Galway is a wonderful city to spend time in, whether whiling away the hours in the cafes and bars on its cobbled streets or if you are more active and want to see all that the region has to offer.

For those interested in culture, the Galway Art Festival takes place in July. However, if you miss that the City Museum is another option – it’s a beautiful building packed with fascinating exhibits covering the history of Galway.

You could also visit Kylemore Abbey, a Benedictine monastery that used to own much of the land that is now a part of the Connemara National Park.

For a family outing, children and adults alike will be enthralled by the National Aquarium.

Galway is exceptional for golf lovers or for fishing in Lough Corrib or the River Corrib. On the banks of the Corrib you will also find the Spanish Arch, built in 1584 as an extension of the city walls.

A boat trip into Galway Bay will allow you to explore the beautiful Aran Islands of Inishbofun, Inisheer and Inishmore.

The nearest airport to Galway is Shannon International Airport (SNN), from which you can arrange Galway car hire and so have the freedom of using your own vehicle – but be sure to note the Irish rules of the road. Most visitors prefer to collect their rental car at the airport upon arrival, though convenient downtown car-rental offices are also available around the county.

To find the best price on car hire in Galway, use TravelSupermarket's search tool.

Located on the central ribbon of the beautiful west coast of Ireland, holidays in Galway needn’t be contained solely in the county. There is much to see and do in County Galway that within a couple of hours you could be standing beside towering cliffs or driving along one of Ireland’s most spectacular routes.

Head south and visit the Cliffs of Moher. It’s a 90-minute drive here from the city of Galway. On a clear day these sea-battered cliffs appear to zig-zag for miles along the coast. Pretty towns and villages dot the terrain, and you can’t go wrong when you stop off somewhere for a bite to eat and a look at local life.

South of the cliffs, the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula present yet more stunning vistas for camera-wielding tourists. Coach trips take tourists around the Ring of Kerry, but having your own car means you can see the sights at your own pace, stopping for a snap whenever you please.

The Irish capital, Dublin, can be reached in under three hours from Galway, too.

Book car rental in Galway, start planning your Irish holiday, and then find hotels that suit your plans by using the search tool on TravelSupermarket.