Located on the western Coast of Ireland lies the city of Galway. It is known for having some of the best landscapes the country has to offer, along with unmatched hospitality compared to the rest of the country, and it has an art scene that is gaining quite a bit of popularity. For those who want to drive in and around the area, this area features plenty of beautiful cliffs, point villages, and ocean views that are pretty breathtaking. So, if you want to experience Galway through these coastal drives, this guide will be helpful.
Ireland is a beautiful place and one of the best hidden gems for travelers. You don’t have to just go to Dublin to experience Irish culture. Galway is one of those other cities where you can certainly make enjoyable memories with yourself, friends, or that special someone. Let’s show you some of our best coastal drives that you can take from Galway right now.
The Wild Atlantic Way
The Wild Atlantic Way is one of the best coastal routes in the country. This features over 2,500 km of rugged Coastline that will run through Galway and throughout much of Western Ireland. If you’re looking for plenty of beaches, charming villages, and rugged Cliffs that make the landscape stand out dramatically, you should experience what could be one of the hidden gems in the European continent. Let’s take a look now at some of the incredible places that you can visit while traveling the wild Atlantic Way:
- Salthill Promenade: Here in Galway City, you can check out the Salthill Promenade. This is where you can find plenty of excellent views of Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. Whether in the morning or as the sun is going down, it might be one of the perfect places to go for a walk. You should also know that a wall at the end of the Promenade holds some significance. According to local tradition, kicking the wall will bring good luck. So why not give yourself a boost of good luck and kick the wall before continuing on the next leg of your Wild Atlantic Way journey?
- Connemara Loop: The Connemara Loop will be located west of Salt Hill. This will take you to Connemara National Park, where plenty of landscapes, lakes, and mountains exist. It’s home to the 12 Bens mountain range, considered one of the most stunning backdrops in the country. This is a can’t-miss destination if you’re looking for excellent photo opportunities and great hiking. We can guarantee that some of the shots you take will certainly be worthy of an Instagram post or two (or many more).
While it will be a long drive, it can get a bit boring at times in between one interesting attraction to another. Make sure you have something to pass the time on the road (as a passenger). You could be watching YouTube or playing your favorite online casino games if you’re feeling that “luck of the Irish”.
The Burren
Another coastal drive to check out is the Burren. Here, you can start from the south of Galway and travel the Burren and Scenic Loop, which is 80 km and will take you through the town of Burren itself, along with plenty of ancient geological sites that have been around for thousands of years. This will also be a place to check out the limestone pavements and famous archaeological sites such as the 5000-plus-year-old Poulnabrone Dolmen.
The Burren Coastal Drive will give you plenty of views of the Atlantic Ocean and the world-famous Cliffs of Moher, among others. If you also want to check out the Aran Islands, you can catch a ferry via Doolin.
The Aran Islands
Even though we’ve mentioned these islands a few times up to this point, we’d need to mention them in our list of destination suggestions. No trip to Galway would be complete without visiting a place that may be one of the best in Europe. Three islands comprise the Aran Islands – Inishmore, Inishmaan, and Inisheer. All of these are accessible via ferry from the mainland, including towns such as Doolin.
Out of these islands, Inishmore is the largest of the three. Here, you can check out plenty of the old forts from the ancient Celtic era, such as the Dun Aonghasa, which is situated on the edge of a large cliff. If you’re looking for a place filled with history and breathtaking views, there is no denying that Inishmore has that all. It might also be a good idea to check out the wormhole, a rectangular pool inside the Limestone cliffs. If you love cliff diving and swimming, you can’t miss this.
Finally, both Inishmaan and Inisheer—the smaller islands of the group—are a place for peace and quiet. The good news is that very few people visit these islands, which makes it even better for you to explore at your own pace. There are bike rentals in and around the islands, where you can tour the roads and scenery that make these islands such a special place to visit.
Galway Bay
Finally, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the Galway Bay drive. With so many beautiful views, you might stop frequently to take pictures. This route will be situated along the Southern Shores of the day, where you can see large bodies of water like Galway Bay and nearby mountains. There are plenty of villages that you can check out, such as Kinvara, which is home to the 16th-century Dunguaire Castle. This is also home to the flagging shore, known for having plenty of fossil rocks and walking paths to explore the beautiful Irish Coast.
Final Thoughts
These four Coastal drives in and around Galway, Ireland, are some of the best road trips you have ever been on. We guarantee you can come away with plenty of pictures, long-lasting memories, and stories that will be told for a long time. There’s no denying that you can find Ireland’s beauty in this part of the country, especially on the coast and the City of Galway itself.
