Galway is the ideal base for trips throughout western Ireland. Hiring a car is a good way to see attractions in the surrounding area. Alternately, day tours of The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher, and of Connemara are available at the tourist office. The day tours offered by the Galway Tour Company (http://www.galwaytourcomp...) are particularly popular and well-reviewed.
If you wish to hear Irish being spoken as a first language, visit towns like Carna, Spiddal, Carraroe, Barna, etc, all west of Galway City in the Connemara area. English is also spoken in these towns if you are not confident enough to speak Irish just yet, but as a visitor you can appreciate hearing the Irish language being spoken in one of the few areas where it is a thriving first spoken language and has priority over English
Several outlets around town and at the tourist office sell ferry tickets to the Aran Islands.
For hitchhikers hoping to see the rest of Connacht, the best place to catch rides is near the Galway Shopping Centre, north of the city centre. There are several roundabouts nearby, so it should be easy to pick the road heading in the same direction as you are.Word of mouth may be useful for catching a lift to Dublin and other destinations. Ask around in your hotel or hostel.
