There are few areas of Ireland, outside of Kerry, where I spend as much time each year as Galway. That’s partly because Galway is one of the best places in Ireland for pubs, but mainly because of the sheer number of places you can visit within easy reach of the city.
There are some mighty day trips from Galway that you can head off on if you’re driving and there are just as many organised Galway tours for those without a car.
The spin I find myself heading off on most frequently is the Connemara day trip. The reason for this is that you can add in hikes and walks, like Diamond Hill, when the weather’s fine, or stick to the car when the rain’s pouring down.
My favourite day trips from Galway along with great Galway day tours
Take a quick look over my illustration above as it shows where each of the Galway day trips take you. Under each of the trips below, I’ll also recommend similar day tours, too.
I’ve ranked the day trips in order, based on the ones I’ve most enjoyed over the years. Cheers!
1. Connemara National Park
My favourite Galway day trip is Connemara. This is the route I’ve been taking since I was a child and, despite doing it 15+ times over the last 30 years, I never tire of it.
It packs in a lot, but the stops flow nicely and there’s enough flexibility to work around the weather. Start at Aughnanure Castle before passing the Quiet Man Bridge and turning onto the R336 at Maam Cross.
This next stretch is Connemara at its wildest, with mountains and dark lakes lining the road all the way to Leenaun and Killary Fjord. If the weather behaves, tackle the 6km Diamond Hill hike before grabbing lunch in Letterfrack.
If it doesn’t, skip the hike and give yourself more time at Kylemore Abbey. From there, continue to Clifden and drive the 16km Sky Road, taking the upper route for the best views.
The car free option: This is the Connemara tour from Galway I’d pick if you want more time out of the bus. The 9-hour trip takes you via Screebe, Derryclare Lough, Clifden and the Sky Road before giving you a 3-hour main stop. The big difference is that you choose between exploring Connemara National Park – where you can tackle one of the Diamond Hill trails – or spending those three hours at Kylemore Abbey.
2. The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher
I’ve been doing this day trip from Galway since the early 2000s, and it’s still one of my favourite drives from the city. It’s a 165km loop, with around 3 hours 45 minutes behind the wheel, but much of that is spent following the Burren coast.
Stop at Dunguaire Castle, grab coffee at Hazel Mountain Chocolate and have a nose around Corcomroe Abbey before reaching the coast. From there, Fanore Beach and the steep Fanore Lookout detour are highlights – although I’d now skip Black Head Lighthouse as pulling in safely can be a pain.
If time allows, Doolin Cave is well worth the hour before lunch at McDermott’s (my pick, partly thanks to its big car park). Then give the Cliffs of Moher at least 1.5 hours before looping back through Lisdoonvarna and over Corkscrew Hill to Galway.
The car free option: If you’re looking for day tours from Galway without a car, this 8.5-hour tour is one of the best-value options. For €50, transport and your Cliffs of Moher admission are included, and you’ll stop at Dunguaire Castle, Poulnabrone Dolmen and Doolin before getting 1.5 hours at the Cliffs. It’s also exceptionally well reviewed, with 4.8/5 from 1,995+ reviews.
3. Cong, Tourmakeady and Ballintubber Abbey
The first two Galway day trips are often referred to as ‘the Tourist Routes’, as they’re the well-trodden trails most popular amongst visitors.
However, there are plenty of lesser-known places to visit near Galway, and you can see some of them on this little road trip:
- Start in Cong: I’d spend 2-2.5 hours exploring the village, Cong Abbey and the woodland trails – fans of The Quiet Man will recognise plenty along the way. Get lunch from Pat Cohan’s
- From Cong, continue past Lough Nafooey: The scenery around the lake is glorious, but there aren’t many good places to pull in safely, so enjoy this stretch from the car
- Next is Tourmakeady Woods: There’s a short, 2.2km trail that takes around 30 – 45 minutes and brings you through the woodland to Tourmakeady Waterfall.
- Finish at Ballintubber Abbey: Founded in 1216, remarkably, Mass has been celebrated here continuously for more than 800 years, including after Cromwellian soldiers burned much of Ballintubber Abbey in 1653.
The car free option: At €40, this is one of the cheaper Galway day trips and it packs plenty into its 8 hours. You’ll travel through Connemara with stops around the Inagh Valley and Killary Fjord before spending up to 2 hours at Kylemore Abbey and 45 minutes exploring Cong. The main catch is that Kylemore Abbey admission isn’t included – it currently costs an additional €14, bringing the real price to €54 if you want to go inside.
4. Westport and Achill Island
This is one of the longest day trips from Galway, at around 2 hours 45 minutes each way (153km), so it’s only one I’d recommend if you’re happy to hit the road early.
Head straight for Westport, around 1.5 hours from Galway. Grab a coffee from This Must Be The Place and give yourself around 1.5 hours to explore the town before continuing to Achill Island.
It’s roughly another hour to Achill, where you’ll pick up the Atlantic Drive. There’s a lot to see on Achill but, if it was me, I’d prioritise the White Cliffs of Ashleam, Minaun Heights, Keel Beach and Keem Bay – the drive to Keem alone is worth the journey.
For food, Ár Bia Mara in Keel is my go-to for great seafood, while The Amethyst Bar is better if you want a sit-down pub feed. It’s a long day, but on a fine day, the scenery makes the hours behind the wheel worthwhile.
The car free option: Achill is much further from Galway than the other places in this guide, so this 10.5-hour tour is an easy way to see it without taking on a very long day of driving yourself. The €60 tour travels through Mayo before exploring Achill’s Atlantic Drive, with stops around the island and Banshees of Inisherin filming locations. There’s also time for lunch and an hour in Westport on the return journey.
5. Inis Mór
Inis Mór is one of the handiest island day trips from Galway, and you have two main ferry options. The seasonal ferry from Galway City Docks takes around 1.5 hours, while the year-round ferry from Rossaveel takes roughly 40 minutes – although you’ll first need to make the 45-minute drive from the city.
Both are passenger ferries, so you’ll be exploring without the car. Once you arrive, rent a bike – I’ve done this several times and there’s a great buzz cycling along the island’s narrow roads, with its hand-built stone walls running alongside you as you pedal from one ancient site to the next.
Once you’ve picked up your bike in Kilronan, head west across the island towards the Wormhole, before continuing to Dún Aonghasa, the spectacular prehistoric stone fort perched above the Atlantic.
From there, cycle north to Dún Eoghanachta and the Seven Churches, before looping back towards Kilmurvey Beach. This is a good place to stop for lunch and, if the weather’s playing ball, spend a little time on the sand.
The return leg takes you past the seal colony, before a final detour to Dún Eochla, an ancient stone fort sitting at one of the highest points on Inis Mór. Then it’s downhill towards Kilronan. If you’ve timed everything right, finish the day with a pint and a feed at Joe Watty’s before hopping back on the ferry to Galway.
The car free option: This is one of the pricier day tours from Galway at €130, but there’s a fair bit packed into the 10-hour trip. You’ll travel through South Connemara to Rossaveal, take the ferry to Inis Mór and then explore the island by minibus with a local guide. The big stops include the 3,000-year-old Dún Aonghasa, the seal colony, beaches and the quieter Cill Éinne area.
6. Inis Oírr
Getting to Inis Oírr from Galway is slightly different to Inis Mór. There’s no direct ferry from Galway City Docks, so you’ll need to head to Rossaveel, around 45 minutes from the city, and take the ferry from there.
The crossing takes around 55 minutes. Once you land, I’d rent a bike again. Inis Oírr is only around 3km by 3km, so it’s easy to explore, with narrow lanes and stone walls connecting the main sights.
Start with An Trá, the beautiful beach beside the pier, before seeing Teampall Caomhán and O’Brien’s Castle. From there, cycle east past Loch Mór to the famous Plassey Shipwreck, before continuing towards Inis Oírr Lighthouse.
Loop back through the island to see Tobar Éinne and Cill Ghobnait, then finish near the pier with a pint at Tigh Ned. On a fine day, its beer garden overlooking the Atlantic is hard to beat.
The car free option: This is one of the more comprehensive day tours from Galway, combining Inis Oírr with the Cliffs of Moher in a 10.5-hour trip. You’ll travel through the Burren to Doolin, take the ferry across to Inis Oírr and get time to explore before cruising beneath the Cliffs. You then visit them from above for an hour. At €80, it’s considerably dearer than the standard Cliffs tour, but you’re getting an Aran Island and two completely different perspectives of the Cliffs.
Where to stay if you’re taking Galway day trips
If you’re taking day tours from Galway, you’re best-off staying in and around the city centre. I find that Galway’s accommodation prices are consistently high, so I’ll generally just check the hotels below and pick whichever works out the best-value:
- Forster Street: My usual base. It’s beside the bus and train stations and a short walk from Eyre Square and the city centre. Try Hyde Hotel, The Western or Park House Hotel
- Eyre Square: Very central and handy for transport. Try The Hardiman, Eyre Square Hotel or the Imperial Hotel
- The Latin Quarter: The best option if you want to be right in the thick of Galway’s pubs, restaurants and nightlife. Try The Snug Townhouse, The Residence or The Leonardo
- The West End: Still only around 5 minutes from the Latin Quarter, but with a more laid-back, local feel. Try The Stop, The Galway Rooms or Adare Guesthouse
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.