Irish Nightlife and Seaside Charm in Galway

Galway- cobblestone streets, colourful buildings, and salt air from the sea. Before heading to Galway, everyone I knew who’d been there told me it’d be one of my favourite stops of the trip.

Ultimately, I loved Galway, but smaller Irish cities, like Kilkenny, Kinsale and Doolin won my heart.

Not to say though Galway isn’t worth a visit. Buzzing with history, Galway is a vibrant town. If you find yourself driving through Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way and can swing a few hours or a day or two, I’d definitely recommend stopping in Galway.

While in Galway, a few of my favourite activities:

Learn about the city’s history and get acquainted with its cute streets through a free walking tour with Shamrock Tours
Stroll along the River Corrib and visit the Galway Cathedral, a beautiful modern church. Walk the opposite way to see the Spanish Arch, the gateway to the city. And, from the arch, head across the river from the arch for a great vantage point of The Long Walk, a row of pastel coloured homes
Meander Eyre Square, a central focal point for the city for over several hundred years
Savour Irish cheese and fine wine at Sheridans, so good
Wander Shop Street and The Quays, packed with pubs, restaurants and shops
Take part in Irish nightlife, there’s no shortage of it in Galway. Galway is the kind of city where pub patrons pour into the streets on a standard Wednesday night. The city is practically alive with the sound of music. Head to Taafees Bar at the bottom of Shop Street to start, a few other favourite places: An Pucan pub and The King’s Head. Need a kick start the morning after? Coffeewerk + Press does mean espresso