Road trip in Ireland: From Dublin to Galway.
Ireland is one of those destinations that immediately make you want to set off on a journey.
During our trip, we wanted to leave Dublin to discover another aspect of the country: the small country roads, the colorful villages, the verdant landscapes, and above all the famous Cliffs of Moher.
So we decided to rent a car in Dublin and set off for a day of road trip towards Galway, on the west coast of Ireland.
And I must warn you: the first few minutes behind the wheel were… sporty! 😅
Driving right, driving left, roundabouts in the wrong direction for us French people… It took us a little over half an hour to get our bearings. Then, we simply took advantage of the road and the scenery.
In this article, I take you with us on this journey between Dublin, Kinvara, Doolin, the Cliffs of Moher and Galway, With my tips for organizing a road trip in Ireland.
Why take a road trip in Ireland?
Ireland is particularly well suited to a road trip.
What I like about this place is that the journey almost becomes part of the journey. You leave Dublin and, in a few hours, the scenery completely changes.
The buildings and streets of the capital are gradually giving way to small roads, verdant hillsides, sheep, horses and a much more wild landscape.
During our trip to Galway, we passed through this Irish countryside that I had been longing to discover.
And even when you don’t stop, there’s always something to look at through the window.
Renting a car in Ireland
For this trip, we chose to rent a car directly in Dublin.
Today, if I were to organize this road trip, I would start by comparing the different rental offers before booking.
To do this, you can, among other things, go through BSP Auto, which allows you to compare different car rental offers based on your dates and destination.
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For a road trip, I recommend you to carefully look at:
- the insurance conditions; ;
- the franchise; ;
- the amount of the deposit; ;
- the conditions regarding the additional driver; ;
- the mileage included; ;
- the fuel conditions; ;
- any possible costs related to the driver’s age.
And above all, choose a car in which you will be comfortable: some Irish roads can be narrow and it is better to avoid renting a vehicle that is much too large.
Driving on the left in Ireland: my experience
That was clearly the part that stressed me the most.
When we picked up our car in Dublin, we had to get started immediately. the steering wheel on the right and driving on the left.
For the first 30 minutes, I’m not going to lie to you, I was quite focused!
One had to think about taking the roundabouts in the right direction, looking in the right direction and adapting one's reflexes.
But in the end, we get there much faster than I imagined.
After a few kilometers, I was already much more relaxed.
My advice if you are driving on the left for the first time
Take your time at the beginning.
I recommend you, in particular, to:
- avoid planning a long stopover from the moment you leave the airport; ;
- take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the car; ;
- to remain particularly attentive to roundabouts; ;
- respect the speed limits; ;
- slow down on the small roads; ;
- not letting you be pressured by other drivers; ;
- plan enough time for the trips.
And above all: Don't just look at the travel time indicated by your GPS.
In Ireland, a short road can be much longer to drive than expected.
From Dublin to Galway: our itinerary
We left Dublin around 9 a.m. to pick up our car.
Our goal was to reach the west coast and discover several places before finishing our day in Galway.
In total, the journey between Dublin and the Galway region took us about three hours, taking advantage of the various stops along the way.
Very quickly, we left Dublin and its urban environment to discover a much more rural Ireland.
And that is exactly what we came to find.
Kinvara: a nice stop on the road
After about two hours of driving, we decided to take a break at Kinvara, a small port town located in the County of Galway.
This is the kind of place I love when I travel: you don’t need to have planned a visit for hours.
We park, we take a walk a little, we eat something and we simply enjoy the atmosphere.
Kinvara immediately struck us with its colorful houses and the atmosphere of a small fishing village.
It was also the opportunity to take a real break before continuing on our way.
What to see in Kinvara?
During a quick stop, you can simply enjoy the harbor and stroll through the village.
The Dunguaire Castle, Located nearby, it is also one of the emblematic sites of the area.
If you have more time, you can easily spend several hours on this step.
Doolin: a must-see stop on the west coast
After Kinvara, we resumed the journey towards Doolin.
Doolin is a small village located in the County of Clare, particularly known for its traditional atmosphere and its proximity to the Cliffs of Moher.
It is also an excellent base for exploring this part of the west coast.
The road gradually becomes more wild and the landscapes change completely.
It was really at that moment that I had this feeling of being immersed in the Ireland I imagined before our departure.
The Cliffs of Moher: the highlight of the road trip
Then finally comes one of the great moments of our day: the Cliffs of Moher.
These cliffs are obviously one of the most famous sites in Ireland.
And yet, our arrival did not happen at all as planned.
As we approached the site, the weather completely deteriorated.
A thick fog settled in and we could hardly distinguish anything anymore.
At certain times, we couldn’t see more than about twenty meters ahead of us.
The road passed through a forest and, with the fog, the atmosphere was quite incredible.
I remember having the impression of being in a movie set, with that almost mysterious atmosphere.
And of course, we wondered if we would actually see the cliffs.
And finally, the sun has arrived!
We waited.
And we did well.
Later in the day, the fog finally lifted and we were finally able to discover the cliffs under the sun.
As a matter of fact, in Ireland, you sometimes have to know how to be patient!
Even today, it is probably one of the memories I keep most of that day.
Tips for visiting the Cliffs of Moher
If you plan to visit the cliffs today, I recommend that you book your entrance ticket in advance.
The official website recommends booking online and indicates that the busiest periods are between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.. The schedules vary depending on the time of year.
In 2026, the opening hours will extend to 21:00 in May, June, July and August, which makes it possible to consider visiting the museum outside of peak hours.
Also pay attention to the weather: conditions can change quickly and the site may implement safety measures in case of strong winds or dangerous conditions.
My advice: plan for a margin in your schedule.
Above all, don't make a route so tight that you have to leave after 20 minutes because the fog has arrived.
Galway: the last stop of our day
After the Cliffs of Moher, we continued our journey towards Galway.
And what a good idea!
Galway has a completely different atmosphere from Dublin.
The city is smaller, more colorful, and particularly pleasant to walk around on foot.
For a first time visitor, I recommend getting lost in the streets of the city center and passing by the following places: Quay Street, to discover the neighborhood of Latin Quarter, Then we will take a leisurely stroll along the Corrib River.
Galway is also an excellent base for exploring the west coast and then continuing towards Connemara.
Where to sleep in Galway?
If you plan to stay in the region for several days, I recommend that you sleep directly in Galway or in the surrounding area.
This will allow you to enjoy the city in the evening and avoid having to start driving again after a long day of sightseeing.
To compare the available hotels, guest houses and accommodations:
👉 See the accommodations in Galway on Booking
Consider checking the availability of parking if you are traveling by car: in a city like Galway, this is a criterion I would systematically consider before booking.
Comments
Valentine
13 September 2016
Your photos bring back good memories for me!
I’m back from a week of the Irish roadtrip.. what a great experience it was… 🙂
We visited Dublin, then Connemara, the Aran Islands, the Cliffs of Moher, a part of the Dingle Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry.
A truly magical country! And the Irish are so nice!!Capucine & Thibault
28 September 2016
Hello Valentine,
Wow, what a great itinerary! You must be in for a treat 🙂 As you so aptly put it, it truly is a magical country… The disconnection is only 2 hours from France!
See you soon
Wow, your photos are very beautiful. It brings back a lot of memories from the country I lived in for 3 years.
Oh yes, I went all the way to the North West of Ireland with 8 friends, it was really impressive, Galway, the cliffs, Connemara, the Aran Islands… Really a good memory! Thanks for this article and these lovely photos!
Hello Lydia, it's great to have memories of the trip with friends! We would like to go back for a week next time and visit the North as well!
I loved the city of Galway. <3
And I don't know about you, but I was very impressed by the cliffs of Moher!!We spent the afternoon waiting for the fog to lift … and at the end of the day there was a lot of sunshine, it was wonderful… It’s amazing how the landscape looks!
It’s magnificent! I can’t wait, I can’t wait! We haven’t yet defined the last 4 days of our stay in Ireland, so I’m thinking that going to Galway is very tempting^^! Have a good evening and congratulations for this well-deserved award!
The region of Galway is very beautiful and I really recommend you to go there, but anyway there are so many beautiful things to see… I can’t wait to see your stories!
It makes me immediately imagine all that greenery again! Very beautiful!
I must admit that I am always quite moved when reading the articles about Ireland, so it is a pleasure to find new ones on this blog that I discover at the same time.
I lived in Ireland for 3 years, but that goes back to the end of the previous millennium (pfou… it’s weird to say that!). I lived in Dublin, but Galway and its region were among my favorites. I never understood why the Irish only swear by Kerry, Connemara with its austere nature is so much more mysterious.
Thanks for these beautiful photos. Guinness is good for you 🙂What a pleasure to be transported back to the atmosphere of Ireland thanks to your ticket!
I lived in Dublin for 2 years and recently returned there for 15 days of vacation.
I recommend (for next time) renting a car and driving along the northeastern coast from Carrickfergus to Ballycastle… and above all, get lost in the small paths that descend towards the beach… that’s where you’ll find the most beautiful spots!
Take careThank you! We plan to return next year for a longer stay, thanks for your advice!
ver
15 October 2013
I went there 20 years ago (sorry) on a road trip to Ireland. It was great. Beautiful photos
Mercier
15 October 2013
Very beautiful views of Ireland! Thank you very much! I have already been to Dublin and I don’t know the countryside; it’s a real treat!
so cool, I’m leaving tomorrow! And I’m going exactly on this itinerary! I can’t wait!
beautiful landscapes, thanks for this little overview, I dream of going there and taking a tour!
Wow, it’s gorgeous!! I really want to go there!!!
Sarah de http://www.alittlemarket.com/boutique/creations_nomades-92960.htmlFanny
15 October 2013
I did exactly the same thing last summer too. And I worked at Lisdoonvarna, at Sleepzone.
Great photos. (-;
I was eagerly awaiting your article; for us in Ireland it’s mid-November on the Ring of Kerry, so thank you for this little introduction ^^
Hello! There was a bug; there was no layout on the article 🙁 It’s a bit better like this!
Can't wait to follow your adventures!
Sandraps
26 January 2017
Hello, very nice your blog!!!
I wanted to know if you are staying there or exactly?
Thank you. .