. A student city with a youthful vibe, Galway is an important center for the arts, music, and culture. Other reasons to visit include the medieval Lynch’s Castle, the Hall of the Red Earl, the Seapoint Promenade, and the fact that Galway is the center of Irish Gaelic culture. Located 100km (62 miles) northwest of Limerick, Galway can be reached in 1 hour and 10 minutes.
• Connemara National Park. Made up of heaths, bogs, and rolling hills, Connemara is home to a typically Irish landscape. More than 2,000 hectares large, the area is great for going on a long hike or simply spending a day outdoors. History lovers will be eager to learn that the area has been inhabited since at least the Iron Age and is home to 4,000-year-old megalithic tombs which tourists can visit. Located some 190km (118 miles) northwest of Limerick, Connemara National Park can be reached in 2 hours and 25 minutes.
• Dublin. Large and international, but retaining a distinct local character, the Irish capital is a great place to visit. From the Dublin Writers Museum to EPIC – The Irish Immigration Museum and Dublinia Viking Museum, its world-class landmarks can be explored for days – and that’s not to mention nearby nature sites like the Wicklow Mountains National Park. The drive from Shannon Airport to Dublin takes only about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• Donegal. Quite a distance away from Limerick and the Shannon region, but still very accessible if you have a car, County Donegal, the northernmost part of Ireland, is less than a four hour drive away. Sparsely populated, it is known for its nature that includes hills, vast woodlands, and a hauntingly beautiful Atlantic coastline – but is also known for its strong regional traditions and historical villages.

Car rental prices in Shannon

• Small cars - from €17 per day
• Medium cars - from €19 per day
• Large cars - from €20 per day
• SUVs - from €22 per day
• Station wagons - from €28 per day
• Vans - from €58 per day
• Premium cars - from €64 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Follow these tips to land a great rental car in Shannon:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Shannon is the cheapest in January when renting a car is about 70% cheaper than the yearly average.