If you’re planning a trip to Galway, Ireland, definitely stay a few extra days to explore the area beyond. There’s so much to do in County Galway and the neighboring counties Clare and Mayo. For example, the famous Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands are both in these regions.
Plan to spend at least a week in Ireland, if not longer. Definitely don’t just go to Dublin! Galway is an incredibly charming city that’s worth a visit, and I’m sure you’ll think so, too. Here are the 13 best things to do in Galway, Ireland.
About Galway, Ireland
Galway was founded in the 12th century as a naval base by the king of Ireland at the time. Since then, Galway has had a complex 800+ year history.
One fun fact: Galway, Ireland is the city of the tribes. In medieval times, it was governed by 14 merchant families. Today, 14 roundabouts in Galway are named after each of these 14 tribes.
You can sense the history in Galway as you walk around the streets and buildings, which maintain an old-world charm. There are a lot of things to do in Galway County.
Getting to Galway via Bus from Dublin Airport
Once you land at Dublin Airport, you’ll head outside for a bus to Galway.
I used GoBus, a family-owned and friendly company, at the recommendation of my tour coordinator, and they were great.
I honestly got a little lost trying to find the bus area at the airport, but I asked a few people who pointed me in the right direction. I was able to pay upon arrival (with Euros), and the bus drivers were really friendly.
The bus itself was also nice, with A/C, cushy seats, and charging outlets for your phones. The bus ride takes about 3 hours and will drop you off at Galway Bus Station, which is in the city center.
I was so tired from my long flight from L.A. that I took a little nap on the bus. I tried to stay awake to watch the scenery pass by my window — lots of green fields and sheep and cows. Beautiful.
Will You Need a Car?
Galway is a very walkable city, and you won’t need a car while visiting just Galway. But, to go outside the Galway city center, yes you will need a car. Some of my recommended things to do in Galway are off-beat and out-of-the-way, so I’d say having your own car would be helpful.
However, you can also make use of group day trips that leave from Galway. There are several that visit the most popular nearby attractions, such as the Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, the Burren, and Cong. I’ve featured recommendations of group tours below alongside their corresponding attraction.
As for me, I visited Galway for a week during a writers group tour (offered once a year), and the tour coordinator organized our transportation on a private bus. I’ll link to the tour I did, but keep in mind it’s very niche (only for writers), and it only takes place one week a year.
13 Best Things to Do in Ireland’s Galway County
I’m listing below my favorite things we did during my week in Galway. This was my first international solo trip, and I decided to join a group of strangers with whom to travel. It ended up being an incredible week where I made friends I am still in touch with to this day. I’ll always have fond memories of Galway.
1. Explore Galway City Center
Before I met up with my group, I explored Galway on my own for about 24 hours. It’s an incredibly beautiful, charming Irish town, lively at night with people hopping from pub to pub, but quiet in the morning with barely anyone on the cobblestone streets.
I don’t really have anything specific to recommend doing in Galway (except for No. 2 below) — just walk around, explore, and see what you can find.
2. Head to The Long Walk, then Walk along the River Corrib
One thing I do recommend while you’re in Galway is heading over to The Long Walk, this scenic line of colorful houses. You’ll walk on a pier, on the other side, for the view. Afterward, head back, but keep walking along River Corrib. This walk (named Riverside Soundwalk) was really beautiful and peaceful and made me fall in love with Galway.
3. Visit the Cliffs of Moher
The famous Cliffs of Moher are breathtaking and worth all the hype. The cliffs are over 700 feet tall, a staggering height hard to comprehend until you’re standing near the edge, looking out.
Of course, you shouldn’t get too close to the edge. There are signs all over warning of the dangers.
But there is a path that goes along the cliff’s edge, the Coastal Walk Trail, which is 12.5 miles long and will take you all the way to Doolin Village.
The cliffs themselves are about 8 miles long. Walk as long as you’d like before turning back to the parking lot. There is also a visitor center with exhibits on the cliffs worth checking out.
4. Stop in at Doolin Village
Doolin is about 4 miles from the Cliffs of Moher, and is known as the gateway to the cliffs. Traditional Irish music is played nightly in the pubs, which draws in the tourists. Our bus stopped here for lunch before reaching the Cliffs of Moher, and we were able to walk around, shop, get a meal, and have a cup of tea.
We ate at Gus O’Connor’s Pub, and I loved not only the food there but the vibe. It’s larger inside than it looks and just had a charming environment.
5. Visit The Burren
The Burren is also close to Doolin Village, about a 10-minute drive away.
The Burren comes from the Irish word “boíreann,” which means a stony area or rocky place. You’ll understand why it’s named this when you arrive at the Burren.
It’s a grassy field with stones poking their way to the surface. It won’t take too long to explore the area (unless, of course, you want to take your time), so it makes a great add-on stop during your day trip to the Cliffs of Moher.
There are a few day trips from Galway that visit the Burren AND the Cliffs of Moher, so I’d highly recommend joining one of those.
6. Hike in Cong Wood
Trail: Pigeon Hole Loop
Length: 2.92 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 65 feet
Cong Wood has some beautiful nature trails amid gorgeous trees. Our tour coordinator called our nature walk (the Pigeon Hole Loop) a fairy walk and had us quietly stroll through the woods, listening for magical creatures. On this walk, we also encountered a cave that we entered via a staircase, as well as a beautiful bridge, and a tower.
The nearly 3-mile Pigeon Hole Loop trail will first take you over the Cong River bridge, near the Monk’s Fishing House, past the Guinness Tower, and eventually to Pigeon Hole Cave, before looping back to the starting point, near Cong Abbey.
7. Stop in Cong Village
After your hike in Cong Wood, stop for lunch in Cong Village. On my trip, we ate at the Crowes Nest Bar. There are other restaurants here, of course, as well as some shops.
One of the main attractions is the Cong Abbey ruins, what remains of a 12th-century abbey. The ruins are free to tour, so definitely check it out. There is also a classic Irish green telephone booth in the village, which is great for fun touristy photos.
8. Visit Ashford Castle and Gardens
Ashford Castle is a massive 800-year-old castle sitting on 350 acres near Cong Wood and Cong Village, so it makes a great stop on your day trip to Cong.
Unfortunately, you can only visit this castle if you are a guest of the hotel or have a scheduled activity, such as afternoon tea or falconry. Check the castle’s website to see if reservations for these activities are available for your travel dates and fit into your budget.
9. Visit Glebe Stone Circle
The Glebe Stone Circle is only a 5-minute drive from Cong Village, so it makes a great add-on stop during your adventure to Cong. The stones are estimated to have been placed around 2500–500 BC. It is free to visit; just find a place to park on the side of the road and walk on over.
You will have to cross a field to reach it, and you can’t see the stones from the road, but there is a road sign, so keep an eye out for it. Our tour coordinator, of course, knew exactly where to go, so we followed her.
There is a fence around the stones, but our tour guide told us it was fine to jump over. I’m assuming she was right. The location is accurate on Google Maps, so best of luck!
10. Climb Ballymacgibbon Cairn
Ballymacgibbon Cairn is also a 5-minute drive from Cong Village, but in another direction. The cairn is a Neolithic stone tomb that has surprisingly never been excavated.
When our tour coordinator took us here, she didn’t explain much of the history of the cairn, or if she did, I don’t remember. All I thought we were doing was climbing a pile of stones. To learn later it was a tomb makes me look differently on the experience.
Some of the stones are loose, so climbing them is a little tricky. At the top, there are great views of the surrounding fields. It remains a mystery what the cairn was used for or when exactly it was built.
11. Tour Augnanure Castle
Augnanure Castle is a six-story tower house built in the 13th century and later claimed by the ferocious O’Flahertys who ruled the area from this castle for 300 years. Their motto was “Fortune favors the strong,” to give you an idea of what they were like.
You can take a guided tour of Augnanure Castle, which I definitely recommend. Our tour guide was great, telling interesting stories that made life in the castle seem more real. She even pointed out several defense features of the castle, such as trap doors and windows used to shoot from or throw things.
Alternatively, you can tour the tower house on your own for only €5.
12. Explore Monastic Ruins
In addition to Cong Abbey, we toured two other monastic ruins during our week in Ireland — Ross Errilly Friary in Headford as well as the monastic ruins near the 75-foot-tall Turlough Round Tower. Touring these structures really helps you see the richness of Ireland’s history. It goes so far back. Both of these monastic sites are free to visit.
About Ross Errilly Friary
Ross Errilly Friary is one of the best preserved medieval monastic sites in Ireland. Local residents continue to use the site as burial grounds. Our tour coordinator convinced us that a ghost could be spotted upon looking out a certain window.
About Turlough Round Tower
It is believed that St. Patrick founded the monastic site near Turlough Round Tower in 441 AD. An interesting feature of the tower is that the door is about 13 feet above ground, a bit difficult to access for security reasons (in case of enemy invasions and such).
13. Take a Ferry to Inis Mor
Inis Mor means “big island” in Irish, which is fitting as it’s the largest of the three Aran Islands off the coast of Ireland.
Getting to Inis Mor: To get there, you will need to book your ferry tickets on the Aran Island Ferries website. For ferries departing from Rossaveel, there is a shuttle service connecting Galway to Rossaveel.
Getting around Inis Mor: Once we arrived on the island via ferry, our tour coordinator had arranged for a local tour bus to pick us up and take us around. Another option is to rent a bike and cycle around the island.
Things to Do: There is a lot to do and see on Inis Mor, it will quite literally take all day. Here are a few ideas to add to your list of things to do on Inis Mor.
Visit Dun Aonghasa
Dun Aonghasa is the most famous and popular activity on Inis Mor. It’s a prehistoric hill fort on the side of a 300-foot cliff, built around 2nd century BC. It’s a little over a half-mile walk from the visitor center to reach Dun Aonghasa. The views are stunning. Admission is €5 for adults, paid at the visitor center, but it’s free if you’re staying on the island.
Lunch at Tigh Nan Phaidi
Tigh Nan Phaidi is a charming cafe in a thatch cottage, perfect for lunch. The cakes and scones were really good here. Nearby are an Aran sweater shop and other gift shops, a great place to browse for souvenirs.
Hike to the Wormhole
The Wormhole (official Irish name: Poll na bPeist) is a natural pool created over thousands of years. It’s actually over 900 feet deep, and has been used in the past as a place for diving and scuba diving. The entire area around the Wormhole is also interesting. There are other, smaller pools, some covered in bright yellow and green algae (I’m assuming, I’m not an ocean-life expert).
You can reach the Wormhole several ways. Our tour bus dropped us off at a random street and pointed us in the right direction. Fortunately, there are more specific directions on the Galway tourism website. Definitely wear proper shoes as the path is rocky and a little difficult.
Other Things to Do in Inis Mor
There are loads of other things to do to fill your day at Inis Mor. Consider visiting the local seal colony, Kilmurvey Beach, monastic ruins, or exploring Kilronan Village.
Where to Stay in Galway
I’d recommend staying in the city center of Galway, if your budget allows.
I’d highly recommend where I stayed in Galway, which was at Hardiman Hotel (formerly Hotel Meyrick). The free Irish breakfast was amazing and the rooms were beautiful and clean.
I also stayed at Henighan’s/Anglers Rest Hotel in the village of Headford, once I joined my group tour. (The free Irish breakfast here was also incredible.)
The Headford hotel was much cheaper but more out of the way. There also isn’t much to do in the village (or very many restaurant options) except to head downstairs to the pub every night. I do have fond memories of doing just that with the friends I made during the trip, though.
So I guess it depends on what you’re up for — a quiet village or a lively city. Take your pick, or perhaps try both!
Map of Things to Do in Ireland Galway
Staying a Few Days in Dublin?
I loved Galway much more than Dublin, but before you head back to the airport, don’t miss these sights in Dublin:
- Trinity College Library (The Long Room is crowded but gorgeous)
- Malahide Castle and Malahide Village (Stop in the Seomra Tae cafe for incredible cakes)
- Dublinia and Christ Church Cathedral (Can climb tower for amazing views and also go underground in a crypt)
- Kilmainham Gaol (A very interesting prison tour, learned a lot of history here)
- Temple Bar (A classic Irish pub)
- Dublin Castle (It’s right in the city center, super convenient)
- Guinness Tour (Can skip if lack of time, very touristy)
What to Pack for Ireland
Favorite travel essentials
- I really recommend these compression packing cubes. They’re very thick and durable and allow you to pack more than you expect.
- I also love this travel backpack that opens like a suitcase, fits almost as much as a carry-on, and has tons of pockets as well as a strap to attach to your luggage handle. It makes traveling so much easier and more organized. It also fits nicely under the airplane seats.
- I bring this AirFly receiver for AirPods with me on long-haul flights, so I can connect to the plane’s video screen with my own AirPods.
- I no longer hop on a flight without wearing my Sockwell compression socks because they really do help relieve/prevent leg cramps from sitting so long in one place. I have the lotus pattern, but there are other patterns to choose from, such as this cat pattern or this flower pattern. See all sock patterns in the Sockwell storefront.
- For Americans, I recommend getting the Capital One Venture X credit card to relax and eat free food in select airport lounges. I’ve had my Capital One Venture X credit card for a few years now, and accessing airport lounges is my absolute favorite perk of the card. Every lounge is different, but most have a buffet available where you can eat and drink to your heart’s content. The annual fee of this card is high, but it evens out with the $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles you get (on top of lounge access and free TSA PreCheck or Global Entry)!
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