Ireland
Galway
Lively harbor city; 2 nights for pubs, the Latin Quarter and an Aran Islands day trip. This guide pulls together 2 sights, 2 activities and 1 outdoor spot from our curated routes.
- Places
- 10
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- May – Sep
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- November
2 See · 2 Do · 1 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 2 Drink · 1 Shop
Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way
from our route notes
20°C / 68°F avg high
8°C / 46°F avg high
about 118 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Galway
10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
2 sights worth building a day around across Spanish Arch and City Centre. All 2 are free to visit.
Photo: ajith k thomas · GoogleSeeSpanish Arch and Galway City Museum
16th-century arch on the Corrib with a free museum beside it.
Tip Watch the river from the Long Walk opposite.
Photo: Gail Suratt Davis · Google
Do
2 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Latin Quarter and Aran Islands.
Photo: Mattia Bianchini · GoogleDoLatin Quarter and Quay Street
Pedestrian streets of buskers, pubs and shops running down to the river.
Photo: Arun Nethrasigamani · GoogleDoInis Mór
Largest Aran Island; cycle to the cliff-edge fort of Dún Aonghasa.
Tip Ferry leaves Rossaveal; shuttle buses run from Galway.
Outdoors
1 outdoor spot for fresh air in Salthill.
Photo: Emma Kubecka · GoogleOutdoorsSalthill Promenade
Two-mile seafront walk over Galway Bay; locals kick the wall at the end.
Tip Walk at sunset toward Blackrock diving tower.
Eat
Where we would book a table in Galway across Latin Quarter and Spanish Arch.
Photo: McDonagh's · Google
Photo: Peter Wortmann · GoogleEatArd Bia at Nimmos
Café and restaurant in an old stone customs house by the Spanish Arch.
Tip Weekend brunch is popular; book.
Drink
Our picks for a drink in Galway across Latin Quarter and West End.
Photo: Blaithnaid · CC BY 4.0
Photo: Peter C Grew · GoogleDrinkThe Crane Bar
West End pub with trad sessions in the upstairs room.
Tip Sessions start around 9:30pm.
Shop
Markets and shops worth the detour in Latin Quarter.
Photo: John Geddert · GoogleShopGalway Market
Weekend market beside St Nicholas Church with crafts and street food.
Tip Saturdays are biggest.
How to fit Galway into a trip
Galway is stop 2 of 4 on our Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way route. Follow it as-is or lift Galway into your own plan.
Stop 2 of 4
Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way
Pubs, bogland, sea cliffs and trad music
- Trip length
- 9 days
- Best season
- May – Sep
- Pace
- moderate
Getting here and onward
- Galway to ConnemaraConnemara is about 68 km / 42 mi away in a straight line
- Dublin to GalwayDublin is about 186 km / 116 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Galway month by month
Average daily highs run from 8°C / 46°F in January to 20°C / 68°F in July. November is the wettest month, with about 118 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan8° / 46°F average high
- Feb8° / 46°F average high
- Mar10° / 49°F average high
- Apr13° / 55°F average high
- May16° / 61°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jun19° / 66°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jul20° / 68°F average high, in our recommended season
- Aug19° / 66°F average high, in our recommended season
- Sep17° / 63°F average high, in our recommended season
- Oct14° / 56°F average high
- Nov10° / 50°F average high
- Dec8° / 46°F average high
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Galway weather and the best time to visit →
Near Galway
3 other destinations from our guides within about 200 km (124 mi), measured in a straight line.
Galway questions, answered
How many days do you need in Galway?
Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Galway. On our Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way route it is stop 2 of 4 in a 9-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 18 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Galway best known for?
Lively harbor city; 2 nights for pubs, the Latin Quarter and an Aran Islands day trip. Standouts on our list: Spanish Arch and Galway City Museum (16th-century arch on the Corrib with a free museum beside it); Galway Cathedral (Stone cathedral finished in 1965, with mosaics and a large copper dome); Salthill Promenade (Two-mile seafront walk over Galway Bay; locals kick the wall at the end).
When is the best time to visit Galway?
Our Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way route is best May – Sep. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (20°C / 68°F), the coolest in January (8°C / 46°F) and the most rain in November (about 118 mm).
What are the best things to do in Galway?
Start with Latin Quarter and Quay Street, Spanish Arch and Galway City Museum, Galway Cathedral, Salthill Promenade and Inis Mór. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 2 sights, 2 activities, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat, 2 bars & cafés and 1 shop.
Where should a group eat in Galway?
Our picks: McDonagh's (Latin Quarter); Ard Bia at Nimmos (Spanish Arch). Weekend brunch is popular; book (Ard Bia at Nimmos).
What is near Galway?
The closest destinations in our guides are Doolin & the Cliffs of Moher (about 36 km / 22 mi), Connemara (about 68 km / 42 mi) and Dublin (about 186 km / 116 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Galway with your crew
Open the Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.