Free things to do · Galway · Ireland
12 free things to do in Galway
Galway without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
You can fill at least 4 days in Galway without paying an entry fee: Latin Quarter and Shop Street, Spanish Arch, Galway City Museum and Galway Cathedral are all free. Galway's core pleasures — the Latin Quarter, the Spanish Arch, Salthill, the city museum and the trad sessions — cost nothing beyond a drink.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 12
- Low-cost extras
- 1
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February
Free sights and experiences
Street · Latin Quarter
1.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.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Shopping
- Food
Historic site · Latin Quarter
2.Spanish Arch
Buy fish and chips on Quay Street and eat them on the river wall here at sunset.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
Museum · Latin Quarter
3.Galway City Museum
Head to the top floor for the view over the Spanish Arch and Galway Bay.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Religious site · Woodquay
4.Galway Cathedral
Visit outside service times and look for the mosaic that includes President John F. Kennedy.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
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Religious site · Latin Quarter
5.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.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Market · Latin Quarter
6.Galway Market
Arrive before noon on Saturday for the full set of stalls and shorter queues at the food stands.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
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Waterfront · Salthill
7.Salthill Promenade
Walk out from the Claddagh along the shore in the late afternoon and finish with a drink in Salthill.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
Waterfront · Claddagh
8.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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Couples
- Photo spot
Architecture · Latin Quarter
9.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.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Historic site · Latin Quarter
10.Hall of the Red Earl
Look in on your way between the Spanish Arch and Quay Street; it is easy to walk past.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
Waterfront · Woodquay
11.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.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Architecture · Newcastle
12.University of Galway Quadrangle
Combine it with the cathedral, which is a five-minute walk across the Salmon Weir Bridge.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Latin Quarter | Latin Quarter and Shop Street, Spanish Arch, Galway City Museum, St Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Galway Market, Lynch's Castle and Hall of the Red Earl | 2 hours + 30 minutes + 1–1.5 hours + 30 minutes + 1 hour + 20 minutes + 20 minutes |
| Woodquay | Galway Cathedral and Salmon Weir Bridge and the River Corrib | 45 minutes + 30–60 minutes |
| Salthill | Salthill Promenade | 1–2 hours |
| Claddagh | The Claddagh and Nimmo's Pier | 1 hour |
| Newcastle | University of Galway Quadrangle | 30 minutes |
Worth a small ticket
Experience · Latin Quarter
Traditional music sessions
Sessions are not performances; sit nearby, keep conversation low during tunes and buy a drink rather than standing around.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- After dark
- Couples
- Rainy day
More ways to save
- Galway's core pleasures — the Latin Quarter, the Spanish Arch, Salthill, the city museum and the trad sessions — cost nothing beyond a drink.
- Book accommodation months ahead for July and Race Week, when prices rise steeply.
- Pub lunches and early-bird dinner menus are much cheaper than evening à la carte.
- Combined coach-and-ferry tickets to the Aran Islands are often cheaper than buying each leg separately.
- A day tour to the Cliffs of Moher or Connemara usually costs less than hiring a car for one or two people.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Galway expensive to visit?
Galway is moderately priced for most visitors, but 12 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Galway?
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.