Galway Travelers Recommend

The Cliffs of Moher are among Ireland's most dramatic sights, towering over 700 feet (214 meters) high and stretching for 5 miles (8 km) along the coast. Galway is an obvious starting point for a visit—here are your options for trips to the cliffs.

Day Trips

Maximize your time with a guided day tour from Galway and explore other sights along the coast in addition to the UNESCO-listed cliffs. Walk along the coast, then admire the scenic landscapes of The Burren, visit the traditional Irish village of Doolin, or explore the medieval Dunguaire Castle. Alternatively, tour Ireland's renowned Wild Atlantic Way.

Aran Islands Cruises

See the magnificent Cliffs of Moher from all angles by combining a walk across them with a cruise to the Aran Islands. Tours depart from Galway, taking you to the cliffs and to Doolin, where ferries set sail. You'll glide right beneath the cliffs and experience traditional life on the island of Inisheer.

Things to Know

• The Cliffs of Moher are located about 47 miles (75 km) southwest of Galway, a two-hour ride by road.

• Day tours from Galway typically last between eight and 12 hours, so prepare for a long day.

• Be sure to bring your camera, wear comfortable walking shoes, and prepare for changeable weather—it can get chilly on the coastal cliffs.

• Most tours include entrance fees.

Three days in Galway allow you to explore the culture-filled city, as well as the wind-whipped surrounding countryside—home to some of Ireland’s most spectacular natural beauty spots, including the Cliffs of Moher and Connemara’s hills, bogs, and rocky peaks. Here’s how to squeeze the most out of 72 hours in Galway.

Day 1: Discover Galway City

Dedicate day one to Galway City, a hub for arts, culture, dining, and nightlife. Stroll along pedestrianized Shop Street, the main shopping thoroughfare and a popular performing ground for buskers; see the 17th-century Browne Doorway at Eyre Square; and browse the Galway-themed exhibits at the Galway City Museum. The city center is fairly compact and can be easily navigated on foot, but other areas, such as the seaside resort of Salthill and the former fishing village of Claddagh, are a little farther afield, and are best reached by bike or hop-on hop-off tour bus.

Sightseeing is hungry work, so follow up your morning’s exploration with an afternoon food tour, on which you taste typical dishes and local artisan produce, from Irish stew to cheese. Sightsee a wee bit more, then finish up your day with a cultural show featuring traditional Irish music, dance, and songs. 

Day 2: Visit the Cliffs of Moher

Just a 90-minute drive south of the city, in County Clare, are the Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland’s most well-known natural attractions. Take a day trip here and hike along clifftop paths, cruise along the wave-battered base of the cliffs, and browse the exhibitions at the visitor center, which covers the birdlife, plants, and geology of the region. 

Day trips departing from Galway City often split their time between the Cliffs of Moher and other area attractions, such as the Burren, a protected park known for its strange karst landscapes and unusual flora and fauna. Alternatively, choose a day tour that combines the Cliffs of Moher with the Aran Islands, a remote, wind-pummeled archipelago known for its scenic beauty and traditional rural culture. Back in the city, head to the Docks for a dinner of fresh seafood. 

Day 3: Explore Connemara

Extending west from Galway all the way to the Atlantic Coast, Connemara is known for its wild and rugged landscapes comprised of craggy shorelines, sandy beaches, vast bogs, sheep-peppered valleys, and the quartzite-clad peaks of the Twelve Bens mountain range. 

There are many ways to discover Connemara. Join a guided sightseeing tour around heritage sights such as Ross Errilly Friary and Kylemore Abbey; embark on a self-guided hike through Connemara National Park; cruise to Inishturk Island off the coast of Mayo; or go horseback riding or sea kayaking. Gaelic culture tours, which visit the Irish-speaking communities of Connemara, are another popular option. 

Upon return to the city, pull up a stool at a bar for some comforting pub grub—think hearty beef stew or battered Galway Bay cod. Stick around after dinner and you may catch a live trad music session. 

Galway is a compact, walkable, and welcoming city—one well-suited to travelers on tight schedules. With two days, you can explore the traditional pubs and cobbled streets of the town center, as well as a few of the scenic locales in the surrounding countryside. Here’s how to best enjoy 48 hours in Galway.

Day 1: All Things Galway

**Morning:**Maximize your time with a morning sightseeing tour. Cruise by top sights such as Eyre Square, the Spanish Arch, and Salthill Promenade on a hop-on hop-off bus, making your own itinerary. For a more active experience, wander around town on foot (Wi-Fi will help you find your way) or by bike.

**Afternoon:**With the ocean and farms on its doorstep, it’s little wonder Galway’s dining scene is among Ireland’s best. Nibble your way through the city on a food tour. Alternatively, delve into the rapidly growing Irish whiskey scene with a tasting tour, or a visit to a local poitín and gin distillery.

**Night:**Experience Galway’s legendary nightlife. Enjoy some pub grub followed by a casual live music session in a city center bar, or get tickets for an Irish entertainment show that includes fiddlers, whistlers, pipers, singers, and award-winning Irish dancers.

Day 2: Beyond the City Limits

**Morning:**Some of Ireland’s most spectacular and rugged scenery is found just beyond Galway City in the region known as Connemara. Take a cruise around Killary Fjord, go sea kayaking along the Atlantic coast, and horseback ride along a picturesque sandy beach. 

**Afternoon:**From Connemara, drive south to see one of Ireland’s scenic must-sees: the Cliffs of Moher. Extending for miles along the coast of County Clare, these sheer cliffs rise up from the Atlantic swells. Travelers without cars can take half-day tours from Galway City.

**Night:**Cap off the night with an extra special evening experience: a medieval-style banquet in Dunguaire Castle on the edge of Galway Bay. As well as a multicourse feast of traditional foods, there’s also entertainment courtesy of singers, storytellers, and performers reading extracts from Irish literary luminaries. 

Youthful and spirited, Galway is a good-time city, with loads of culture and craic (fun) on offer. The city is also very compact, making it easy to see a lot of it with only limited time. From biking along the Salthill Promenade to pub-hopping around town, here’s how to experience the best of Galway in just one day.

Morning: Get to Know Galway

With just a day to spare, you won’t want to waste any time dawdling, which is what makes a guided bike tour such an attractive option. Hop on the saddle and discover more of the city in less time. Pedal between top attractions, including the National University of Ireland Galway Campus, the Spanish Arch, the Galway City Museum, and the Salthill Promenade, a scenic waterfront pathway that runs along Galway Bay. If you’d prefer a less strenuous sightseeing tour, take a seat aboard a hop-on hop-off tour bus instead, disembarking where you like and exploring at your own pace.

Afternoon: Treat Your Tastebuds

Galway is the west of Ireland’s foodie hub, and chefs here are known for their imaginative use of local produce, from Connemara Hill Lamb to wild Atlantic seaweed. Embark on an afternoon food and drink tour to taste artisanal cheeses, traditional Irish stew, and Guinness, a legendary rich and creamy Irish stout.

If you have a car, you could leave the city behind for the afternoon. Head for a family-owned oyster farm, shucking and slurping bivalves in front of the crashing Atlantic waves, or visit a hill sheep farm, where hardy flocks are bred for their wool and meat.

Night: Experience Local Culture

Galway’s arts scene is the envy of Ireland, and there is almost always something happening here, be it a live music, theater, or dance performance. Listen to fiddlers and singers, and watch traditional Irish dancers at a show, then close out the night with a pub crawl around the city center. Gather friends for a boozy pedal-powered pub crawl on a multiseat party bike, stopping for a midway tipple at a local watering hole. If you’re an Irish whiskey fan, you can opt for a tasting tour, which leads you to several different pubs to sample pours from various producers.