Getting around · Galway · Ireland
Getting around Galway
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Galway city is small enough to walk everywhere: Eyre Square to the Spanish Arch takes about ten minutes, and Salthill is about 30 minutes along the shore. Coaches and tours from the city centre cover the Aran Islands ferries, Connemara and the Cliffs of Moher. Not for the city, which is compact and walkable.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- SNN, DUB, NOC
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Walking
The Latin Quarter is pedestrianised, and riverside paths link the cathedral, the Spanish Arch, the Claddagh and the Salthill promenade.
Bus
City buses connect the centre with Salthill, Knocknacarra and the suburbs, and regional coaches run from the coach station by Eyre Square to Connemara, Clifden and Shannon Airport.
Take the bus to Salthill if the weather turns; the walk back along the shore is the better direction.
Train
Irish Rail trains from Ceannt Station beside Eyre Square run to Dublin Heuston in about 2 hours 20 minutes and to Athenry and Limerick.
Ferry
Ferries to the Aran Islands leave from Rossaveal, about 40 km west of the city and linked by connecting coach, and from Doolin in County Clare in summer.
Crossings can be rough or cancelled in bad weather; check the forecast and keep the day flexible.
Car
A car gives the most freedom for Connemara, the Burren and the coast, but roads are narrow and winding, and city-centre parking is limited.
Taxi
Taxis wait at the rank on Eyre Square and can be booked by phone or app; they are useful for late returns to Salthill.
From the airport
Galway has no scheduled airport. Shannon Airport is about 90 km south, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes by coach or car; Dublin Airport is about 210 km east, with direct coaches taking about 2 hours 30 minutes; Ireland West Airport Knock is about 85 km north.
Do you need a car?
Not for the city, which is compact and walkable. A car is the easiest way to explore Connemara and the Burren at your own pace, but organised day tours cover the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara and the Aran Islands ferries.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Cliffs of Moher and the Burren | About 1 hour 30 minutes by car or tour coach | Day tour coach or car via the Burren |
| Inis Mór, Aran Islands | About 1 hour 30 minutes by coach and ferry | Connecting coach to Rossaveal, then ferry to Kilronan |
| Connemara and Kylemore Abbey | About 1 hour 30 minutes by car | Car or day tour coach via Oughterard and Recess |
| Clifden and the Sky Road | About 1 hour 30 minutes by car or coach | Car or regional coach from Galway |
| Cong and Ashford Castle | About 50 minutes by car | Car or day tour |
| Kinvara and Dunguaire Castle | About 35 minutes by car | Car or local bus |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Galway?
Not for the city, which is compact and walkable. A car is the easiest way to explore Connemara and the Burren at your own pace, but organised day tours cover the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara and the Aran Islands ferries.
+How do you get from the airport to Galway?
Galway has no scheduled airport. Shannon Airport is about 90 km south, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes by coach or car; Dublin Airport is about 210 km east, with direct coaches taking about 2 hours 30 minutes; Ireland West Airport Knock is about 85 km north.
+What is the best way to get around Galway?
Walking: The Latin Quarter is pedestrianised, and riverside paths link the cathedral, the Spanish Arch, the Claddagh and the Salthill promenade.