A welcoming town at the foot of Croagh Patrick mountain, with Georgian streets, traditional Irish pubs, and direct access to Clew Bay's 365 islands.
Westport sits on Ireland's west coast where the Carrowbeg River meets Clew Bay. The town's Georgian streets lead to stone bridges crossing the river, while traditional Irish music echoes through Matt Molloy's pub each evening. You can walk along the tree-lined Carrowbeg River, explore the 18th-century Westport House, or watch boats navigate between Clew Bay's 365 islands.
Walking Through Georgian Westport
The Carrowbeg River flows through the center of Westport, with tree-lined promenades called the North and South Mall running along both banks. Stone bridges cross the river at several points, with seasonal flower displays in hanging baskets. The Octagon, an eight-sided plaza in the town center, has buildings painted in yellows, blues, and reds. You'll find cafes here serving Irish breakfast and fresh-baked scones throughout the day.
Cycling the Great Western Greenway
The 42-kilometer Great Western Greenway starts in Westport and follows an old railway line to Achill Island. Rent bikes from Clew Bay Bike Hire (€25 per day) and cycle past stone walls, grazing sheep, and Clew Bay. The trail passes through Newport and Mulranny villages, where you can stop at Grainne Uaile's pub in Newport for seafood chowder or continue to Achill Island's white sand beaches.
Exploring Westport House
The 18th-century Westport House costs €15 for entry and opens daily from March to October. The rooms contain Georgian furniture, paintings, and artifacts from the 1700s. You can walk through manicured gardens, follow woodland paths, or take a small train around the estate for €4 per ride. The house stands on the former site of Grace O'Malley's castle - she was a 16th-century Irish clan chief known as the Pirate Queen.
Food and Drink
An Port Mór restaurant serves Clew Bay mussels (€12) and Mayo lamb dishes (€28). For lunch, try Christy's Harvest's potato boxty (€8-12) - thin pancakes filled with bacon or vegetables. The town has many pubs with live music - Matt Molloy's has fiddle and flute sessions from 9pm most nights, while McGing's serves free sandwiches on Friday evenings around 7pm.
Climbing Croagh Patrick
Croagh Patrick mountain stands 765 meters high south of town. The hiking trail to the summit takes about 2-3 hours up and 1.5 hours down on a rocky path. From the top, you can see across Clew Bay and its 365 islands. A small church at the peak holds services on the last Sunday of July, known as Reek Sunday.
Where to Stay
The Westport Plaza Hotel in town center has rooms from €140 with breakfast. For budget options, Woodside Lodge B&B charges €80 for doubles and includes home-baked bread each morning. The Westport Coast Hotel overlooks Clew Bay with rooms from €120 and an indoor pool.
Getting to Westport
Westport is 250 kilometers west of Dublin (3 hours by car) and 80 kilometers north of Galway (1 hour by car). Irish Rail runs trains from Dublin (€45 one-way, 3.5 hours). Bus Éireann operates daily services from Dublin (€20, 4 hours). The nearest airport is Ireland West Airport Knock, 60 kilometers away, with taxis costing around €70 to Westport.
