Galway offers a variety of experiences, including captivating day trips to extraordinary sites. Below, we outline a recommended itinerary for a day of exploration around Galway, based on our recent adventures.
A. DEPART GALWAY
Start your morning with a hearty breakfast and get ready to embark on a day full of exploring beautiful sites around Galway. From scenic drives to historic landmarks, prepare for an unforgettable adventure.
B. KYLEMORE ABBEY
The drive to Kylemore Abbey by itself is worth it. The terrain changed vastly from Galway to Kylemore. We felt we had left Ireland and entered Colorado with all of the mountains around us. We saw multiple rainbows and so many sheep; they basically had taken over the road.
Kylemore Abbey is stunning and provides plenty of history and grounds to explore. Another perk is that their café had plenty of options and really tasty food. Even if you don’t plan on taking a tour, the café is still worth a stop if you need a meal.
C. Hike Connemara National Park (Diamond Hill Hike):
This hike has all the views and can be modified to fit most people’s needs.
We did the lower Diamond Hill trail. It wasn’t too strenuous, and the views at the top made us feel like we were on a Catan board (any other Catan fans here?!). It was very refreshing and relaxing.
The more strenuous portion of the hike (the upper Diamond Hill Trail) looked like it would have incredible views. We were short on time and weren’t able to do it, but were very tempted to make the time. If you love to hike, that seems like it would be worth it.
D. Drive Sky Road
Throughout Ireland, there are many beautiful coastlines and towns. Sky Road was one of those that took our breath away. It might have been the beautiful weather we had at the time, but the Sky Road Drive viewpoint had us sitting in pure relaxation trying to enjoy every second. The road itself isn’t too long and is well worth it.
E. DOGS BAY
Dogs Bay is known as the Bahamas of Ireland. If you are in town on a warm and sunny day, this could be a wonderful option. The drive along the coastline to get there was great, but unfortunately during our visit, the weather turned on us and it got very cold and overcast.
F. Experience the Nightlife in Downtown Galway:
A night in Galway is full of music, dancing, and friendly people. We recommend The Front Door and The Quays Bar. After our night out, we found ourselves dancing in the streets to street performers.