Hi everyone!
We will be staying Doolin for 3 nights and we're wondering if we should also then stay in Galway. I know that they are very close, and we are not driving so we're relying on trains/buses. If we do the Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, and Burren from Doolin, just wondering if Galway is necessary? We will be heading to Derry after and will have already visited Dingle.
Thanks so much.
Kind of tough to reply without knowing the rest of your itinerary and what you are hoping to do. Galway will provide an access point to some other experiences (like Aran Islands and Connemara). We liked Galway, but it was more of a home base to access other things.
As Maryam says, Galway gives access to Connemara and some of the best scenery in Ireland.... I've spent several holidays there and have only just scratched the surface...
It's probably not worth staying in Galway since you will be in Doolin. They're very close. However, it's worth visiting Galway.
A good stopping point between Doolin and Derry is Westport, Co. Mayo. You could climb Croagh Patrick, the holy mountain of Ireland. I climbed it in 2.5 hours in 1997. And stop at Matt Molloy's Pub is worth it.
Galway was my favourite town in Ireland. It is close to a lot of scenic areas, and has many options for guided day trips if you don’t have a car. I heard some of the best music of my trip there. The shopping was also great, even though that’s not normally my thing, I found Galway had quite an artistic side to it and bought my favourite keepsakes there.
Galway is often said to be visitors’ favorite town in Ireland when they reflect on their holiday.
We stayed 3 nights in Doolin and enjoyed it.
The first day i did cliff walk with Pat Sweeny from Doolin. It was really fun. Second day. We took the ferry to inish mor from Doolin pier.
The last last day we hired a driver took us to see the burren ( poulnabrone dolmen, caherconnel sheepdig demo, some other places) and drop off in Kinvara. You can also take bus 350 from Doolin to Galway.
Bus 350 different direction to the cliff and Ennis
We stayed at Sheedy guesthouse, which was excellent
Galway is agreeable but not obligatory. Strangely enough no fewer than two of the worlds best Indian restaurants were to be found there.
Galway is very, very pretty, but it's probably the second most "touristy" place I've ever visited, behind only Venice. That dampened our enthusiasm for the place considerably.
