Guidebook for Galway
Drinks & Nightlife
A great local pub with regular music sessions, including traditional nights on Wednesdays in the front lounge. They also specialise in in-house and take-away pizzas.
10 locals recommend
Campbell's Tavern
A great local pub with regular music sessions, including traditional nights on Wednesdays in the front lounge. They also specialise in in-house and take-away pizzas.
One of Galway's most famous bars in the heart of the city. Full of interesting books and crannies and a great atmosphere.
131 locals recommend
Tigh Neachtain
17 Cross Street UpperOne of Galway's most famous bars in the heart of the city. Full of interesting books and crannies and a great atmosphere.
Don't be fooled by the picture. This bar is crammed with atmosphere. Like most places in Galway it serves a great pint of Guinness and traditional music is played in the front corner night and day!
60 locals recommend
Taaffes Pub
19 Shop StDon't be fooled by the picture. This bar is crammed with atmosphere. Like most places in Galway it serves a great pint of Guinness and traditional music is played in the front corner night and day!
Crane Bar
2 Sea RdOne of the best known traditional music bars in Galway City.
Food Scene
County Galway has thousands of options for placed to eat. Here are some of our favourites.
This is an excellent place for high quality food with an intimate, relaxed atmosphere and great service.
10 locals recommend
Tartare Café + Wine Bar
56 Dominick St LowerThis is an excellent place for high quality food with an intimate, relaxed atmosphere and great service.
One of the best restaurants in Galway. Treat yourself!
36 locals recommend
Aniar Restaurant & Boutique Cookery School
53 Dominick St LowerOne of the best restaurants in Galway. Treat yourself!
Gather is a well laid out restaurant with first class food and friendly service. An outstanding fine dining venue in Tuam.
Gather Restaurant
High StreetGather is a well laid out restaurant with first class food and friendly service. An outstanding fine dining venue in Tuam.
One of the most famous places to eat and drink in County Galway. Excellent sea food and Guinness, beautifully situated in an estuary off Galway Bay.
99 locals recommend
Moran's Oyster Cottage
The WeirOne of the most famous places to eat and drink in County Galway. Excellent sea food and Guinness, beautifully situated in an estuary off Galway Bay.
The Seafood Bar at Kirwan's
3 Kirwan's LnExcellent quality food in a fine dining atmosphere.
Cava Bodega
1 Middle StFine Spanish food in the centre of Galway.
Great spot for brunch near the Spanish Arch. Good quality food throughout the day.
97 locals recommend
Ard Bia at Nimmos
The Long WalkGreat spot for brunch near the Spanish Arch. Good quality food throughout the day.
A great pub/restaurant that specialises in sea food.
28 locals recommend
Donnelly's of Barna Bar & Seafood Restaurant
A great pub/restaurant that specialises in sea food.
Heading for Connemara? Cong is a picturesque village en route as you head across the top of the Corrib. As well as the beautiful ancient abbey grounds, there's high-end Ashford Castle and Pat Cohan's Bar, an excellent pub restaurant that features prominently (along with the rest of the village) in the John Wayne/Maureen O'Hara film, The Quiet Man.
11 locals recommend
Pat Cohan's Gastro Pub - The Quiet Man Bar
Main StreetHeading for Connemara? Cong is a picturesque village en route as you head across the top of the Corrib. As well as the beautiful ancient abbey grounds, there's high-end Ashford Castle and Pat Cohan's Bar, an excellent pub restaurant that features prominently (along with the rest of the village) in the John Wayne/Maureen O'Hara film, The Quiet Man.
A little find in Tuam. Nice quality food and service in the heart of Saw Doctors' country. At the front, there's a small traditional bar and grocers!
Brownes
Market SquareA little find in Tuam. Nice quality food and service in the heart of Saw Doctors' country. At the front, there's a small traditional bar and grocers!
Kai Restaurant
22 Sea RdGood quality food in a Bohemian setting.
Bustling pub restaurant with good quality food. Easy parking on the edge of the City Centre.
26 locals recommend
The Huntsman Inn
164 College RdBustling pub restaurant with good quality food. Easy parking on the edge of the City Centre.
THE place for fish and chips IN Galway City centre. You can choose self-service or the restaurant option.
77 locals recommend
McDonagh's
22 Quay StTHE place for fish and chips IN Galway City centre. You can choose self-service or the restaurant option.
THE place for fish and chips just OUTSIDE the city centre. Nice atmosphere and cleverly decorated. Easy for parking.
41 locals recommend
Hooked
65 Henry StTHE place for fish and chips just OUTSIDE the city centre. Nice atmosphere and cleverly decorated. Easy for parking.
Java's
17 Abbeygate Street UpperGreat coffee shop and crêperie in the centre of Galway
Sightseeing
Knockma is a magical place to visit with it's newly improved walkways around a forested hill. The legendary home of Finvarra, King of the Faeries with the highest of the two cairns at the top of the hill said to be the burial ground of Queen Meadbh of Connacht. There are spectacular views in all directions. The wall is steep at times but safe and relatively short. Allow an hour.
At the entrance to the hill is the ruins of Castle Hackett while opposite is Castlehackett House, which has been restored and operates as a place to stay. it also hosts several local events.
13 locals recommend
Knockma Hill, Galway
Knockma is a magical place to visit with it's newly improved walkways around a forested hill. The legendary home of Finvarra, King of the Faeries with the highest of the two cairns at the top of the hill said to be the burial ground of Queen Meadbh of Connacht. There are spectacular views in all directions. The wall is steep at times but safe and relatively short. Allow an hour.
At the entrance to the hill is the ruins of Castle Hackett while opposite is Castlehackett House, which has been restored and operates as a place to stay. it also hosts several local events.
A local secret just outside Headford. Fascinating ruins and a peaceful place to visit.
7 locals recommend
Ross Errilly Friary
EallaghA local secret just outside Headford. Fascinating ruins and a peaceful place to visit.
Spectacular scenery. A full-day trip with ferries from Dooiin, Co Clare, Galway City and Rossaveal.
102 locals recommend
Aran Islands
Spectacular scenery. A full-day trip with ferries from Dooiin, Co Clare, Galway City and Rossaveal.
Unique flora and fauna are a feature of The Burren. The dolmen on top of the Burren is a place that offers unique views of Counties Clare and Galway.
167 locals recommend
The Burren National Park
2 Church StreetUnique flora and fauna are a feature of The Burren. The dolmen on top of the Burren is a place that offers unique views of Counties Clare and Galway.
Spectacular scenery. Some Aran Islands ferry crossings from Doolin offer an alternative viewing experience from the sea!
556 locals recommend
Cliffs of Moher
Spectacular scenery. Some Aran Islands ferry crossings from Doolin offer an alternative viewing experience from the sea!
Great Atlantic beaches and scenery. Superb views aslo at nearby Dogs Bay.
9 locals recommend
Ballyconneely
Great Atlantic beaches and scenery. Superb views aslo at nearby Dogs Bay.
Roundstone
A pretty fishing village on Connemara's Wild Atlantic coast
Strolling around Galway City take the opportunity to walk to or from the Salmon Weir bridge alongside the River Corrib towards Galway Bay and enjoy the Galway Museum and the famous Spanish Arch.
Salmon Weir Bridge
University RoadStrolling around Galway City take the opportunity to walk to or from the Salmon Weir bridge alongside the River Corrib towards Galway Bay and enjoy the Galway Museum and the famous Spanish Arch.
Near the busy and interesting tourist town of Clifden, the Sky Road offers spectacular Atlantic views on the western edge of Europe.
21 locals recommend
Sky Road
Sky RoadNear the busy and interesting tourist town of Clifden, the Sky Road offers spectacular Atlantic views on the western edge of Europe.
Everything Else
Galway is a must visit with bustling streets full of music and life. Its busiest times are during the Galway International Arts Festival and the week of the Galway Races which run together for a three week period starting in mid-July. Galway has many other festivals during the year, including its literary festival, Cuirt, and the Baboro children's festival. The City has so much to offer in terms of culture, history, music, food and nightlife.
73 locals recommend
Galway
Galway is a must visit with bustling streets full of music and life. Its busiest times are during the Galway International Arts Festival and the week of the Galway Races which run together for a three week period starting in mid-July. Galway has many other festivals during the year, including its literary festival, Cuirt, and the Baboro children's festival. The City has so much to offer in terms of culture, history, music, food and nightlife.
Shopping
Specialist fine quality Irish products. Ideal for gifts and souvenirs.
17 locals recommend
Kilkenny Shop
6-7 High StSpecialist fine quality Irish products. Ideal for gifts and souvenirs.
Excellent delicatessen that is also popular for its restaurant and coffee areas. Situated in the heart of Galway.
53 locals recommend
McCambridge's
38-39 Shop StExcellent delicatessen that is also popular for its restaurant and coffee areas. Situated in the heart of Galway.
The main department store in Galway, specialising in high-end clothing and products.
6 locals recommend
Brown Thomas
1-29 William StreetThe main department store in Galway, specialising in high-end clothing and products.
A huge store just a few miles from Ballybaun in Headford town. It supplies almost everything you might need and there is a large Joyce's hardware store just a few miles down the road towards Galway. Joyce's supermarket stocks Aisling's bakery products, including her extremely popular soda bread, which is delivered most days around 9.30am.
Joyce's Supermarket Headford
Church LaneA huge store just a few miles from Ballybaun in Headford town. It supplies almost everything you might need and there is a large Joyce's hardware store just a few miles down the road towards Galway. Joyce's supermarket stocks Aisling's bakery products, including her extremely popular soda bread, which is delivered most days around 9.30am.
Essentials
Headford Dry Cleaners
Main StreetExcellent service for all your dry cleaning requirements.