Car & Van Hire - Galway

Whether you're arriving in Galway for the first time or using the city as a base to head further west, having your own wheels makes a real difference. Enterprise offers car hire and van hire in Galway to get you moving straight away.

Galway sits on the edge of Galway Bay at the start of the Wild Atlantic Way, making it one of Ireland's most visited cities and a natural gateway to the west. The city centre is compact and walkable, centred on Eyre Square, with a Latin Quarter full of pubs, seafood restaurants and colourful shopfronts. Beyond the city, the landscape opens up quickly. The coast road out to Salthill takes just minutes by car, and from there the route westward into Connemara begins. The region has a strong Irish-speaking tradition, and the countryside feels noticeably different from anywhere else in the country.

Car hire in Galway suits all kinds of trips. Families needing extra space will find a 7-seater people carrier useful, especially when a day out to Connemara or the coast is on the cards. Couples and solo travellers often prefer something smaller and easier to park. Either way, having a hire car gives you the freedom to stop where the road takes you, whether that's a quiet beach in Connemara or a country pub in one of the small towns east of the city like Athenry or Loughrea.

Van hire in Galway is just as practical. A small van works well for moving between accommodation or transporting gear for outdoor activities. Groups arriving together for events, festivals or family occasions often find a 9-seater people carrier or minivan the simplest way to travel. If you need to shift larger loads around the county, a large van gives you the capacity without the cost of a specialist service.

Nearby attractions

Connemara is the main draw for many visitors picking up a hire car in Galway. The area covers a wide stretch of Atlantic coastline, with Connemara National Park at its heart. The roads are quiet and the scenery shifts constantly, from the Twelve Bens mountains down to sheltered beaches at places like Dog's Bay near Roundstone.

Kylemore Abbey sits on the northern edge of Connemara and is one of the most recognisable buildings in Ireland. The Victorian abbey was built as a private home and later became a Benedictine monastery. The restored walled garden and the lakeside setting make it worth the drive.

The Cliffs of Moher lie just south of Galway across the county border into Clare. The cliffs run for around eight kilometres along the Atlantic coast, reaching over 200 metres at their highest point. The road there passes through the limestone landscape of the Burren, which is worth time on its own.

The west of Ireland rewards slow travel. Roads narrow quickly once you leave the main routes, and the weather can shift several times in a day. A hire car gives you the flexibility to adapt and go at a pace that suits the place.