The west of Ireland's most iconic landscape begins at the edge of Galway city and runs west to the Atlantic. Connemara — a wilderness of bog, mountain, lake and coast — is one of the last places in Europe that feels genuinely remote despite being 90 minutes from a major city. The landscape is bleakly beautiful: dark bogland, the jagged profile of the Twelve Bens, and a coastline of sea inlets where the Atlantic has broken the land into a thousand islands.
Galway city is the natural base and one of Ireland's most enjoyable cities: a compact medieval grid with a traditional music scene that draws musicians and visitors year-round, excellent restaurants and a resident arts community that gives it a creative energy unusual for a city of 80,000. The Aran Islands ferry departs from Rossaveel, 40 minutes west — making a day trip to Inis Mór straightforward.
From Galway, the N59 runs west through Oughterard and Maam Cross into the heart of Connemara, passing Lough Corrib, the Joyce Country hills and the Twelve Bens before reaching Clifden on the Atlantic. A slower alternative route via the coast road through Roundstone gives a different perspective on the bays and offshore islands. Allow a full day minimum for any Connemara circuit.
Suggested itinerary
Galway city
Arrive in Galway city — the Latin Quarter, Spanish Arch and Quay Street are all within a 10-minute walk of the city centre. Galway has one of the best traditional music pub scenes in Ireland: Taaffes, The Crane and Tigh Neachtain all have sessions most evenings. Keep the full day for the city; Connemara rewards a separate day.
Aran Islands
40 min to Rossaveel ferry portFerry from Rossaveel (40 km west of Galway) to the Aran Islands — Inis Mór is the largest island. Hire a bike at the pier and cycle to Dún Aonghasa fort on its 100m sea cliff. The stone walls, wildflowers and spoken Irish everywhere make this a genuinely different Ireland. Book the ferry in advance in summer.
Connemara circuit
~120 km loopDrive the N59 west from Galway through Maam Cross. Stop at Kylemore Abbey on the northern shore of Pollacapall Lough. Walk the trails in Connemara National Park — Diamond Hill (2 hrs, moderate) gives views over the Twelve Bens and the coast. The Sky Road above Clifden is a spectacular 11 km loop. Return via the coast road through Roundstone.
Killary Fjord
1.5 hrs from GalwayKillary Fjord — Ireland's only true fjord — is best experienced from the water: the boat cruise from Leenane (seasonal, roughly Apr–Oct) takes 1.5 hours. The scale of the fjord (16 km long, 45m deep) only makes sense from a boat. The drive along the north shore of Lough Corrib to Leenane is itself one of the great drives in the west.
Highlights
- Galway city — medieval Latin Quarter, Spanish Arch, traditional music in pubs on Quay Street; one of Ireland's most atmospheric cities
- Connemara National Park — free walking trails across Atlantic blanket bog; Diamond Hill gives 360° views over the Twelve Bens and the coast
- Kylemore Abbey — Gothic Revival castle on the shore of Pollacapall Lough, built in 1867, now home to a Benedictine community
- Aran Islands — three Irish-speaking islands at the mouth of Galway Bay with Iron Age forts, limestone pavements and Dún Aonghasa on a 100m sea cliff
- Killary Fjord — Ireland's only true fjord, a 16 km glacial inlet between the mountains of Connemara and Mayo, with boat cruises from Leenane
- Sky Road, Clifden — a short loop above the town of Clifden with views across the Atlantic islands; one of the great short drives in Ireland
- Roundstone — a small fishing village on the south Connemara coast; traditional bodhran makers and excellent seafood
Attractions in this guide
Local tips
- →Spend a full day in Galway city separately from your Connemara day — they deserve different paces
- →The Aran Islands ferry from Rossaveel (faster and cheaper than the Doolin service) runs year-round; book in advance in summer
- →The N59 from Galway to Clifden via Maam Cross passes the most dramatic Connemara scenery — do not take the motorway shortcut
- →Clifden is a better base than Galway for a full Connemara exploration — the Sky Road and north Connemara coast are more accessible
- →Connemara ponies graze freely on unfenced sections of road — slow down on open bogland stretches, especially at dusk
- →The Killary Fjord boat cruise from Leenane is the best single hour you can spend in Connemara — the scale of the fjord only makes sense from the water
Ready to go?
Plan your Galway trip
Best time to visit
May – September (Aran Islands ferries run year-round; Connemara is wild and atmospheric in winter)
Getting there
Fly into Ireland West Airport Knock (NOC) for central access, or into Dublin (DUB) and drive west (2.5 hrs to Galway). Galway city has regular Bus Éireann and Citylink services from Dublin, but a car is essential for Connemara and the Aran Islands ferry at Rossaveel (40 km west of Galway city).
Region
Galway · Ireland
Attractions covered
5 in this guide
