Galway & Dublin
Getting There
Fly into the main airport near Dublin and then use the bus system to get between different cities. There are a frequent number of flights arriving and departing from the Dublin airport. If you are going straight to downtown Dublin from the airport, you can take the Airlink 747 or 757 line (7 euros per person one way). The trip takes bout 50 minutes to reach downtown Dublin so if you are trying to save time, take a taxi instead.
Getting Around
To get around Ireland, there is a convenient bus system. You can take a bus from the airport to Dublin city or straight to Galway along with a few other locations. The trip from Dublin to Galway by bus is about 2.5 hours.
The two main and best bus companies are GoBus and Citylink with buses running just about every hour. One runs on the :15 and one runs on the :45 for non stop services. There are other bus companies with more stop options if you are looking to stop in specific places. Overall, the buses are nice, consistent and have wifi.
Accommodations
Depending on the length of your trip and overall travel plans will affect where you want to stay. With Dublin being the largest and most accessible, most people opt to spend at least one night in the city. Try to stay in the downtown area, not far from the Temple Bar and Trinity University.
If you are venturing out to other towns in Ireland such as Galway, you will not regret it. Galways is a tiny town with a lot of character. Despite the consistently rainy weather, the people could not be more cheerful. The pubs have a liveliness to them and you can pretty much guarantee the pubs will be playing live music. If you stay in Galway, stay towards the center of town so you are in the main areas (near Eyre square or Shop Street).
Things to do and see
Dublin
Guinness Storehouse
Take a tour of the Guinness Storehouse and finish it off with a Guinness in their Gravity bar
Temple Bar
Famous pub in downtown Dublin, which is notoriously packed with a great atmosphere
Trinity University
Ireland’s top University
Jameson Distillery Whiskey Tour
Participate in a tour and tasting at the Jameson Distillery
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Largest cathedral in Ireland
St. Stephen’s Green
City center park in Dublin
Galway
Shop Street
Cute street to walk down
The Long Walk
Find the picturesque colorful houses of Galway along the water and near the Spanish Arch
Cliffs of Moher
Do not miss taking a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher as this will likely be the highlight of your trip. Lally Tours offers a day trip (~20 euros for students), taking guests to Burren and the Cliffs. As the weather gets worse, there is a greater chance the Cliffs will not be open due to dangerous weather (wind) conditions. Keep this in mind when planning your trip. Consider booking the Cliffs of Moher for your first full day if you have multiple days. This way you have the flexibility to reschedule if your trip is cancelled.
Eyre Square
Town square with Christmas markets around the holidays
Food and Drink Recommendations
Food
The Cellar (Galway)
Very affordable and good with a variety of food options
Pascal’s (Galway)
Cute coffee place also serving breakfast and lunch
Cave Bodega (Galway)
Cheap restaurant serving good tapas
The Kitchen (Galway)
Cute cafe, good for breakfast
Fade Street Social (Dublin)
Good flatbreads
Queen of Tarts (Dublin)
Nice spot for breakfast
Pubs
Quays (Galway)
The Front Door (Galway)
Hole in the Wall (Galway)
The Temple Bar (Dublin)
Other Notes
Weather
You do not visit Ireland for its weather as it is notoriously wet and rainy. In the winter, this is almost a guarantee where most days are overcast and cold. In the summer months, there are many more sunny days with more tolerable weather.
Duration
The length of your visit to Ireland can vary widely depending on how much time you have and what all you want to see. In order to visit more than just one town, you need at least 3 days or you will just be rushing from point A to point B. Consider giving yourself a long weekend to see two towns or a week to see more of the country.
Driving
People drive on the left side of the road in Ireland with the driver’s seat on the right. If you are not used to this, you may want to think twice before renting a car on your visit.
Navigation
Transportation and Accommodations
Things to do and see
Food and Drinks