Car Hire Galway City

Why choose Budget Car Rental in Galway City?

• Central Eyre Square location.

• Cars located  less than 5 minutes from the office. 

• Returns available from 6am to midnight. 

• Wide choice of cars to suit city driving and longer scenic journeys

• Trusted global brand with local Irish expertise

• Friendly service from a team who knows Galway and the west

• Simple, reliable and great value. That is the Budget way.

Discover Galway with Budget Car Rental

Galway is one of Ireland’s most distinctive cities, known for its creative energy, strong sense of place and close connection to the Atlantic. Sitting on the west coast at the mouth of the River Corrib, Galway combines a lively, walkable city centre with easy access to coastline, countryside and some of the most dramatic scenery in the country.

Galway City itself is best explored on foot, either before or after you collect your hire car. With a Budget car from our Eyre Square location, it’s then easy to head beyond the city and experience the west at your own pace.

Galway City

Galway City is compact, colourful and full of character. It is known for its relaxed, fun atmosphere. Popular things to do include escape rooms, sea swimming, and soaking up the street music along Shop Street and Quay Street. When it comes to food, Galway has plenty of local favourites. Grab a slice from The Dough Bros, enjoy classic fish and chips from McDonagh’s, or settle into a pub where live music is part of everyday life.

In summer, the city really comes alive. The Galway Races bring fashion, fun and plenty of craic, while the Galway International Arts Festival fills the city with music, theatre and performances. The Galway Oyster Festival, held each autumn, is another highlight, celebrating the city’s long connection to the sea with food, music and events. The Galway Comedy Festival adds to the calendar, bringing well‑known and emerging acts to venues across the city.

In winter, the pace slows until the Galway Christmas Markets take over Eyre Square, with festive stalls, lights and a large Ferris wheel overlooking the square, giving the city a cosy, seasonal buzz.

Key landmarks include:

• Spanish Arch, a historic riverside landmark beside the River Corrib
• St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, the largest medieval parish church in Ireland
• Galway Cathedral, one of Europe’s youngest great stone cathedrals, opened in 1965 on the site of the city’s former prison
• Galway City Museum, overlooking the Claddagh and the Corrib

Salthill

Just a short drive from Galway city centre, Salthill is a popular seaside area known for its long promenade and Atlantic swimmers year round. It’s one of the few places around the city where driving makes sense, with free parking available along the prom. A walk along Salthill Beach, a dip at Blackrock, or simply taking in the sea air makes it a favourite with both locals and visitors.

West Galway - Connemara

Continuing along the coast road from Salthill and on to Bearna, West Galway is where the landscape really opens up and driving becomes one of the highlights of your trip. From here, the road leads into Connemara, a region of mountains, lakes, bogland and Atlantic coastline, with Clifden at its heart.

Connemara contains most of the Connacht Irish‑speaking Gaeltacht and is the largest Gaeltacht area in Ireland, making the Irish language a living, everyday part of the region’s identity. Bilingual road signs, Irish spoken locally and a strong sense of place all add to the experience of driving through West Galway

Connemara feels cinematic, with the Twelve Bens (Na Beanna Beola) rising sharply in the distance, quiet roads winding through open countryside and sheep often wandering freely across the road. It’s a landscape that encourages you to slow down and take it all in. Highlights of the region include Connemara National Park, with its walking trails and panoramic views, and Kylemore Abbey, one of Ireland’s most photographed landmarks, set against a backdrop of mountains and lakes.

The Aran Islands can be reached by ferry from Rossaveal in County Galway (or Doolin in County Clare), or by short flights from Clifden. Travel to the islands is for foot passengers only, as cars are not permitted, so it’s important to check your departure point when booking and plan your journey accordingly.

With a hire car from Budget, you can explore Connemara at your own pace, stopping for walks, photos and small villages along the way, and enjoying one of the most memorable driving experiences in Ireland. 

East Galway

East Galway offers a quieter, slower side of the county, where life moves at a more relaxed pace. This is classic rural Ireland, away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist trails, and it can feel like a world apart from the energy of Galway City and the Atlantic coast. Towns such as Ballinasloe and Loughrea make a good base for exploring the area, with accommodation often more affordable than in the city or along the west coast. From here, you’re surrounded by open countryside, small villages and calm roads that invite unhurried driving.

Around Portumna, on the shores of Lough Derg, you can rent a boat and travel along the River Shannon, sailing north through Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands towards Carrick‑on‑Shannon. Forest walks, lakeside trails and quiet waterways define this part of Galway, offering a chance to slow right down and spend time close to nature. 

East Galway is ideal for travellers looking to experience everyday rural Irish life at an easy pace, while still being within comfortable driving distance of Galway City and the west. With a hire car from Budget, it’s made easy. 

Galway as a base for the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are within around 90 minutes’ drive of Galway City, making Galway a very practical base for visiting one of Ireland’s most famous natural landmarks. Having your own car means you can choose when to go, visit earlier or later in the day, and enjoy the journey rather than rushing onto a tour bus.

Just before you reach the cliffs, you’ll pass through the Burren, one of the most unusual landscapes in Ireland. The Burren is a vast area of exposed limestone, shaped over millions of years, with cracked rock pavements, wildflowers growing straight from stone, and wide open views across the countryside and coast. People visit the Burren because it feels completely different to anywhere else in Ireland. It’s quiet, spacious and otherworldly, with walking trails, ancient stone forts, caves and a strong sense of history. In spring and summer, rare flowers grow between the rocks, while the silence and scale of the place make it ideal for slow exploration.

Along the way, it’s worth stopping in Doolin, a small coastal village known for its traditional music scene and relaxed pub atmosphere. Doolin is also one of the main ferry departure points for the Aran Islands, with sailings for foot passengers throughout the season. Nearby Lisdoonvarna is famous for its annual Matchmaking Festival, which takes place each autumn and brings music, dancing and visitors from all over the world. 

Using Galway as your base gives you the flexibility to combine the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren into a single, relaxed day trip, stopping in small villages, cafés or viewpoints along the way. With a Budget hire car, you can explore both at your own pace and turn the drive itself into part of the experience. This road trip is also an excellent drive on departure day before returning the car and flying out of Shannon Airport.

Why hiring a car in Galway City makes your trip easier?

While Galway City is best explored on foot, hiring a car in the city centre gives you the freedom to see far more of the west of Ireland, on your own terms.

With a hire car, you can:

• Walk the city first, then drive when you’re ready to explore further
• Reach Connemara, the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher with ease
• Visit coastal villages, countryside and quieter parts of Galway
• Travel on your own schedule and get more value by going off the beaten track

With Budget Galway City, car hire is simple, flexible and great value, right in the heart of the city.

What is the best time to visit Galway?

Late spring and summer are the most popular times to visit Galway, with long evenings, festivals and a lively atmosphere across the city. Highlights include the Galway Races, the International Arts Festival, the Comedy Festival and the Galway Oyster Festival later in the year.

Autumn is ideal for scenic drives and fewer crowds, while winter offers a calmer pace, cosy pubs and the festive atmosphere of the Galway Christmas Markets in Eyre Square. With a Budget hire car, you can plan your days around what suits you, whatever the season.

What you need to hire a car in Galway City?

To keep things moving smoothly at the Galway car rental office, please bring:

1. Your valid driving licence
   1. An International Driving Permit or official translation, if required
   2. UK licences must include both parts
2. A credit card in the main driver’s name, If using a debit card, the full excess must be waived with our excess reduction policy
3. Passport or National ID Card

Ready to hit the road?

Hire a car in Galway City with Budget and enjoy more freedom, more flexibility and more life for your money as you explore Galway, the west of Ireland and beyond. Book your car rental today.