Where to stay · Galway · Ireland
Where to stay in Galway
6 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Latin Quarter. Pedestrian Shop Street and Quay Street, buskers and traditional pubs. Best alternatives — families: Claddagh; budget: Eyre Square.
Key facts
- First visit
- Latin Quarter
- Families
- Claddagh
- Budget
- Eyre Square
- Nightlife
- Latin Quarter
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Latin Quarter | Pedestrian Shop Street and Quay Street, buskers and traditional pubs |
| Families | Claddagh | Old fishing village, swans and views across the river to the Spanish Arch |
| Couples | Latin Quarter | Pedestrian Shop Street and Quay Street, buskers and traditional pubs |
| Budget | Eyre Square | The city's main square, bus and rail stations and large hotels |
| Nightlife | Latin Quarter | Pedestrian Shop Street and Quay Street, buskers and traditional pubs |
| Food lovers | West End | Dominick Street bars, cafés and gig venues across the Corrib |
| Solo travellers | Latin Quarter | Pedestrian Shop Street and Quay Street, buskers and traditional pubs |
| Shopping | Eyre Square | The city's main square, bus and rail stations and large hotels |
| Quiet stays | Claddagh | Old fishing village, swans and views across the river to the Spanish Arch |
| Beach | Salthill | Seaside promenade, family hotels and the Blackrock diving tower |
Galway neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, couples and solo travellers
Latin Quarter
The medieval core between Eyre Square and the Spanish Arch holds Shop Street, High Street, Quay Street and Cross Street, with Lynch's Castle, St Nicholas' Collegiate Church and the city's best-known music pubs. Staying here puts every city sight within a few minutes' walk, though rooms are limited and lively at night.
- Good
- Everything within walking distance; Music and pubs on the doorstep; Characterful streets
- Watch out
- Noisy late at night, especially in summer; Few large hotels and high festival prices
- Nearby
- Spanish Arch, St Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Galway City Museum, Lynch's Castle
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget and shopping
Eyre Square
Eyre Square, officially Kennedy Park, is the transport hub of Galway, beside Ceannt Station for trains and the coach station for Dublin, Shannon and Connemara routes. Large hotels and shopping centres surround it, and the Latin Quarter begins at the square's south-west corner.
- Good
- Next to trains and coaches; Wide choice of hotels and hostels; Short walk to the Latin Quarter
- Watch out
- Busy, commercial streets; Square can be rowdy late at night
- Nearby
- Eyre Square, Ceannt Station, Shop Street, Eyre Square Centre
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, budget and solo travellers
West End
Across the Wolfe Tone and O'Brien's bridges, the West End around Dominick Street and Mary Street has a younger, more local feel, with the Crane Bar's upstairs trad sessions, small music venues, bakeries and international restaurants. It is a five-minute walk from Quay Street and on the way to the Claddagh and Salthill.
- Good
- More local atmosphere; Good-value food and bars; Close to the centre
- Watch out
- Few hotels, mainly rentals and guesthouses; Late-night noise
- Nearby
- Crane Bar, Claddagh, Spanish Arch
$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and families
Claddagh
Just across the river from the Spanish Arch, the Claddagh was Galway's Irish-speaking fishing village and gave its name to the Claddagh ring. Today it is a quiet residential area with a grassy quay, the swans of the Claddagh basin and Nimmo's Pier, a short walk from both the centre and Salthill.
- Good
- Calm but central; Water views; Easy walk to Salthill
- Watch out
- Mostly rentals rather than hotels; Exposed to wind off the bay
- Nearby
- Spanish Arch, Nimmo's Pier, South Park, Salthill Promenade
$$ · Best for families, beach and quiet stays
Salthill
Salthill is Galway's seaside suburb, about 2 km west of the centre, with a long promenade along Galway Bay, small beaches, the Atlantaquarium, playgrounds and amusement arcades. Seafront hotels and guesthouses face the Burren hills across the bay, and a bus or a 30-minute walk reaches the Latin Quarter.
- Good
- Sea views and promenade walks; Good for children; Easier parking
- Watch out
- A walk or bus ride from the pubs; Quiet outside summer
- Nearby
- Salthill Promenade, Galway Atlantaquarium, Blackrock Diving Tower
$$ · Best for quiet stays, culture and couples
Woodquay
North of the Latin Quarter along the River Corrib, Woodquay has a mix of guesthouses, cafés and traditional pubs around Woodquay and St Francis Street. Galway Cathedral, the Salmon Weir Bridge and the University of Galway campus are within a few minutes' walk.
- Good
- Quieter than the Latin Quarter; Riverside walks; Close to the centre
- Watch out
- Fewer restaurants; Limited hotel choice
- Nearby
- Galway Cathedral, Salmon Weir Bridge, University of Galway
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Latin Quarter | $$$ | Spanish Arch, St Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Galway City Museum, Lynch's Castle |
| Eyre Square | $$ | Eyre Square, Ceannt Station, Shop Street, Eyre Square Centre |
| West End | $$ | Crane Bar, Claddagh, Spanish Arch |
| Claddagh | $$ | Spanish Arch, Nimmo's Pier, South Park, Salthill Promenade |
| Salthill | $$ | Salthill Promenade, Galway Atlantaquarium, Blackrock Diving Tower |
| Woodquay | $$ | Galway Cathedral, Salmon Weir Bridge, University of Galway |
Getting to your hotel
Galway has no scheduled airport. Shannon Airport is about 90 km south, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes by coach or car; Dublin Airport is about 210 km east, with direct coaches taking about 2 hours 30 minutes; Ireland West Airport Knock is about 85 km north.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Galway for first-time visitors?
Latin Quarter. The medieval core between Eyre Square and the Spanish Arch holds Shop Street, High Street, Quay Street and Cross Street, with Lynch's Castle, St Nicholas' Collegiate Church and the city's best-known music pubs.
+Where should families stay in Galway?
Claddagh: Calm but central.
+Which area of Galway is best for a budget stay?
Eyre Square ($$): The city's main square, bus and rail stations and large hotels.