Travel tips · Galway · Ireland
Galway travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Galway is known as the 'City of the Tribes' after its 14 medieval merchant families, and today as a young, creative university city with a strong Irish-language and traditional-music culture. Connemara, west of the city, is one of Ireland's main Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) regions, and you will see Irish on signs everywhere.
Key facts
- Language
- English and Irish
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- Type G sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency
- 112 or 999
Things to know
- In pubs, order at the bar and pay as you go; join the round if a group buys you a drink.
- During trad sessions, stay quiet while tunes are played and don't ask musicians for requests.
- Greet bus drivers and shop staff; a 'thanks' as you leave is customary.
- Avoid calling Ireland part of the UK; the Republic of Ireland is an independent country.
- On narrow rural roads, a lifted finger from the steering wheel is the usual greeting to other drivers.
- Galway's core pleasures — the Latin Quarter, the Spanish Arch, Salthill, the city museum and the trad sessions — cost nothing beyond a drink.
Tipping
About 10% is typical in restaurants with table service; some add a service charge for larger groups. Tipping is not expected at the bar.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dia dhuit | Hello (Irish) |
| Go raibh maith agat | Thank you (Irish) |
| Sláinte | Cheers / good health |
| Craic | Fun, chat or a good time |
| Fáilte | Welcome |
What to wear
Casual dress is normal everywhere. Pack a waterproof jacket, layers and shoes that handle rain, whatever the season.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type G sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 112 or 999
- Phone and internet
- Mobile coverage is good in the city and patchy in remote parts of Connemara and the Aran Islands; EU roaming applies to European SIMs.
- Time zone
- Europe/Dublin
Galway is relaxed for visitors; the main issues are late-night drunkenness around the Latin Quarter and Eyre Square at weekends and pickpocketing in crowded festival weeks. On the coast and cliffs, Atlantic waves and wind are strong, so keep well back from edges and swim only at lifeguarded beaches.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Ireland's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Galway?
About 10% is typical in restaurants with table service; some add a service charge for larger groups. Tipping is not expected at the bar.
+Can you drink the tap water in Galway?
Tap water is safe to drink.
+What plugs are used in Galway?
Type G sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Galway?
English and Irish.