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Connemara Day Tour: Explore Kylemore Abbey & Gardens
4.8
180 Ratings
Galway
The Connemara Day Tour departing from Galway offers a selection of a 3-hour main stop:
Option 1: Spend 3 hours exploring the Connemara National Park.
Option 2: Enjoy 3 hours at Kylemore Abbey and the Victorian Walled Garden.
The Connemara Day Tour departing from Galway offers a selection of a 3-hour main stop:
Option 1: Spend 3 hours exploring the Connemara National Park.
Option 2: Enjoy 3 hours at Kylemore Abbey and the Victorian Walled Garden.
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Galway - The tour vehicle departs from Merchants Road, Galway, outside the Kinlay Hostel at 09:30. Please arrive 15 minutes before departure.
- Claddagh Jewellers - As you turn left into the Claddagh, you’ll find St. Mary’s Church on your right, a Dominican Church for nearly 500 years. The Claddagh Ring, a romantic symbol from the former…
- Galway - The tour vehicle departs from Merchants Road, Galway, outside the Kinlay Hostel at 09:30. Please arrive 15 minutes before departure.
- Claddagh Jewellers - As you turn left into the Claddagh, you’ll find St. Mary’s Church on your right, a Dominican Church for nearly 500 years. The Claddagh Ring, a romantic symbol from the former Claddagh fishing village, serves as the traditional wedding ring of the villagers and makes a perfect Galway gift or memento of your visit.
- Salthill Promenade - Salthill is a lively area overlooking Galway Bay, featuring the stunning 4km long Galway Promenade with views of Galway Bay and the Clare Hills, along with several small beaches separated by rocky outcrops.
- Barna - Nestled between timeless moorlands and the blue Atlantic Ocean, the coast road winds westward through the charming villages of Barna and Furbo to the delightful Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) village of Spiddal (An Spideal).
- Spiddal - The village of Spiddal (An Spideal) on the shores of Galway Bay is a picturesque Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) village. It boasts many traditional thatched roof homes, scenic coastlines, and beautiful beaches, maintaining the culture and traditions of Gaeltacht heritage.
- Costelloe - Formerly home to Bruce Ismay, CEO of White Star Lines and Titanic survivor.
- Screeb Lough - The Connemara landscape and the Wild Atlantic coastline have inspired many writers and musicians, including French singer/songwriter Michel Sandou’s popular hit ‘Les lacs du Connemara.’
- Pines Island Viewpoint - Derryclare Lough is a freshwater lake at the entrance to the Inagh valley. This is a popular viewpoint for visitors to Connemara and a great spot for photos of Pine Island.
- Connemara - Venturing off the beaten path, a locally sourced and fully trained driver/guide will take you from Galway into the wilds of Connemara. Discover stunning landscapes and explore the wildness of this enchanted land in luxury tour coaches. Along the way, you’ll pass beautiful coastal villages, thatched cottages, fields of dry-stone walls, and vast expanses of bog land.
- Clifden - Known as the unofficial residential and commercial capital of Connemara, Clifden is the hub of the region. Founded in 1812, it is situated between the mountains and ocean and has historic ties to Marconi, Alcock, and Brown.
- Clifden Castle - Built by John Darcy, the founder of Clifden.
- Sky Road - The Sky Road is one of the Discovery Points on the Wild Atlantic Way. This 16km circular route starts in Clifden and rises high above the Atlantic Ocean, offering spectacular panoramic views. On a clear day, the view is truly breathtaking.
- Connemara National Park & Visitor Centre - On today’s tour, you have a choice of main stop: either 3 hours in the Connemara National Park or 3 hours at Kylemore Abbey. Free, accessible, and richly rewarding, the Connemara National Park offers a deeper connection with this unique landscape. The Diamond Hill trails provide an idyllic hiking experience, climbing through wild uplands before rewarding you with stunning views across the region.
- Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden - For those who prefer not to explore the Connemara National Park, an alternative main stop is Kylemore Abbey, one of Ireland’s most iconic sights. Discounted admission is available. Few buildings in Ireland or the world have such a dramatic setting or history as Kylemore Abbey. Built in the 1860s by Mitchell Henry as a wedding gift to his wife Margaret, the magnificent castle at Kylemore is a must-see in Connemara. Your driver/guide can provide entry tickets at a discounted rate – cash only.
- Lough Inagh - The Inagh valley is one of the most scenic valleys not just in Connemara but in all of Ireland. This romantic valley offers breathtaking views of peatlands, mountains, lakes, and glorious countryside where sheep graze freely.
- The Connemara Giant - The tiny village of Recess (Sraith Salach – riverside meadow of willows) is located on the edge of the beautiful fishing lake of Glendalough and is home to the Connemara Giant or Con MacNamara, a statue overlooking the village car park.
- Quiet Man Bridge - “The Quiet Man” is a 1952 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Ford, starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. The film is notable for its lush photography of the Irish countryside and a long, climactic semi-comic fist fight.

What's Included
- Local guide
- Driver / guide
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Live commentary on board
- Local guide
- Driver / guide
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Live commentary on board
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Entry to Kylemore Abbey - Tickets can be purchased from the driver at discounted rates, cash only.
- Hotel Pickup
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Entry to Kylemore Abbey - Tickets can be purchased from the driver at discounted rates, cash only.
- Hotel Pickup
Additional Information
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Location
Merchants Road
Tour departs: Merchants Road, Galway outside the Kinlay Hostel, H91 F2KT at 09:30.
Tour vehicle will have 'Wild Atlantic Way Day Tours' branding.
Please present 15 minutes prior to departure.
Tour returns: Merchants Road, Galway at 18:30
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(180 Ratings)
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1 star
Nicole_c
Feb 16, 2026
Thank you Mike! - I did the Connemara tour with Mike and Wow! The views were amazing and Mike gave us a lot of interesting informations about the region and the landscapes. He spoke clearly and was very kind. The mini stops on the way to the Abbey were perfect and sufficient to get great pictures. I 100% recommend the trip if you visit Galway 🤗
Review provided by Viator
Vanessadw8320cl
Feb 12, 2026
Perfectly successful day - What can I say...perfect
I had Mike as a driver and also a guide....he told us a lot about the area. Old stories and insider tips.
Incredibly great photo points approached.
Spontaneously stopped at the passengers’ requests(Sheapgirls 🤣 that’s what he called us).
Explained everything great, even during the stopover in Clifden, gave tips and gave an exact time. Perfect.
We were a small group of 7 people.
Two of them wanted to go to the national park, the rest to Kylemore Abby.
And there he explained to us exactly how we use the 3 hours most sensibly. Namely first to the garden, then Kylemore Abby and the church and possibly the grave and around Anschluss a good hour for dinner. Well we have now been far away from classic tourist weddings there, so 1 hour for food was really high. Must be necessary in high season.
Be sure to visit the shop...there is sooooooo much to buy and see.
Also the return trip was great...little info here and there, one or the other stop for photos.
And a spontaneous stop because there was a mega rainbow.
Mike was super relaxed us funny. An absolutely dear and personable person.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Arya_r
Nov 26, 2025
Great experience, would... - Great experience, would definitely recommend, we decided to go with Kylemore abbey as our option and it was indeed very beautiful! The tour was well planned with perfect execution and our tour guide mike was amazing!!
Review provided by Viator
Feraena_b
Nov 21, 2025
We had a really enjoyable... - We had a really enjoyable experience on this tour. Our driver/guide is really knowledgeable and engaging. I'm also glad that we had 3 hours in Kylemore Abbey instead of 2 hours. It definitely wasn't enough to see everything, but it allowed us to take our time enjoying the ground and the house itself.
Review provided by Viator
Maria_v
Nov 17, 2025
I recommend the experience! - The guide made the trip very entertaining, enjoyable and fun. The place has no waste and you have plenty of time to see everything calmly!
Review provided by Viator
Amy_f
Nov 9, 2025
Great tour! Comfortable... - Great tour! Comfortable ride. Knowledgeable guide. Perfect amount of time at each stop. Highly recommend if you are looking for a quick day trip from Galway, and you’ve already been to Cliffs of Moher.
Review provided by Viator
Craig_m
Nov 2, 2025
We were blessed with... - We were blessed with clear Autumn day. The walled garden at Kylemore is beautiful. The grounds and walks are very enjoyable. The view from the Sky Road of the Atlantic and all of Conamara didn't disappoint.
Review provided by Viator
Michelle_o
Oct 5, 2025
This is a great trip. Loved it! - Very happy that we took this tour. The bus was very nice and accommodating. Loved our tour guide Mike. It was just a great day.
Review provided by Viator
Puishan_h
Oct 27, 2025
We had a great... - We had a great experience. The drive was scenic and comfortable despite the narrow ways. I felt safet the whole time. Our guide was knowledgable, clear and able to multi-task in driving and explaining the different sceneries and history. We enjoyed the whole trip very much. The abbey was breath-taking.
Review provided by Viator
Vincent_l
Oct 20, 2025
HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!! Never book with this provider! - ⚠️⚠️⚠️ DO NOT BOOK THIS TOUR! ‼️
The location (exact pin) shared to start the tour is wrong, and the address provides only street name with no number, the bus waits at the end of the street, around 100 m away from the provided meeting location. As such we waited well in advance at the spot but did not see any bus and missed the departure. At 9:37 we understood that something should be wrong and called the number. When we called the company the person on the phone was extremely extremely rude and arrogant. He did not want to return, he did not want to wait that we catch them up with our car and said the refund will not be done.
Avoid this provider!!!!
Review provided by Viator