Galway Tours
If you only get one journey outside Dublin, make it west. Galway city is compact, musical and permanently in a good mood, and everything around it is the Ireland that ends up on the postcards: the Cliffs of Moher to the south, Connemara to the north, the Aran Islands offshore and the Atlantic doing what it likes to the coastline.
what to see in galway and the west
Galway Distilleries, Attractions, Cliffs of Moher Tour from Dublin
- The Cliffs of Moher, 214 metres of vertical Atlantic drama, and the Doolin ferry along the base which is the best view of them
- Galway city: the Latin Quarter, the Spanish Arch, and pubs where the music is real and unadvertised
- The Burren, a limestone moonscape hiding rare wildflowers and neolithic tombs
- Connemara: Kylemore Abbey, mountain passes and bog roads with nobody on them
- The Aran Islands, reachable by ferry or a very small plane, and a genuine step back in time
- Doolin, the village that supplies both the ferries and some of the best trad music in the country
Cliffs of Moher from Dublin
The drive from Dublin is around three hours each way. That is a long day and people ask us constantly whether it is worth it. It is, on two conditions: go with someone who knows what time the light and the crowds are best, and take the ferry from Doolin so you see the cliffs from below as well as above. From the water they are genuinely breathtaking.
Whiskey in the West
The west has its own distilling story, and the Wild Atlantic Way now runs past a string of craft distilleries doing serious work with Atlantic air and local barley. Our Wild Atlantic Way Whiskey Trail multi day tour follows that coast properly over six days.
Plan Your Trip to Galway
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THE MOST COMMON
QUESTIONS
Is the Cliffs of Moher worth a day trip from Dublin?
Yes, if you do it properly. It is three hours each way, so plan an eleven hour day, and include the Doolin ferry so you see the cliffs from the water. Going with a private guide also means you can time your arrival around the crowds rather than joining them.
How far is Galway from Dublin?
About two and a half hours by road, which makes it very doable as a base for two or three nights and comfortable as part of a cross island route.
What is the Jameson Distillery at Midleton?
It is the working distillery in County Cork where Jameson, Redbreast, Powers and Green Spot are produced, alongside a visitor experience with guided tours and tastings. It is distinct from the Jameson Bow Street experience in Dublin, which is a former distillery and now a visitor centre.
What is the Wild Atlantic Way?
It is the coastal touring route running the length of Ireland's west coast, roughly 2,500 kilometres from Donegal to Cork, taking in the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, the Dingle Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry.
Can you visit the Aran Islands?
Yes, by ferry from Rossaveal or Doolin, or by a short flight from Connemara Airport. It is best as an overnight or a full day rather than squeezed into an itinerary.
If your question is not here, call us. USA toll free 1-844-204-7470, Ireland +353 87 708 5947, or email info@irelandwhiskeytours.com.