Before you go

Your trip to Clifden.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Clifden – Galway Destination Galway and Connemara about 80 km from Galway

How to get there

Aeroporto de Shannon (Shannon Airport) (SNN) Shannon · 170 km
Parada de ônibus de Clifden (Market Square) 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Check before booking. Clifden is about 80 km from Galway via the N59, which crosses Connemara among lakes and mountains: roughly 1h30 by car. Regular buses depart Galway several times a day. There is no train; the nearest airport with regular flights is Shannon.

How many days

One night allows for doing the Sky Road at sunset and visiting Kylemore Abbey and the national park the next morning. With two nights there is time for the Diamond Hill walks and for Connemara’s beaches and side roads.

When to go

From May to September the days are long and the roads easier, with Kylemore Abbey and the park operating full hours. In August the Connemara Pony Show usually takes place, the region’s pony fair. In winter there is more wind and rain, and some services close earlier.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

Yes, it’s the most practical option. Buses arrive from Galway, but the Sky Road, Kylemore Abbey and the national park lie outside town with limited public transport; there are tours and bike rentals. Connemara’s roads are narrow with loose sheep, and in Ireland you drive on the left.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Clifden

Morning
Kylemore Abbey
Follow the N59 to Kylemore Abbey, 18 km away: the house, the neo-Gothic church and the Victorian walled garden.
Afternoon
Connemara National Park
In Letterfrack, enter the national park and do one of the Diamond Hill trails, either the short one or up to the summit.
Late afternoon
Sky Road
Return to Clifden and drive the Sky Road in the late afternoon, with low light over the islands and the bay.
Evening
Dinner in Clifden
Have fish or Connemara lamb at one of the restaurants on Main Street and finish in a pub with live music.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Is Clifden worth a night?

Yes. With one night you can do the Sky Road in the late afternoon, unhurried, and visit Kylemore Abbey and the national park the next morning before the tour buses arrive.

Is Irish spoken in Connemara?

Parts of Connemara are Gaeltacht, an area where Irish is the everyday language and signs are only in Irish. Everyone also speaks English.

What history is associated with Clifden?

Near the town operated, from 1907, the Marconi station that sent radio messages across the Atlantic. In 1919 Alcock and Brown landed in a nearby bog at the end of the first non-stop transatlantic flight.

Are there beaches near Clifden?

Yes. The Connemara coast has pale sand beaches, like Gurteen and Dog's Bay, near Roundstone, about 20 km away. The water is cold even in summer.

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