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Connemara Day Tour: Explore Kylemore Abbey & Gardens
4.8
186 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
(186 Ratings)
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Paul_b
May 16, 2026
Our driver was excellent.... - Our driver was excellent. The stops along the way added a lot to the trip. The abbey itself and the gardens were beautiful.
Review provided by Viator
Joan_m
May 16, 2026
A fun and educational tour - This was a great tour. Our guide kept us fully informed about the areas we traveled through, its history and geography. Our choice was to visit Kylemore Abbey and the three hours allocated to that was plenty of time to tour the abbey. He made plenty of stops for picture taking. I would recommend this tour, it was well worth the full day of exploring.
Review provided by Viator
Maps28631221454
May 6, 2026
Wonderful experience! - We saw a lot of Connemara National Park and had 3 hours at Kylemore Abbey. Especially the short stops during the bus ride and the 3 hour stay were great!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katiesu2296dc
May 5, 2026
Fun trip to Connemara and Kylemore Abbey. A part of Ireland to be discovered - Great tour, great driver and fun passengers
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Luciana_m
Apr 20, 2026
Unforgettable tour!!! - Unforgettable tour! Amazing landscapes of Connemara National Park. Kylemore Abbey is worth a visit from the entrance to the property to the garden walk! Excellent!!!
Review provided by Viator
Jay_t
Apr 8, 2026
Enjoyed every moment.... - Enjoyed every moment. Beautiful, enchanting nature and magical historic place. Paul is friendly and fun.
Review provided by Viator
Lori_d
Mar 26, 2026
Great day tour of Connemara - Excellent tour. So worth leaving the driving to someone else, and our driver/guide Mike, was so knowledgeable. Gained so much interesting insight and information about the area, as well as Ireland as a whole, plus made many stops at places of great interest that might’ve very well otherwise have been missed by having done a self tour. Mike had the gifts of both humor and gab. So glad I did this.
Review provided by Viator
Christina_f
Mar 7, 2026
We loved the tour with... - We loved the tour with Mike! Kylemore abbey was amazing even if the gothic chapel was under construction. We really loved the Victorian walled garden too. Only complaint (not mikes fault) is that there were several people talking during the tour so sometimes was difficult to hear Mike.
Review provided by Viator
Adleslie25
May 9, 2026
The country side and... - The country side and drive were beautiful and Vincent was very knowledgeable. We would have liked to see more of Kylemore
Review provided by Viator
Z5787ghalbag
Feb 25, 2026
A fantastic excursion - The tour was fantastic, it made us very good weather, and what we liked the most was the Abbey. The driver was very friendly and explained the most relevant.
Review provided by Tripadvisor