Best Galway, Ireland Landmarks, Hotels, Things To Do, Transportation

Have you ever thought about where you would actually go, if you could go anywhere in the world, all expenses paid? I know I have on plenty of occasions. And I can tell you…I would have a very hard time deciding!

For as far back as I can remember, I have been daydreaming about beautiful destinations I’ve only glimpsed in photos. From a very young age, I knew I wanted to see as many countries in this world, as many states in the US, as many cities in the 50 states, as I could possibly see before I die. I am addicted to nature and beauty, in general. There is an abundance of natural beauty to be seen on this planet, no doubt.

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While I have been fortunate enough to visit a few breath taking areas of the globe in my lifetime, I still have some major priority destinations to check off of my bucket list. One of those destinations happens to be Ireland. I think my husband and I have officially agreed Ireland should be the next vacation we take.

Why Ireland?

Heritage, of course, is one reason we want to visit Ireland. Then, there are the numerous castles sprinkled throughout the island, amazing traditional Irish food, dancing, culture, history, and lush greenery wherever you look. So many things to look forward to, yet I really am clueless on where to even begin arranging such a vacation. We’ve been out of the country once before, but we had friends that lived there and showed us around.

In any event, I decided to do some digging. Because I’m a complete over thinker and we are aiming for an Ireland vacation in the sooner than later future, I figured it wise to start investigating now. Planning a vacation like this is going to take some time, patience, and research. It certainly is not a vacation I want to skimp on, when it comes to organization and detail.

So far, my husband and I have narrowed down the general area of Ireland that we want to see. Like many tourists, we started off thinking Dublin would be the obvious destination. We changed our mind and are now looking at the Western side of Ireland…Galway to be exact.

According to an acquaintance of mine (and resident), while Dublin is a fun and interesting area to visit, it is busy and pricy. He said Galway is very much like Dublin in terms of entertainment, festivals, pubs and restaurants. It’s just as fun but a nicer, more relaxed and enchanting destination. After doing a bit of research, we came to agree with our friend, and so… Galway it is. Here’s what I’ve uncovered so far…

Iconic Landmarks, Attractions, Castles, & Cliffs In Galway City

It turns out Galway is loaded with different things to do, for just about every interest group you can think of. It is a good mid point in The Wild Atlantic Way, ideal for exploring nature, history, and culture surrounding one of the most breath taking countries in the world.

If history is on your agenda, there is no lack of museums and landmarks to visit. In addition to the famous Spanish Arch and Galway City Museum, be sure to include a stop at The Browne Doorway and the Salmon Weir Bridge (and Galway Cathedral). Both sites are not only beautiful, but come along with interesting histories.

Architecturally speaking, any of the numerous churches, cathedrals, and castles throughout the area, will be a sight to take in. Each structure promises a captivating view and has it’s own little place in history. Among the most popular destinations in those categories, are the Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden, Saint Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Aughnanure Castle, and the Celtic Church Dun Aonghasa on the Aran Islands (The Land Of Walls, as I have nicknamed it).

(Click here for a more complete list of castles)

For the best of Ireland’s natural beauty, it’s a bit of a feat to narrow down the list. With it’s many cliffsides, beaches and picturesque landscapes, there are simply too many breath taking sites to count! The top natural landmarks to prioritize on the list are the Cliffs Of Moher, the Aran Islands, The Burren, and Aasleagh Falls. Check out some of the other fascinating natural wonders to explore, here.

Shopping and farmers markets are other activities popular with tourists and locals alike. There are several shopping centres in the Galway area, including the Galway Shopping Centre. There are also popular individual shopping streets to explore, High street being one of the most popular. For the best shopping experience, Eyre Square (aka John F. Kennedy Memorial Park) is most recommended. With over 70 shops and numerous cafes and eateries, the typical shopping trip becomes a fun afternoon event. Sounds good to me!

Interesting Fact: In 2007, Galway was named as one of the eight “sexiest cities” in the world.^[47] A 2008 poll ranked Galway as the 42nd best tourist destination in the world, or 14th in Europe and 2nd in Ireland (behind Dingle).

Exciting Daytrips & Destinations From Galway

If you’re able to squeeze a day trip somewhere in your plans, Dingle island, Achill Island, and Dublin are the top choices for many. All three are within a 2-3 hour drive of Galway. Dingle Island and the Dingle Peninsula is the way to go for a more in depth sense of Ireland’s natural beauty. The photos speak for themselves! When you’re done wondering at the beautiful views, the town of Dingle is suppose to be super charming, with a small town feel. I don’t know about you, but that’s right up my ally!

Local Festivals, Holidays, & Entertainment Events In Galway City

Apparently, Galway is known as the Festival Capital of Ireland, with an average of 120+ festivals and events scheduled throughout the year. From St. Patrick’s Day festivals, to event for the arts, holidays, horse racing, and oysters, there is a celebration for virtually anything you fancy! How much fun does that sound? A more in depth calendar of events and festivals can be found here…(2024 Calendar).

Discover The Best Food, Restaurants, Pubs, & Cafes In Galway

Galway isn’t well known just for it’s delicious authentic food, but also for it’s diversity in terms of food, preparation, and service. Along with traditional Irish food, Galway has an array of Seafood, Sushi, Asian, Italian, and tasty pub food establishments sprinkled throughout. From fine dining to quick cheap bites, there is something for every palette and every budget. Take a peek at the list here, of top restaurants to visit while in Galway.

Accommodations: The Best Places To Stay, Hotels, Cottages, and Airbnb’s

I discovered in my search, a plethora of different choices for accommodations in the Galway area. There are numerous hotels, guesthouses, and B & B’s to choose from, in various price ranges.

For a little more space, consider renting any of the personal homes (Air BnB’s) that are offered throughout the area. If you’re looking for a more luxurious stay, you can check into one of the elaborate and fascinating castles in the area. If you are more interested in saving on accommodations and don’t mind sharing a space, there are plenty of hostels available for rent.

Camping is yet another option, especially for those of us who enjoy being out in nature. In fact, I came across one really interesting option on Inis Mo’r, that I will be investigating further. It is called Aran islands Camping & Glamping. The glamping pods are a more convenient way of camping and all of the sites have a fantastic view of the ocean. Perfect for an overnight stay or even longer.

Transportation, & General Tips

Here are just some general tips and bits of information to keep in mind when planning a trip to Galway Ireland…

Transportation is but a small detail when compared to everything else. Why? Because it seems to be so easy to arrange. There are some parts of your exploration that are better on foot. If you want to take it up a notch and hire a bike, there is no lack of bicycle shops for bike rentals. Bicycling everywhere is quite the popular mode of transportation, it seems.

Fun Fact: The word “hire” actually means “rent”.

If you prefer to travel around by car, there are several car rental companies, taxi’s, and tour companies that will get you to where you want to go. Bus Éireann PSO (Public Service Obligation) is another convenient option for getting around the area.

For any of the island tourist destinations, ferry service and airplane service are available options and operate regularly. For daytrips to Dublin, be sure to check out the Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail. What better way to see a large swath of the country, than by train? If like me, you have always wanted to take a train ride…this seems the perfect opportunity!

Best months to visit are…

July – September are the most ideal months of the year to visit for weather. I swear as soon as I started researching the weather for Galway (and Ireland in general), I all of sudden began considering what it would be like living there. Apparently, there are no real drastic temperature changes through the year. The average coldest day of the year for Galway, is 42-43 degrees, and the hottest average is 61 degrees. I love that!

The only real weather issue you should expect and pack for, is regular rain. Those gorgeous green stretches of land do require water to grow, after all!

Click Here for a general packing list for a trip to Ireland.

Random Reminders…

Black pudding is highly recommended, apparently quite delicious and has health benefits for those with iron deficiency. I have often wondered about black pudding. It has always looked kind of strange and unappealing anytime I have ever seen it on tv. I guess this is one food I will have to try before giving my formal opinion on the matter.

Remember if you rent a car, you will be driving on the left side of the road. Not the right side.

The Republic Of Ireland uses euros and Northern Ireland uses pounds for currency. U.S. dollars are not accepted, so you will need to get local currency. For reference, 1 Euro is equal to $1.07 USD. One place to exchange currency in Galway, is at the Fexco in Eyre Square.

Wrapping It Up…

I think I have covered all of the most important details for arranging a memorable Irish holiday in Galway Ireland. While you won’t be able to necessarily see everything on your first trip, there is an abundance of breathtaking attractions and activities you can manage to fit in. Whether it’s a quiet getaway you are looking for, an epic family vacation, or just a city break to explore the nearby festival events and landmarks, just a little bit of planning promises to make your Galway vacation one of the most spectacular trips of your life. It is definitely one I look forward to 🙂

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