Photo: Sarah777 · Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Galway
Music pubs, buskers and the sea, with the wild west of Ireland on the doorstep.
A small, lively harbour city on Ireland's west coast: painted pubs and buskers in the Latin Quarter, the Spanish Arch where the river meets the bay, and a long seafront promenade. Almost everything in town is free. The Cliffs of Moher, the Aran Islands and Connemara are each a day trip by bus, ferry or tour (check).
Places to see
Shop Street and the Latin QuarterWalk · A pedestrian lane of brightly painted pubs and shops running down to the river, with…Free- The Spanish ArchSight · A pair of old stone arches in a stretch of the city wall where the fast River Corrib…Free
Salthill PromenadeWalk · A seafront path of about 2 km along Galway Bay, with views across to the hills of Clare,…Free
Galway Cathedral
When to go
- Jan9° / 4°Often wetQuiet
- Feb9° / 4°Often wetQuiet
- Mar11° / 5°Often wetQuiet
- Apr13° / 6°Some rainBusy
- May15° / 8°Some rainBusy
- Jun17° / 11°Some rainBusy
- Jul19° / 12°Some rainVery busy
- Aug19° / 12°Some rainVery busy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
Eyre Square and the station. The square, the bus and train stations and the main shopping streets. Handy, with several hostels a few minutes' walk from everything.
The Latin Quarter. The old walled town between Shop Street and the river: pubs, music, buskers and the Spanish Arch. A few hostels, lively and loud late at night.
Flying in
Shannon (SNN): Bus to Galway, about 1 h 30 min, ≈ A$32. Buses run every hour or two; fewer in the evening (check).
Dublin Airport (DUB): Coach straight to Galway, about 2 h 30 min, ≈ A$39. Several coaches a day go direct from the airport; usually cheaper booked online (check).
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Galway; check times and fares before you fly.
By ferry
Galway is reached by ferry from Holyhead. From Britain: train to Holyhead, ferry to Dublin (about 3–3.5 h at sea), then a train from Heuston or a coach, about 2.5 h. Most visitors fly into Dublin or Shannon (check)
Getting around
You can walk everywhere. A single ticket is ≈ A$4. The centre is small and flat; Salthill is a 30–40 minute walk along the seafront. The Cliffs of Moher and Connemara are a day by bus or tour; Aran Islands boats leave from Rossaveal, a bus ride west (check).
