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13 of the Best Things to Do in Galway, Ireland

Get ready for your trip to Galway, Ireland with our list of comprehensive list of sites and attractions. Read more

Author

SDancks

An Overview of Galway, Ireland

Ah, Galway, the city of music, laughter, and good times! If you’re not listening to Ed Sheeran’s Galway Girl while kicking off this post, do me a favor.  

👏PUT👏THAT👏 SONG👏 ON👏

We are setting a scene here, people. We are setting a MOOD. 

Oh, you don’t want to put it on because you don’t like Ed Sheeran?

This spongebob gif has spongebob bent over with his hands on his hips, his mouth shaped like a beak and eyes looking in different directions.

Wow, I’m so glad you came to this blog to offer your opinion. Thank you SO MUCH. 

But, I’m pretty sure you’re here to read my opinion and my travel tips. Like, 99% positive that’s why you’re here.  You may hate my opinions, thoughts and jokes, but look in the mirror and remind yourself why you’re here. 

On this blog.  

Getting berated by someone sitting in a hot pink computer chair that has bunny ears on it. 

You clearly either have great taste or need professional help. TBH, probably both. 

But, let’s get back into things. 

✅ Galway Girl by Ed Sheeran filling your eardrums

✅ An interest in going to Galway, Ireland

✅ Caffeine-hyped me giving you travel recommendations about how to spend 72 hours in Galway

So let’s first start with the first time I was there.  It was July 2021 on a beautiful sunny summer day.  My family had finally come to visit me after my move to Ireland in 2020.  

At this point, I had lived in Ireland for over a year and embraced the cooler weather. You can ask anyone who knows me, I become RAGEFUL when weather hits over a certain temperature.  Ireland’s climate agrees with my overall unzen-zen.  

I’m setting the scene here. Imagine my poor family, used to 80-90F humid Boston weather in July, attempting to cope with mid-60s, windy, slightly cloudy Galway weather. 

I was blossoming – jeans on, light sweater or a t-shirt.  

My family had their new Aran sweaters on and were bundled.  The poor things. 

Now in their defense, Galway is on the West Coast of Ireland so it’s not protected like Dublin is. My personal opinion is that the weather feels more extreme due to this. This is my polite and detailed way of saying, I recommend bundling up and bringing layers for your time in Galway

Where is Galway?

Galway is a city in the West of Ireland in the province of Connacht in county Galway. Galway city is about a 2 hour drive from Dublin.

Galway has the most Irish speakers in Ireland, but most people also speak English.  You’ll see Irish on signs, and may hear some Irish mixed with English (‘Slan’ for ‘Goodbye’ and ‘Slainte’ for ‘Cheers’).

There are a lot of things to do in Galway city and in the county of Galway, but we’re mostly going to focus on things to do in Galway city. 

Fun Facts about Galway

  • Galway is the third largest city in the Ireland and the only city in the Connacht province
  • Galway is nicknamed “The City of Tribes” (“Cathair na dTreabh”) after the fourteen merchant families
  • The city itself has a few different symbols associated with it:
    • Claddagh Ring: The ring’s origins are found in Claddagh, a small fishing village near Galway.  The story goes that Richard Joyce, a young Irish sailor, was captured, taken away from his one love, and sold into slavery to a Moorish goldsmith where he learned smithing. 
      Years later, he was released and returned to Galway to find his love.  He presented her with the first Claddagh ring and they married.    
    • The Aran Sweater: The sweater is also known as a fisherman’s sweater and takes its name from the Aran islands off the West coast of Ireland. 
      The islanders were fishermen and farmers. The oils retained in the sheep’s wool made the sweaters essentially waterproof.
      The stitches are unique and many of the old families have their own pattern. These patterns would have been used to identify the fishmen.  
    • The Galway Hookers:  Galway Hookers have been the traditional working sail boats of Galway Bay since the early 1800s. They were used for fishing, as well as to transport goods. The boats have a very distinctive look of a black-colored hull and rust-red sails.   

Now you know a bit about Galway, so we’re ready to dive into our list of things to do in Galway, Ireland!

Gif of Taylor Swift from the Eras tour diving into the stage

Day One – the first 24 hours (recommendation Friday)

Site 1: Connemara National Park

Let’s start our journey with some sightseeing! On your first day in Galway, head towards the Connemara National Park. I should preface this, that the park is about over an hour drive away from Galway.  To me, that’s close enough to warrant a drive out! 

This was on my bucket list, but castles took priority andddddd I had already made my family drive all over the west coast, so staying within the city was the ideal plan.  

I should also mention that my family likes the outdoors, but you’ll find landscaped outdoors tend to be more of the nature we can handle. I’m not saying that we’re bad at that outdoors lifestyle.  

I am saying we all have asthma and allergies. Also, not really wild about bugs. 

I’m very much David in Schitt’s Creek on the Amish Farm when I’m in un-landscaped nature. 

I am not dressed for the occasion. 

I look ridiculous. 

And ew, a bug.

This is a scene from Schitt's Creek where David gets stranded on an Amish farm. The young Amish woman dressed in a blue dress with a white apron and cap is raking the ground. She tells David, who is wearing an all black long sweater with black pants, that there is a bug on his long sweater.

That being said, the views in Connemara National Park look good enough for me to overlook the whole outdoor bug issue.  

The park lies to the west of Galway. Want to still avoid hiking or driving yourself there? I don’t blame you and it’s not a problem! There are a few different tours out there that will take you to Connemara National Park, as well as include a visit to Kylemore Abbey 😉

Need some ideas on where to get started? Well lucky for you I am a loving and benevolent writer, and despite the fight we had earlier on about you turning on Galway Girl, I also Googled for you some tours!

Do I get any monetary benefit from sharing this link with you? No, so be thankful. 

Site 2: Dinner Time/Pub Time

I’m counting dinner/Pub time as a site, as there are just so many options in Galway! Here are a few I would recommend

Restaurants:

SDanck enjoying chips (french fries) with a garlic sauce on top.

Pubs:

Photo of an irish coffee from Garavan's Bar in Galway, Ireland.

There are so many other restaurants and pubs in Galway, but we didn’t get a chance to try them all! If you have any recommendations here, please comment below!

Day Two – Let’s Keep Going (Saturday)

We have a long day ahead of us, so how about some breakfast? 

Breakfast pastry and coffee at BakeBox in Galway

There are so many other bakeries and breakfast spots in Galway, so comment below with your recommendations for us to add to the list!

✅You’ve been fed.

✅You’ve been caffeinated. 

It’s time to get on with the day. 

On your second day, let’s explore the city’s cultural and historical side. You will spend your morning learning because knowledge is sexy, and you dear reader, must be hot af as you read this blog. 🔥

This is a gif of a child quickly turning around holding a miscrophone.

Site 3: Galway City Museum

Let’s start your day with a visit to the Galway City Museum. The museum houses a vast collection of artifacts, photographs, and documents that trace the city’s history back to medieval times.

Site 4 & 5: The Spanish Arch and the Galway Market

After educating yourself, it looks like it’s time to grab lunch! Let’s head over to the Galway market, but on the way over, why not walk by the Spanish Arch? 

Oh, are we not done learning? THAT IS CORRECT. WE ARE NEVER DONE. 

The Spanish Arch dates back to 1584 and was part of an extension of the 12th century town wall that stretched down the riverbank. The Arch was first called ‘Ceann an Bhalla’ (‘the head of the wall’) but later became known as the Spanish Arch. Why? Great question, dear reader!


It is likely the name was a reference to merchant trade that took place at the docks, often with Spanish merchants. It was not just the Spanish that docked there, but other European ships docked there as well to sell spices and wine on the docks. 

Aren’t we just thrilled to have learned something today? Aren’t we??

This gif shows the text "the more you know" shooting through the dark sky with a shooting star underneath the text. The shooting star is gold and has a rainbow tail trailing the star.

Now let’s get back to lunch. You stopped at the Spanish Arch, you told your friends your fun fact. It’s food time. 

We’re heading to the Galway market!  You’ll walk through a section of the Latin Quarter to get there, but don’t worry, we’re saving that slice of heaven for later. 

The Galway market is open every Saturday (and Sunday! You can go twice!). The market has goods from local artists and businesses, food stalls, live music and more! We went to this market and it made Christmas shopping even easier as the stalls had quite a few cute things that were perfect. 

Galway Market photo showing produce vendor.

 

Site 6: Galway Cathedral

After that, let’s take a stroll and walk off our lunch! We’re heading to the Galway Cathedral, which is less than a 10 minute walk away from the market.  The interior is beautiful, but what makes this Cathedral interesting is the year it was built. 

Unlike most Cathedrals in Europe, the Galway Cathedral was not built that long ago. Construction began in 1958 and was completed 1965, making it the youngest stone cathedral in Europe.  

Site 7: Latin Quarter

Well will you look at that? We’ve learned things about Galway’s history, we’ve enjoyed a local market, we’ve been dazzled by architecture! All in one day! Now it’s time to walk back towards the Latin Quarter (just over a 10 minute walk away).  

This photo shows one of the streets in Galway's Latin Quarter. There are color store fronts (yellow, red, green, white) and a few people walking in front of the stores.

The Latin Quarter is home to many of the city’s beloved bars and shops. I’d recommend taking a look at the list of shops to see if there are any you want to go to and checking the hours.  If some of the shops close a bit early, maybe skip the Cathedral today and go shopping! This is where I will allow you to take control of your holiday (I’m so generous). 

What are some shops you’ll find in the Latin Quarter?  Let’s take a look!

  1. Galway Woollen Market
    • The Galway Woollen Market is hard to miss with its bright orange exterior on High Street
      They carry different knitwear for men, women and children, so it’s a great spot to find yourself a souvenir or a gift.
    • Opening hours: Mon to Saturday from 9.30am to 6pm. Sunday 12pm to 6pm.
    • Address: 21 High Street, Galway City, Ireland
    • Tel: +353 (0)91 562491
    • Web: www.aranislandsknitwear.com
  2. Wooden Heart
    • This little toy shop is on Quay Street.  This shop specializes in high quality wooden toys and unique gifts. If you need a gift for your friend’s toddler, this is a good place to stop in!
    • Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Sunday 11am to 5pm.
    • Address: 3 Quay Street, Galway City, Ireland
    • Tel: +353 (0)91 563542
    • Web: http://www.woodenheart.ie
  3. The Old Sea Dog
    • Lover of the ocean? This shop is perfect for you! They carry Irish seaweed products, maritime art, books and nautical decor. 
    • Opening hours: Monday to Friday 11am to 6pm. Saturday 9.30am to 6pm. Sunday 12 to 5pm.
    • Address: 11 Cross Street Upper, Galway, H91 VOH1
    • Tel: +353 (0)86 382 1791
    • Web: www.theoldseadog.ie
  4. Aunty Nellies Sweet Shop
    • Have a bit of a sweet tooth? You can find plenty of sweets here for gifts (or for yourself!)
    • Address: 10 High St, Galway, H91 PP97
    • Tel: (091) 564 894
    • Web: http://www.auntynellies.ie

There are SOOOO many more shops to explore, so get to Googling! I’m helping a bit here, but I am not doing all the work for you. 

End the evening in one of the many restaurants or pubs in the Latin Quarter.  With so many good options, you’ll have trouble deciding!

Day Three (Sunday)

Site 8: Salthill Promenade

Your last day in Galway should be all about relaxation and enjoyment. You had a busy day yesterday, so I’ll allow today to be a quiet day.  This is a very cas reminder, that I am a very kind and benevolent blog writer who wants to you to relax and enjoy yourself.

JK, I want you to actually see at least 20 more things! RELAXTION DAYS ARE FOR THE WEAK.

Gif of Spongebob working out. He is struggling to pick up a bar that has two stuffed animals on the end instead of actual weights.

However. It has come to my attention (by force), that “normal” people may not enjoy their holidays to be scheduled down to the second.

I know, I know. What a bunch of weirdos.

Anywayyyyyyyy, let’s head towards Salthill Promenade. The promenade runs along the coastline and offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. If you’re feeling brave, take a dip in the sea!  

Salthill Promenade water view in Galway, Ireland under colorful cloudy sunset sky.
The gorgeous sea view with rocky beach in Salthill Promenade Galway, Ireland under colorful cloudy sunset sky

Site 9: Grab Seafood

As you walk along the coast, you’ll come across many seafood restaurants where you can grab a bite.  If the weather’s nice, you could easily spend the whole day here.  With that, our 72 hours in Galway are up!

Bonus: Visiting Galway in November or December?

Christmas Market

Every year (and for just over a decade), Galway hosts a Christmas Market and I visited it the weekend it opened! It was our main reason for visiting Galway, and what a great little market.

I will say, I was having too much fun to remember to take a video (KDancks was not impressed as she wanted to see one too!), but there are lots of videos on YouTube showcasing the market:

NakedIreland’s video walking through the Galway Christmas Market

From the beautiful decorations to the delicious food and the great vendors (one of my favorites shops was MyGuysCo), there’s plenty for you to see and do at this market.

I bought these little penguins from the MyGuysCo shop.

LOOK AT THEM AND THEIR LITTLE FAT BODIES.

They were going to be a Christmas gift, but then I decided I deserved a Christmas gift and I love them.

Felt figurine created by MyGuysCo. The figurine has three penguins. The one on the left is wearing a green hat and is holding the letter "J". The one in the middle is holding the letter "O." The one on the right is holding the letter "Y" and wearing earmuffs. Together the penguins spell "Joy."

Galway also spends quite a bit of time decorating the streets with lights, so take some time for an evening stroll through the Latin Quarter to Eyre Square to enjoy the decorations.

Brown Thomas, a shop in Galway, Ireland, decorated with Christmas lights for the holidays.

Bonus Days 

Site 10: Aran Islands

Have a bonus day in Galway? Well, you lucky duck!  I recommend taking the ferry out to the Aran Islands. There are three islands:

  • Inis Mor
    • This is the island I did with my family in 2021 and is the biggest of the three Aran Islands.  One of the many highlights here is Dun Aonghasa, an Iron Age fort perched at the 100-meter-high cliff face.
This view is from Dun Aonghasa, an ancient fort on Inis More. The view overlooks the cliffs where the fort sits.
  • Inis Meain
  • Inis Oirr

As we visited Inishmore in 2021, I’m going to keep my recommendations to that Island. There are a few options for getting around:

  • Rent a bike
  • Join a mini bus tour
  • Book a Horse Carriage Tour
    • This is what we booked – as this was 2021, we were still concerned about covid as I had not been able to get a vaccine yet. We LOVED it.
      This offered us an outdoor experience, and we were able to book the tour just for ourselves (6 of us). We all enjoyed this option, but recommend bringing a few extra layers since you are not as protected from the elements as you would be in a minibus. 

Site 11: Cliffs of Moher

Oh, even more time on your hands? Well, aren’t you in for a treat! Why not hop on the bus to explore the Cliffs of Moher?

The cliffs span the length of about 5 miles with great views of the Wild Atlantic Way.  There’s a visitors’ center with some information about the Cliffs.


Want just a little sample of what you can learn in the visitors’ center?  Well, don’t mind if I do!  You can learn that the Cliffs were classified as a Refuge for Fauna in 1988 and quite a few different species of seabirds call it home.

View of the Cliffs of Moher

While this is not entirely relevant, I do feel the need to bring up the fact that I saw several cows there as well and loved every single second of it. 

KDanck and SDanck excited about the cows near the Cliffs of Moher

Site 12: Killary Harbour

Another day? My, my, we are just spoiling ourselves now aren’t we! We’ll head to a place on my bucket list, Killary Harbour.

Killary Harbor is Ireland’s only Glacial Fjord, and you can experience it on a boar tour.  Now, I did mention this earlier in the post (if you were paying attention), as you can see the harbor as part of one of the day tours to Connemara National Park.  However, those tours look to be pretty limited in how much of the Fjord you actually see.  

If you want to spend more than an hour there, you can either rent a car or take the bus. Bus 423 runs three times a day, runs on weekends as well, and stops in Leenaun, a small village near Killary Harbour.

Site 13: Lough Corrib

Alright, this is the last site you’re getting out of me. You have been spoiled and I feel like I have been writing this blogpost for at least 100 years. How much more do you want from me?? Why can’t you just Google things on your own??

gif of baby reading a book very quickly

This should be you. Yet, you are making this be me. Why are you like this?

Ugh, alright, let’s get on with this. The last place on my bucket list (and that I’m recommending to you, dear ungrateful reader) is Lough Corrib. Lough Corrib is the second largest freshwater lake in Ireland, and it contains over 300 islands.  You can take a sightseeing cruise from Galway City to Lough Corrib. 

Galway Logistics

Why do people love Galway?

In 2020, Galway was named a European Capital of Culture and for good reason.  Galway has a long-standing reputation as a cultural hub that attracts artists and creatives.  In many of the pubs, you can find live trad music sessions every night and buskers on the streets.  

What is the best month to visit Galway?

What a great question! It really depends on you and what you’re looking for.  

From June to August, Galway has long summer days where you can have sunrise as early as 5 AM and sunset around 10 PM.  The temperature varies, but the average July temperature is about 60° to 65°F (15° to 18°C)

There’s also plenty to do in Galway during the summer months with several festivals and more! The Galway Tourism board updates its calendar and they already have some events listed for summer 2024.

From September to October, the days will start to be shorter with sunrise closer to 7 AM and sunset around 8:30 PM. The temperature is a bit cooler (52°to 60°F or 11° to 16°C).  

I would recommend September as a good time to visit.  Galway still has some festivals and you’ll still have some nicer weather. Also, you’ll see less tourists which is a bonus. 

Come November and December, you can expect even shorter days with a bigger temperature drop.  

You can expect temperatures between 40° to 50°F (6° to 10°C) with a bit more rain.  The average number of rainy days in Galway is 294 days, so you should just expect rain regardless of when you go. 

Just because the sun is taking a bit of a holiday, doesn’t mean that Galway has nothing to do! 

 As already mentioned, Galway opens its Christmas market in November and runs the market until the beginning of January. I went this weekend, and had a great time. There’s also a number of cozy pubs where you can grab a pint and listen to live music while you hide away from the cold. 

How many days do I need in Galway?

Galway is a pretty small city.  If you’re looking to just explore the city, I think you’re fine with 2-3 days.  If you’re looking to explore a bit further away from the city, I would recommend adding on a few additional days. 

Housing and Lodging

Do you not have Google? Are you unaware you can look this up yourself?

GOOGLE IT. I can’t do all the work for you. 

One note, I will give you because I am GENEROUS and KIND, is to really check the reviews and be mindful of how close you are to some pubs.  If you’re a light sleeper, you may not enjoy staying in one of the hotels in the Latin Quarter.  Many of the pubs play live music until the wee hours of the morning, and you will hear it in your hotel room. 

That’s all you’re getting. Stop being lazy and Google this. 

Gif of John Oliver screaming 'Google It' three times.

Final Thoughts

Galway is a wonderful city and everyone can find something to enjoy there. When you get there, order a pint and we hope you enjoy the city!  Sláinte!

Have recommendations that I missed? Comment below!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is Galway, Ireland worth visiting?

Did you even read this blogpost? I feel like I gave you at least a dozen reasons for why you should go.  If this wasn’t enough for you, you need help.
Professional help. 

Which is better, Dublin or Galway?

This is a matter of opinion and what you want to do! Dublin is a much larger city compared to Galway and is easier to get to since the airport is only a short bus/taxi trip from the city center.
Dublin boasts more offerings in terms of museums, monuments and nightlife, but Galway does have a variety of places to visit as well. 

I would say there’s definitely a bit more variety of things to do in Dublin, but I did fall in love with Galway’s small-town charm while visiting.

I’ll dedicate another blogpost to Dublin vs Galway, but I would say if you only have a few days in Ireland (less than 5), focus on Dublin for your visit, so you can really immerse yourself in the city and see more than the Irish Rail.  If you’re in Ireland for a week or more, I would highly recommend spending 2-3 nights in Galway to explore the city itself.    

Should I go to Cork or Galway?

Let’s kick this off with you should take the time to visit both cities as they are both worth it. Both cities are very tourist friendly, with lots to do.  
As the cities are smaller than Dublin, you’re more likely to run into and have a chance to chat with locals when you visit the pubs (as the tourist/local spots aren’t as separate in these cities).  
I’ll dedicate another blogpost to Cork vs Galway, but if you only have a few short days to spare, I would recommend Galway.  Galway is a smaller city, easy to navigate and very walkable.  

Is Galway a walkable city?

Very much so! The ground is flat with cobblestone (like a lot European cities), but most of the main tourist attractions are within a 10-20 minute walk of each other. 

How do I get to Galway from Dublin?

By Train:

Taking the Train from Dublin to Galway is a nice comfortable way of getting there as it takes less than 2.5 hours and the station is right in the middle of the city.
We used the train to travel there for the Christmas market and it was a good experience! There aren’t as many trains going between Dublin and Galway, but there are enough options that you should be fine finding a train to fit your needs. 


You can catch the train to Galway from Heuston Station in Dublin to Galway (Ceannt) station.  The Station is less than a 10 minute walk to the Latin Quarter. 

By Car:

You can also rent a car at Dublin Airport and drive to Galway.  This will take about 2 hours and 15 minutes, but time can vary as you may encounter traffic on the way. 

This will be the most expensive option as renting a car in Ireland can be quite expensive as they have strict insurance laws here for car rentals. 


There are plenty of car parks in Galway so parking should be manageable. Map of carparks

By Bus:

Bus services will be the cheapest option and provide a lot more flexibility as there are 134 buses that travel from Dublin to Galway daily. Most of the bused for Galway do depart from Airport Bus Terminal and arrive at the Galway Coach Station. The bus station is about a 10 minute walk to the Latin Quarter.

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