coastal drive
Wild Atlantic Way
2,500 km coastal route along Ireland's rugged western seaboard
0 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeIrelandConnacht
Galway
Connacht, Ireland · Europe
About Galway
Galway works well as a base: 15 minutes from Bearna, 22km from Aillwee Cave.
Galway is in Connacht, Ireland, with about 83,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Bearna, about 7 km away.
Galway ( GAWL-way; Irish: Gaillimh, pronounced [ˈɡal̠ʲɪvʲ] ) is a city in (and the county town of) County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. It is the most populous settlement in the province of Connacht, the fifth most populous city on the island of Ireland and the fourth mostRead more
populous in the Republic of Ireland, with a population at the 2022 census of 85,910.
Located near an earlier settlement, Galway grew around a fortification built by the King of Connacht, Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair in 1124. A municipal charter in 1484 allowed citizens of the by then walled city to form a council and mayoralty. Controlled largely by a group of merchant families, the Tribes of Galway, the city grew into a trading port. Following a period of decline, as of the 21st century, Galway is a tourist destination known for festivals and events including the Galway International Arts Festival.
In 2018, Galway was named the European Region of Gastronomy. The city was the European Capital of Culture for 2020, alongside Rijeka, Croatia.
Where to Stay in Galway
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Galway?
Within an hour or so of Galway: Wild Atlantic Way (0 km), Moran's Oyster Cottage (12 km), Black Head, Burren (20 km), Aillwee Cave (22 km).
Are there any good drives near Galway?
The nearest famous roads are Corkscrew Hill, Sky Road and Achill Atlantic Drive.
How long does it take to drive to Galway?
Belfast to Galway is about 4 hr 3 min (326 km). Cork to Galway is about 2 hr 38 min (197 km). Dublin to Galway is about 2 hr 30 min (209 km).
Where is Galway?
Galway is in Connacht, Ireland, about 7 km from Bearna.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 83,456
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Ireland
- Region
- Connacht
- Timezone
- Europe/Dublin
- Coordinates
- 53.2724, -9.0510
Tags
Worth the detour from Galway
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
cafe
Moran's Oyster Cottage
A thatched cottage restaurant on the shore of Kilcolgan estuary serving fresh oysters since 1760, a legendary detour on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way.
12 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Black Head, Burren
A bare limestone headland on the Burren coast with a small lighthouse, looking across Galway Bay to Connemara.
20 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Aillwee Cave
A show cave in the Burren with an underground waterfall and hollows where brown bears once hibernated.
22 km · about 25 min drive
national park
Burren National Park
Protected area of the Burren's extraordinary limestone landscape, where rare orchids bloom between ancient dolmens and ring forts.
24 km · about 30 min drive
beach
Fanore Beach
A dune-backed beach on the Burren coast road, with the limestone terraces of Black Head rising behind.
24 km · about 25 min drive
famous road
Corkscrew Hill
A zigzag climb on the N67 out of Ballyvaughan, built as famine relief work, with a viewpoint over the Burren at the top.
25 km · about 30 min drive
natural wonder
The Burren
Unique lunar-like karst landscape of 250 square kilometres where Mediterranean and Arctic-Alpine flowers grow side by side in limestone pavements.
26 km · about 30 min drive
Driving roads near Galway
- Right hereWild Atlantic Way2,500 km coastal route along Ireland's rugged western seaboard
- 20 kmBlack Head, BurrenA bare limestone headland on the Burren coast with a small lighthouse, looking across Galway Bay to Connemara.
- 25 kmCorkscrew HillA zigzag climb on the N67 out of Ballyvaughan, built as famine relief work, with a viewpoint over the Burren at the top.
- 42 kmCliffs of Moher Viewing PlatformIreland's most visited natural attraction with 700-foot sea cliffs stretching for 8 miles along the Atlantic coast of County Clare.
- 44 kmCliffs of Moher Coastal WalkDramatic 20km trail along the cliff edge from Hags Head to Doolin, offering ever-changing perspectives of Ireland's most famous sea cliffs.
- 45 kmHag's HeadThe southern end of the Cliffs of Moher, with a Napoleonic signal tower and far fewer people than the visitor centre.
Driving in Ireland
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.78/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€2.10/100km
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
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