Guidebook for
Food Scene
Treat Café Claregalway
9 The Courtyardfabulous homemade brown bread and lunches
This is not a Gastropub but rather a proper restaurant and bar attached with emphasis on quality seafood and steak plus seasonal specials. Great for a pre-theatre meal!
13 locals recommend
Brasserie On The Corner
25 Eglinton StreetThis is not a Gastropub but rather a proper restaurant and bar attached with emphasis on quality seafood and steak plus seasonal specials. Great for a pre-theatre meal!
cafe over artisan food shop. upstairs often busy but welcoming and not rushed once you get your seat. great for midday break when out for days wandering and shopping in the city centre. artisan food fresh and wholesome.
53 locals recommend
McCambridge's
38-39 Shop St cafe over artisan food shop. upstairs often busy but welcoming and not rushed once you get your seat. great for midday break when out for days wandering and shopping in the city centre. artisan food fresh and wholesome.
more than intersting and fresh food choices-(Madras curry, Yummy Crepes, Japanese Sushi, and mouth watering handmade cookies) fresh and organic veg, flowers plants and locally produced crafts
53 locals recommend
Galway Market
7 Lombard Stmore than intersting and fresh food choices-(Madras curry, Yummy Crepes, Japanese Sushi, and mouth watering handmade cookies) fresh and organic veg, flowers plants and locally produced crafts
Drinks & Nightlife
Great for early morning breakfast, lunches, and chilling at the bar to watch the match or enjoy the live Saturday night music
Mchugh's Bar and Restaurant
Great for early morning breakfast, lunches, and chilling at the bar to watch the match or enjoy the live Saturday night music
Where Ed Sheeran went after his recent Galway gig! Wonderful range of live acts with great music, stout, pizza, and company!
10 locals recommend
Campbell's Tavern
Where Ed Sheeran went after his recent Galway gig! Wonderful range of live acts with great music, stout, pizza, and company!
go for the music-especially fri night early 7pmish. bar & restaurant serving food and drink for breakfast, lunch and dinner, all set to the backdrop of traditional live music sessions.
27 locals recommend
An Pucan
11 Forster Stgo for the music-especially fri night early 7pmish. bar & restaurant serving food and drink for breakfast, lunch and dinner, all set to the backdrop of traditional live music sessions.
Sightseeing
A visit to Kylemore Abbey and the Victorian Walled Garden in Connemara is the perfect day out. It’s where I always bring my visitors and I never tire of the dramatic beautiful landscape and the stunning location- as well as the views on the way to the Abbey. When you get there you can experience the Victorian atmosphere of the restored rooms of the Abbey, walk along the lake to the gothic chapel, take a trip to the Victorian walled garden and enjoy a very satisfying lunch in the café as well as checking out the great range of gifts and locally produced artisan foods available in the shop. (87km 1hr 30mns driving)
67 locals recommend
Kylemore Abbey
A visit to Kylemore Abbey and the Victorian Walled Garden in Connemara is the perfect day out. It’s where I always bring my visitors and I never tire of the dramatic beautiful landscape and the stunning location- as well as the views on the way to the Abbey. When you get there you can experience the Victorian atmosphere of the restored rooms of the Abbey, walk along the lake to the gothic chapel, take a trip to the Victorian walled garden and enjoy a very satisfying lunch in the café as well as checking out the great range of gifts and locally produced artisan foods available in the shop. (87km 1hr 30mns driving)
The Aran Islands are 3 rocky unspoilt islands guarding the mouth of Galway Bay and inhabited by native Irish speakers, They’re known for their ancient sites and as the last outpost of traditional Irish culture. You’ll find ancient forts, churches and monuments on all 3 Islands which can be accessed by ferry and plane. Bikes and horse drawn carriages can be hired on the islands and it’s well worth cycling up to the prehistoric fort of Dún Aonghasa, perched on top of a high cliff on Inis Mor . Boats go from Rossaveal and Doolin(Inis Oir) and flights with Aer Arann are available from the airport in Inverin . (Rossaveal 48kn 60mns, Inverin 42 km 50 mns, Doolin Co Clare 66km 1hr 15mns.)
102 locals recommend
Aran Islands
The Aran Islands are 3 rocky unspoilt islands guarding the mouth of Galway Bay and inhabited by native Irish speakers, They’re known for their ancient sites and as the last outpost of traditional Irish culture. You’ll find ancient forts, churches and monuments on all 3 Islands which can be accessed by ferry and plane. Bikes and horse drawn carriages can be hired on the islands and it’s well worth cycling up to the prehistoric fort of Dún Aonghasa, perched on top of a high cliff on Inis Mor . Boats go from Rossaveal and Doolin(Inis Oir) and flights with Aer Arann are available from the airport in Inverin . (Rossaveal 48kn 60mns, Inverin 42 km 50 mns, Doolin Co Clare 66km 1hr 15mns.)
Standing at 200m above sea level, the Cliffs of Moher are an absolute must for any traveller visiting the West of Ireland! Featured in famous movies such as The Princess Bride and Harry Potter, the cliffs are both impressive viewed from the water by boat or onland. Stop off at Doolin en route for lunch at the famous O'Connors!
556 locals recommend
Cliffs of Moher
Standing at 200m above sea level, the Cliffs of Moher are an absolute must for any traveller visiting the West of Ireland! Featured in famous movies such as The Princess Bride and Harry Potter, the cliffs are both impressive viewed from the water by boat or onland. Stop off at Doolin en route for lunch at the famous O'Connors!
Cruise the River Corrib on the wonderful Corrib Princess- a relaxing two hour trip with commentary and a bar onboard. Irish coffee-making demonstrations are also offered.
32 locals recommend
Corrib Princess
WoodquayCruise the River Corrib on the wonderful Corrib Princess- a relaxing two hour trip with commentary and a bar onboard. Irish coffee-making demonstrations are also offered.
Situated in the picturesque village of Kinvarra, Dubnguaire is one of the most visited castles in Ireland and featured on many postcards of West Ireland. It's an ideal stopover along the Wild Atalntic Way.
60 locals recommend
Dunguaire Castle
Situated in the picturesque village of Kinvarra, Dubnguaire is one of the most visited castles in Ireland and featured on many postcards of West Ireland. It's an ideal stopover along the Wild Atalntic Way.
Parks & Nature
Coole Park and nature reserve is a fabulous open park of approximately 400 hectares (1000 acres) where wetland and woodland meet. It was once the home of Lady Gregory (Abbey Theatre co-founder with Yeats and Martyn) and visited by writers and poets such as William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, John Millington Synge and Sean O’ Casey. It has many kilometres of nature trails taking in woods, river, turlough, bare limestone and Coole lake which was the lake in Yeats poem ‘Wild Swans at Coole’. The café is open in summer (distance 39 km, 25 mns)
8 locals recommend
Coole Park
Coole ParkCoole Park and nature reserve is a fabulous open park of approximately 400 hectares (1000 acres) where wetland and woodland meet. It was once the home of Lady Gregory (Abbey Theatre co-founder with Yeats and Martyn) and visited by writers and poets such as William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, John Millington Synge and Sean O’ Casey. It has many kilometres of nature trails taking in woods, river, turlough, bare limestone and Coole lake which was the lake in Yeats poem ‘Wild Swans at Coole’. The café is open in summer (distance 39 km, 25 mns)
Arts & Culture
Galway Museum has free admission and houses ongoing exhibitions included Routes to the Past (Prehistoric Galway); Galway Within the Walls (Medieval Galway), Revolution in Galway 1913-1923, Galway & the Great War as well as temporary art exhibitions exploring themes associated with 1916 and the Decade of Commemoration. There's a great café and spectacular views of the Claddagh, the Spanish Arch, River Corrib and Galway Bay.
141 locals recommend
Galway City Museum
Spanish ParadeGalway Museum has free admission and houses ongoing exhibitions included Routes to the Past (Prehistoric Galway); Galway Within the Walls (Medieval Galway), Revolution in Galway 1913-1923, Galway & the Great War as well as temporary art exhibitions exploring themes associated with 1916 and the Decade of Commemoration. There's a great café and spectacular views of the Claddagh, the Spanish Arch, River Corrib and Galway Bay.
Shopping
Charlie Byrne’s is a Galway landmark- an independent bookshop, and a browser’s paradise, selling a brilliant combination of used books, bargain books and new books – great personalised customer service, knoweable staff and regularly hosts book launches, readings, and other cultural events.
49 locals recommend
Charlie Byrne's Bookshop
Middle StreetCharlie Byrne’s is a Galway landmark- an independent bookshop, and a browser’s paradise, selling a brilliant combination of used books, bargain books and new books – great personalised customer service, knoweable staff and regularly hosts book launches, readings, and other cultural events.
Entertainment & Activities
Award-winning 9-screen multiplex showing Hollywood fare and the occasional arthouse flick. Great food/drink choices including wine and ice cream. Comfortable venue for all ages. Often shows operas, ballets, theatre, and concerts.
39 locals recommend
Eye Cinema Galway station
Award-winning 9-screen multiplex showing Hollywood fare and the occasional arthouse flick. Great food/drink choices including wine and ice cream. Comfortable venue for all ages. Often shows operas, ballets, theatre, and concerts.
A newly built arthouse cinema in Galway City- Palas is well worth checking out. It also has a bar and restaurant.
16 locals recommend
Pálás
15 Merchants Rd LowerA newly built arthouse cinema in Galway City- Palas is well worth checking out. It also has a bar and restaurant.