Knock Gateway
The Strandhill side of the Ireland Northwest zone starts at Knock, even though the zone map does not show it: the airport has no transatlantic service, so most travellers connect through Dublin or Shannon. This is the logistics page for the connection: where to sleep, where to eat, who drives, how the flights and roads reach the zone, and where to find a surf shop.
Getting There
Ireland West Airport Knock (NOC) is the closest airport with real scheduled service to Strandhill in the Ireland Northwest zone, about 45 to 58 minutes' drive, but its network is regional UK and Europe flights, not transatlantic (reported on the zone page). The two real US gateways are Dublin (about 3 hours 11 minutes, 252 km, to the Bundoran area) and Shannon (about 2 hours 47 minutes), which has US Preclearance and year-round Aer Lingus service to Boston and New York JFK (reported). Most travellers fly into one of those and either drive north or connect on a short regional hop to Knock.
Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom and has its own visa-waiver clock: US citizens need no visa and no ETA for up to 90 days with a valid passport (reported on the zone page). The currency is the euro. Rules move, so check the official source. Details are in the Ireland Northwest Getting There section.
Getting Out of the Airport
- Taxi: taxis meet flights at Knock; ask for a large vehicle and agree the fare first.
- Rental car or campervan: the practical way to Sligo, Strandhill and Bundoran, which all sit within about 45 minutes of each other (reported); Ireland drives on the left. Ask about board space.
- Rail and bus: only Sligo town has a station, connecting to Dublin, and none of the three hubs is directly served (reported on the zone page). Confirm the board-bag rule before you rely on either.
Other Gateways for the Zone
- Dublin (DUB): about 3 hours 11 minutes and 252 km to the Bundoran area, with the widest set of US routes (reported on the zone page). See the Dublin Gateway page.
- Shannon (SNN): about 2 hours 47 minutes, arguably the more relevant gateway for this zone, with US Preclearance and year-round Aer Lingus service to Boston and New York JFK, plus seasonal United and Delta routes (reported on the zone page). See the Shannon Gateway page.
- Donegal (CFN): closer to Bundoran but flies only to Dublin and Glasgow, with no US service (reported on the zone page).
- Sligo (SXL): physically next to Strandhill but with no scheduled commercial routes since 2011, so do not plan around it (reported on the zone page).
For the full route notes, see the Ireland Northwest Getting There section.
Stays
Near Knock Airport
- Riverside Guest HouseCharlestown Bed and breakfast with a high rating from over 250 reviews. About 6 km from Knock Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 260 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Deerpark Manor B&BKnock area Bed and breakfast with a high rating from about 100 reviews. About 9 km from Knock Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 100 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Rockfield Manor B&BKnock Bed and breakfast with a high rating. About 18 km from Knock Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from 78 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Jordan's Drum Haven B&BKnock Bed and breakfast with a high rating. About 15 km from Knock Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from 59 reviews. Google Maps listing
Chain airport hotels are left out.
Sligo
- Éalú LodgeSligo Lodging with a high rating. About 1 km from central Sligo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 96 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Riverside HotelSligo Independent hotel with a high rating from about 1,700 reviews. About 1 km from central Sligo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from about 1,700 reviews. Google Maps listing
- The Glasshouse HotelSligo Hotel with a high rating from nearly 2,700 reviews. About 1 km from central Sligo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from about 2,700 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Railway HostelSligo Hostel with a good rating. About 1 km from central Sligo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.3 from about 130 reviews. Google Maps listing
Sligo is the natural centre of the zone (reported on the zone page).
Strandhill
- Strandhill Lodge & SuitesStrandhill Hotel with a high rating from over 300 reviews. About 1 km from Strandhill in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 330 reviews. Google Maps listing
- By The Sea B&BStrandhill Bed and breakfast with a top rating. About 1 km from Strandhill in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 56 reviews. Google Maps listing
Strandhill stays are also covered on the zone page.
Bundoran
- Bank House BundoranBundoran Lodging with a high rating. About 1 km from Bundoran in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from about 270 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Rolling Wave GuesthouseBundoran Guesthouse with a good rating from over 130 reviews. About 1 km from Bundoran in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 3.9 from about 130 reviews. Google Maps listing
Where to Eat
Sligo
- Coach Lane Restaurant @ Donaghy's BarSligo Restaurant with a high rating from nearly 900 reviews. About 1 km from central Sligo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 870 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Eala BhanSligo Irish restaurant with a high rating from over 1,000 reviews. About 1 km from central Sligo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 1,000 reviews. Google Maps listing
- The Brasserie SligoSligo French restaurant with a top rating. About 1 km from central Sligo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 65 reviews. Google Maps listing
Cafes & Bakeries
- Lyons Café and BakeshopSligo Cafe and bakery with a high rating from over 800 reviews. About 1 km from central Sligo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 820 reviews. Google Maps listing
- O'Hehirs Bakery & CafeSligo Bakery and cafe with a good rating. About 1 km from central Sligo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from about 100 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Sweet Dreams CafeSligo Coffee shop with a high rating. About 1 km from central Sligo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from 81 reviews. Google Maps listing
Strandhill and Bundoran
- Stoked StrandhillStrandhill Restaurant with a high rating from nearly 350 reviews. About 1 km from Strandhill in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 350 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Honestly Farm KitchenStrandhill Restaurant with about 400 reviews. About 1 km from Strandhill in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from about 400 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Humble Café & Wine BarBundoran Cafe with a high rating. About 1 km from Bundoran in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 100 reviews. Google Maps listing
Transport Companies
Taxis & Transfers
- Knock Airport TaxisKnock Taxi service with a top rating. About 1 km from Knock Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 39 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Ireland West Taxis & ToursKnock Taxi service with a high rating from nearly 90 reviews. About 1 km from Knock Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from 88 reviews. Google Maps listing
- DK CabsSligo Taxi service in Sligo. About 1 km from central Sligo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.3 from 43 reviews. Google Maps listing
Ask for a large vehicle for a board bag. Agree the fare to Strandhill before you set off.
Car Rental & Campervans
- Griffith Carhire KnockKnock Independent car hire with a top rating. About 1 km from Knock Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 10 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Ireland West MotorhomesMayo Motorhome rental with a high rating; confirm availability. About 30 km from Knock Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from 61 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Craic N CampersSligo area Campervan rental with a high rating from over 260 reviews; confirm availability. About 74 km from central Sligo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 270 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Voyage MotorhomesSligo area Motorhome rental with a top rating; confirm availability. About 56 km from central Sligo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from 99 reviews. Google Maps listing
International rental brands and booking aggregators are left out. A car is essential in this zone (reported on the zone page). Ask about roof racks and board space before you book.
Board & Luggage Storage
We found no storage listing that confirms it takes a full board bag. Ask your hotel first. Chain luggage-storage networks in the city are left out.
Luggage Storage
- Sligo Self StorageSligo Self-storage business with a high rating; ask whether it takes short-term bags. We could not confirm it. About 2 km from central Sligo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 59 reviews. Google Maps listing
Locker sizes rarely fit a full board bag; ask your hotel first. The luggage-storage networks are left out.
Surf Shops
- Surfworld BundoranBundoran Surf shop with a high rating. About 1 km from Bundoran in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from 54 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Bundoran Surf CoBundoran Surf shop with a high rating from over 180 reviews. About 1 km from Bundoran in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 180 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Strandhill Surf SchoolStrandhill Surf school with a high rating from nearly 150 reviews. About 1 km from Strandhill in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 150 reviews. Google Maps listing
- The Wetsuit CompanyStrandhill Wetsuit and surf store with a top rating from a few reviews. About 1 km from Strandhill in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from 5 reviews. Google Maps listing
Getting Out to the Zones
Ireland Northwest: see Ireland Northwest Getting There. Strandhill is about 45 to 58 minutes from Knock Airport.
Questions People Actually Ask.
Which airport do I fly into for the Ireland Northwest zone?
Dublin and Shannon are the real US gateways; Shannon is arguably the more relevant of the two. Knock is the closest airport with scheduled service but flies regional UK and Europe routes only (reported on the zone page).
How far is Knock from Strandhill?
About 45 to 58 minutes' drive (reported on the zone page).
Is there a direct US flight to Knock?
No. Knock's network is regional UK and Europe flights, not transatlantic (reported on the zone page).
Can I fly into Sligo?
No. Sligo Airport has had no scheduled commercial routes since 2011 (reported on the zone page).
Do I need a visa?
US citizens need no visa and no ETA for up to 90 days with a valid passport (reported on the zone page); check the official source.
Disclosure & How This Page Works.
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Every listing was researched in 2026 and has not yet been verified in person. Prices, hours, and policies change; treat them as strong starting points and confirm directly with the business. And per the No-Reveal Code: you will find no surf spots on this page, ever.