Peculiar and Practical Things to Do in Athlone: Ireland's Middle Child With Character

Essential and Eccentric Things to Do in Athlone Without Getting Lost in the Shannon

For a town that’s relatively compact, Athlone packs in an impressive array of activities that span millennia. Tourists who bothered to stop here instead of blazing through on their way to Galway are rewarded with experiences that range from the historically significant to the borderline bizarre. The following selection of things to do in Athlone offers a comprehensive cross-section of this underrated Irish gem.

Castles, Coins and Centuries-Old Pubs: Athlone’s Historical Highlights

Athlone Castle commands attention from its perch overlooking the Shannon’s narrowest crossing point. For $10 (roughly the cost of two fancy coffees), visitors gain access to a 12th-century Norman fortress that houses one of Ireland’s more peculiar museum experiences. The interactive exhibitions feature talking mannequins that somehow manage to be both educational and mildly unsettling—imagine conversing with a wax figure about the Williamite War while it maintains uncomfortable eye contact. Think of it as Ireland’s answer to Disney’s Hall of Presidents, but with more beheadings and fewer speeches.

A stone’s throw from the castle lies Sean’s Bar, which holds the Guinness World Record as Ireland’s oldest pub (established circa 900 AD). America’s oldest tavern, the White Horse in Newport, feels positively adolescent by comparison, being roughly 600 years younger. During renovations, workers discovered the original wattle and daub walls and ancient coins, now displayed under glass flooring. Walking across these archaeological treasures with a pint of Guinness creates the unique sensation of literally standing on history while simultaneously drinking on top of it. The bar staff possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of whiskey and tall tales, both dispensed with equal enthusiasm.

Religious architecture enthusiasts (they exist, apparently) shouldn’t miss the Church of St. Peter and Paul with its imposing 200-foot steeple. This Victorian Gothic tower serves as Athlone’s natural compass point, visible from nearly everywhere in town. It’s the architectural equivalent of that one tall friend who makes an excellent meeting point in crowded spaces. The church interior features impressive stained glass that transforms ordinary sunlight into Instagram-worthy illumination patterns across the stone floors.

Cultural Immersion Without the Tourist Crowds

The Left Bank Quarter represents Athlone’s more bohemian side, with colorful storefronts lining cobblestone streets that look like they were designed specifically for social media posts. This boutique shopping district offers independently owned shops selling authentic Irish crafts with significantly less sheep-related merchandise than Dublin’s tourist traps. Think of Charleston’s King Street but with more wool and fewer college students. Local artisans sell handcrafted jewelry, textiles, and pottery that won’t make your friends question your souvenir choices when you return home.

The Luan Gallery provides free admission to a contemporary art space housed in a former 19th-century library. The rotating exhibitions feature Irish and international artists, often incorporating themes of landscape and identity that reflect Athlone’s position at Ireland’s crossroads. The gallery’s massive windows frame the Shannon River like living paintings that change with the weather and seasons—which in Ireland means they change approximately every 15 minutes.

For performance art, the Athlone Arts Centre hosts everything from avant-garde theater to traditional music sessions. Ticket prices range from $15-30 depending on the event, which is roughly half what you’d pay in Dublin for comparable entertainment. The annual All-Ireland Drama Festival in April transforms the town into theater central, while the Athlone Literary Festival in October attracts writers and readers for a celebration of words that includes workshops, readings, and inevitably, pub discussions that solve all of literature’s great questions by closing time.

Riverside Adventures: Embracing the Shannon’s Possibilities

The River Shannon doesn’t just divide Athlone geographically; it provides the town’s recreational backbone. Viking ship cruises ($25 per person) offer historical commentary delivered with the kind of deadpan Irish humor that makes you unsure if you’re learning actual facts or elaborate fiction. The captain, locally known as “Viking Mike,” combines historical knowledge and comedic timing like an Irish Mark Twain navigating the Shannon instead of the Mississippi. His description of medieval toilet practices often coincides suspiciously well with passing scenic viewpoints.

For more active visitors, kayaking excursions ($40 for guided tours) provide close encounters with the river that’s shaped Ireland’s history. The Shannon teems with fish—pike, perch, and bream being the most common catches—making Athlone a surprisingly excellent fishing destination. Local guides offer equipment rental and advice on the best spots, though they may withhold their true secret locations unless properly bribed with baked goods or whiskey.

North of town, Lough Ree stretches into the horizon like an inland sea. Comparable in size to Lake Tahoe but with fewer water-skiers and more ancient monastic islands, this expansive lake offers boat trips to isolated spots where 6th-century monks sought solitude and seemingly, extremely damp living conditions. The lake’s scattered islands contain ruins that pre-date Columbus’s journey to America by nearly a millennium—a humbling thought for visitors from the “New World.”

The Old Rail Trail Greenway presents 27 miles of cycling opportunities along a former railway line. Bike rentals ($25/day) provide access to this car-free route that connects Athlone to Mullingar through pastoral landscapes that epitomize the Irish countryside without requiring Olympic-level fitness to enjoy. The flat terrain makes it accessible to casual cyclists who prefer their exercise without cardiac distress, while strategic pub placements along the route offer liquid motivation to continue.

Dining Where the Locals Actually Eat

Athlone’s food scene exists in that sweet spot where traditional Irish fare meets contemporary culinary techniques without spiraling into pretentiousness. Budget-friendly options like Beans and Leaves café offer hearty Irish breakfasts for around $12, while The Fatted Calf gastropub serves elevated comfort food (including an infamous bacon and cabbage spring roll) for approximately $20 per main course. These establishments represent what locals actually eat, rather than what tourists think locals eat—an important distinction in a country often reduced to potatoes and corned beef in foreign imaginations.

For special occasions, Thyme Restaurant and Left Bank Bistro offer tasting menus ranging from $55-75 that showcase local ingredients with inventive preparations. The price point falls comfortably below similar dining experiences in Dublin while maintaining comparable quality, another example of Athlone’s excellent value proposition. Riverside tables offer views that enhance the dining experience, particularly at sunset when the Shannon reflects golden light through strategically positioned wine glasses.

No culinary exploration of Athlone would be complete without trying boxty—a traditional potato pancake that’s essentially what would happen if mashed potatoes and hash browns had a delicious Irish baby. Local variations incorporate everything from smoked salmon to beef and Guinness stew. Dead Centre Brewing produces craft beers that pair perfectly with local cuisine, their taproom offering flights that trace Ireland’s evolving relationship with beer beyond the ubiquitous black stuff.

Practical Matters: Staying, Moving, and Weather-Watching

Accommodation options in Athlone span the budget spectrum while maintaining higher standards than their price points might suggest, though choosing where to stay in Athlone requires consideration of proximity to attractions and personal preferences. The Radisson Blu Athlone ($100-150/night) offers reliable chain hotel comfort with river views, while the Sheraton Athlone ($150-200/night) provides slightly more upscale amenities. For those seeking distinctive lodging, Wineport Lodge on Lough Ree ($200-300/night) delivers lakeside luxury that feels worlds away from urban centers despite being just minutes from town. All options cost roughly 30-40% less than comparable accommodations in Dublin or Galway—another benefit of Athlone’s middle-child status.

Athlone’s town center remains refreshingly walkable, with most attractions accessible within a 15-minute stroll. Local taxis provide convenient transportation for venturing beyond the center, while bike rentals offer both practical transportation and recreational opportunities. The town’s central location makes it an ideal base for day trips to nearby attractions like Clonmacnoise, a 6th-century monastic site just 20 minutes away that somehow manages to be both spiritually moving and mildly spooky. Travelers seeking a broader perspective should explore an Ireland itinerary that includes Clonmacnoise as part of a larger cultural journey. Those seeking a structured approach to exploring the area should consider following a comprehensive Athlone itinerary that maximizes time and minimizes wandering.

Weather considerations in Athlone mirror Ireland’s general meteorological unpredictability, requiring layers even during summer when temperatures typically range from 50-70°F. Waterproof clothing isn’t so much a suggestion as a philosophical approach to Irish travel any time of year. The town experiences fewer Atlantic weather systems than western coastal areas, but the Shannon creates its own microclimate that sometimes involves four seasons occurring simultaneously within a single afternoon.

For optimal things to do in Athlone without battling crowds, mid-week visits offer noticeably quieter experiences than weekends, when Dubliners often make day trips west. Visitors planning extended stays will find plenty to fill their time with activities specifically designed for what to do in Athlone for 3 days. Summer (June-August) provides longer daylight hours for outdoor activities, while September-October delivers autumn colors with fewer visitors and more availability at popular restaurants and accommodations. Those exploring Ireland’s picturesque villages might also consider an Adare itinerary to experience one of the country’s most beautiful settlements. Travelers seeking cultural immersion should time their visits around the aforementioned festivals, which transform the town’s atmosphere entirely.

Capturing Athlone: Photo Opportunities Beyond the Obvious

Sunset over the Shannon from Athlone Castle walls creates the kind of lighting conditions that make amateur photographers look professional and professional photographers weep with joy. The West Bridge offers perfectly framed views of colorful riverside buildings reflected in the water below—the Irish equivalent of those iconic Amsterdam canal shots but with significantly fewer tourists jostling for the same angle.

Church steeples piercing misty morning skies create dramatic silhouettes, particularly when viewed from the river. The hidden alleys of the Left Bank Quarter provide textural contrasts between ancient stone walls and vibrant modern storefronts that capture Athlone’s historical evolution in single frames. For people-watching opportunities, the beer garden at Sean’s Bar offers unparalleled vantage points for observing locals and visitors alike, particularly during live music sessions when facial expressions range from rapturous appreciation to confused tourist contemplation.