IE · County Galway · 53.27°N 9.05°W

galway

Street musicians, Atlantic seafood and an evening walk along Galway Bay.

Best time
May–September has the longest days by the bay. July brings the Galway International Arts Festival and late September the oyster festival; November–February is windy, wet and dark early.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Dublin, usually via Dubai, Doha or Istanbul, about 17–19 hours all in. Coaches run straight from Dublin Airport to Galway in about 2.5 hours, or take the train from Heuston, about the same. Ireland is 7 hours behind KL in summer and 8 in winter.
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IE · County Galwaygalway53.27°N 9.05°Wgowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Street musicians, Atlantic seafood and an evening walk along Galway Bay.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingGalwayIE, County Galway
KLgalway
≈ 11,080 km from KL, as the crow flies
The family names and coats of arms of the fourteen tribes of Galway

Photo: Eoin Gardiner · CC BY 2.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Galway is a small, lively city on the west coast, with buskers on the shopping streets, traditional music in the pubs and Galway Bay at the end of the road. It's also the gateway to Connemara and the Aran Islands.

Makan

  1. Galway oystersNative oysters from the bay, at their best from September, when the oyster festival is on.Map ↗
  2. Fish and chipsA Galway staple, eaten on the steps by the Spanish Arch.Map ↗
  3. Brown soda breadDense wheaten bread with butter, or alongside a bowl of chowder.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Latin QuarterShop Street and Quay Street, full of buskers, colourful pub fronts and small shops.Map ↗
  2. Spanish Arch and the Long WalkA surviving piece of the old city wall, and a row of colourful houses where the River Corrib meets the bay.Map ↗
  3. Salthill PromenadeA long seafront walk looking across Galway Bay to the hills of Clare. Locals kick the wall at the far end for luck.Map ↗
  4. St Nicholas' Collegiate ChurchIreland's largest medieval parish church still in use; Columbus is said to have prayed here.Map ↗
  5. Aran IslandsA ferry from Rossaveal to Inis Mór, where you cycle stone-walled lanes to the clifftop fort of Dún Aonghasa.Map ↗

Good to know

  • The direct coach from Dublin Airport saves crossing the city to Heuston on arrival day.
  • Salthill is far windier than the old town, so save the prom for a calm spell.
  • Halal choice is small, mostly kebab and curry takeaways around the centre.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.