Traveling From Galway to Dublin, Ireland

In a lot of ways, Ireland is exactly what you think it’s going to be: a country full of green hills, fields of sheep, small towns with cobblestone streets, and busy pubs.

I’ve had dreams of visiting the country since I was a little girl, gazing at postcards of the Cliffs of Moher. I have family from Ireland (don’t we all?) and I was happy to see it lived up exactly to the vision I had of it when I finally got to visit as part of my role with Semester at Sea.

Ireland is changing. Dublin is growing larger and larger and even in the smaller cities, you see a mixture of new and old. You’ll walk down cobblestone streets and see horses pulling carriages with their drivers texting on cell phones, for example. It’s a very modern country, and it’s progressing more and more each day.

If I were going to go back to Ireland, I’d return to Galway. It’s a cute little city, easily walkable in an afternoon, but with enough life to keep you busy for a few days. Unlike Dublin (2 hours away), Galway has a small-town feel and the people are incredibly friendly.

Cliffs of Moher

Galway

We started our journey in Galway, staying at a hostel in the center of town called Sleepzone. The highlight of our trip in Galway was visiting the Cliffs of Moher. From the center of town, you can take a tour to these gorgeous cliffs for 20 Euro. It’s a steal of a deal, especially if you get up early and take the 8, 9 or 10:30 tour, and stay out all day (all trips return at 6 pm, whether you take the 8 am or the 2 pm).

Our tour guide was a cute older man that spoke like a little leprachaun. He took us to Burren County to see ancient tombs, to a fairy fort where fairies are supposed to live, and to the Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs were spectacular and terrifying, with an 800ft+ drop to the cold Atlantic ocean, and no guard rails. The view is breathtaking, and all in all, it was an amazing day.

Temple Bar, Dublin

Dublin

From Galway we took a 2 hour bus to Dublin for 10 euros, and spent the day frolicking around. Dublin is a fun, exciting city, but it’s also pretty large and very expensive. In fact, all of Ireland is expensive. We spent the first day figuring out public transportation, before we started sightseeing.

There’s a ton of things to see and do in Dublin. You can see the Book of Kells, visit Trinity College, go to the Guinness Storehouse, tour the old jail. We, of course, chose the Guinness Storehouse. It was fun, but I probably wouldn’t go back. It’s kind of a tourist trap, because it’s basically a museum–not a tour of the brewery like we were hoping. Nonetheless, you can’t go wrong with free Guinness and wicked views.

Things I Wish I Knew About Ireland Before Visiting

• It’s super expensive. At best, you’re looking at $25 for a bed in a dorm room, $75-100 for a private room in a hostel. Food almost never costs less than $10 for anything. In fact, if you can spend less than 10 euro on a meal ($17USD) you’re in good shape. Ouch!

• Shephard’s pie can be surprisingly hard to find. And, expensive!
• It’s really, really easy to take public transport around Dublin. I knew this, of course, but there were a couple of times late at night when we splurged on a cab just because it was easier.
• Your feet will get incredibly tired. Wear comfortable shoes for all of that walking!