We'll be in Ireland in September and staying in Galway for 3 nights, arriving there about 4:00 pm by train. We do not have a car. We technically have two full days and I'm looking at Galway Tour Company for a Cliffs of Moher/Burren tour for one day and the Aran Islands ferry to Inishmore for the other day. How much time do I need to see Galway itself? I feel like we'll only be in Galway in the evenings and maybe a few hours in the morning before we leave to go back to Dublin. Will that be enough time? There are two Cliffs tours, one starts at 10 am and sees more of the Burren but less time at the Cliffs and the other starts at noon and sees less Burren sights but 2 hours at the Cliffs. Is the Burren that interesting? Do I want to spend more time at the Cliffs and have my morning for Galway?
Posted by
Mountains of S. Oregon
741 posts
Since you don't have a car, you could take the Rossaveal ferry to Inishmor, spend the night, then return on the Doolin Ferry with a diversion to the Cliffs of Moher (not sure about the order of their offerings), then find a bus back to Galway. Inishmor changes after the day trippers leave. There are a lot of things around Galway, but not easy to get to without a car or a tour. Sorry not much help.
Posted by
SE Washington, USA
497 posts
We drove into the Burren and visited the "Perfumery". It's hard to know what part of The Burren is included in the tour. We found the landscape interesting and unique. I'm not a fan of heights. The Cliffs were horribly crowded, and we weren't interested in a hike so I can't imagine needing 2 hours. However, that was about 15 years ago. It seems many love the Cliffs.
JJGurley's suggestion to stay on the island sounds appealing (even though it misses the Burren).
Find a good pub for some music in Galway.
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
2279 posts
I love the Burren and its scenery which is so completely different to the rest of Ireland. I've also been completley underwhelmed by the Cliffs of Moher and by sharing them with so many other people. The best views are by boat rather from the top...
I do like jjgurley's suggestion. The 350 bus will get you back to Galway from Doolin.
Posted by
SoCal
1130 posts
I personally think a couple of hours in Galway is sufficient, but many will disagree with me. It's a cute little town, but it's nothing more than that IMO. About as touristy as anyplace I've ever been.
Posted by
RIchmond, BC,Canada
932 posts
I really enjoyed Galway, partly for the music at the Crane pub, partly for the artsy side to it. I found some unique gifts there that weren’t touristy. But, the best thing about Galway is the surrounding areas and scenery. The day trip I did to the cliffs included enough time to walk out across the Burren landscape to Poulnabrone Dolmen, plus a stop at Ailwee cave. The time at the actual cliffs was only about an hour, but I was fine with that, it’s long enough to get a good look, and some photos. Spending the night on Inishmore sounds nice, but I think with your limited time it might be difficult to make it work along with a day trip to the cliffs and Burren. You would have to go to Inishmore the same day you do your tour to the cliff and Burren in order to have all of the following day to tour the island before returning to Galway to return to Dublin. Inishmore is an easy day trip from Galway as long as the weather doesn’t cancel the ferry. If that happens just do a day trip to Connemara instead.
Posted by
OP
35 posts
Thank you all for your comments! We have hotel reservations for three nights in Galway. I just looked up and found that most shops don't open until noon on Sundays and some are even closed. I want to go to the Charlie Byrne bookshop and it opens at 12 on Sun and 9 on Mon. That makes our decision because our two days for tours are Sunday and Monday. We will do the Aran Ferry to Inishmore on Sunday since it leaves at 9:30 and then the noon tour to the Cliffs/Burren on Monday so we have time to go shopping and see more of Galway! Thanks again. It's so much fun planning!!