Connemara in County Galway, on the west coast of Ireland, is a remote and wild corner of the Éire. Speckled along the rugged Atlantic coastline are the islands of Connemara—only a few are inhabited. Connemara is a perfect location for hiking, cycling, kayaking, and breathing in the salty sea air.
If you are still in the planning phases of your trip, take advantage of this 8-Day Burren, Aran Islands and Connemara Itinerary for inspiration. If hiking is your thing, this Itinerary is for you— it gives the ins and outs of hiking along the Atlantic coast.
From Galway
Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours
Clifden is a great central location to explore Connemara— it is 49 miles (77 km) from the city of Galway. It’s a small town located along the Wild Atlantic Way, and 1.5-2.5 hours by car (either rental or private transfer). This is the most convenient option to make the journey between the two.
Another option is the bus. Both regional and private companies offer several daily departures from Galway and arrive in Clifden 1.5 hours later.
Find out more about how to travel from Galway to County Clare, Donegal, and Doolin.
From Dublin
Duration: 3-5 hours
To drive this journey will take a little over 3 hours (more with stops)—it is 168.6 miles (270 km). It is a lovely way to take in the countryside.
It's possible to take a train run by Irish Rail to Westport and from there, grab a taxi to go the remailing hour— the whole trip taking 4 hours. This runs a few times a day.
A bus is another option, although it is a 5 hour trip with a transfer that will take you to Joyces Recess—from there you will have to grab a taxi to go the remaining 10 minutes. There are two companies that run this trip, Transport for Ireland and GoBus.ie and it runs a few times each day.
Find out more about traveling from Dublin to County Clare, the Ring of Kerry, and Kilkenny.