How to Get to Galway from Dublin

If you have already seen all that Dublin has to offer and have a few days to spare, one of the best things to do is to visit Galway. Although it is a small city, with less than 100,000 inhabitants, Galway is the third most populated city in Ireland and a very interesting destination.

Thanks to its two universities, the city has a very attractive multicultural atmosphere and it is also surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes. What makes it one of the most attractive excursions to do from Dublin is that both cities are very well connected. Below I share with you all the information about price, route, advantages and disadvantages of each of the means of transport that connects Dublin and Galway.

Galway is a small city that can be visited in one day. That is why taking a round trip tour from Dublin is a good option. In addition to transportation and an accredited guide, the tour to Galway usually includes more stops apart from the city itself as a visit to the Cliffs of Moher and Kilmacduagh Abbey.

• Price: from 84 euros.
• Duration and distance: the trip takes 3 hours one way and 3 hours return. In total the tour takes 12 hours from the time you leave Dublin to the time you return.
• Included in the tour: round trip transportation, accredited guide, visit to Galway, the Cliffs of Moher and Kilmacduagh Abbey.
• Recommended if: you want to visit Galway in one day with everything organized.

What you will see in Galway on an organized excursion

Located 200 kilometers from Dublin, the city of Galway is the third most populous city in the country and one of the most attractive. This coastal city combines a beautiful historic center with beautiful landscapes in its surroundings.

It is a perfect destination for a day trip and therefore we will review the main places that are included in the itineraries of organized tours:

• Eyre Square
• Sho Street, a street full of pubs and street artists that give visitors a very welcoming atmosphere.
• The Latin Quarter, the liveliest quarter in Galway and combines colorful medieval architecture with a wide range of pubs and restaurants.
• The Spanish Arch, which was part of the old harbor wall and is named after the Spanish ships that came to Galway to trade.
• Galway Museum, the perfect place to learn about the history of the city through all its eras.
• The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Nicholas, is located on an island surrounded by greenery and is notable for its stone exterior, its dome and its beautiful stained glass windows.

If your idea is to travel to Galway for a day or more, the train is the first option you should consider. It is just as fast as a car trip, since the 209 kilometers that separate Dublin from Galway are covered in about 2 hours and 20.

The great advantage of the train is, in addition to the speed and comfort, the wide range of schedules offered. There are at least 10 daily trips from 7:00 in the morning until 19:30 when the last train leaves Dublin for Galway.

There are two companies that offer this trip. The first, with a frequency of every 2 hours, is CIE. Irish Rail is the other option although this company only has two trains, one early in the morning and one late in the evening.

• Price: From 17€ (online) to 25€ (at the ticket office).

• Station location: depart from Heuston station, in the west of the city, near the Guinness factory, and Connolly station. In Galway they arrive at Ceannt station, in the center of the city.

• Duration and distance: Between 2 hours and 20 and 2 hours and a half.

• Recommended if: you are looking for the best means of transport for comfort and duration.

If what you prioritize when going from Dublin to Galway is the price of the ticket then the bus is your best choice. It is a bit slower than the train, but it will always be the cheapest option.

The buses in Dublin have the particularity that they depart from the center of the capital and also from the airport. The routes and companies that operate are the same both at the airport and from the center of Dublin and depart with a frequency of 1 hour. Yes, trips from the airport are half an hour longer and somewhat more expensive.

Citylink, GoBus and Aircoach are the three companies currently offering the trip between Dublin and Galway.

• Price: Between 12 and 20 euros. It will always be cheaper to buy the ticket online than directly from the bus.

• Duration and distance: 208 kilometers and between 2.5 hours and 3.5 hours.

• Recommended if: You are looking for the cheapest transport alternative.

Renting a car is always a very interesting option as it gives us a lot of freedom of movement and that allows us to see some highly recommended places near Galway, such as the Cliffs of Moher, just over 1 hour from the city.

If you prioritize this option you should know that the trip by freeway from Dublin to Galway is very comfortable and fast. There are just over 200 kilometers that you can cover in about 2 hours and 10 minutes, traveling on the M4 freeway from Dublin that links with the M6 to your destination.

The cost of fuel and the price of car rental depends on your choice, what is certain is that you will have to pay a toll if you do this route, although the price is reduced. If you want to reduce costs you can always resort to carpooling through companies like Blabacar.

• Duration and distance: 209 kilometers and 2 hours and 10 minutes.

• Recommended if: you want to have more freedom of movement.

To make the trip between Dublin and Galway is advisable to take a few things into account. Here are some tips and information that may be useful for you:

• Always try to buy bus and train tickets online, as they are always cheaper than buying them at the ticket office.
• Also take into account the trip to the train station. This is located west of the city and the best way to get there is to take the red streetcar line which takes about 10 minutes from the city center or the bus line 145 which also departs from the center of Dublin.
• If you go by car you should know that in Ireland you drive on the left.