Galway as the Gateway to the West

Galway lies at the transition between Ireland's center and the wild west and is extensively covered in this travel guide in the Wild Atlantic Way chapter. From Dublin, Galway is reachable in 2.5 hours by train or bus and is the perfect starting point for Connemara, the Aran Islands, the Burren, and the Cliffs of Moher.

For travelers coming from the east, Galway is the ideal transition point: After the historical sites of the Boyne Valley, the Wicklow Mountains, and Kilkenny, you enter a completely different world in Galway — bohemian, musical, by the sea, and distinctly West Irish. The contrast between Georgian Dublin and colorful, chaotic Galway is one of the most charming aspects of an Ireland tour.

Plan at least 2 nights in Galway — one for the city itself (pubs, restaurants, street music) and one as a base for day trips (Cliffs of Moher, Burren, Aran Islands, Connemara).