Things to Do around Galway

You could arrive in Galway and not move for your entire stay, mesmerised by the multitude of multicultural influences contained within its medieval walls, but then you would miss out on the myriad wonders of the rest of the magnificent West. Make the most of your car hire and discover the magic.

Galway City

At the heart of the county is Galway city, a colourful jumble of interesting shops, pubs, and cobbled lanes. Its small-town feel and astonishing live-music scene draw musicians, artists, writers, and assorted characters from far and wide.

Connemara

Use car hire to head northwest of Galway city to the mystical Connemara region, home to one of Ireland’s biggest Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) regions. Criss-crossed with hiking and biking trails bordered by stone walls, Connemara is a landscape of rugged mountains, bogs, and secluded villages framed by a coastline of white-sand beaches.

Aran Islands

Battered by the relentless Atlantic, the stony Aran Islands and Inishbofin are grounded in ancient history and traditions. Visit the cliff-top ring fort of Dun Aengus, and witness a way of life that has changed little in centuries.

Dunguaire Castle

Located in Kinvara, 19 miles from Galway city with car hire, Dunguaire Castle dates back to the 16th century. W. B. Yeats was a frequent visitor after Oliver St. John Gogarty bought the castle in 1924 and made it the venue for meetings of the literary revivalists. Yeats's beloved bardic tradition continues today, with the staging of regular medieval banquets.