Conveniently located at the edge of Europe, there are any number of ways to get to the city depending on where you’re coming from. And, while the Wild Atlantic Way might seem wonderfully rugged and remote, Galway is actually only 194km from Dublin, 80km from Shannon Airport, 80km south of Mayo and Knock Airport and 195km north of Cork.
Check out Galway International Arts Festival 2023 and plan your visit!
By Air
Dublin Airport is located approximately 200km (124 miles) from Galway, with numerous connections from the UK, Europe, North America and the Middle East. Direct buses are available every half hour from Dublin Airport to the Galway Coach Station.
Shannon Airport is located 90km (56 miles) from Galway and has routes servicing numerous destinations in Europe, the US and Canada.
Ireland West Airport, Knock, just 85km (53 miles) from Galway, also has direct connections from a number of European destinations.
Cork Airport is located approximately 157km (98 miles) from Galway and has numerous connections from the UK and Europe.
Check out Ryanair and Aer Lingus for the latest flight schedules and offers.
By Road
Galway is accessible via the following routes:
M6 from the East (Dublin & Athlone)
N18 from the South (Shannon, Limerick and Cork)
N17 from the North (Sligo and Donegal)
If you’re arriving by car, Galway City lies on the edge of the stunning wilds of Connemara, with the equally breathtaking Burren to the south in County Clare. Direct buses are available every half hour from Dublin Airport and Dublin city centre to the Galway Coach Station.
Coach Services
Irish Citylink has been providing luxury inter-city coach travel in Ireland since 2003. The distinctive blue and yellow liveried coaches have become synonymous with high-quality, reliable and affordable coach travel. The company has expanded its network of routes over the years and now also operates high-frequency GoBus services, linking Ireland's major cities, towns and airports.
By Rail
Irish Rail operates return services daily from Galway to Dublin. Galway's Ceannt Station is located right in the city centre, adjacent to Eyre Square. Book online here.
By Ferry
The closest ferry ports include Dublin and Dun Laoghaire (2 hours travel time by road), Rosslare (4 hours) and Cork (3.5 hours). If you are traveling via Great Britain, Belfast and Larne are worth checking out. See the Irish Ferries website for more information.