Getting Around, Galway Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Galway, County Galway, Republic of Ireland)



City centre photographCounty Galway is somewhat of a remote, countrified area, with transport links tending to be on the unsophisticated side as a result. If serious touring around the area is part of the holiday plan, hiring a car at your point of arrival is the best idea in order to make the most use of your time.

Many holiday makers staying in Galway on a budget favour bus transport, with the exhaustive list of possible destinations linked by buses being very comprehensive. Rail travel is limited, while for short journeys around the city, taxis are a popular option, particularly for those enjoying a night out.


Airport signpost

Galway Airport (GWY) / Arriving by Air

Address: Carnmore, Galway, County Galway, Republic of Ireland, IE
Tel: +353 091 755 669
Galway has a small airport at Carnmore, approximately 10 km / 6 miles to the east of the city, which hosts flights from airports in the UK as well as Dublin, Belfast and, oddly, Lorient in Brittany. Schedules vary seasonally, so it's a good idea to check online. Public transportation from Galway Airport to the city is via only three buses per day, none of which connect with incoming flights. Taxis are expensive due to a fixed charge made by the airport to taxi operators, and the price of a trip to Galway maybe affected by heavy traffic. Hire cars are available at the airport for those planning onward travels.

An alternative air arrival point is Shannon International Airport. Serving many more flights, this busy facility has better onward transportation options, but is one and a half hours away from Galway by road.

Shannon Airport (SNN) Guide

Photo showing main road in the city centre, by Eyre Square

Car Rental

Car hire is available from Galway Airport from several companies, including Nova and Argus, and is easy to book online before your trip. If you are arriving at Shannon International, there is a wider choice of suppliers. Galway links with three major roads - the N17, M6 and N18, which serve the north, east and south of the country. For tourists, the smaller roads between destinations and sights can easily be negotiated with a good map.

WG Car Rental Logo Book your Galway Car Rental here.

WG Car Rental Logo Book your Shannon Car Rental here.

Buses in the city

Buses and Coaches

Galway city has a number of bus services which run between the city centre and the suburbs, although almost anywhere is accessible on foot. Local bus transport is operated by the state-owned company Bus Eireann, which competes with BusNestor, Citylink and GoBus, to provide affordable services to destinations such as Dublin Airport and also Shannon Airport. These bus companies provide comfortable links with towns in the county, such as Athenry, Ballinasloe, Barna, Gort, Loughrea, Oranmore, Portumna and Tuam. Long-distance buses are also available and travel nationwide.

Trains

Although the county has a long history of train travel, all the branch lines in the area have been closed. Galway's railway station (Ceannt Station) is located on Eyre Square and now only provides six return services to Dublin, which operate on a daily basis and stop at various intermediate stations, such as Athenry, Ballinasloe, Athlone, Tullamore and Kildare. Those travelling on this route can expect the journey to last a total of three hours.

Image of the harbourfront

Boats and Ferries

Regular ferries travel between the city's harbour and the three Aran islands at the mouth of Galway Bay. However, at present there are no ferry services running to any other destinations from the port.

Taxis

Taxis are common in Galway and have their main ranks in Eyre Square and Bridge Street, offering an extremely convenient way to get around. Although taxis could be considered as something of a luxury, parking your hire car anywhere near the city centre is also going to be expensive.