Dublin to Wild Atlantic Way 5-day itinerary: Galway, Cliffs, Connemara 2026

Dublin to the Atlantic: why this route matters

The Wild Atlantic Way — Ireland’s 2,500 km coastal route from Donegal to Cork — contains some of the most dramatic scenery in Northern Europe. Its epicentre, for most Dublin-based visitors, is the three-hour stretch between Galway City and the Cliffs of Moher: the limestone plateau of the Burren, the extraordinary cliff edge, and the wild bog and mountain landscape of Connemara beyond.

This 5-day itinerary covers Dublin for the first day, then moves west. It works both as a series of day trips from Dublin (long but viable, as detailed below) and as a mobile route that moves hotels westward. If you are short on time or prefer one base, the 5-day Dublin city and day trips itinerary is the alternative.

With or without a car: A car opens the Connemara back roads, the Aran Islands ferry route from Doolin, and the Burren’s inland routes. Without a car, all major sights are accessible by organised tour from Dublin or Galway. See day trips from Dublin without a car and driving in Ireland from Dublin.

Day 1: Dublin

Arrival and city orientation

Spend Day 1 in Dublin — the city is worth at least a full day before heading west. A walking tour of the old city covers Trinity College, Dublin Castle, the cathedrals, and the Liberties. Evening in the pubs near Grafton Street or in the Liberties. See the Dublin first-time guide for a compressed city overview.

If you have already been to Dublin, use Day 1 to pick up a hire car (car hire desks are at the airport and in the city centre) and head west in the early afternoon — you can make Galway in about 2.5 hours via the M6 motorway.

Day 2: Galway City

Morning: medieval Galway

Galway City is one of Ireland’s most likeable places — a compact medieval city with a strong arts scene, a famous oyster festival in September, and a quarter of the population who speak Irish as a first language. The city centre is walkable in 2–3 hours: the Latin Quarter (Spanish Arch, the old city walls), Shop Street with its buskers and independent shops, the Long Walk along the harbour, and the Claddagh — the village that gave its name to the distinctive ring.

The Galway City walking tour departs at 10:00 and 14:00 from Eyre Square — a 2-hour orientation worth doing if this is your first visit.

Afternoon: Salthill and Galway Bay

Salthill, 3 km west of the city centre, is Galway’s beach suburb. The Salthill promenade stretches 2 km along the shore; the tradition of kicking the wall at the end before turning back is several generations old. On a clear day, the Aran Islands are visible on the horizon.

Evening: Galway pubs and music

Galway has an excellent trad session scene. Tigh Neachtain (Knocknacarra Road), The Crane Bar (Sea Road), and Monroe’s Tavern on Dominick Street are the consistent recommendations — session music most evenings, genuinely local, not tourist theatre.

Day 3: Cliffs of Moher and the Burren

Full day: the dramatic west coast

This is the longest and most stunning day. The Cliffs of Moher — at 214 metres Ireland’s highest sea cliffs — sit on the Atlantic coast of County Clare, about 90 minutes south of Galway via the N67 Burren road.

The Burren first: Drive south from Galway via Kinvara and the coast road to enter the Burren — a 350-square-kilometre limestone plateau that looks like the surface of another planet. The Poulnabrone portal tomb (a 5,500-year-old megalithic dolmen) is a 5-minute stop off the R480 and genuinely extraordinary. Caherconnell Stone Fort, nearby, offers a guided tour and a sheepdog demonstration.

The Cliffs: The Visitor Centre at the Cliffs of Moher is well done — the geology and ecology exhibits are worth 30 minutes. Then walk the cliff path. The 8 km path north from the Visitor Centre towards Doolin is the best section; the path south toward Hag’s Head has fewer people and equally dramatic views. See Cliffs of Moher guide and which Cliffs of Moher tour to choose for practical detail.

Without a car, a Cliffs of Moher full-day tour from Dublin covers the Burren and the cliffs in 12 hours from Dublin — an early start (around 07:30) and late return (around 21:00). Or the Galway and Cliffs of Moher day tour combines both cities.

Evening: Doolin or back to Galway

Doolin village at the base of the cliffs is famous for traditional music — O’Connor’s pub and McGann’s have sessions most evenings. Alternatively, return to Galway for dinner.

Day 4: Connemara and Kylemore Abbey

Full day: the wild northwest

Connemara is the landscape Ireland uses in its most dramatic brochure photographs: bog, mountain, lake, and Atlantic coast in every direction. The N59 west from Galway via Oughterard and Clifden is the main artery; the Sky Road loop around Clifden is one of the finest short drives in Ireland.

The Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, Killary Fjord and Galway day tour from Dublin covers Kylemore Abbey (a Gothic revival mansion and Benedictine monastery on the shore of Kylemore Lake, one of Ireland’s most-photographed buildings), Killary Fjord (Ireland’s only fjord), and the Connemara National Park. Allow 13 hours for the full day.

With a car, the self-drive route through Connemara is better: the back roads via Recess and Maam Cross, stopping at the Connemara National Park Visitor Centre (free, excellent maps), and Kylemore Abbey. The Connemara guide covers the drives and walks in detail.

Evening: Clifden or Westport

Clifden is the capital of Connemara — a small, comfortable market town with good accommodation and several solid restaurants. Or continue north to Westport (County Mayo) if extending the trip beyond 5 days.

Day 5: Aran Islands (optional) or return to Dublin

Option A: Aran Islands

The Aran Islands — Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr — sit at the mouth of Galway Bay and are accessible by ferry from Rossaveel (30 km west of Galway, bus transfer available) or Doolin. The Cliffs of Moher and Aran Islands tour from Dublin combines both in one 13-hour day trip. Inis Mór is the largest island; its clifftop Iron Age fort, Dún Aonghasa, is one of the most extraordinary prehistoric sites in Europe — a semicircular fortification built at the edge of a 100-metre cliff.

See Aran Islands guide for the ferry options, what to do on Inis Mór, and whether the trip is worth the commitment.

Option B: return to Dublin via Killary and the midlands

The return drive from Galway to Dublin (2.5 hours via M6) can be broken at Athlone for lunch — the town straddles the Shannon with a Norman castle and a good café scene. Or head north first through County Clare for a final Burren detour before turning east.

Without a car, buses from Galway to Dublin run frequently (3 hours, around €20) and the midlands crossing is perfectly comfortable by coach.

Practical planning

Self-drive logistics: Pick up the car in Dublin, return it in Galway (one-way hire) or bring it back. The M6 motorway to Galway is fast and straight; the N59 and coast roads require more time — budget 30% more than Google Maps suggests for the back roads.

Weather: Connemara has the most rainfall in Ireland. Come prepared with waterproofs. The best weather on the Atlantic coast is May–July; August is warm but crowded; September has good light and fewer tourists.

Without a car: Day trips from Dublin to the Cliffs and Galway exist as standalone tours. For Connemara and Kylemore Abbey, you need either a car or an organised tour from Galway (multiple operators depart Eyre Square daily). See day trips from Dublin without a car.

Budget (5 days, excluding accommodation):

Category	Approximate cost
Car hire (4 days, economy)	~€120–180
Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre	~€9
Kylemore Abbey entry	~€16
Aran Islands ferry + Dún Aonghasa	~€25–35
Galway city tour	~€15
Meals (5 days)	~€200–250
Accommodation (2–3 nights outside Dublin)	~€200–350
Total per person	~€590–840

Without a car (organised tours): replace car hire with tour costs (~€130–160 total for Cliffs and Connemara tours). Accommodation costs drop if you stay in Dublin and do day trips — but the days are very long.