The best tours in Galway – Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands and Connemara

The cliffs are in County Clare, about an hour by car from Galway, so they work as a day out, and they are the biggest group of listings here. The tours in the current inventory run from a five-hour express trip without a guide to full days of around eight hours, and several add the Burren or a boat cruise. Read what each one includes: how long you get at the cliffs and whether the visitor centre entry is covered differ from tour to tour. Departures from Dublin are not listed here.

The ferry to Inis Mór leaves from Rossaveel, west of the city, and the crossing takes about 40 minutes according to the ferry operator. Some listings sell only the ferry transfer, others a full day with a bus or bike tour on the island, and some combine the islands with a Cliffs of Moher cruise, which makes a day of eight and a half to ten and a half hours. The listings differ in which port each leg uses, so read the route. Sailings depend on season and weather, so check the departure time before you book.

Connemara is the wild country west of Galway. The day tours run about seven and a half to nine hours, most with a stop at Kylemore Abbey and some with Cong or the Connemara National Park. It is a sightseeing day by road with short stops rather than a walking day; a private hiking day exists for those who want to walk. Some tours add a sheepdog demonstration, which is also sold on its own. Read the stop list before the price.

No. The cruise in the current inventory starts in Doolin in County Clare and lasts about 50 minutes. It shows you the cliffs from the water, and you need your own way to Doolin. The length depends on sea conditions, and operator pages describe a season from March to the autumn, so check the date. The Aran Islands and Cliffs cruise tours from Galway are a different product.

The city listings are mostly on foot: walking tours of the old town and the Latin Quarter, a dark-history walk and a mythology tour, food tours and baking classes, an Irish music and dance evening, a hop-on hop-off bus and a sheepdog demonstration on a working farm. There is currently no listing for a boat trip on Galway Bay itself; the boats here are the Aran ferries, the Killary Fjord cruise and the cruise from Doolin.

Dublin day tours to the Cliffs and Galway are heavily booked, but they start in Dublin, so the road across Ireland is part of the day. This site lists only departures from Galway and the surrounding area. If you are staying in Dublin, look at tours there.