Our pick for the best day trip from Galway is the Aran Islands: ferries to Inis Mór sail all year from Rossaveel, about 40 minutes across, and a shuttle bus runs there from Galway city.
Stay on the mainland and you have two classic days out: Connemara and Kylemore Abbey to the north-west, or the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher to the south in County Clare, passing Kinvara on Galway Bay.
Last checked: November 2026. Ferry details are from Aran Island Ferries; park details from Ireland’s National Parks; cliff facts from the Cliffs of Moher Experience. We don’t print prices or timetables: check the operator’s own page before you travel.
Most loved by our followers: our reel on Kinvara, the harbour village you pass on the way to the Burren, was watched about 53,000 times in a week on the Love Galway Facebook page.
- How do you get from Galway to the Aran Islands?
- Are Connemara and Kylemore Abbey a good day trip from Galway?
- Can you visit the Cliffs of Moher as a day trip from Galway?
- What is the Burren, and can you see it on the way to the Cliffs of Moher?
- Is Kinvara worth a stop on a day trip from Galway?
How do you get from Galway to the Aran Islands?
Aran Island Ferries sail to all three islands, Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr, from Rossaveel in Connemara, about 37 km west of Galway city. The crossing to Inis Mór takes about 40 minutes, and the company runs a daily shuttle bus from Victoria Place in Galway city to the pier. In season there are also sailings straight from Galway city, about 90 minutes.
On Inis Mór many visitors hire a bike or take a minibus up to Dún Aonghasa, the stone fort on the cliff edge in the photo. A day is enough for one island; more time lets you see the smaller two.
Aran Islands: Aran Island Ferries (official site). Our guide: Inishmore, Galway. Our guide: Are the Aran Islands worth visiting?.
Tours for Aran Islands (Viator):
- Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher day cruise from Galway City Docks
- Inis Oírr, Doolin and the Cliffs of Moher by coach and ferry from Galway
Are Connemara and Kylemore Abbey a good day trip from Galway?
Yes: it is one of the best-loved mainland days out from Galway, west through Connemara’s lakes and mountains to Kylemore Abbey. The house was built from 1867 for Mitchell Henry and his family, and the Benedictine nuns who still live there arrived in 1920.
Most tours pair the abbey with a stop near Letterfrack, where Connemara National Park covers about 2,000 hectares. Entry to the park and its visitor centre is free, and the Diamond Hill trail looks down over Kylemore and the Twelve Bens.
Connemara and Kylemore Abbey: Kylemore Abbey (official site). Our guide: Kylemore Abbey visitors guide. Our guide: Connemara, County Galway. Our guide: Connemara National Park (official).
Tours for Connemara and Kylemore Abbey (Viator):
- Connemara, Cong and Kylemore Abbey tour from Galway
- Connemara day trip with Leenane village and Kylemore Abbey
Can you visit the Cliffs of Moher as a day trip from Galway?
Yes. The cliffs are in County Clare, south of Galway Bay. They stretch for 8 km and reach 214 m at their highest point, near O’Brien’s Tower.
Many coach tours from Galway combine the cliffs with the Burren, so you see both in one day. You can also see the cliffs from the water on the Aran Islands cruise above.
Cliffs of Moher: Cliffs of Moher Experience (official site). Our guide: Cliffs of Moher visitors guide.
Tours for Cliffs of Moher (Viator):
- Cliffs of Moher and the Burren tour from Galway
- Cliffs of Moher and Wild Atlantic Way day tour from Galway
What is the Burren, and can you see it on the way to the Cliffs of Moher?
The Burren is the grey limestone country of north County Clare, part of Europe’s largest karst landscape. Cliffs of Moher tours from Galway drive through it, and the Cliffs and Burren tour below stops at Poulnabrone, the stone tomb in the photo.
If you drive yourself, Burren National Park has waymarked trails from 30-minute walks to hikes of up to about 3.5 hours. There are no visitor facilities inside the park: the National Parks information point is in Corofin, about 8 km away.
The Burren: Burren National Park (official). Our guide: The Burren, County Clare.
Tours for The Burren (Viator):
Is Kinvara worth a stop on a day trip from Galway?
Kinvara is the harbour village on the south shore of Galway Bay, on the road from Galway to the Burren. Dunguaire Castle, the tower house on the water’s edge in the photo, is the photo stop on the way.
Several Cliffs of Moher and Burren coach tours from Galway pass Dunguaire, so you often see it without planning a separate trip. With a car, Kinvara’s quay is a good place to stop for lunch on the way back.
Kinvara and Dunguaire Castle: Our guide to Dunguaire Castle, Kinvara.
Tours for Kinvara and Dunguaire Castle (Viator):