Galway is one of those cities that gets under your skin. The Latin Quarter with its painted shopfronts and street musicians. The Spanish Arch and the fast dark river below. Salthill promenade on a breezy afternoon. The Galway Market on a Saturday morning. It is a compact city, easy to walk, and full of personality - and from Shannon Airport it is only just over an hour away. Shannon Transfers operates private Galway day tours from Shannon Airport, collecting your group at arrivals and bringing you directly into the heart of the city for a full day of exploring.
What's Included
What's Included in the Galway Day Tour
This is a private, fully accompanied day tour - not a group coach, not a shuttle bus. Your Mercedes V-Class and driver are with you for the full day, which gives you the flexibility to spend more time in the places that interest you and move on from the ones that do not.
Typical Galway day tour highlights include:
- Latin Quarter: the heart of Galway's cultural life, lined with independent shops, cafes, and pubs
- Shop Street and Quay Street: pedestrianised streets at the centre of the city, always lively
- Spanish Arch: a 16th-century arch at the edge of the old city walls, overlooking the Corrib
- Galway Cathedral: an impressive 1960s cathedral on the banks of the River Corrib, free to enter
- Claddagh: the old fishing village that gave the world the Claddagh ring, now a quiet residential quarter
- Salthill: Galway's seaside suburb, with a long promenade, the 'Salthill dip' tradition, and good seafood restaurants
Your driver will suggest the best routes and the best timing based on how busy the city is on the day of your tour.
Optional Add-On
Cliffs of Moher Add-On
The Cliffs of Moher are 1.5 hours south of Galway City, and combining a Galway day tour with a Cliffs of Moher stop is one of our most popular itineraries. You can visit the cliffs in the morning and spend the afternoon in Galway - or do Galway first and head to the cliffs for a late afternoon visit. We build the itinerary around your arrival time and energy levels after the flight.
Connemara Day Tour from Galway
If you are staying in Galway for more than one night, a Connemara day tour is a natural second-day option. Connemara - with Kylemore Abbey, the National Park, and the Atlantic coast - is approximately one hour from Galway City. Shannon Transfers can arrange a private Connemara tour from your Galway hotel as a separate day.
Tour Overview
Tour Details & Pricing
- Departure: Shannon Airport or your Shannon/Limerick area hotel
- Journey time to Galway: approximately 1 hour 10 minutes
- Duration in Galway: typically 4 to 5 hours, flexible
- Vehicle: Private Mercedes V-Class - up to 6 passengers
- Pricing: From EUR 650 per vehicle for a full day
- What's included: Driver throughout, all road transfers, flexible itinerary
- What's not included: Meals, entrance fees for any attractions visited
Need a Transfer to Galway First?
If you are flying into Shannon Airport and want to get to Galway on arrival day - before your tour - Shannon Transfers can arrange your airport transfer at the same time as your day tour booking. A Shannon Airport to Galway transfer takes approximately one hour. Book both together and we will coordinate the timing around your itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Approximately 75 kilometres - just over an hour by road via the M18 motorway. It is one of the closest major cities to Shannon Airport.
A full day in Galway gives you time to explore the Latin Quarter, visit the Spanish Arch, walk the Salthill promenade, browse the Galway Market (Saturdays), and enjoy a lunch or early dinner in one of the city's many excellent restaurants. The city is walkable and varied.
Yes. We pick up from hotels in the Shannon and Limerick area and can time the departure around your plans. Let us know where you are staying when you enquire.
This is one of our most popular combined itineraries. Cliffs of Moher in the morning and Galway in the afternoon (or vice versa) makes for a full, varied day. Contact us and we will build the itinerary around your arrival time.
Day tours are priced from EUR 650 per vehicle - that is the same price whether you are travelling solo or as a group of up to 7 people. Contact us for a confirmed quote.
Book your private Galway day tour from Shannon Airport
Fixed price, fully accompanied, private vehicle. No group coaches, no fixed departure times.