6 Connemara Day Trips in Dublin Worth the Day

1.Connemara and Galway Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 446 reviews · from $85Our pick

You’ll cross Ireland from Dublin to wild Connemara, stopping at Glengowla Family Farm and Silver Mines from April to October, or Cong from November to March. Expect mountain and lake views, Galway Bay, about two hours in Galway, and an English-speaking guide such as Peter or Mark.

“Supposed to have 1 1/2 hours in Cong, but cut back to an hour. Just not enough time there. The stop in Connemara was great...so beautiful. Galway would have been better if we could have gotten through the Joyce roundabout. As it was, it took ONE HOUR to through the roundabout and time to get the bus parked. Very long bus ride for about 3 hours of touring time. Even so, glad we took the tour and thankful it was a beautiful day.”

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2.Connemara and Galway City Day Tour from Dublin

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 101 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $90

Travel from Dublin through western Ireland by air-conditioned coach, stopping at Cong, Glengowla Mines and Family Farm, Connemara, and Galway. Expect dramatic mountain and coastal scenery, live commentary, Wi-Fi, USB ports, and a long day on the road. Guide quality and the exact return arrangements can vary, so confirm the schedule before booking.

“It was a very cool experience, wish we had more time to stop and see things We did a local mining stop run by a family which was wonderful”

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3.4-Day Blarney Castle, Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher & Connemara

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 60 reviews · 4 days (approx.) · from $1,587

Travel from Dublin by train and coach to Blarney Castle, Cobh, the Ring of Kerry, Bunratty, the Cliffs of Moher, Galway, and Kylemore Abbey. You get reserved rail seats, driver-guides, three nights with Irish breakfast, and free evenings. Guides may include Norman, Jonathan, Bob, or John Beaumont.

“Overall a very well organized tour, although if issues arose there was no customer care as too many people are involved. A very great way to get a taste of Ireland via train and bus. Of course it is subjective but it would have been to have more stops in some places, or more time in others. Note that the first two nights we were put up at a 'Bed and Breakfast' as Killarney was fully booked. The tour involves a lot of walking, stairs if you want to enjoy the stops to the fullest so be aware before booking.”

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4.Sustainable Connemara and Galway Bay Rail Tour from Dublin

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 54 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $193

You travel from Dublin Heuston to Galway by reserved train, then join a driver-guide for Connemara, Kylemore Abbey, Clifden, Galway Bay, and coastal villages. Guides such as Frank, Darren, Martin, and Michael have led individual departures, though names vary. Expect about 14 hours, a group of up to 53, and lunch at your own cost.

“This was the best tour though I would have liked it better with actual time in Galway. It did get a little confusing with the return trip because of the races. We had to take a bus and the drivers seemed very confused bout loading up the train orphans and it got tense especially in the rain. But otherwise the trip was very nice. Least amount of on and off hassles.”

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5.Galway, Cliffs of Moher & Connemara: 2-Day Combo Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 22 reviews · from $226

Travel from Dublin to Connemara, Galway, the Burren, and the Cliffs of Moher over two days. Your English-speaking guide handles transport, entry fees, and one night’s accommodation with breakfast. Seasonal stops include Glengowla family farm from April through October or Cong village from November through March.

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6.Connemara and Galway Bay Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.3 · 6 reviews · from $158

Travel from Dublin Heuston to Galway by InterCity train, then explore Connemara by coach with an English-speaking guide. Visit Leenane, Killary Harbour, Kylemore Abbey, the Inagh Valley, and Galway Bay before returning to Dublin. Admission and transfers are included, but meals are not.

“Our guide was fantastic! He was careful to make sure we were aware of all important details. He had a lot of knowledge and showed us some amazing views.”

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