Connemara Ireland

Connemara

Discover the ‘savage beauty’ of Connemara 🌄

Oscar Wilde described Connemara as a savage beauty and they say when you visit Connemara you “experience the real beauty of Ireland”. It’s located in the north west corner of County Galway and is an area of desolate beauty, incredible scenery and some interesting attractions, which combine to make Connemara a really beautiful place and a place close to the hearts of Irish people and visitors alike.

The distinct region of Connemara can be found in the north west corner of County Galway. Connemara is considered to be the land west of Lough Corrib. On the north side of Connemara is Killary Harbour, the south side Galway Bay and the west side the Atlantic Ocean.


Explore unspoilt landscape

You really get the feel that Mother Nature is ‘at home’ in Connemara and with such a beautiful unspoilt landscape, it’s no wonder that it’s a playground for outdoor activities. What better way to admire the scenery and take in the fresh country air than enjoying some horse riding, cycling in Connemara or hiking in the Twelve Bens mountains of Connemara. Or how about some fishing, golfing, or watersports? Below are some of the main questions visitors to Connemara ask.


Connemara FAQs

Is Connemara worth visiting?
There’s so much to see and do in Connemara, Co. Galway visitors usually return to keep discovering all it has to offer that they could not fit in during their first trip. You could easily spend a week exploring by car, bicycle or on the many trail marked ways by foot. Connemara National Park is one of the biggest draws, but Kylemore Abbey, Roundstone, The Inagh Valley and countless pristine beaches dotted along the coast mean you’ll never be short on new places to visit.
How do you get from Galway city to Connemara?
Galway is only 53km from Connemara National Park, but as you travel there you’ll experience the natural beauty of the mountains and lakes as soon as you go past the village of Oughterard. The quickest way of getting from Galway to Connemara National Park is to drive. It takes about 1h 15m. There is a direct bus between Galway and Connemara National Park with Citylink (www.citylink.ie) which departs from Galway City Coach Station and arrives at Letterfrack village which is the entry point to Connemara National Park.
Can you drive through Connemara National Park?
There are no roads through the national park so it is not possible to drive through it, but there is extensive parking on site and wonderful walks throughout the park, with the highlight being the climb up Diamond Hill.
How far is it from Dublin to Connemara?
The distance from Dublin to Connemara is 286km / 178 miles. The cheapest way to get from Dublin to Connemara is to get a Citylink bus which costs approx €35 and takes just over 3 hours.

Connemara in pictures

How to get to Connemara

By Car / Bike 🚘 🚴: Getting to Connemara is pretty simple. Just take the N59 from Galway city to Clifden town and you’ll drive right through the heart of Connemara countryside. Another popular route to take is the coastal route or the R336 from Galway city. This route is also known as the Connemara Loop – a 45km breathtaking drive or cycle of ever-changing landscape and scenery. Driving or cycling means you can stop where and when you want and really get off the beaten track. You’ll know you’re in Connemara when you enter a vast beautiful bogland, but as you travel along you’ll notice how the landscape becomes a mixture of rivers, lakes, woodlands, rich meadowlands, rugged hills, dramatic mountains and as you near the coast you’ll stumble across a stunning unpolluted coastline of sandy beaches and blue waters.

By bus 🚍: The main bus connections between Galway and Connemara is operated by Citylink and Transport for Ireland.

CitylinkTransport for Ireland
Clifden to Galway City (Route 923)
Departs: Clifden Library Bus Stop, Market Street
Drop-off: Galway Coach Station
Daily from 7am, 9:15am, 12pm, 1:15pm, 3pm and 6:30pm*Clifden to Cleggan (Ferry Drop)
via Letterfrack, except 1:30pm
Daily 10am, 1:30pm, 5:30pm and 7pm*
To Cleggan 7pm* Tuesday and Friday only
Info: www.citylink.ie | Tel 091 564 164
Clifden to Carraroe (Route 432)
via Roundstone, Carna, Rosmuc, Costello
Departs: Clifden Library Bus Stop, Market Street
Drop-off: Eurospar
Daily 8:50, 13:30 and 18:10*Carraroe to Claremorris (Route 431)
via Screebe, Maam Cross, Clonbur, Cong
Departs: Eurospar
Drop-off: Train Station Road
Daily from 11:25 and 15:15*
Info: www.transportforireland.ie

*Bus times subject to change, check with operators to confirm.


Main Connemara Attractions

Connemara is also peppered with some very interesting attractions like the Alcock & Brown Memorial, Kylemore Abbey & Walled Victorian Gardens, Connemara History & Heritage Centre in Clifden, Glengowla Mines in Oughterard, Dan O Hara’s Homestead and the 40,000 acre Connemara National Park. Listed below are the main attractions in Connemara.

Dining in Connemara 🦀 🍴

There are many wonderful dining options to choose from after a day exploring Connemara. The towns and villages of Connemara provide a range of eateries serving everything from traditional Irish food to exotic Asian street food to the freshest seafood around. Clifden, the main town and capital of Connemara, known for its breathtaking vistas and rich culture, is a hotspot with some of the finest restaurants in the area. Here we provide insight to some of the best restaurants in Connemara as well as the fantastic eateries that are scattered around the region, including in the villages of Roundstone, Cleggan, Letterfrack, Ballyconneely and others.

best restaurant clifden

Connemara on video


Connemara map

Best Rate Hotels

Powered by Booking.com
We Price Match
No Booking Fees
FREE cancellation on most rooms!

loading