9 Best Day Trips From Galway (Cliffs of Moher & More)

Galway is hands down my favorite city in Ireland. Between the beautiful streets, constant music, and incredibly friendly people, it is easy to keep going back to explore.

Not only that, but given its location, Galway is an amazing jumping off city to visit a ton of other cool spots in Ireland.

Within a couple of hours, you’ll find famous cliffs, gorgeous national parks, and castles that make you feel like you’re in a fairytale. Even the islands nearby have history that goes back thousands of years.

I’ve visited Ireland quite a few times over the years, and I’ve even hunted down my heritage to qualify for Irish citizenship. I share who qualifies and how to apply here. Since my roots lie on the west coast, I’ve spent tons of extra time exploring that area. That’s when Galway became my favorite spot to stay while I visit amazing places and learn more about the history.

If you are adding Galway to your itinerary, then I’m excited to share the best day trips from Galway that are perfect for your visit.

Do you need a car for Galway day trips?

First up, we should talk about how you’re getting to these fun spots located around Galway. While there are some guided tours available with included pickup, the best way to experience most of these best day trips from Galway is by renting a car.

Some of the most beautiful spots along Ireland’s west coast are located in rural areas where public transportation is limited to nonexistent. Not only does having a car let you explore at your own speed, but you can also stop at unexpected viewpoints and find other gems along the way.

For my own road trips around Ireland, I used DiscoverCars to find a car. They are like a search engine for car rentals where you can compare prices and find the best option available. This tool makes it way easier to get the best rate and car for your trip.

If you’re planning to do day trips from Galway, I highly recommend finding your car there.

Driving in Ireland can be scary at first, especially if it’s the other side of the road for you, but don’t let that stop you. If it’s your first time, I highly recommend reading my guide on driving in Ireland for the first timers, which covers everything you need to know to make it easier.

One more thing, if your trip starts in Dublin, then make sure you check out this Ireland road trip itinerary. After driving around Ireland, I share my favorite route across the country.

Once you’ve got your transportation all sorted, you can start planning your day trips from Galway.

Planning your day trips from Galway

You might be wondering how much you can really see if you stay at one base, and if it’s Galway, the answer is a lot. That’s one of the best parts about Galway, it is surrounded by really cool places to visit the country. If you’re still deciding where to stay, check out my guide on where to stay in Galway to find the best area for your trip.

Some of these locations are very well-known and famous, others are less so. I am sharing the cool spots that I found that were super easy for me to get to in a  day trip from Galway.

1. Cliffs of Moher by boat

The Cliffs of Moher are one of the most famous natural landmarks in Ireland, so these should be number one on your list. Although it is a bit touristy, visiting them is easily one of the best day trips from Galway.

These cliffs are more than 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean and they stretch for almost nine miles along Ireland’s west coast.

Most visitors experience the cliffs from the top along the walking paths which are near the visitor center. More recently, a lot of these walking paths are closed because of safety concerns, which is why I would suggest this option.

Take a boat tour from below!

While the cliffs are incredible from above, you get a much better view when you look at them from the ocean. The entire experience is way better when you can see the whole thing, and you get to see more since so much of the walking trail is currently closed.

Boat tours also bring you closer to the cliffs where thousands of seabirds have their nests. Depending on the season, you might spot:

• Puffins
• Razorbills
• Guillemots
• Kittiwakes

Luckily, you don’t have to choose between seeing it from above or below because there are many tours that include both throughout the day trip. Some of these tours even include a visit to the Aran Islands as well, which helps check off another item from your Galway day trips. 

I will talk about these islands a bit more in depth in the next section, but if you want to maximize your time in Ireland, I would highly recommend bundling these.

It’s super convenient that you can bundle your trips too. I’d highly recommend doing the Cliffs of Moher and Aran Islands together for the best experience.

If you have the option to see the cliffs from below, you should absolutely take it… and might as well visit the islands on the way to make your trip even more memorable.

Most boat tours depart from the village of Doolin, which is about 1.5 hours from Galway. Luckily, you will still get picked up in Galway so you don’t need to stress over navigating the roads there (they are quite small).

2. The Aran Islands

As mentioned above, you need to include the Aran Islands as one of your day trips. The best way to do this is to take a boat, and there are a few options that you can choose from for this trip.

For some context, the Aran Islands are made up of three islands that are located in Galway Bay and have very rich history. These islands have heritage that can be traced by thousands of years, and Irish (Gaelic) is still spoken here. The landscape on these islands is covered in stone walls that divide the fields.

The three islands are:

Inis Mór (Inishmore)
The largest island and home to the famous prehistoric cliffside fort Dún Aonghasa, which sits dramatically on the edge of the cliffs. For this island, you can book a trip from the harbor in Rossaveel. This little fishing town is located in Connemara, which I’ll discuss in more depth as the next day trip

Inis Meáin (Inishmaan)
The quietest and least visited island. While it’s a nice island, it isn’t one I would recommend visiting if you’re only planning to visit one.

Inis Oírr (Inisheer)
The smallest island and a favorite recommendation from locals if you’re short on time. This island is also the one you’ll visit if you do a tour to the Aran Islands combined with Cliffs of Moher.

If you’re visiting for just a day trip, Inisheer is often the easiest to explore quickly. Many visitors, myself included, rent bikes once they arrive. That’s probably the best way to explore and see all the old ruins and the coastline. You’ll miss a lot if you only choose to walk around, but it certainly can be done if you give yourself enough time.

The Aran Islands are a very memorable can’t miss day trip from Galway.

You can read more about the history of the Aran Islands here.

Travel time to the Rosaveel dock is about 45 minutes, and if you go to Doolin instead, it’s a 1.5 hour drive.

3. Connemara National Park

Connemara National Park is definitely the most beautiful place I’ve seen in Ireland (which is saying a lot!). You should definitely visit this area as one of your day trips from Galway.

The scenery here still feels wild, and doesn’t get very busy. You can drive around the area for free, and it leads you to other great places to visit too.

On your drive, you’ll see beautiful mountains, massive lakes, a lot of boglands, and tons of sheep wandering around and along the road.

One of the highlights you might have heard of is Diamond Hill, a hiking trail that offers gorgeous 360 views at the top. If the weather is good, you can see past the Connemara region all the way to the Atlantic coast.

Even if you aren’t a big hiker, the drive through Connemara is jawdropping, and you need to visit if you’re nearby.

The region is filled with these gorgeous roads along a massive lake, little villages, and views that left me wanting to pull over. Unfortunately, the best parts are to be enjoyed while driving since the roads are a bit windy, so you have to soak it up on the go. Pull over when you can though so you can get a better look!

It takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Galway, and considering how rewarding it is, it is well worth the little journey.

Plus, while you’re in Connemara National Park, you can head over to Kylemore Abbey, which I’ll dive into next!

4. Kylemore Abbey

Kylemore Abbey blew me away, in more ways than one. Between the history, the gardens, and the beautiful building, it was one of my favorite places to visit on the west coast of Ireland.

Next to one of those beautiful lakes I was talking about in the Connemara mountains, you’ll find this beautiful and massive building. While it is currently an abbey, it has lived many different lives before that, which you can learn about when you visit. Not to mention, it looks like it belongs in a fairy tale.

Originally built in the 1800s as a private castle for an affluent family, the large estate later became the home of Benedictine nuns and still operates as an abbey today.

While it has some signs that explain the history, visiting Kylemore Abbey is definitely better suited with a guided tour. They go into much more depth about the interesting history of Kylemore and its grounds. 

This tour of Connemara and Kylemore is a popular option that includes transportation from Galway. The best part is learning about the different parts of Connemara as well as the Abbey from a guide who knows the stories.

The estate is much bigger than you would expect, especially if you want to explore the gardens in depth. Keep in mind that Kylemore Abbey includes the abbey, walking trails around the estate, a beautiful Victorian walled garden, and a small Gothic church.

The best time to visit is when the flowers are in bloom during spring and summer. Even so, the shoulder months are still beautiful since the garden remains green throughout most of the year.

Kylemore Abbey is located 1 hour and 30 minutes from Galway, and it is the perfect way to see Connemara as well as this historical building.

5. Drive part of the Wild Atlantic Way

The Wild Atlantic Way is one of the longest coastal driving routes in the world. It stretches over 2,500 kilometers of windy roads along Ireland’s west coast.

Given its length, you won’t be able to drive the whole route in one day. Luckily, you can still explore part of it as one of your day trips from Galway.

Some of the best and most scenic stretches of the Wild Atlantic Way are quite close to Galway, especially the ones in Connemara.

If you’ve already explored Connemara or included a day in your itinerary, you can easily plan to visit a different part of this scenic route.

On the Wild Atlantic Way, you’ll see those classic Ireland cliffs and rugged coastline, and you’ll find hidden beaches and adorable fishing villages.

If you’re renting a car, then you need to make sure you add this to your itinerary!

There are a few routes from and to Galway, which you can check out on the Wild Atlantic Way website to get planning.

And if you want to expand your trip into a longer adventure, you can find another route idea in my guide to the ultimate Ireland road trip.

6. The Burren

The Burren National Park is an Irish landscape that is very odd with a long Celtic history.

When you first look, the area looks like it is mostly rocky desert.

The coolest part of the Burren is the karst pavement, which are limestone formations. These look that way after thousands years of being shaped by erosion.

Even though the Burren can look a bit desolate, it actually has a lot of different types of plants. Some of these include flowers from Arctic, Mediterranean, and alpine climates which means it’s actually quite diverse.

The Burren is also a great area to bike in too! If you want to get some exercise while checking out a prominent piece of Irish history and landscape, you should take this e-bike tour. It starts at the Burren visitor center, and shows you the most famous parts like Poulnabrone Dolmen.

The tour includes the e-bike, helmet, and a guide, which makes the experience much more meaningful. Visiting without a guide is still good, but the signage does not go into much detail. As a result, there are a lot of “what am I looking at” moments, which makes it harder to appreciate.

The Burren sits about 1.5 hours from Galway and can also be paired with a trip to the Cliffs of Moher, if you don’t want to do a boat tour.

7. Bunratty Castle

You might have heard of this famous castle in Ireland known as Bunratty Castle. What you might now know is that it makes a great day trip from Galway!

The history of this castle goes back to the 15th century and has been extensively restored for visitors to explore the interior rooms and medieval halls.

Beside the castle you’ll also find Bunratty Folk Park, which is an Irish village that portrays what it was like in rural Ireland way back when. This reconstructed village includes traditional cottages, shops, and farmhouses meant to portray how it was centuries ago.

The castle also offers medieval banquet dinners, which is a great way to experience the culture of the area, especially if you’re around in the evening.

Bunratty Castle is located about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Galway, plus you can stop at Barack Obama Plaza on the way.

8. Doolin Cave

Doolin Cave is another cool spot to visit during a day trip from Galway. It is located pretty close to the Cliffs of Moher, so you could easily bundle these into one day.

The Doolin Cave was a lot of fun to see since it is home to the Great Stalactite. This mineral formation is one of the largest free-hanging stalactites in the world, and it is the largest in Europe. Trust me, it didn’t disappoint! 

The guided tour leads you down the stairs into a cave with a very fun backstory for how it was discovered. Then you get a hardhat, and continue down the narrow cave corridor until you end up at a huge opening. There are a few different spots that you’ll stop at during the tour, and you can get really close to the huge limestone formations!

Make sure you stay close to your guide so you can listen closely to the tour, because the history makes it even more interesting.

One thing to keep in mind is that some of the passages in the cave are quite narrow and low in certain places. If you’re uncomfortable in tight spaces, it may feel a bit claustrophobic. Luckily, most of the tour takes place near the stalactites, which are huge areas. If you don’t mind a few minutes in a narrow passage, then you’ll be okay.

Still, it’s a really unique stop, especially if you’re already in the area.

Doolin Cave is about 1.5 hours from Galway, but it is located in the Burren, so it’s a nice stop to add if you’re already there.

9. Moore Hall (a hidden gem)

If you want to explore somewhere quieter and way less touristy, then you should visit Moore Hall. It is one of my favorite day trips from Galway, especially when the flowers are blooming in the spring.

This estate was burned down by rebels in the early 1900s, and the history is fascinating! The bones of the building are still incredible to see, and it is surrounded by a beautiful forest. Moore Hall is located next to Lough Carra in County Mayo and is surrounded by lots of trails.

Unlike most of the historic attractions in Ireland, Moore Hall is completely free to visit and often very quiet. There is a big parking lot, and tons of playground equipment for kids in the estate too.

They recently restored the walled gardens to its former glory by adding a large meadow and fixing the entrances. This place feels like a well kept secret, but it’s mostly just quiet because it’s a bit tucked away. Moore Hall is well worth the exploration, and you’ll learn a bit more about the Irish Civil War too.

This landmark would make for a nice peaceful day that takes you to some hidden Irish history that you probably haven’t heard much about.

It is gorgeous all year round, but if you are visiting in the spring or summer, you can’t miss the flower field here.

Moore Hall is about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Galway, but you will definitely need a car to access it. 

Day trips from Galway by distance

If you’re trying to decide which places to prioritize during your trip, it can help to see how far each destination is from Galway. Most of the best day trips from Galway are within an hour and a half, which makes it easy to visit several of them during a longer stay.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the destinations in this guide based on approximate driving distance from Galway.

Rossaveal Ferry Port (Aran Islands):  About 40 minutes from Galway

Bunratty Castle: About 1 hour 15 minutes from Galway

Moore Hall: About 1 hour 15 minutes from Galway

Connemara National Park: About 1 hour 20 minutes from Galway

Kylemore Abbey: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Galway

Cliffs of Moher: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Galway

Doolin Cave: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Galway

The Burren:  About 1 hour 30 minutes from Galway

Because so many of these locations are within a 90-minute drive of Galway, and within an hour each other, it’s possible to combine several stops. This is especially true if you want a plan a larger road trip through this area.

If you’re mapping out an adventure from Dublin, then you might want to check out my guide to the ultimate Ireland road trip.

Final thoughts on the best day trips from Galway

Galway is such a great place to visit in Ireland, and its proximity to so many cool destinations makes it even better. If you’re planning a trip to Ireland, then Galway should definitely be where you stay. 

Within just a few hours of the city, you get to see incredible Irish islands, gorgeous national parks, cliffs, castles, ruins, and so much more!

Whether you’re planning a quick visit or a full trip along Ireland’s west coast, these are the best day trips from Galway. They are also a great way to experience the magic of Ireland.

If you only have limited time and want to bundle a few of these tours together, this tour grouping offers the best value. It includes the Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle, and even Ennis, plus it’s guided so you get tons of information about each spot.

On the other hand, if you want to visit some of these places with tons of extra time, then renting a car will give you the most flexibility. I found that DiscoverCars made it easy to compare rental options and find the best deal before my trip.

Ireland has a way of making you fall in love with it… and Galway is the perfect place to start the adventure. Do you have any questions? Drop them in the comments or DM me on Instagram at @LizsGreatPerhaps.