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Galway or dingle

I have 5 full days in Ireland. Flying in and out of Dublin. Can I see both dingle and Galway? If not which do I choose?

Posted by
1346 posts

So many questions: Have you been to Ireland before? What time of year are you going? Will you have a car? What are your interests? What else do you have planned for your trip? If you are only planning Dingle and Galway, maybe fly in and out of Shannon instead? When choosing between two destinations, the best course of action is to research what is on offer in each and determine which appeals more to one's interests.

Posted by
2 posts

No I’ve not been to Ireland before. Yes we will have a car. And no direct flights to Shannon
We’re going at the end of october

Posted by
3156 posts

With only 5 days at your disposal, and assuming that as a first time visitor a couple of those will be devoted to exploring Dublin, trying to see both places would be a logistical stretch. Better to pick one I think. My suggestion would be Galway since it's a much shorter drive from Dublin plus it's the gateway to the very pretty Connemara area ... a favorite for many of us here.
Keep in mind that you'll likely have to deal with some pretty unsettled weather and very short days that time of year. Sunrise in Galway is around 8:30 AM and it's getting dark by around 6:30 PM. Know too that Ireland observes daylight savings time the last Sunday in October, which will mean that it'll be getting dark around 5:30 PM. Short days indeed - and likely wet ones too.

Posted by
483 posts

With 5 days and it being your first visit, I would also recommend you stick to Dublin and Galway. In fact, you can save some headache (and money) by waiting to rent your car until you get to Galway (much easier.) There are buses that take 2.5hrs direct from DUB airport to Galway center (Citylink). Super easy after a long flight! Then you can head back to Dublin center to end your trip. Hope you enjoy your visit!