Galway Day Trips to Connemara and the Burren

November 5, 2026

Which trip suits you

Galway works as a base for four full-day outings, each in a different direction. The table of facts below comes first, followed by notes on each. Prices are in euro.

Trip	Direction	Travel time	Cost to know
Inis Mór	West	About 50 minutes by bus plus a 40 minute ferry	Ferry adult return €34
Connemara National Park	North-west	About 80 km to Letterfrack	Free entry
Cliffs of Moher	South, in Clare	1.5 to 2 hours by road	Adult gate price €15 in 2026
Killary Fjord	North-west	Leenane, near Letterfrack	Cruise about €26

Inis Mór

Ferries leave from Rossaveel, about 37 km west of Galway, and run through the year. A shuttle bus starts from Victoria Place in town, and adults pay €10 return for it. On the island, rent a bicycle or book a horse-drawn carriage at Kilronan pier. The big attraction is Dún Aonghasa, a Bronze Age stone fort. Adults pay €5, and you walk about 1 km uphill over rough rock. There is no barrier at the edge of the 87 m drop, so stay well back and wear boots. The Heritage Ireland page gives the seasonal hours.

Connemara

The national park at Letterfrack is free, with a visitor centre that opens Wednesday to Sunday. The Diamond Hill upper loop is a strenuous walk of about 6.2 km. Pick the lower loop if the weather looks poor. Close by is Kylemore Abbey, with tickets of about €18 for adults. Citylink and Bus Éireann both run Galway to Clifden buses, but the last services leave early.

The Cliffs of Moher and the Burren

The cliffs are about 75 km south. The ticket covers parking, and online prices undercut the gate. Do not plan to walk from Doolin to the visitor experience: that route is shut, and the southern path to Hag’s Head is closed too. Stay behind the barriers, because wind gusts and fog are common. Poulnabrone, a Neolithic portal tomb on the Burren, can be visited free.

Killary Fjord

Boats leave Nancy’s Point near Leenane between April and October for a cruise of around 90 minutes.

Tip on timing

Ferries and boats depend on weather, so allow some slack in the day.