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Getting There
While there is a small airport in Galway, the only flights which fly into and out of the terminal are Aer Lingus commuter flights to Dublin. So, for those of you arriving in the country by air or by ferry, a commute by bus or train is inevitable.
The majority of flights to the country arrive in Dublin or Shannon, with an increasing amount now also flying into Cork. Travel from any of the terminals to Galway is very straightforward as numerous rail and bus services travel between all the destinations (bus only from Shannon). Bus is the more popular option as it is a good deal cheaper than the country’s rail service. Furthermore, as well as the national service Bus Eireann, there are also numerous private companies in operation which are usually even cheaper again.
If you do wish to travel by train, however, you will get the best value for money by purchasing a travel save stamp from any USIT office. This will cost you £8, is affixed to your ISIC and will get you discounts of up to 50% off all fares.
The other alternative for entry to the country, apart from air, is by ferry from either the UK or France. Irish ferries offer sea connections between Dublin and Holyhead in Wales and between Rosslare and Pembroke in Wales as well as Le Havre and Roscoff in France. The two French destinations are also served by sailings from Cork Harbour. The other major ferry company operating in Ireland is Stena Line and this has sailings between Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire in Dublin, Rosslare and Fishguard in Wales and Belfast and Stranraer in Scotland.
Again, if you arrive in either Dublin or Cork you can travel without difficulty to Galway. Those arriving in Belfast or Rosslare, however, will have to travel to Dublin first, and then make their way to the west.
Getting Around
The best and easiest way to get around the city is on foot because while the city has become much more spread out in recent years, the majority of the attractions, pubs, clubs and restaurants are located in a very small area. If you should need to travel to the suburbs for any reason Bus Eireann, Ireland’s national bus service, operate the city’s public buses. They leave from Eyre Square every twenty minutes and fares are 70p for any route. Weekly commuter tickets are also available costing £8.
Bus #1 serves Salthill, #2 travels to Knocknacarra or Renmare, #3 serves Castlepark and #4 serves Newcastle and Rahoon. These services operate between 8.00am and 9.00pm from Monday to Saturday and from 11.00am until 9.00pm on Sundays. Public buses are operated by Bus Eireann and fares are a flat 70p for any route. Weekly or monthly commuter tickets are also available. All the latest information can be obtained via phone: 091 562000 or by calling into the bus/train station office just off Eyre Square.
There are also numerous taxi services in operation in Galway and while there are official ranks at Eyre Square, you can usually just pick one up about the city if the yellow sign is switched on. Galway Taxis which is located on Mainguard Street operate a twenty-four hour service and can be reached on 091 561111. Other popular companies include Big O Taxis (091 585858) and Abbey Cabs (091 569369). A cheaper alternative to taxis are the city’s hackneys which are run by Claddagh (091 589000) and Eyre Square (091 569444). They have a waiting office three doors from the tourist office.
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