Vistas of the sea, live music, friendly pubs, a student vibe – all define the appeal of charming Galway, Ireland’s second largest city with a small-town feel. If Ed Sheeran’s “Galway Girl,” an ode to a party girl who plays fiddle, has brought you to southern Ireland, so much the better. Join the locals in some suggested activities and, as the Irish say, the road will rise to meet you.
Drink and Dine at the Elevated Buddha Bar
Whether it’s the 6-foot-long carved mermaid unicorn hanging from the ceiling or the many smiling Buddha’s over the bar, this is a pleasing-to-all-nationalities type place to hang out. Open later than many of Galway’s other kitchens, it serves innovative Asian fare till about 10pm with cocktails and draughts much later.
Have Breakfast at Deely’s
You can’t go wrong with Ms. Deely’s full Irish breakfast but even her sublime steel cut Oatmeal porridge fuels you for a day of Galway activities. If you’re an açaí bowl type, Irish breakfast means eggs, hash browns, sausage, Irish bacon, blood sausage and brown bread with marmalade. Deely’s serves all-day breakfast and lunch, plus a variety of teas and coffees, fresh scones and a few pastries.
Participate in a Reading at Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop
April means the annual Literary Festival in Galway, when eight-foot-tall pencils outside pubs signify they are hosting events during the weeklong celebration of letters. In our case, that meant attending a poetry reading at the famous Charlie Byrne’s, one of Ireland’s finest bookshops. Similar in scope and staff knowledge to New York’s Strand or San Francisco’s City Lights, this bookstore is an activity on its own. As a bonus, there are regular free readings where the public can enjoy a complimentary sip, snack and the work of emerging James Joyces.
Walk Under the Spanish Arch and into the Galway Museum
No one pays heed to the stone Spanish Arch of 1584. The historic Galway attraction rises on the harbor where the river meets the sea, an extension of the original Norman-era walls that protected the docks for Spanish galleons. Instead, look for the buskers and artisans who share their wares nearby. The Galway City Museum next door has displays of the region’s founding documents, artifacts from nautical history, and more. It’s free to take a look.
Make the Long Walk Your Own Instagram
The Long Walk is a rather short stroll past colorful houses along the banks of the River Corrib. Swans, fishing boats, and pastel side-by-side facades make it one of the city’s most photographed locations.
Locals say McDonaghs has the Best Fish n’ Chips in Town
Don’t argue with the locals, not when it comes to the Irish activity called fish n’ chips. Try it here made from salmon, halibut, monkfish, hake, cod and other fresh catch –- served with fat, crispy fries. Like Galway’s other eateries, McDonaghs contracts with local fishmen to buy up the ‘catch of the day’ then serve it. We couldn’t understand why people ate here so often till we tried it. Totally fresh, not greasy, light as a feather! Don’t forget to order garlic sauce for the chips, and sides of housemade coleslaw and gooey baked beans.
Bring Home Souvenirs from Shop Street
Sound right? Shop Street is the place to discover an impossibly warm, wool knit from the Aran Islands or a genuine Claddagh Ring for a friend.
If shopping is your favorite Galway activity, thank the student population for plenty of budget finds. You’ll have a whale of a time browsing used furniture, appliances, clothing and more, often sold to raise money for different causes. Secondhand, gently worn knits in excellent condition can be found in the charity shops (thrift shops) such as Oxfam Galway and Vincent’s Charity Shop Westside. Planet Retro is one of the many commercial vintage wear shops, which carry various retro styles, new merchandise and factory castoffs.
You May Not Need a Claddagh Ring but the Museum is an Interesting Attraction
Why are Claddagh Rings the quintessential Irish gift? Primarily because they tell a story. Quay Street in Galway is home to the jeweler, Thomas Dillon, who designed the original Claddagh ring: two hands holding a heart wearing a crown. Since 1750, they’ve symbolized the phrase Let Love and Friendship Reign –- the reason Dillon was selected to make wedding rings for several of the Royals. Take note: According to the shop’s small museum, a ring worn with the crown pointing to the fingernail signifies that the wearer is attached. A crown pointing to the wrist means available. Availables: don’t be surprised if all the older women pray you find a mate.
Stay Outside if the Sun Shines
Once located outside the town gates, the green space known as Eyre Square was dedicated in 1710 by Mayor Edward Eyre for those great drying out days. Look for the 14 flags representing the town’s original ‘tribes.’ From the mid-13th to the end of the 19th centuries, Galway was ruled by 14 Tribes, mostly Irish families who controlled the city’s social and political life and prospered by trading with Europe. (There’s also a copper sail sculpture of the Galway Hooker merchant ships.)
With a bit more time and sunshine, head to Dangan’s, the mystical plant nursery about a 5-minute bus ride from downtown. Once you enter the affluent West Galway community of Salthill, you’ve hit the countryside. Shop for garden ornaments or just have a tea.
Take a Spiritual Break at the Galway Cathedral
This Renaissance style cathedral is an impressive monument to the strong Roman Catholic faith of the Galwegians. Built new between 1958 and 1965 on the site of the old Galway Jail, it’s officially called Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven & St Nicholas. One of Europe’s largest churches, it seats 1,500 within a 300-foot-long space under a 144-foot dome. The Connemara marble floors, panels of red and white marble and contemporary stained-glass windows bring the space to life. Listen to the grand Gallery Organ, pray at daily mass or enjoy free concerts in the cathedral Thursdays during July and August.
Have Seafood Chowder at Ireland’s Top Gastropub: McSwiggin’s
Book ahead or just wander in, and they’ll find you a private booth by the bar. That’s the McSwiggin’s way of welcoming visitors to the gastropub voted best in the country for 2025! On those bleedin’ windy damp nights, consuming rich, creamy seafood chowder filled with chunks of hake, salmon and roast potatoes is the smartest activity. Large bowls are served with a thick slice of brown bread to soak up the last, if any, remaining drops. There’s plenty of meat and salads if you prefer.
Listen Up in the Latin Quarter
Pubs, one-off boutiques, homespun bakeries and tiny bistros line the cobbled lanes of Galway’s Latin Quarter. You’ll hang here evenings to enjoy live music pouring out of each place. Grab a pint, toast Sláinte (pronounced “slaan-sha”), navigate onwards, and decide where you’ll have the next one. If any spot is hosting Ireland’s famous storytellers, find a stool and prepare for a mesmerizing night of spoken word.
Hooked for the Catch of the Day
Dine on grilled hake or a local Fisherman’s Stew at Hooked. This very casual place tucked off the beaten path in West Galway has been satisfying fussy locals since 2014. Everyone votes it #1 for fresh seafood prepared any way you’d like, affordably too. However, painting over the exterior mermaid mural to make the place look fancier was very controversial.
Sleep Well at The House
Galway activities can be very boisterous. Young people are out at the pubs, drinking outdoors in awful good or even wet weather, and singing along to whatever emanates from a pub interior. If you’re knackered, check into The House Hotel Galway. The hotel is one of the 14 Tribes’ original “houses,” an elegantly designed place with air-conditioning just a few lanes off Market Street.
A Taste of Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher
If you only have a day and want to get a feel for the rural lifestyle immortalized in the film “The Banshees of Inisherin,” join a Galway Tour Company daytrip. They run full-day coach and ferry tours to the Aran Islands year-round, except for certain winter holidays. Drive down the Wild Atlantic Way past stunning scenery to the town of Doolin, then board an express ferry to Innis Oirr, the smallest and closest of the Aran Islands. Cruise under the Cliffs of Moher, which rise more than 650 feet high for more than 5 miles. The ship departs for Galway via Galway Bay at day’s end. Keep your eyes open for frolicking dolphins on the way home.
May the luck of the Irish follow you on this local’s tour of Galway.
