5 days in Galway

Day by day

1. Day 1: Latin Quarter and Shop Street and Spanish Arch

   Latin Quarter and Shop Street, Spanish Arch and Galway City Museum, then Traditional music sessions in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Latin Quarter and Shop Street

      Walk it twice: once in the morning to see the buildings, and again in the evening when buskers and pubs come alive. (2 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Spanish Arch

      Buy fish and chips on Quay Street and eat them on the river wall here at sunset. (30 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Galway Bay oysters

      Seafood bars and pubs in the Latin Quarter and around Clarinbridge and Kilcolgan on the bay south of the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Galway City Museum

      Head to the top floor for the view over the Spanish Arch and Galway Bay. (1–1.5 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Traditional music sessions

      Sessions are not performances; sit nearby, keep conversation low during tunes and buy a drink rather than standing around.

2. Day 2: Galway Cathedral and Salmon Weir Bridge and the River Corrib

   Galway Cathedral, Salmon Weir Bridge and the River Corrib and St Nicholas' Collegiate Church, then Latin Quarter in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Galway Cathedral

      Visit outside service times and look for the mosaic that includes President John F. Kennedy. (45 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      Salmon Weir Bridge and the River Corrib

      Follow the riverside paths along the canals and the Corrib towards the university for a quiet walk away from the crowds. (30–60 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Seafood chowder

      Most pubs and seafood restaurants on Quay Street, Dominick Street and in Salthill.

   4. Afternoon

      St Nicholas' Collegiate Church

      Visit on a Saturday morning and combine it with the Galway Market, which sets up on the lanes around the church. (30 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Latin Quarter

      Quay Street, Cross Street and High Street hold the city's best-known pubs, including Tigh Neachtain, the Quays and Tig Cóilí, with music most nights.

3. Day 3: Galway Market and Lynch's Castle

   Galway Market, Lynch's Castle and Hall of the Red Earl, then West End in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Galway Market

      Arrive before noon on Saturday for the full set of stalls and shorter queues at the food stands. (1 hour, free).

   2. Late morning

      Lynch's Castle

      Walk round the corner to Market Street to see the Lynch Memorial Window and its legend of a mayor who hanged his own son. (20 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fish and chips

      Chippers on Quay Street and in the Latin Quarter; eat them by the Spanish Arch.

   4. Afternoon

      Hall of the Red Earl

      Look in on your way between the Spanish Arch and Quay Street; it is easy to walk past. (20 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      West End

      Dominick Street and around have the Crane Bar's upstairs sessions, small gig venues and a younger crowd.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Cliffs of Moher and the Burren

   About 1 hour 30 minutes by car or tour coach each way. Getting there: Day tour coach or car via the Burren.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Cliffs of Moher and the Burren

      About 1 hour 30 minutes by car or tour coach (Day tour coach or car via the Burren); about 75 km.

   2. Day

      Cliffs of Moher and the Burren

      The Cliffs of Moher rise about 214 metres above the Atlantic along about 14 km of County Clare coast. Best for first-timers, couples and families.

   3. Evening

      Back in Galway

      Dinner: try Irish brown bread.

5. Day 5: Salthill Promenade and Galway Atlantaquarium

   Salthill Promenade, Galway Atlantaquarium and The Claddagh and Nimmo's Pier, then Eyre Square area in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Salthill Promenade

      Walk out from the Claddagh along the shore in the late afternoon and finish with a drink in Salthill. (1–2 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Galway Atlantaquarium

      Combine it with the playground and promenade nearby for a full rainy-morning plan with kids. (1.5 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Irish brown bread

      Served free with soup in most pubs; bakeries and the Saturday market sell loaves.

   4. Afternoon

      The Claddagh and Nimmo's Pier

      For the ring's history, visit the small museum in Thomas Dillon's shop on Quay Street, which claims to be the oldest Claddagh ring maker. (1 hour, free).

   5. Evening

      Eyre Square area

      Larger bars and late venues around Eyre Square and Forster Street, busy at weekends.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Latin Quarter keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Eyre Square ($$) suits first-timers, budget and shopping. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 12–15 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 7.5 hours in December to 17 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Galway
• 2 days in Galway
• 3 days in Galway

Questions travellers ask