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City in Connacht, Ireland
Photo: This is a collage of free images in Wikimedia Commons., CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) is the county town of County Galway on the west coast of Ireland. It's Ireland's fourth-largest city, with a population in 2024 of 85,000, but its historic centre on the east bank of the River Corrib is compact. Galway is a colourful party town with live music and revellers spilling onto its pedestrianised central street. It's also a base for exploring the scenic surrounding county.
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Three floors of galleries have seven long-term exhibitions on Galway's archaeology, history and links to the sea. Two halls have rotating exhibitions.
Galway Aquarium
Large aquarium majoring on local marine life, so you will see sharks, but they're Irish sharks and proud of it. Staff display the various beasties: care to cuddle a huge crab?
Called a museum but mostly a marketing exercise. The Claddagh Ring is a style of mani in fede finger ring: two hands join to clasp a heart. It's been a design for wedding or engagement rings since medieval times but became a Galway tradition from 1700, when the jewellers worked near an Claddagh, the city shore. It became popular from the late 20th century, and legends were embellished around it as ingeniously as its designs. This museum hews to the "Joyce" legend, after the man captured by Algerian corsairs and learning the design in captivity; he returned to Galway where of course his sweetheart had remained true... aah, bless. The heart is often surmounted by a crown, or isn't, depending on your allegiances in that matter.
This was the original quadrangle of the college that opened in 1849 and became one of the three colleges of Queens University of Ireland, the others being Belfast and Cork. Since 1997 it changed its name to National University of Ireland Galway, and again in 2022 to University of Galway. The Quad buildings are in mock Tudor Gothic modelled on Oxford's Christ Church, so their aspirations are clear. They're nowadays the admin offices of a huge modern campus stretching from the river and canal to Newcastle Road, then continuing west as University Hospital.
The Hall is the earliest medieval structure to be seen within the walls of the city. It was built by the de Burgo family in the 13th century and was the main municipal building, acting as town hall, court house and tax collection office. Only a fragment remains, protected behind glass, and it won't take a minute to see. The modern building adjoining is the base of Galway Civic Trust, and their guided walks through the city start here, see below.
Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and Saint Nicholas
Roman Catholic cathedral built 1958-1965 on the site of an old prison; it's an imposing limestone building in a mixture of retro-classical styles, which some detest. The dome, pillars and round arches are Renaissance, while a Romanesque portico dominates the main façade. The organ was re-conditioned in 2007, and recitals show off the acoustics. Regular mass, with one Sunday mass in Irish.
A collegiate church doesn't have a resident priest, but members of a seminary (here, a College of Vicars) take turns. St Nicholas is the largest medieval church still in everyday use in Ireland. It was founded in 1320 and enlarged over the following two centuries. It's dedicated to St Nicholas of Myra (circa 300 AD), the patron saint of seafarers who later became Santa Claus. There are large tombs of the Lynch family, and a plaque at the Lynch memorial window claims to be the spot where 15th-century mayor James hanged his own son Walter: for killing a Spanish visitor, so goes the tale, but what was that really all about? In 2002 St Nick's conducted the first blessing of a same-sex partnership in an Irish church, but the Bishop prohibited any such unbiblical goings-on in future. The church is Anglican Protestant (which it obviously wasn't when Christopher Columbus attended mass here), but has occasionally been used by RC, Romanian, Russian Orthodox and Mar Thoma Syrian congregations. When in Rome, as they say....
Corrib Princess is a 157-seat river boat that sails from Woodhead Quay, east bank of the river just above the weir, for 90-min cruises up the Corrib into the lough.
The THT features plays, music, dance, comedy and of course panto. They run three venues: the main auditorium has only 400 seats, so it's cosy and suits many performances but is a bit small for grand occasions. Studio Space also in the square has 52 seats. Black Box, 500 m north on Dyke Road, has 600 seats and is more suitable for a rock concert.
A small and independent but highly acclaimed theatre.
The national Irish language theatre. It has produced some of Ireland's most celebrated actors.
They host four events a year: Summer Festival is a week in late July and early Aug, then they have two days early Sept, a day early Oct and three days late Oct. These are jumps races, which include "chases", similar rules but without jumps.
Delicious fresh seafood, often caught the same day. Most consistent quality.
Great food and service.
Deli food hall downstairs does take away sandwiches, upstairs cafe serves good sit-down meals. Used to be family-owned; not the same since corporate Musgraves took ownership in 2022.
Longest established cheap-and-cheerful place: pizza and other Italian food.
Famous fish and chip shop, open since 1902. Takeaway or eat either at the communal cafe tables or in the restaurant.
Big restaurant on the two floors above the bar but rightly popular and gets crowded. Gastropub with traditional fare.
Delicious food and atmosphere, gets great reviews. Restaurant is a splurge and you'd better book, cafe brunch is less pricey.
Gets rave reviews for its seafood, vegans also catered for.
Mostly traditional Irish fare with a leavening of Med dishes.
Murphy's
Possibly the best ice cream you will ever eat in your life. Seriously, it's that good, albeit very expensive.
Lively bar with music and dancing, it's the food that reviewers seem most to enjoy.
Great authentic Irish experience. You can find trad music there almost any night and there's a friendly atmosphere. Food only to 5PM.
Bar with restaurant on three floors, often has live music.
Fine traditional pub, often much quieter than its neighbours midweek, indeed at first glance from the street it doesn't look like a pub. They pour a good Guinness but where Freeney's excels is in its collection of Irish whiskeys.
A local favourite: good grub, whiskey and atmosphere.
Four bars: the original Busker's and Slatehouse, while the large Hall and small Mezzanine bars are often booked for events. Also, Kirby's upstairs turns into a late bar after dinner. Live bands nightly from 10:30AM. Decent bar food.
Lively pub, the interior is done up like a church. Also calls itself a "gastropub" (which frankly it's not, you won't starve but few visitors rate the food) and a "music hall" which is on the mark, there's always live folk and other styles of music.
Has traditional music every night and set dancing on Tuesdays.
Pub with two stages, mostly alternative and rock gigs and comedy.
Great pub, music nightly: trad downstairs or various styles upstairs, where you need to grab your seat not much after 9PM. Some outdoor seating, but you are moved inside around 11PM. Cash or card accepted.
The last thatched pub in Galway city, dating back to the 1600s. (Within the county are Powers at Oughterad, and Morans at Kilcolgan). Has trad music on Wednesday and Sunday nights.
Small simple place with simple coffee. Often touted as "the friendliest coffee shop in Ireland", but that's subjective of course. You get a discount if you order as Gaeilge (in Irish).
Cozy little hidden gem with beanbags and free board games. Offers a huge selection of specialty tea from around the world.
Chic and stylish, if a little pretentious. Offers fancy coffee and a decent selection of food.
Comfy and modern central hostel.
Very central hostel, clean and great vibe. A bit cramped for storage. Also does tours of Aran Islands, Connemara and cliffs of Moher.
Affordable, clean and central hostel.
Small, friendly independent hostel.
Six rooms all en suite. No children.
Small B&B open Apr-Oct, has private parking.
Family-run B&B next to Galway Golf Club and Salthill Promenade. All rooms are en suite, great welcome and service.
Pleasant B&B by lough 500 m from station. Rooms small but clean and comfy.
Clean B&B with friendly helpful hosts.
Clean friendly B&B with private car park. En suite rooms have TV, wifi, hairdryer, ironing, tea and coffee making facilities. Ground floor accommodation available.
Good mid-range chain, great service.
Hotel with 54 rooms in quiet area 2 km from centre, friendly staff and lovely rooms.
Reliable chain hotel, great service, 1.5 km from centre.
Basic small hotel, usually clean.
Good modern hotel overlooking the lough, short walk to city centre.
Modern hotel 1.5 km north of centre. Free parking and easy access from M6 and M17.
Good modern hotel 2 km east of centre. Onsite dining, coffee shop and meeting rooms. Free parking may be available.
Hotel in Latin Quarter with 20 bedrooms. Good ratings for comfort and service, but there's often loud music downstairs late at night.
Very central, comfy hotel. It doesn't have parking, but is next to the bus and railway station.
Stylish boutique hotel with restaurant. Very central, occasional street noise.
Victorian hotel, the modern rooms are good, but the older rooms are a bit, well, old. Service standards variable.
Comfy central hotel, great service, some noise from the square.
Grand old place, clean and friendly. Very central, ask for a back room if you're bothered about street noise. Parking may be available.
Central efficient hotel.
Posh hotel 1 km from centre with spa. Great comfort and service.
Great service, rooms dated but comfy. Has a spa and leisure centre.
Good spacious hotel with leisure centre and pool.
Authentic traditional market selling food and various handmade goods. The boerie rolls are incredible!
It's the big mall next to the railway and bus stations. It has a massive chunk of the city wall inside, and a cafe where you can eat a panini while looking at said wall.
The original shop. Great place to get wine, pates, bread, and of course cheese.
Very popular independent bakery. Make sure to come early before it's sold out.
Independent vintage clothing shop, the staff are very chatty. By far the gayest place in town.
The place to go if you've ever wanted a life-sized wooden sheep in your house. Ridiculously expensive, honestly just come to marvel at the sheep displayed outside. Baa.
By train
By bus
Galway railway and bus station are side by side in Eyre Square. The railway ticket office is open M–F 6AM–1:45PM and there are ticket machines and toilets.
By road
As a young merchant Christopher Columbus travelled in Europe before his transatlantic journey, and in 1476 he landed in Bristol then Galway.
By boat
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