Located in the far west of beautiful Ireland, Galway is a small city with a lot to say. Here you can lose yourself in its unique old town inhabited by street artists. Stroll along the River Corrib and the various canals that criss-cross the city. Or let yourself be carried away by the rhythm of the many pubs that can be found here. If you want to find out more, read on as we tell you what things to do in Galway Ireland.
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What things to see in Galway
Eyre Square, a place you can’t miss in Galway
If there’s one place you must visit during your stay, it’s Eyre Square. It’s where much of life in the city takes place and is one of the must-see things to do in Galway.
Eyre Square is a place that invites locals and tourists alike to linger in the streets. Open-air musical performances are a common sight in this square.
Eyre Square is also a great meeting point from which to get to all of Galway’s must-see sights, such as William Street, home to the Oscar Wilde and Eduard Vile sculptures, as well as being one of the liveliest streets for the street performers who frequent it.
Lynch’s castle
A few metres from Eyre Square, you’ll find the ruins of Lynch Castle, a monument with a peculiar history and another stop on your route of things to see in Galway.
This former Lynch family estate, of which only the facade now remains, is located just off William Street. It is the site of a 15th-century feud, which struck the family of the then Lord Mayor of the city.
Legend says that the mayor found himself at a crossroads, for his son murdered a Spanish prisoner. And it was his duty as mayor to execute him. Under the window of the remaining intact façade of the castle, there is an engraved skull and a plaque explaining what happened.
This is undoubtedly one of the unique places that demonstrates the essence and years of history that Galway city has, so we recommend that you visit it on your route through the city centre.
The Latin Quarter: A Picturesque Neighbourhood to See in Galway
Near the Spanish Arch is another must-see on your list of things to see in Galway: the Latin Quarter
This is one of the liveliest areas of the city, with colourful alleyways, music in every corner and a wealth of bars, cafes and pubs. The best-known street in this bohemian neighbourhood is Quay Street, although the area itself is well worth a visit, and you’ll be sure to get carried away by the rhythm of its streets.
At night, this is one of the most lively areas of the city, so if you want to enjoy Galway’s nightlife, you’ll want to visit during the day and after dark.
The Spanish Arch, an arch with a lot of history
Galway has been of great importance as a port city for centuries, as many trading operations were carried out in its harbours.
Near the mouth of the Corrib River is an arch that was erected in 1584, intended at the time as an extension of the city wall that protected the city, of which little more than the arch now remains.
Spanish merchants often moored their ships in Galway waters and this area of the wall served to protect the ships, and this arch was also very close to the fish market.
It is believed that the name is due to a history of good trade relations between the Spanish merchants and the people of the city.
Galway Cathedral
Dedicated to St Nicholas, this cathedral was built in 1958, but its short history makes it no less noteworthy and it’s one of the must-see stops on your route of things to see in Galway.
It’s Renaissance style, beautiful ornamentation and dome make this cathedral well worth a visit.
A small historical detail: this cathedral was built on the site of the former city jail.
Church of St. Nicholas
In one of the nooks and crannies of Galway and after leaving the Latin Quarter behind, we find St Nicholas’ Church.
The church dates from 1320 and is in excellent condition. It is even said that the well-known explorer Christopher Columbus prayed in this church, before embarking on one of his expeditions on the high seas.
In its interior are the tombs of the Lynch family. There’s also a Saturday street market with a variety of local produce in the church street, so it’s worth adding to your list of things to do in Galway.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to see in and around Galway
Canyls of Moher
Nature in Ireland seems to have gone to great lengths to create works of art, and these cliffs are proof of it
If you fancy getting away from the city, these cliffs are a must on your list of things to see in and around Galway.
This famous landmark stands on the Atlantic coast and will take you around two hours to explore, which is the same amount of time it will take you to get there from Galway by public transport. Alternatively, you can make the journey on your own, but be aware that you’ll need to arrive early as the car park tends to fill up easily.
Kylemore Abbey
If you want to continue to be amazed by the way the architecture blends with the stunning natural surroundings, Kylemore Abbey won’t disappoint.
This majestic abbey sits on the shores of a lake, which reflects the slender figure of the building and makes for a beautiful sight (as long as the area isn’t shrouded in the mist that often hangs around the place)
We recommend that you make this journey by hiring a tour or on your own with private transport, as accessing this location by public transport is difficult due to the infrequency of buses.
What things to do in Galway in 2 days
Galway offers many possibilities, but we think that for a first visit you can see a lot in two days. We’ve put together an itinerary to make it easier for you to organise your stay.
First day in Galway
- Eyre Square
- Lynch Castle
- St. Nicholas Church
- The Spanish Arch
Second day in Galway
- Galway Cathedral
- The Latin Quarter
Where to stay in Galway
Despite being a small city, Galway city offers many accommodation options at a range of prices.
We’ve compiled a short list of some of our recommendations:
- St. Bridget’s Serviced Apartments: These flats are an excellent choice, both for their location in the heart of the city centre, as well as for the more intimate experience. In this case, the price is around €90 per person in May.
- Sleepzone Hostel Galway City: This hostel is a more affordable option where you can have your own room, enjoy the international atmosphere of the different universities in the city and sleep in a bunk bed in a shared room. Prices are around €40 per person per night.
- Balcony House: This house on the shores of Lake Atalia is located just a few minutes from the centre and is charming accommodation. Family-run, Balcony House will make you feel right at home. The price is around €64 per night per person in a double room
Where to eat in Galway
Whether you want to enjoy typical Irish food, try all kinds of beers or try different things, we have prepared some options to make it easier for you to find where to eat in Galway:
- McDonagh’s: A Galway classic. Ideal if you want to try the famous fish&chips or sample fastfood style food, unpretentious but very good value for money. The price ranges from 10 to 25€ per head, depending on what you eat.
- The King’s Head: If you want to enjoy the essence of an authentic Irish pub, The King’s Head is a very good option. You can have a beer while enjoying the local food and the typical atmosphere of these pubs. The price is around €30 per head.
- The Dough Bros: While you wouldn’t normally think of eating a pizza when visiting Galway, The Dough Bros deserves a special mention. If you want to get away from the local food and enjoy a good pizza, this famous restaurant is a great option. You can also order takeaway and prices are between 7 and 11€.
Galway Directions
The best way to get to Galway is to fly from any of the major cities in Spain to Dublin. Unfortunately, it is not possible to take a direct flight to Galway.
Once we arrive in Dublin, we have several options for getting to our destination:
- By train: This is a great option, as the journey time is two and a half hours and costs around €17. Timetables can be found on the Irish Rails website.
- By bus: The journey time is similar to the train and costs around €13. There are several companies offering this route.
- By car: It’s always a good option if you want to explore the country at your own pace. There are a number of companies offering services from Dublin. Remember that they drive on the left-hand side of the road.
Tips about a trip to Galway
- The currency in Galway is the Euro.
- Be prepared for medical emergencies: travel with insurance.
- The best time to visit the city is in summer, when the weather is at its most pleasant.
- The tap water is safe to drink, although as always we recommend drinking bottled water.
- It can get cold in the evenings and mornings in summer, so take some warm clothes.
- The city is safe, but as with any tourist destination, it’s best to be careful with your belongings.
- Wear rain gear and closed-toe shoes. Even though it’s summer, it rains.
How to organise what to see in Galway
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all the possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the stops that interest you most, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates according to your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Galway Ireland.
If you have any doubts about how to do this, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary on Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Galway
The easiest way is to fly to Dublin and from there take a train, bus or private transport.
We would say that the best months to travel are July to September as the weather is warmer and there is less rainfall. The downside is that there are more tourists at this time. If you don’t mind the cold and rain, travelling in winter has its charm too.
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