Best places to visit without a car

We will be going to Dublin for a few days in August and would like to travel to a few other places in Ireland (Republic) without a car. Our question is: Which two towns would be good to use as a base to do day trips using public transport? We're looking for towns which are worth a visit in themselves and have nice accommodation, good restaurants, etc. and have interesting places to visit close enough to go in a day. We're not too keen on places which are typically very overrun with tourists and we'd definitely like to be close to the sea at some point.

Hi Ruth, 

That sounds like a fantastic trip!

We have some great pages and suggestions for you to check out under our "car free" trips which might help you decide on a base. 

Based on your preferences, I’d recommend using Kilkenny and Westport as your bases. Kilkenny (historic, lively, great restaurants) – Ideal for exploring Waterford, Cashel, and Carlow, all easily reachable by public transport.Westport (coastal, charming, scenic) – check out our page on exploring from Westport for your options. Both towns offer a great mix of history, scenery, and good food while avoiding overly touristy crowds. 

Let me know if you have any other questions and I would be happy to help. 

Cathaoir 

Many thanks for the response and great recommendations. Based on these we have decided we'll go for Galway (which we had in the meantime decided on and from there Westport. It looks like the transport shouldn't be a problem.
Much appreciate your help. We'll continue to consult with your website as we continue our plans for this holiday.
Ruth and Tony

Hi Ruth,

That's a great choice. There is so much to see and do in Westport, Galway, and surrounding areas. It's also a great base to explore some of the Wild Atlantic Way.

We're always here to help if you have any other questions.

Regards,
Eoin