Choosing Accommodation in Ireland When You Don’t Have a Rental Car

Updated December 2025--While renting a car is perhaps the best way to see Ireland, that option may not be available to everyone due to cost, age, and other factors, and if that’s the case, choosing accommodation in Ireland will depend upon how you are getting across the country.

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For those who want to see as much as they can of the Emerald Isle minus the car, some strategic decisions should be made regarding accommodation and its proximity to some of the country’s most popular tourist attractions.

If you are getting around by public transportation, you’ll need to think about choosing accommodation in Ireland that is centrally located.

Aside from Ireland’s capital, you’ll find timely information in this article on 6 other towns/cities that are easily accessible by train or bus and suggestions for where you can stay once you get there.

Many of these accommodations have been selected with the budget traveler in mind. There are of course pricier options in all of these locations as well.

Dublin

While a rental car is not necessary in Dublin, being close to public transportation is important if you want to explore the remainder of the country easily, either by bus or train.

When choosing accommodation in Ireland and particularly in Dublin, it’s best if you can book well in advance. Also keep in mind that during the tourist season (especially summer), rates will be higher.

If this is your first time in Ireland, you should include Dublin on your itinerary.

There are several attractions in the city that are worth seeing, including The Book of Kells in Trinity College, the Guinness Storehouse, Jamesons Whiskey Distillery, Epic The Emigration Museum, and Kilmainham Jail, not to mention all of the free museums you can visit as well.

Pretty much all of these attractions are in and around the city center so choosing accommodation that is convenient to those and to trains and bus stations is useful.

If you are visiting Ireland on a shoestring budget, I’d suggest that you stay in a hostel.

There are several to choose from, including the Generator Dublin, The Jacobs Inn Hostel, The Abbey Court, Abigail’s Hostel, Kinlay House Dublin, the Ashfield Hostel, Gardiner House, Garden Lane Backpackers hostel, My Place Dublin hostel, Abrahams Hostel, and Oliver St. John Gogarty’s Hostel.

You can find all the above hostels at Hostelworld.

If you’re willing to spend a little more, there are still really nice hotels that won’t break the bank and are relatively close to Dublin’s train stations that typically take passengers down the country.

They include the Academy Plaza Hotel (close to Heuston Station and only 900 meters from Connolly Station); the Ashling Hotel (a 5-minute walk to Heuston Station and a 20-minute bus ride to Connolly Station); the Camden Court Hotel (about 25 minutes from both Heuston and Connolly stations); the Harding Hotel (about 15 minutes by bus to both Heuston and Connolly Stations); the Maldron Hotel Kevin Street (about 20-25 minutes to both Connolly and Heuston Stations by bus); the Marlin Hotel (about 18-24 minutes to both Heuston and Connolly Stations); Motel One Dublin (about 15 minutes by bus to both Connolly and Heuston stations); The Green Hotel (about 20 minutes by bus to both Heuston and Connolly stations), and Tipperary House, which happens to be within walking distance of Heuston Station about 20 minutes by bus to Connolly Station

Check out this blog post for information on additional hotels in Dublin that are affordable.

Kilkenny

After you’ve spent a couple of days in Dublin, I’d suggest that you take the Irish Rail train from Heuston Station in Dublin to MacDonagh Station in Kilkenny, Ireland’s oldest medieval city.

The train ride is just 1 hour and 35 minutes and costs around €12 one-way. Once you get to the station, most of the city’s popular attractions are within walking distance of it.

Kilkenny Castle dominates the city as it has for hundreds of years. Once the home of the powerful Butler family, the structure has been rebuilt, extended, and expanded since then.

Today, it has the look of a 19^th-century castellated baronial residence, although it certainly retains traces of its medieval roots.

The focal point of the popular castle tour is the Long Gallery, an impressive hall showcasing portraits of Butler family members, as well as the Butler Gallery in the castle basement.

The exterior of the castle is public parkland and is free to walk around.

Other Kilkenny attractions that you should put on your itinerary include The Medieval Mile Museum, St. Canice’s Cathedral, and The Rothe House, among others.

Check out my free Things to Do in Kilkenny guide for more ideas on things to do in Kilkenny.

You’ll want centrally located accommodation in Kilkenny so that you can easily walk to the above attractions.

Some of the hotels and B&Bs that I recommend include JB’s Bar & Guest Accommodation (close to the train station), the Kilmore Guesthouse, the Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel, Langton’s Hotel, and the Zuni Restaurant & Boutique Hotel in the city center as well.

Waterford City

From the Kilkenny train station, you can hop on a train to Waterford’s Plunkett Station and get there in 30 minutes or so at a cost of about €6 one-way.

Waterford is known as a Viking city and Reginald’s Tower is the main Viking attraction in a downtown area known as the Viking Triangle.

Known as Ireland’s oldest civic building, you’ll find a variety of Viking treasures inside.

There are other attractions that are worth seeing in this port city.

They include the Medieval Museum, The Bishop’s Palace, and The House of Waterford Crystal, which is located in the center of the Viking Triangle.

In addition, the Irish Wake Museum is a really popular tourist attraction in the city, where you will learn about the fascinating traditions and superstitions surrounding death in Ireland, from early Christian times right up to the 20th century.

Even without a rental car, you can still find convenient accommodation in Waterford City.

Accommodation in the center of Waterford includes the 18^th-century circa Granville Hotel, which overlooks Waterford Harbor and is a 7-minute walk from the Bishop’s Palace and a 10-minute walk from the House of Waterford Crystal.

Dooley’s Hotel on Merchant’s Quay is also a good choice and a 7-minute walk from the train station.

The Waterford Marina Hotel, the Tower Hotel & Leisure Centre, and Treacy’s Hotel are also good picks if you are staying overnight in Waterford.

Cork City

There is no direct train from Waterford to Cork City. However, a bus will take you there in about 2 hours.

You can get a Dublin Coach bus from Waterford to Cork’s Anderson Quay for about €12.

Once in Cork City, there’s a lot to see in Ireland’s second-largest city. Expect a more laidback vibe as Corkonians generally take life a little easier here.

The city has some great restaurants, quirky coffee shops, and a good mix of cultural and architectural charm. Plus, it’s a university city so there are plenty of young people around.

Some of its popular attractions include the English Market, Elizabeth Fort, St. Finn Barre’s Cathedral, the Shandon Bells at St. Anne’s Church, and Cork City Gaol.

If you’re traveling around Ireland on the cheap, you might want to consider a hostel in Cork City.

There are a few to choose from, including the Bru Bar and Hostel, Sheilas Cork Hostel (close to the Cork City Gaol), and Oscars Hostel (opposite Kent Train Station).

Other convenient hotels in Cork City for those without a rental car include Hotel Isaacs, Moxy Cork, The Dean Cork, The Imperial Hotel, The Metropole Hotel, The River Lee Hotel, and the Shandon Bells Guesthouse.

Killarney

Getting to Killarney from Cork City is relatively easy by train.

Trains leave from Cork’s Kent Station five times a day and operate every day. The journey takes about 1 hour and 35 minutes.

The popular County Kerry town is a must for every first-time visitor to Ireland whether you have a rental car or not.

The town itself is taken up with shops, pubs, and hotels. Most of the popular attractions are outside the town, so you will need to have a plan in place to see them.

My suggestion is to book a tour to some of the local attractions, such as a jaunting car ride from Killarney to Ross Castle, or a number of full-day tours that will take you to the Ring of Kerry, or to the Dingle Peninsula.

Finding accommodation in the center of Killarney isn’t very difficult. There are many choices, from hotels, Airbnbs and B&Bs.

If you are looking for hostel accommodation in Killarney, there are a few to choose from.

They include the Killarney Railway Hostel, which is located opposite the bus and train station and the Black Sheep Hostel, conveniently located a minute away from Killarney National Park.

Some of my recommendations for other centrally located accommodation in Killarney include the Arbutus Hotel; Foley’s Townhouse, walkable to many shops and pubs and has its own private parking; the higher-end Great Southern Hotel, which is convenient to everything but feels like a country estate; the International Hotel, central and within walking distance of everything; the Killarney Lodge Guesthouse, a 2-minute walk to restaurants, pubs and shops; the Killarney Towers Hotel & Leisure Centre, which is located close to restaurants and transit; Murphy’s of Killarney, a short distance from the town’s public transportation hubs, and Tatler Jack, a family-run accommodation for adults only.

Get my 53 Irish Hotels that Sleep Families

Limerick

After you’ve finished exploring Killarney and the surrounding area, you can easily continue your journey by public transportation to Limerick City.

Buses run daily from the center of Killarney to Limerick. The journey takes between 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours. You can choose from Bus Eireann or the Dublin Coach bus.

The main attraction in Limerick is King John’s Castle located in the city’s Medieval Quarter.

The Vikings once lived on the site where the castle stands. It was completed by the Normans in 1210 to protect the city from the outlying Gaelic kingdoms.

Despite being damaged in 1642 during the Siege of Limerick, the castle, considered the best preserved in Europe, still retains many features from its early construction, including a large gatehouse, battlements, and corner towers.

The castle’s interactive exhibition is definitely worth seeing as it will give you a glimpse of its 800-year history through 3D models, touch screen technology, and computer-generated animations.

Kids and adults can try on the costumes that are on site, including stunning gowns and chainmail tunics.

The castle courtyard is where you’ll learn about daily life there during medieval times.

You’ll meet colorful characters who will bring it all to life, and there are several courtyard games to play as well, especially fun for children.

Archery, ring toss, tug-of-war, and horseshoe throwing are just some of them.

Other attractions to see while you are exploring Limerick without a rental car include St. Mary’s Cathedral, The Milk Market, the Limerick City Gallery of Art, and The Hunt Museum.

If you are looking for centrally located accommodation in Limerick, I’d recommend The Old Quarter Townhouse in the city center, with the bus and train stations a short walk away.

You’ll find single, double, triple, and family-style rooms at this accommodation, all en-suite.

Other suitable accommodation can be found at the more high-end George Hotel, which is 1 kilometer (less than a mile) from the castle.

The Bedford Townhouse, an 1830s-style accommodation that is a 10-minute walk from St. Mary’s Cathedral is another good option for your stay in Limerick, as well as No. 1 Pery Square Hotel & Spa.

Galway

To get to Galway without a rental car from Limerick, you can hop on a train or take a bus. The journey takes about 2 hours.

Trains run every 4 hours from Limerick’s Colbert Station to Galway’s Ceannt Station, with one-way tickets costing close to €8.

There is a regular bus service from Limerick’s downtown area to Galway on Bus Eireann or you can avail of the Citylink bus service.

Galway City is relatively small and can be explored easily on foot.

If you’re like me and you find yourself in a city that you’ve never been to before, a guided walking tour is always a good idea to get yourself acquainted with your surroundings.

Some of the popular attractions in Galway include the Galway City Museum, Eyre Square, the Latin Quarter, and the area around Quay Street, including the Spanish Arch.

There is a lot of accommodation in the heart of Galway that is perfect for the traveler who does not have a rental car.

For the budget traveler, hostel accommodation in Galway includes the Nest Boutique Hostel, Galway City Hostel & Bar, perfect for solo travelers and right next to Galway’s bus and train stations; the Kinlay Eyre Square Hostel right in Eyre Square, Snoozles Hostel, a 2-minute walk from Eyre Square, and The Dawson Galway, also centrally located.

For those of you looking to spend a little more, Galway has a plethora of hotels and B&Bs that are either in the city center or very close to it.

My recommendations include the Eyre Square Hotel; Park House Hotel, Petra House B&B, an easy walk to the center of Galway; The Hardiman Hotel, right in Eyre Square; The Hyde Hotel; The Skeffington Arms Hotel, also in Eyre Square, and The Victoria Hotel, one block from Shop Street and Eyre Square, with tour buses picking visitors up right in front of the hotel.

Tips for Choosing Central Stays

• Prioritize walking distance over price: aim for accommodation within a 10 to 15-minute walk of a town’s or city’s main bus or train station whenever possible. In fact, a slightly more expensive accommodation can save you money on taxis.
• Search a hotel’s distance from popular landmarks/attractions: if it’s close to them, you can be sure it’s well located.
• Avoid listings that are outside of towns: these are inconvenient without a car. However, taxis are abundant in all towns and cities in Ireland. Being in the center of a town or city will mean you can walk to and from your accommodation to grocery stores, cafes, pharmacies and pubs. In fact, you won’t have to worry about drinking in pubs if you’re not driving (Ireland’s rules are very strict when it comes to this).
• Look for luggage-friendly locations: This reduces the stress of rolling luggage over cobblestones or long uphill walks.
• Filter reviews when searching for accommodation: Use phrases like “easy walk from station,” “great location,” or “perfect base without a car” to find the most convenient hotel or B&B.
• Ask for local advice: while B&Bs frequently offer excellent advice regarding attractions, tours, and other information, it’s no harm to ask for the same while staying in hotels. This can be invaluable while traveling around Ireland on public transportation.

Is choosing accommodation in Ireland something that you are actively planning right now for your 2026 Ireland vacation? Let me know in the comments below.