For those of you who are arriving a few days early or staying an extra couple of days, we have rounded up some suggestions from our local players for Galway adventures both nearby and further afield... These are just the tip of the Galway Iceberg!
Hop into the sea!
The Blackrock Diving Tower in Salthill is a perfect spot to jump in to sample the local sea swimming obsession. Good for your muscles, your mind and you heart we cant recommend it enough. Keep an eye on tide times so you can go off the top platform when the tides in!
Try the local cuisine
There is so much good food on offer in Galway city that it’s hard to know where to start. You can find highend Michelin star restaurants like Loam or quick, tasty dirty chicken wings in Scottys. Ard Bia and Kai are famous for their good food and the pizzas in Dough Bros are up there with the best. Make sure you check online for reservation times, menus etc! It’ll be busy in mid-August.
Galway City Museum
Just off the main street and beside the water is a wonderful museum called the Galway City Museum. In their words: ‘Our mission is to be a centre of learning, inspiration, engagement & enrichment for all our visitors by collecting, preserving & displaying the material heritage of Galway. We are focused on preserving and sharing Galway’s archaeology, history and sea science”. https://galwaycitymuseum.ie/
Pop into the local pubs
Galway is full of wonderful pubs of lots of different sizes and atmospheres. Make sure you pop in to visit a couple during your stay. Some of our favourites are The Crane, Neachtains, Tig Cóilí and O’Connells. Make sure to check when the live music is going and you can catch some trad sessions for free!
Check out Galway's Cathedral
Located on Nun’s Island, on the west bank of the River Corrib, Galway Cathedral is one of the largest and most dominating buildings in Galway. It is located on the site of the former city jail and features a dome at a height of 145ft. It was the last large church in Ireland to be made from stone, and features a huge octagonal dome. Inside you will find impressive rose windows and wall paintings, which echo the broad tradition of Christian art.
City Bus Tour
Explore Galway with a friendly guide to learn about this colourful city and see it from the best vantage point: an open top bus! You’ll see everything from medieval walls in the city centre to the sandy beaches of Salthill. You can hop on and off as much as you’d like as tickets are valid for 24 hours. https://www.galwaytourism.ie/galway-city-hop-on-hop-off-tour/
Drive the Wild Atlantic Way
Hiking in the Burren
There are seven way-marked walking trails in the Burren National Park and Slieve Carran Nature Reserve. The walks vary from a short thirty minute loop walk to a three hour walk over limestone hills. More details can be found at https://www.burrennationalpark.ie/walking-trails/
Visit Kylemore Abbey
Dating back to the late 1800s, Kylemore Castle is best known for having housed a monastery for Benedictine nuns since 1920. Originating as a private family home before becoming the first of many Irish Benedictine Abbeys, the historic building and its grounds are now among Connemara's biggest tourist attractions. https://www.kylemoreabbey.com/
Take in the view from Diamond Hill
A two-hour loop walk in Connemara, this route follows gravel paths, wooden boardwalk and steps up the slopes of magnificent Diamond Hill. https://www.discoverireland.ie/galway/diamond-hill-loop-walk
Explore Killary Fjord on a boat
Head to Killary Harbour, a stunning fjord in the heart of Connemara. This beautiful place forms a natural border between Galway and Mayo. It is a gorgeous 16km long fjord - one of just three glacial fjords that exist in Ireland. We recommend taking a boat tour uo the fjord and eating at the Misunderstood Heron afterwards. https://killaryfjord.ie/ & https://www.misunderstoodheron.com/
Go to a Gaelic Football / Hurling match
Many visiting teams have never heard of our two national sports - Gaelic Football and Hurling - well now is your chance to go and see it played live. Fast-paced, aggressive, athletic and unlike most other field sports, the two sports are breath-taking to watch. Check out the the main Galway website for more information: https://galwaygaa.ie
Padraig Pearse's Cottage
Ionad Cultúrtha an Phiarsaigh is located in Ros Muc, in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht. It was here that Patrick Pearse, leader of the 1916 rebellion against British rule, built a summer cottage for himself. In the state-of-the-art visitor centre you can explore the things that drew Pearse to Connemara – the area’s unique landscape and the ancient Gaelic culture and language which is still alive today. https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/ionad-culturtha-an-phiarsaigh-connemara-pearse-cottage/