Luxury holidays in Galway Bay

Galway Bay has plenty to draw you shore-side, from the thatched cottages of Spiddal to the pretty harbour at Kinvara and Dunguaire Castle keeping watch nearby. Stick to the coast to savour seafood straight from the boats, roll up your sleeves for workshops where Irish craft traditions are still going strong; or catch a ferry to the Aran Islands — three Irish-speaking outposts of limestone, ancient forts and covetable knitwear.

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When to go

September starts native oyster season with a shucking good time at Galway’s oyster festival. Summer is the best time for island trips and sea swims, though Atlantic weather can disrupt ferries at any time of year.

Getting there

  • Planes

    For international arrivals, Shannon Airport is around an hour’s drive from Galway Bay. Closer to the coast, Connemara Airport in Inverin runs year-round flights to all three Aran Islands; the scenic hop to Inis Mór or Inis Oírr takes under 10 minutes.

  • Trains

    Galway’s Ceannt Station is the main rail gateway to the bay, with direct trains from Dublin and Limerick; Oranmore is a handy stop on its eastern shore. For Spiddal, Connemara and the bay’s wilder western reaches, you’ll need to continue by road.

  • Automobiles

    Four wheels are well worth having around Galway Bay. Follow the Wild Atlantic Way west from Galway, tracing the coast past Barna and Spiddal towards Connemara. Roads can be narrows and winding, but salt-kissed scenery and blink-and-you'll-miss-them coves reward taking the drive slowly.