County Galway

Ireland
Galway City Museum showing interior views
Located on the western coast of Ireland, this popular oceanfront destination is known for its artistic culture, live music and sandy beaches.

Galway is one of Ireland’s great cultural and historic hubs. See a grand medieval townhouse. Admire touring exhibits in a modern museum. Stroll along a promenade and enjoy some of the bay’s surrounding natural sites.

Find Galway’s eight lively inner-city public parks surrounded by shopping streets. Relax in a pub or bar on Galway’s iconic central street. Take a short drive to impressive cliffs and other natural attractions.

Lynch’s Castle is an excellent example of an Irish Gothic-style townhouse. This building was once the residence of one of the most powerful families in Galway. Notice the exquisitely carved gargoyles and the Lynch coat of arms outside the building.

Find the Galway City Museum on the banks of the River Corrib. This modern museum features a collection of objects considered to have major cultural heritage. See touring exhibits of sacred and modern artworks.

Stroll along Quay Street and relax in a charming Irish pub. This central street of Galway is known for its bars, restaurants and shops. Spend an afternoon on Quay Street and enjoy some of Galway’s finest live music.

Discover the Salthill Promenade, located on the northern inner shore of Galway Bay. See the Clare Hills on a clear day. Notice the Aran Islands and Galway Islands on opposite sides of the bay. Walk along the long promenade and glimpse the old fishing village in this lively resort area.

See the imposing Cliffs of Moher, just a short drive from Galway. These cliffs stretch about 5 miles (8 kilometres) along the coast and reach over 700 feet (200 metres) high. Book a bus tour to the cliffs from Galway and see many other significant natural attractions, including The Burren and the Aran Islands.

Shannon Airport and Ireland West Airport Knock are the best way to get to Galway by air both are about 55 miles (90 kilometres) from Galway. A frequent train service runs from and to Dublin. The journey takes 2-2.5 hours.

With a wide range of natural attractions and a lively creative culture, Galway is the perfect place to visit year-round.

Popular cities in County Galway

Dunguaire Castle which includes a river or creek, heritage elements and heritage architecture
Galway
Known for Friendly people, Bars and Tours

Reasons to visit

  • Eyre Square
  • Quay Street
  • University of Galway
Clifden which includes landscape views, mountains and tranquil scenes
Clifden
Known for Historical, Castle and Scenery
Outdoor pursuits, culture and history aplenty: Connemara's largest town provides a full day or two of entertainment.
Recess
Recess
Known for Dining, Relaxing and Lakes
How romantic to head for a region so far off the beaten track, its name doesn’t always even show up on maps. That is just one of the exotic attractions of Connemara, the western stretch of County Galway beyond Lough Corrib, where the village of Recess nestles between mountains and lakes in the Republic of Ireland’s wildest coastal region, perfect for getting away from it all.