How many days in Galway? 3 days: the Latin Quarter, the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Galway is a small city, about 85,000 people, with a big reputation for music and festivals. Its centre takes a day; the reason to stay three days is what lies around it on the Atlantic coast: the Cliffs of Moher and the limestone Burren to the south, the Aran Islands offshore, and Connemara to the west. Use Galway as the base and come back each night for the pubs.
Short answer
Two days covers the city and the Cliffs of Moher. The third day goes to the Aran Islands or Connemara, both of which deserve a full day.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: The Latin Quarter, the Spanish Arch and Salthill
Morning. Start at Eyre Square and walk down Shop Street past Lynch's Castle, a 16th-century tower house that is now a bank. On Saturdays and Sundays, the Galway Market fills the lane beside St Nicholas' Collegiate Church, where Columbus is said to have prayed in 1477.
Afternoon. Continue down Quay Street to the Spanish Arch and the free Galway City Museum, then cross the river to the Claddagh, the old fishing village that gave its name to the Claddagh ring. Walk up the river to the Salmon Weir Bridge and Galway Cathedral, finished in 1965.
Evening. Walk 30-40 minutes along the Salthill Prom and, as locals do, kick the wall at the Blackrock diving tower. Back in town, Tig Cóilí and The Crane Bar have traditional sessions most nights from about 21:30.
Galway pubs are full on Friday and Saturday nights. For a seat at a session, arrive before it starts, or go midweek.
Day 2: The Cliffs of Moher and the Burren
Morning. Drive or take a tour about 1h30 south through County Clare to the Cliffs of Moher, 214 metres at their highest and 8 km long. Entry is by the visitor centre ticket, about €10-12 if booked online. Walk south to Hag's Head for quieter views, about 1.5 hours one way.
Afternoon. Stop in Doolin, a village known for traditional music, and drive through the Burren, a landscape of bare limestone pavement with Arctic and Mediterranean flowers growing side by side. See the Poulnabrone portal tomb, more than 5,000 years old.
Evening. Return to Galway along the coast road via Ballyvaughan and Kinvara, where Dunguaire Castle stands on the bay. Dinner in the city.
The cliffs are often in fog or rain. Check the forecast and visit on the clearest day of your stay; the Aran trip can swap with this one.
Day 3: Inis Mór on the Aran Islands (or Connemara)
Morning. Take the shuttle bus from Galway to Rossaveal (about 1 hour) and the Aran Island Ferries boat to Inis Mór, about 40 minutes; bus and ferry together cost roughly €35-45 return. Hire a bike at Kilronan pier for about €15-20.
Afternoon. Cycle about 7 km to Dún Aonghasa, the prehistoric stone fort on the edge of a 90-metre cliff (about €5). On the way back, see the seals at Port Chorrúch and the Seven Churches. The islands are Irish-speaking, and Aran sweaters are still knitted here.
Evening. Return on the late-afternoon ferry for a seafood dinner in Galway.
For Connemara instead, drive west via Oughterard to Kylemore Abbey (about €17-18 with the Victorian walled garden), then loop round the Sky Road above Clifden; about 4 hours of driving in all.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do the city on Day 1 and the Cliffs of Moher on Day 2. You lose the islands and Connemara.
Got extra days?
Add a 4th day for whichever of Inis Mór or Connemara you skipped, or drive through Connemara to Westport and Croagh Patrick in County Mayo.
Where to stay in Galway
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Near Eyre Square / Ceannt Station | Hostels and simple hotels by the train and bus stations. | €90-140 |
| Mid-range | Latin Quarter / Spanish Arch | In the middle of the pubs and the river; can be noisy. | €160-240 |
| Mid-range | Salthill | Seafront hotels and B&Bs, 30 minutes' walk from the centre. | €140-210 |
| Comfort | Docks / country houses outside town | Newer hotels near the harbour, or manor hotels near Oughterard. | €250-400 |
Getting around
The centre is entirely walkable; Eyre Square to the Spanish Arch is about 10 minutes. Trains from Dublin Heuston to Galway Ceannt take about 2h20, and express buses from Dublin Airport about 2h30. Shannon Airport is about 1h30 away by bus or car. Tours to the Cliffs of Moher and Connemara leave from the city centre for about €35-45; a rental car makes the coast easier, but roads are narrow and driving is on the left.
What to eat in Galway
Eat seafood: Galway Bay oysters, crab claws, mussels and seafood chowder with brown soda bread, about €10-14 a bowl. Try fish and chips at McDonagh's on Quay Street, a Galway institution. The Saturday market sells crêpes, curries and local cheese. Breakfast is a full Irish, with rashers, sausages, black and white pudding and eggs, for €12-16. In Connemara, order Connemara lamb, raised on the hills and bogs, and smoked salmon from the local smokehouses. Pubs serve lunch for €15-22; a dinner with a drink costs €35-60. A pint of stout costs about €6-7.
Best time to visit
May to September, with highs of 15-19°C and daylight until after 22:00 in June. It rains often, so bring a waterproof. The Galway International Arts Festival runs in July, the Galway Races at the end of July and early August, and the Oyster Festival in late September; book hotels well ahead for all three.
Month-by-month weather for Galway →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €50 | €95 | €170 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €50 | €90 |
| Sights & tickets | €15 | €35 | €60 |
| Local transport | €5 | €15 | €35 |
| Total per person, per day | about €100 | about €195 | about €355 |
Approximate 2026 prices; hotel prices in Galway roughly double during the Arts Festival and the Races.
Before you go
Common questions
Can I visit the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands on the same day?
Yes, on combined tours that sail from Doolin to Inis Oírr, the smallest island, and then cruise under the cliffs. You see less of each, and the boats are cancelled in bad weather. With two days, do them separately: Inis Mór from Rossaveal and the cliffs by road.
Which Aran Island should I visit?
Inis Mór is the largest, with Dún Aonghasa and the most services, and is the easiest from Galway via Rossaveal. Inis Oírr is small, quiet and walkable, and close to Doolin. Inis Meáin, in the middle, is the least visited and has the strongest Irish-speaking tradition.
Is Galway good without a car?
Yes. The city is walkable, the train and buses link it to Dublin and Shannon, and tours cover the Cliffs of Moher and Connemara every day. The Aran Islands ferry has its own shuttle bus from the city. A car only helps if you want to stop wherever you like in Connemara.
Where can I hear traditional Irish music in Galway?
Tig Cóilí on Mainguard Street and The Crane Bar on Sea Road are the best known, with sessions most evenings. Monroe's has set dancing on some nights. Sessions are free; buy a drink and do not talk loudly over the musicians.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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