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seasonal · Tuesday 4 August 2026 · All day; sauna and plunge Sat-Sun 12pm-6pm 
Urban Beach at Steamboat Quay
At Steamboat Quay · Steamboat Quay, Limerick, Co. Limerick
At Steamboat Quay · Steamboat Quay, Limerick, Co. Limerick
Through to the end of August 2026, Steamboat Quay on the River Shannon remains a temporary urban beach, part of Limerick City and County Council’s Summer in the City programme. Sand is trucked in and laid out along the quay, with deckchairs set up for anyone who wants to sit by the water without leaving the city centre. It costs nothing to visit and there is no booking required for the beach itself, making it one of the more low-key seasonal additions to the city’s summer calendar.
The council pitches it as a spot to “feel the sand between your toes and soak up the summer atmosphere,” and that is more or less the whole idea: a stretch of sand and seating along the quay where people can sit with family or friends, watch the river and take a break from the shops and traffic of the city centre. It is not a swimming beach, given its riverside city location, but a social space designed for lounging rather than water activity. The one added extra is a weekend wellness offering: Sauna and Plunge sessions run every Saturday and Sunday throughout August from 12pm to 6pm, letting visitors alternate between a heated sauna and a cold plunge pool while looking out over the Shannon. These sessions are the one part of Urban Beach that is ticketed rather than free, and space is limited, so weekend slots are worth booking ahead through the council’s events team. The initiative fits into a wider push by the council to keep the city centre lively and free to enjoy through the summer months, alongside Twilight Thursdays and the Riverfest and Cocktail Festival programmes earlier in the season.
Steamboat Quay sits on the Limerick city side of the River Shannon, within walking distance of the city centre and Arthur’s Quay Park. It is served by local Bus Éireann city routes, and Colbert Station is around a fifteen-minute walk away. On-street parking and nearby car parks serve the quay for anyone driving in.
Steamboat Quay is a short stroll from the rest of the city centre, including the Milk Market and King John’s Castle further along the river. There is more to see in Limerick and across Co. Limerick.
Heading to Steamboat Quay in Limerick? Limerick has plenty more to see. Read the Limerick area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.