Galway Free Time Best of Ireland in 14 Days Tour

We were on the Best of Ireland tour last year. Although 2 nights are spent in Galway, there is not a lot of free time because of the day-long trip to the Aran Islands. So, basically only early morning and evening. So, my husband and I opted out of the trip to the Aran Islands because we wanted to explore the city.

I just wanted to say that the Aran Islands were far, far more interesting to me than Galway. Galway was my least favorite Irish City. It seemed like it had made itself into what it thought tourists expected Ireland to be.

I was left feeling there wasn't much free time in Galway. I recall arriving fairly late in the afternoon, and then walking from our B&B into town and then to dinner. Free time would only have been after dinner. The next day was the trip to the Aran Islands. That took most of the day, returning in the late afternoon. The rest of the day and evening were free.

I don't know where the tours are staying these days but we were out on College Road at wonderful B&B's. But they were about a 10-15 walk from the center of Galway. BTW, Petra House is a very nice B&B with an awesome breakfast.

I would like to go back and see what I missed the first time.

Aran Islands, Inisheer, was a highlight of our trip to Ireland. Spectacular scenery. Got a little queasy on the choppy waters en route. Rode bikes around the island.

I was on that trip and if I were to go again I would skip the Aran island tour...and explore Galway. There was a cool castle on Aran but the trad music in Galway would have been fun....

Thank you for all your feedback. I was afraid there was not going to be a lot of time in Galway. I am torn as Arran Island sounds really great but not crazy about the boat ride. Plus my ancestors are from Galway. I will have time to think it over as I would go July 2021.

While I would have liked more time in Galway, I wouldn't want to miss the Aran Islands. Just my $0.02.

No matter how long you're there, you'll always wish you had more time. I'm planning our fourth trip for next summer, and I'm spending three nights in Galway. We have a favorite B&B and will include a loop of the Connemara on one of the days. I would echo the need to include Inish Mor if you're nearby, also for at least one night. The day trippers disappear with the last ferry, changing everything.

"I am torn as Arran Island sounds really great but not crazy about the boat ride."
There's also air service to the island from Connemarra airport https://aerarannislands.ie/, which is located about 40 minutes by car from Galway city. Actually, it's right on the way to the ferry landing at Rossaveal. Others here have praised it as a quick, comfortable, and reasonably cost-effective alternative to the ferry.

Since you'll be on the RS tour you'd not really have an option to fly over.

"I am torn as Arran Island sounds really great but not crazy about the boat ride."

I am a terrible sailor. Really, I can get queasy just looking at rough water on TV, lol! I carry SeaBands with me and that helps especially if I put them on before I board the boat. My plan when I was on the Best of Ireland tour was to opt out if the water was rough. It was not especially bad the day we went, otherwise I would have stayed in Galway for the day. I checked with the bus driver who I thought had a better handle on the weather, lol.

When I rode the Aran Islands ferry, a passenger boarding ahead of me for the return trip asked a crew member for a recommendation on where to sit if one wanted to avoid seasickness. That crew member suggested sitting on the main level (not the top level), at the rear of the boat, and toward the middle (i.e. not near the windows). Apparently that area doesn't get rocked as much as other parts of the boat, or at least it's not as noticeable.

I can't remember where I sat, but I used those sea bands and I believe they helped (and I'm usually very prone to seasickness). They worked for me on the Catalina Island ferry as well.

Just add a couple of days to the beginning or end of the tour, and go back there.