Galway Car Hire

    Mo 15 Jun

    15, Jun, 2026

    12:00

    Mo 22 Jun

    22, Jun, 2026

    12:00

    Find the best deals in Galway

    With a massive choice from the biggest brands, Enjoy the best way to find the best prices for car hire in Galway.

    • Huge choice of cars to suit every budget
    • Save up to 70% compared to buying on the day
    • 10 years experience in car hire

    4.8/5

    Independent service rating based on 18 verified reviews

    Compare car hire in Galway

    Galway is considered by many as Ireland’s most charming city. It is small enough that you can explore on foot but there is plenty to do, ranging from culture and history to amazing restaurants and fantastic independent shops. It is situated in the west of Ireland, on the Atlantic coast on the edge of the salmon-packed River Corrib.

    There are several pick up locations to collect your rental vehicle from. The closest to the city is our partner, Enterprise, which is located in Downtown Galway with prices starting at about €22 / £20 per day. Alternatively, if you are arriving by airplane, we work with several partners at Dublin Airport, Knock and Shannon Airport, which are all within a 2 hours and a half drive from Galway. The cheapest pick up point is Dublin Airport with prices starting from €10 / £9 per day or €11 / £10 per day for an economy size car, big enough for the whole family !

    Guide to Galway

    Galway was once a small fishing village and is now a compact, buzzing city with plenty of culture and things to do. Galway grew in medieval times when it became a prosperous walled town which was ruled by a collection of merchant families, the Tribes of Galway.

    What to do in Galway

    There is so much to do in the happening city whether it be unearthing the local history and heritage at the Galway City Museum overlooking the Spanish Arch or feasting on the local delicacies at the market opposite St Nicholas’ Medieval Church, damaged by the troops of Oliver Cronwell in the 1650s. It is also worth venturing out of Gallway to explore the surroundings, such as Salthill seaside suburb where the 2km promenade takes you along the Atlantic Coast. The city is also home to many festivals such as Galway International Arts Festival in July or the International Oyster Festival in September.

    Eating out & Drinking in Galway

    Galway has become a hotspot for anything foodie from cafes to fine dining restaurants, whether you fancy a quick bite to eat or a sit down dinner at the Michelin-starred Loam and Aniar. Do not miss out on trying the incredible oysters, fresh from the Atlantic Ocean, for which the region is famous for. Similarly, Galway is renowned for its lively pub scene, where a pint is accompanied by traditional music, whether it be Tigh Neachtain on Cross Street or Murphy’s and Garavan’s.

    Transport

    Unfortunately, there is no airport in Galway itself but this does not mean that it is difficult to get to ! The city is incredibly close to Ireland West International Airport at Knock and Shannon International Airport, which are only about an hour’s drive . Dublin is also fairly close, the airport being just 2.5 hours drive away. Once you get to the city, you can explore the city on foot and will only need a car for any adventures outside of the city !

    Top Tips when hiring a car in Galway

    ● A great number of users encountered rental cars in Galway for less than £55 per day.

    ● Booking your rental car in Galway in advance even if it's by at least 1 day before your trip ensures you'll get cheap car hire deals.

    ● In Galway car hire economy rental car models are much cheaper than other comparable car types.

    ● While going for a car rental vehicle at the Shannon International Airport, and in general in most Airport locations consists of the cheapest car hire in Galway, it's also very convenient if you're form of arrival in the city.

    ● The car hire companies in the arrivals terminal offer very competitive car hire prices and rental office location is more accessible than those found in the city centre.

    ● The car hire company at the Airport will also allow you to get your rental car started as soon as you land as their car park is right next to the terminal. All you need to do is book in advance and contact car rental before you arrive.

    ● Then you're free to explore the whole county. Galway is full of places to explore, and if you're traveling with family you'll want to go for a Van hire.

    ● Once you arrive at the pick up location and get your hire car, it's recommended you drive around the city and see the Galway City Museum, the Galway Ballybane Industrial Estate, the Galway Motor Park and the West Coast.

    Car Hire Reviews

    NameReviewRating

    Ceri Tanner

    My husband and I visited Galway last month on a road trip around West Ireland and we were very pleased with the Ford Fiesta we hired. It was perfect for getting us around quickly and efficiently.

    Harrison Kelmeckis

    Me and some friends decided to take a trip to Galway in April, and we wanted a large vehicle to fit the six of us. The Opel Zafira Tourer we hired was spacious, comfortable and practical.

    Saoirse O’Connor

    I come back to Galway as often as I can, and always hire vehicles to get me around. I hired a SEAT Arona, and loved the smooth driving experience and all-around running capability of the vehicle.

    Eric Shaffer

    My partner and I rented a Kia Sportage on a trip to Galway in March, and we were impressed with just about everything the vehicle had to offer.

    Declan Byrne

    All the trains to Galway were cancelled so I decided to rent a Vauxhall Astra with Europcar. I didn’t think I’d be able to rent a vehicle at such short notice, but I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I managed to secure one and how accommodating the supplier was.

    Eilidh Campbell

    We recently rented a Ford Mondeo through the Enjoy Travel site, and we enjoyed how streamlined and hassle-free the booking process was from start to finish, and the vehicle was perfectly suited to our needs.

    Luca Jones

    While I normally experience no issues when renting a vehicle, over Christmas when I rented a Hyundai Tucson for a trip to Galway, we were met with a very long wait time for our vehicle and were overwhelmed with the amount of paperwork to sign.

    Felix Schneider

    Renting a vehicle in Galway was a breeze with Enterprise. They assisted us through the whole rental process and we were very satisfied with the BMW 1-Series we hired.

    Christina Benn

    Galway has always been top of my travel list, and I knew I needed a good quality car for my trip. I decided to hire a VW Golf, and couldn’t have asked for a better runaround.

    Gemma Friedman

    We went to the Galway International Arts Festival last July, and the Ford Kuga we rented to get around the city was both comfortable and affordable.

    Anna Jacobson

    The BMW 5-Series I rented was perfect for the business trip I took to Galway last month, and renting with my chosen supplier was a total breeze.

    Eugene Baker

    My girlfriend and I chose to rent a Ford Fiesta for a road trip from Dublin to Galway, and we enjoyed the space, comfort and efficiency of the car.

    Freya Smith

    We went to Galway for our honeymoon in March, and the Ford Kuga we rented was perfect for navigating the winding roads around the city.

    George Williams

    I switched from manual to automatic when renting a VW Passat in Galway, and found the driving to be a lot easier and smoother, plus the vehicle was very comfortable and affordable.

    Brody Turner

    I didn’t know what to expect when renting a vehicle in Galway, but I couldn’t have expected a better experience with the Ford Focus I chose.

    Maria Gonzalez

    I rented a Hyundai Tucson when I visited Galway to see friends last summer, and although the vehicle was perfect, I wasn’t happy with the lengthy booking process.

    Joseph Marsden

    Seeing as we couldn’t fly into Galway directly, we decided to drive from Dublin and rented a Ford Kuga Automatic for the journey. The vehicle was perfectly suited for the long journey.

    Tyler Coleman

    I was pleasantly surprised at how the VW Polo was perfectly suited to both my budget and road tripping needs when me and my wife visited Galway two weeks ago.

    FAQs about car hire in Galway

    Car hiring prices in Galway start at €22.89 per day for a Ford Fiesta.

    The minimum age to hire a car in Galway is 21.

    The distance betweem Galway airport GWY and the city centre of Galway is around 8.9 km/5.5 miles.

    The distance betweem Galway and Dublin is around 207.5 km (around 128.9 miles) - 2hr 17 minutes drive.

    Galway is cheaper than most would expect. You'll spend approximately €110 per day.

    You can find a Ford Ka in the off-peak season for €12.56 per day.

    Moving around Galway is so much better by car than by public transport. It's highly recommended to rent one.

    Driving around the streets of Galway, making stops at all the interesting places and exploring the whole city this way is a great way to see it.

    Around July and August is the best time as it will allow you to know the city in the warmest temperature.

    It's €151 for a week, or €21.60 per day.

    It's €778 for a month, or €28 per day.

    Price of fuel in Galway is between €1.54 and €1.25 per litre.