Day 1
City on foot
Wander the Latin Quarter, see the Spanish Arch and cathedral, and eat fish and chips at McDonagh's. Spend the evening pub-hopping for live trad in the West End.
Galway is the only city on the 2,500 km Wild Atlantic Way, and it wears its wild, artistic heart on its sleeve. Narrow cobbled lanes of candy-coloured shopfronts curl toward the bay, and live trad music spills out of every second pub.
The city is small enough to walk in an afternoon yet packed with festivals, oyster bars and street art. It's also the perfect gateway to Connemara, the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands.
Itinerary
Day 2
Cliffs & Burren
Day trip south to the Cliffs of Moher and through the bare limestone of the Burren. Back in Galway for a dinner of oysters and a pint.
Day 3
Connemara or Aran
Choose Connemara's slate-grey lakes and Kylemore Abbey, or ferry to the Aran Islands for the stone fort of Dún Aonghasa. Both feel like the edge of the world.
Highlights
🏘️Neighbourhood
Latin Quarter & Quay Street
A tangle of cobbled lanes lined with candy-coloured shopfronts, buskers and traditional pubs at the city's core. Duck into a pub for the live trad sessions that kick off spontaneously most evenings.
🏛️Landmark
Spanish Arch & The Long Walk
A surviving stretch of 16th-century city wall on the banks of the Corrib, where locals gather on sunny days. Right beside it, The Long Walk lines the river mouth with its photogenic row of pastel houses.
🍽️Food
Galway Bay oysters
The flat Galway Native oyster is prized as Ireland's finest and only in season from September to April. Slurp them raw with a squeeze of lemon or a mignonette at an old oyster bar like Moran's or McSwiggans.
🏛️Landmark
Galway Cathedral
Completed only in 1965, its green copper dome makes it one of Europe's youngest stone cathedrals. Inside, look for the rose windows and a mosaic depicting a praying John F. Kennedy.
🌿Nature
Cliffs of Moher
About 90 minutes' drive south, Ireland's most famous cliffs plunge more than 200 metres straight into the Atlantic. Come early or late to dodge the tour buses, and walk the coastal path toward O'Brien's Tower.
🌿Nature
Connemara & Kylemore Abbey
West of the city, Connemara unfurls in fissured coastline, peat bogs and slate-grey lakes. On the shore of one sits fairytale Kylemore Abbey, built in 1867 and framed by a walled Victorian garden.
Neighbourhoods
Latin Quarter
The tourist heart around Quay Street and Shop Street, thick with pubs, boutiques and buskers. Busy, but undeniably the city's pulse.
West End
Across the Corrib, more local and laid-back, home to the best craft bars and independent restaurants. This is where you go to escape the crowds.
The Claddagh
A former fishing village on the river mouth that gave its name to the famous Claddagh ring. Quiet now, with wide views across the bay.
Salthill
The seaside resort strip with its long promenade. Tradition says to touch the wall at its end before turning back.
Where to eat
Native oysters
The flat Galway oyster, served raw from September to April. Moran's Oyster Cottage harvests them at the weir just outside the door.
Fish & chips
McDonagh's on Quay Street has been voted Ireland's best for generations. Cod or haddock, wrapped in paper.
Seafood chowder
A creamy fish soup with homemade soda bread. The King's Head serves it best beside an open fire with a pint in hand.
Fresh Atlantic seafood
Mussels, crab and smoked salmon, often landed right at the quay. Kirwan's Lane and Paddy Burke's are reliable tables.
Good to know
Best time to visit
June to September is warmest and liveliest, with the Galway International Arts Festival and Galway Races in July. April, May and October are shoulder seasons with quieter lanes and gentle bright spells. September also brings the world's oldest oyster festival.
Getting around
The centre is tiny and entirely walkable. For the Aran Islands take a ferry from the city dock or Rossaveal, while guided day tours cover the Cliffs of Moher and Connemara by coach. Rent a car if you want flexible day trips.
- Currency
- EUR €
- Languages
- English
How much does Galway cost?
A realistic daily budget per person, in three styles.
Backpacker€50per person / day
Mid-range€120per person / day
Comfort€250per person / day
Galway offers a range of options to suit various budgets.
Local tips
- ✓Trad sessions are spontaneous and free: just follow the music into a pub.
- ✓Native oysters are only served in months with an 'r' - so September to April.
- ✓Always pack a rain jacket, whatever the forecast says.
