Sahara's Galway, Ireland Travel Guide
Hello there, Irish Travellers!
Here lies my insider list on the best things to do in Galway, and arguably the best things to do in Ireland, in general! This list is based on the places, restaurants, activities, and pubs I loved and enjoyed while living in Galway. I also received a couple of recommendations from friends who currently still live there, so if you ever need a guide, you know who to contact!
I hope you have the most amazing time while you’re there! Take some pics, but truly just enjoy being in the city, soaking up the natural beauty of the beach town, and interacting with fellow travelers and locals. Everyone in Galway is super friendly, and if you’re ever lost, you can just pop into a shop and ask for directions or recommendations. Trips to Ireland are always filled with the nicest people!
Sláinte! (this means ‘health’ in Gaelic, pronounced *slon-sha*. You’ll be using that when you hit the pubs for some Guinness, rather than saying ‘Cheers!’)
Sincerely,
Sahara
Things to Do in Galway City
** Quick Note: I don’t know if you’ll have a car while you’re in Ireland, but if you do it’ll be super helpful! If you do and you plan on spending a day in Galway, the street parking is kind of strange, so I always recommended people park in the parking garage that was next to my apartment. It’s the Hyne’s Parking Structure on Merchants Road. Or, you can park in the Eyre Square parking structure, but that’s usually more crowded & busy because it’s connected to the mall. If you don’t have a car or, just don’t want to drive your car around the city, download the app “My Taxi”, it’s Ireland’s version of Uber/Lyft.
Explore Shop Street & The Latin Quarter
While you’re here, you’ll hear a lot of mention of “Shop Street” or the “Latin Quarter.” These are just adjoined areas that make up the popular tourist district of Galway town center. This is an area where everything is at. And when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING!
This is where you’ve got your shopping, your dining, your party, your drinking, your fun! During the day, this is a bustling area filled with locals and tourists alike, all enjoying the camaraderie and joy that this little community thrives on. At night, this area transforms into a lively center of people who just want to enjoy life, have fun, and share a drink with old and new friends!
The Long Walk is one of the most iconic spots in Galway, and I had the pleasure of living on the street just behind those colorful houses.
Food Recommendations
All the food in Galway is ah-mazing! Few things taste better than Irish Beef, so whenever you get the chance to have it, TAKE IT! Galway is also a coastal city, so that means the seafood is on point! Another thing to mention is that Galway is a cultural hub for Ireland, which means you’ll get a lot of global food options; Indian, Turkish, Asian, Italian, Moroccan, etc.
Make sure to enjoy a delicious Guinness Pot Pie from Pie Maker!
The best fish and chips place in Galway! If you’re not in the mood for fish, just get the chips! But make sure to get them with vinegar! Trust me.
The best pot pies! I recommend the Guinness Pot Pie!
This one, not the one inside the shopping center. Their pancake breakfast is TDF!
Sounds strange, but Ireland is kind of big on Indian food, and this one is great, plus a couple of my friend’s from India work there so it’s pretty authentic!
If you want something healthy! I was a regular and my go-to order was the TexMex Burrito!
The most charming, eclectic and best cafe! I recommend Grandma’s Garden Tea!
Good food & the place is aesthetically cute!
The best ice cream ever! Seriously! If you get the chance to get the fudge ice cream sundae, I’d go for that. OR, if you want something lighter, I’d go for the raspberry gelato.
This is probably the most American restaurant here, but it’s a personal pizza place owned by 2 Irish brothers who grew up loving all of the 90s trends and hot topics of American culture, so the decor of the place is so retro! Beware, it’s a popular place, so there’s usually a line out the door!
Best Pubs (In Order)
These are all in the Galway city center area. Like in the Latin Quarter/on Shop Street, etc. Everything and all the pubs/clubs are within walking distance. It’s also good to note that the optimal time to go to pubs is between 10 pm-11 pm, and they stay open until about 2 am, for the Last Call. I recommend Pub Hopping! It’s the best thing to do.
The Front Door
A multi-level bar that’s so architecturally pleasing! It’s also my favorite spot to go for more current music.
The Quays
My first and last pub I went to in Galway! You’ll wanna go here to catch the best live music and the coolest, multi-colored dance floor.
Busker Brownes
This is the happening place for NUIG & others. It’s always poppin’.
King’s Head
A classic! Probably one of the most popular pubs here and they also have a great stage for live music.
Roisin Dubh
They usually have fun, themed nights and live bands! Moreso a club than a pub, depending on how early or late in the evening you go.
Monroe’s
A great time and they also play a more multi-cultural set of music. This place has a bit more of a club feel than a pub.
Honorable Mentions
Taaffe's Bar
The Skeff Bar
Murphy’s Bar (not to be confused with Murphy’s Ice Cream three doors down)
Favorite Sweater Shops
Come on, did you really go to Ireland if you didn’t come back with something made of wool??? Come on now...
Aran Sweater Market
Faller’s Sweater Shop
Designs of Ireland
Galway Woolen Market
Best Tourist Photo Spots
My roommates & I in front of the Spanish Arch.
Galway is just beautiful, and there are so many places that would make great Instagrammable spots! Let me share some of the best ones.
The Long Walk - watch out for the geese!
Eyre Square - a beautiful park and also our main shopping center!
The doors along Shop Street
Street-Art throughout the city
Best Places to Explore
National University of Ireland, Galway Quadrangle
Visit the Galway Cathedral
A staple of Galway and you get a great view of the River Corrib as you cross the bridge to get to the Cathedral. This Cathedral also happens to be right across the street from one of the entrances to the NUIG Campus.
Check out NUI Galway’s campus (My Uni!)
The most picturesque location here is The Quadrangle (it’s a building that looks like Hogwarts)
Galway City Museum
This is a free museum, nestled right next to the Spanish arch & the long walk.
Thrift Shopping!
This sounds funny, but there are soooo many thrift shops and they’re all so great to explore! They’re on every single street so just be on the lookout.
Things to Do in Salthill, Co. Galway
Salthill is the neighboring city of Galway. It’s a cute beach town and a lovely place to relax & watch the sunset!
My roommates and I at the Blackrock Diving Tower!
Blackrock Tower Diving Tower
This is a place where a lot of the locals go diving on days where there’s medium/high tide. It’s also the location of one of my favorite beaches in the city
Galway Aquarium
Just a cute aquarium to see some of the species of the Atlantic!
The Black Cat Restaurant
I personally never went here, but this place is supposed to be the top restaurant in Salthill!
Galway County Activities
** Quicknote: Not sure if you’ll be roaming around the Western part of the country, but if you do, here are some awesome/amazing/beautiful places I recommend!
Castles
Ashford Castle (JUST WOW)
Recommend going for high-tea, but book a couple of days in advance!
Kylemore Abbey -- the gardens here are amazing! And you get to drive through Connemara to get there, which is a beautiful drive on its own.
Nature
Connemara National Park → Just absolutely beautiful. So scenic & such a nice place to explore nature and see some super cute Irish sheep.
Cliffs of Moher → One word. ICONIC. If you go to the West Side of Ireland, you have to go here! It’s amazing. The view is incredible, but be wary of the winds & the edge while you’re there. It also gets busy here in the afternoons, so I recommend going earlier in the day.
Aran Islands → I didn’t get a chance to go here, but I heard from everyone I know loves them! There are ferry’s that will take you there from around Cliffs of Moher, so look into those trips beforehand, and it could be a good activity to pair with going to the Cliffs of Moher. There are also tours that will take you to both the Cliffs & Aran Islands...I’ll drop that info in the tours section below.
Cliffs of Moher
Helpful Information:
Official Tours
Just some cows hanging out at the Cliffs of (Moo)her
There are also tours you can book that are day-long/half day tours that leave from Merchants Rd in Galway city center, that are fun and take you to multiple places. These Ireland tours can take you to Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, Cliff of Moher, etc. I didn’t know much about Ireland tourism before I went, but planning a trip in Ireland, before getting to Ireland, or even while you’re in Ireland (like I did) will be a bit easier if you look into those helpful Ireland tour links…