Connemara and Galway City Day Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore the rugged beauty of Connemara National Park
- Stroll through the vibrant streets of Galway City
- Discover picturesque villages and scenic landscapes
- Experience traditional Irish culture and hospitality
- Capture stunning photographs of Ireland's natural beauty
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Round-trip transportation from Dublin
- Guided tour of Connemara National Park
- Visit to Galway City
- Meals and beverages
Important information
Know before you book
- This tour involves a full day of travel and exploration; plan accordingly.
- Meals and beverages are not included; consider bringing snacks or purchasing food during stops.
- The tour operates in English; ensure you are comfortable with the language for guided commentary.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for exploring Connemara and Galway City.
- Bring a light jacket or sweater, as weather conditions can change throughout the day.
- Consider bringing a camera to capture the stunning landscapes and city scenes.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Infant Seats Available
- Stroller Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Bookings made through Viator will automatically be signed up for the pickup point and collection time specified in the booking.
- If you wish to change your reservation to one of the other pick-up locations offered by Paddywagon Tours, you will need to contact us by telephone or email not later than 17:00 the evening prior so that we can guarantee the change. Please note that changes are only guaranteed once confirmed in writing by us.
- The tour visits Cong from 1st November to 31st March and Sundays and Mondays from 1st April to 31st October.
- From Tuesday to Saturday between April 1st and October 31st the tour will visit the historic silver mines and show farm at Glengowla instead of Cong. Cong will still feature on Sundays / Mondays when Glengowla is closed.
Traveler reviews
Not so good but Rory saves the day
he drivers had a miscommunication. One driver dropped us off at one location, and the other driver was supposed to collect us, but they didn’t because they forgot about us. We ended up waiting for hours. I was travelling solo, although I was with another tourist. As a result, I got home very late and missed my own bus back home. This was extremely inconvenient for me because I’m from Trim, and the promised arrival time in Dublin, which was 8 PM, was very important for me. I also felt that my safety was compromised by having to travel home so late, as it was already very dark. What was supposed to be a fun-filled day turned out to be a very disappointing experience because of the poor coordination and the inconvenience it caused. I hope you can take this matter seriously and ensure that this kind of situation does not happen to other customers in the future. But I am grateful for their manager Rory for going above and beyond for coming to collect us. I know he is supposed to spend his time with his family but he is so kind to save us. Thank you anyway.
Disappointing Connemara
Do not take this tour, very disappointing; the indicated itinerary was not respected. Moreover, we left with 6 people who were going to stay in Galway, so we returned with just two. In other words, we were put on a tour that was actually a means of transportation to take people to their hotel. We did not see Connemara; the driver went so fast with no stops, just road. We never saw Galway, a city with little interest; no restaurant or bar stops, just road. We visited a mine; bravo, I am claustrophobic, so I did not visit. Really, do not waste your money; do another activity.
Buyer Beware!
This is a huge company with poor customer service. They never sent a reminder email for the tour but sent a reminder email the day before to leave a review. I tried to cancel and they would only give us a credit. This was not a tour. It was transportation to a destination. When we got to the pick up 15 minutes early they told us the wrong bus. We did not get a great seat even though we were early because there were so many buses and employees everyone was running around not really sure what was going on. In the middle of the tour two drivers decided to consolidate due to scheduling so a bunch of people from our bus had to get their luggage and switch. We were on the bus a long time and not a lot of time at our destination. The driver spoke fast. I am an american from the south and I had trouble understanding sometimes. Take the train and pick up a tour when you get there. I do admit the sheep farm was an amazing stop but overall would not choose again.
FLEE if you want to enjoy the lakes of the connemara
The ad is misleading. We only cross the connemara by car (with tinted glass) in an hour with a 5-minute stop by the road to take a photo when the title of the ad suggested that we could walk there and we stayed there for two hours. If the discovery of a farm and a mine was nice this was not the original purpose of the excursion. The ad should be renamed because it is clearly misleading.
Hidden Connemara
Ou trip was rich in new impressions and insights into the west of the country. The farm visit felt genuinely healing and deeply wholesome. I’m especially grateful to our guide, Declan, for the warmth, good humour, and authentic Irish spirit he shared with us throughout the day. This tour is not the most obvious tourist choice, but it's very authentic.