If your holiday in Galway involves staying in Connemara’s capital for any length of time, congratulations because that is how you visit Galway correctly! With close proximity to many of West Galway’s finest attractions, Clifden town is the perfect base for all holidayers and adventure seekers looking to discover all of the area’s greatest hidden gems…
From hiking Diamond Hill in Connemara National Park, and cycling the scenic Sky Road to see Clifden Castle, to wandering the grounds to Kylemore Abbey and its luscious estate, Clifden and its surrounding area has loads of fantastic attractions to offer. If you want to see them all we recommend booking an overnight stay in order to give yourself enough time to do just that!
Regardless if you are travelling solo, with your children, or a group of friends on a hen or stag, rest assured that Clifden’s accommodation providers can cater to your every need. Would you like to stay in a cosy and convenient B&B, or splash out on a 4 star hotel? Let’s discuss some of our favourite places to stay in Clifden..
Abbeyglen Castle Hotel
What is it? - 4 star luxury castle hotel with spa treatment rooms
Best for - couples, special occasions
Special Offers
There is something truly magical about the moment you arrive at the hotel’s entrance and see the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel for the very first time. The entire hotel and its grounds exude luxury and it goes the extra mile to ensure that the guests experience an overnight stay that is fit for royalty. The magnificent castle hotel has a variety of charming rooms to choose from, all of which reflect the glamour of the Abbeyglen but each have their own unique character and charm. The Abbeyglen Castle Hotel is run by brothers Ronan and Brian Hughes, who can always be found entertaining guests in the opulent dining room or piano bar and making sure that all their guests enjoy a phenomenal time staying with them.
Don’t miss - In the evenings join your hosts in the piano bar for a complimentary glass of bubbles as they give a short informal and entertaining talk on the history of Abbeyglen and the local area. This time is always a highlight of our stay as it presents the perfect opportunity to mingle with other hotel guests while also getting some insider knowledge on the local area.
Address: Sky Road, Clifden
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Read our full review from Abbeyglen Castle Hotel
above: Clifden Station House Hotel
Clifden Station House Hotel
What is it? - family hotel with self-catering apartments, an onsite theatre as well as spa & leisure facilities and a free kids club
Best for - families, accessibility, pet-friendly
Special Offers
The most popular hotel amongst families visiting Clifden thanks to its fantastic location and range of amenities, Clifden Station House Hotel provides the perfect base for exploring Clifden and its surrounding area. They have both hotel bedrooms as well as onsite deluxe self-catering apartments of which includes apartments that are pet-friendly, and accessible. These apartments are also perfect for families and groups that are planning for a longer holiday in Clifden, and are looking for somewhere to act as a home away from home during that stay.
Don’t miss - A huge benefit of staying here is the amount of complimentary facilities you can enjoy during your stay. All hotel guests can enjoy full use of these facilities which include free parking, onsite bar and restaurant, swimming pool, Renew Spa and leisure centre, as well as access to the free kids club which runs during school holidays.
Address: Galway Road, Clifden
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Ben Lettery Hostel
What is it? - hostel en route to Clifden town with glamping options
Best for - backpackers, groups, solo travellers, budget friendly
An approximate ten minute drive to Clifden town, Ben Lettery Hostel offers the best of both worlds. Nestled half-way between Maam Cross and Clifden, whether you are after nights out on the town or days of hiking the local landscape, this hostel caters to both needs brilliantly. This spot is all about great value, great vibes and the great outdoors and all three are pretty much guaranteed if you are staying at Ben Lettery Hostel. Their variety of rooms range from double rooms to 8 bed dorms, with the bonus option of booking out the hostel in its entirety (sleeping 42 people) for larger groups.
Don’t miss - The newest addition to the hostel grounds is The Hollows glamping bell tents. This glamping option offers a blend of camping in rugged Connemara with the comfort & ease of fully equipped modern indoor facilities, a perfect mix for the Irish weather! Isn’t this what glamping in Connemara is all about?!
Address: Ballynahinch, Connemara
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Foyle’s Hotel
What is it? - 3 star hotel in the heart of Clifden town
Best for - short stays
Special Offers
If your stay is going to be centred around Clifden town, the location of Foyle’s Hotel is very hard to beat. The hotel consists of 25 ensuite bedrooms (ranging from single to triple rooms), all fitted out to the highest standards of comfort. The hotel is home to the Marconi Restaurant and Mullarkey Bar, both of which offer great drinking and dining options for all weary travellers. The Marconi Restaurant is set in distinctive surroundings, full of interesting artefacts covering the history of Connemara and the hotel.
Don’t miss - If you are staying with Foyle’s Hotel, you simply must call into the onsite Mullarkey Bar for their Thursday night open-mic sessions and these regularly feature national and international music acts. This bar tends to welcome a mix of hotel guests and local characters and is renowned for its impromptu gigs and all-round good craic.
Address: Main Street, Clifden
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Sunnybank House
What is it? - Holiday rental with swimming pool and outdoor BBQ facilities
Best for - groups of up to 24 people
Special Offer - Book directly with them for rates that offer a 10- 20% discount
Sunnybank House is one of the coolest holiday rentals for groups in all of Galway. This private house can accommodate up to 24 people at once across its 11 bedrooms (all ensuite), and is available to rent in its entirety on a self-catering basis. It really is the perfect accommodation option for gathering of family and friends, groups and even for micro-weddings. The holiday rental is only a two minute walk from Clifden town so if you fancy eating and drinking out on any evening, the walk back is super easy. As well as that, guests can enjoy a whole host of amenities such as the fully equipped kitchen, living rooms; TV room, library, drawing room and dining room, and high speed fibre broadband throughout.
Don’t miss - If you are interested in staying here we suggest booking that holiday during the summer season (May-September) in order to get the most out of your time there. It is during this period that the sauna and outdoor heated swimming pool are open, and when you can probably get the most use of their outdoor BBQ facilities.
Address: Church Hill, Clifden
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Alcock & Brown Hotel
What is it? - hotel at the centre of Clifden town
Best for - hen/stag parties, families, groups
The Alcock & Brown Hotel is a fantastic accommodation option for both those looking to enjoy the town’s food and drink scene, as well as those wanting to spend their days on the road exploring. Named after the aviators that made the first transatlantic flight which (crash)landed on the outskirts of Clifden town, inside the hotel guests can see displays of historic items that tell the story of this incredible feat. The bedrooms at the Alcock & Brown Hotel have all been recently refurbished and are designed to provide guests the utmost comfort.
Don’t miss - Onsite, the hotel is home to Vickers Bar & Cocktail Lounge. It’s one of our favourite places in Clifden to unwind with a cocktail so we really think you ought to check it out for yourself. Open to both residents and non-guests, all are welcome at Vickers.
Address: Market Square, Clifden
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Dún Rí Guesthouse
What is it? - 3 star B&B guesthouse
Best for - solo travellers
Priding themselves on offering guests “royal treatment, without paying a king’s ransom”, Dún Rí Guesthouse put their guests' comfort above all else. All their bedrooms are ensuite and kitted out with modern amenities to ensure that you have everything you need for a restful stay with them. Every morning you also get to enjoy a homemade breakfast that caters to your specific taste and dietary requirements. On top of that, when it comes to deciding how you want to spend your day, the team here is more than happy to help make arrangements for all local guided tours and activities. Options include; horse-riding, guided walks, cycling trails, angling & fishing, island trips and more.
Don’t miss - The view! This guesthouse overlooks both Clifden’s Connemara Pony Showground and the Owenglin River which has an old stone bridge that was featured in The Quiet Man, starring Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne. It also offers spectacular views of the sunsets over Dooneen Hill and the 12 Ben Mountains beyond. The scenery is truly stunning and is a gorgeous backdrop for all Clifden based holidays in West Galway.
Address: Hulk Street, Clifden
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above: Sea Mist House Bed & Breakfast
Sea Mist House Bed & Breakfast
What is it? - B&B in a historic Georgian townhouse
Best for - short stays, solo travellers
Situated just off of the picturesque Sky Road, Sea Mist House Bed & Breakfast is a homely base for all Clifden holidaymakers. Its location provides easy access to the shops, bars and restaurants yet it maintains a quiet, off-the-track atmosphere ensuring you a good night’s sleep. The building in which it is housed dates back to 1825, when Clifden town itself was only 13 years old! It was purchased then in 1920 by the current owner Sheila Griffin’s grandfather and has been part of their family ever since. Many of the building’s original features are still on display today, and we feel that staying in a beautiful stone house that is almost as old as the town itself is pretty damn cool.
Don’t miss - The breakfast at Sea Mist House Bed & Breakfast is incredible! It is served in a dining room that overlooks the gardens where they source some of their fresh produce. The breakfast menu here consists of homemade pancakes, full Irish breakfasts, smoked salmon with eggs, as well as a buffet selection of cereals & granolas, fresh fruit salad, spiced fruit compote, prunes, natural yogurts, stewed fruit, homemade brown bread and fruit scones. Breakfast is often mentioned as a highlight of staying at Sea Mist House B&B so we really insist that you do not miss it!
Address: Seaview, Beach Road, Clifden
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Buttermilk Lodge
What is it? - Self-catering apartments
Best for - couples, small groups
At Buttermilk Lodge guests can stay in a one or two bedroom self-catering apartment (sleeping one to four persons), that is only a five minute well-lit walk from the town itself. Owners Patrick and Cathriona live nearby onsite so you can always get their insider tips and recommendations before heading out to explore Clifden and the local areas. Buttermilk Lodge is a cosy and welcoming guest accommodation on a quiet sheltered hillside - the ideal getaway location for all city folks looking to escape to the countryside for a few days. Buttermilk Lodge is open year round so whether you are visiting in the height of summer or during the jolly festive season, you’ll receive a warm céad míle fáilte (welcome) at this lovely lodge.
Don’t miss - One thing we were super excited about when we first learnt about Buttermilk Lodge was that its owners always invite their guests to meet their Connemara Ponies, Connemara Blackface Sheep and their two sheepdogs, Robbie and Ben, all of which live on their lands nearby. I mean, how could you say no to that?!
Address: Westport Road, Clifden
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Hillside Lodge
What is it? - B&B on the Sky Road
Best for - backpackers
Offering a stylish and laidback stay for all weary travellers, Hillside Lodge is the perfect place to make your home for a few days. It’s also located right across from Clifden Castle on Sky Road, only a short drive away from Kylemore Abbey and Connemara National Park so it’s perfect for those who want to enjoy adventurous days out and then be able to lounging in comfort all evening long. Hillside Lodge has six spacious and individually designed bedrooms, four of which face onto the front garden. Here, on sunny days, deck chairs are put out for guests to enjoy while sunbathing, reading or socialising with other guests.
Don’t miss - When booking your stay here, you can select from a number of fabulous music-inspired rooms, such as The Beatles bedroom, the jazz bedroom or the U2 loft bedroom. Perfect for all music lovers out there!
Address: Sky Road, Fakeeragh, Clifden
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Clifden Eco Camping
What is it? - Camping and Caravan Park
Best for - outdoorsy folk, backpackers, campers
One of Galway’s coolest eco-beach experiences, Clifden Eco Beach Campsite invites those staying with them to go back to basics and relish in the simplicity of life through real camping in the wild. Situated on a private eco-beach, staying here gives guests the chance to slow down, and experience pure relaxation. During the day, activities include exploring the local landscape and going swimming and surfing on the private beach. Whereas at night, we recommend that you look up and do a bit of stargazing, this time without any light pollution getting in the way.
Don’t miss - Take this opportunity to embrace a slower pace of living. You can meet and share stories with other campers, switch off from being “online” and just generally enjoy unplugging from day-to-day life in a gorgeous coastal setting. Opportunities like this don’t happen very often so make the most of it while you can.
Address: Claddaghduff Road, Wild Atlantic Way, Grallagh, Clifden
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Feature photo: Clifden by Adobe Stock
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