Things to do and to see in the City of Galway
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| Welcome to Galway! |
I lived in Galway between December, 2002, and July, 2005. Galway is my favourite Irish town for several reasons: you feel relax in it, pubs are nice, its people are great, the streets are always animated and the town itself is pretty. Galway would be a perfect stopping place before visiting the Aran Islands, visiting Connemara (famous worldwide) and the rest of the county. There are several sites to visit in Galway (and its seaside resort, Salthill), so if you plan to stay a few days, here's what you could see, do or visit. Some examples in images and in text. |
| 1. Go through the medieval streets of Galway... [   ] The main commercial area of Galway is located around Shop street, Middle street, Eyre Square shopping centre and Quay street. Every tourist will enjoy the colourful shopwindows. On the right-hand side, I introduce you to "Quay Street", also called "the Latin Quarter". It has lots of highly frequented pubs and restaurants, particularly during the summer season. |
| 2. Admire the view from the Spanish Arch... [ ] During my 2½ years in Galway, I stayed in one of the best flats in town, for a reasonable rent. On the right-hand side, you can enjoy the view I saw every morning: the River Corrib, the fishing tower, Wolfe Tone Bridge, the Spanish Arch and, of course, Galway Bay. |
| 3. Give bread to the Cladagh swans and ducks... [ ] All year long, you can watch an impressive colony of swans paddling on the Cladagh side. It may surprise you, but it's in Galway that I saw swans flying for the first time in my life! Here is a unique photo with swans in the foreground and a double rainbow in the background. |
| 4. Observe the River Corrib... [ ] Contrary to the River Liffey (County Dublin), which flows slowly into the Irish Sea, the River Corrib flows into the Atlantic Ocean at great speed, particularly at autumn and winter time. The photo on the right-hand side was taken from the Wolfe Tone Bridge. You can even distinguish St Nicholas’ Cathedral in the background. |
| 5. Party in Galway... [ ] Galway has the reputation of always having a festival or an event happening in its streets. For example, you can attend: Galway Arts Festival, Galway Oyster Festival, St Patrick's day, Galway Film Fleadh awards, Galway races, etc. The photo on the right-hand side was taken during the Galway Arts Festival in 2004. |
| 6. Go towards Mutton Island... [ ] Since 2004, it is possible to walk towards Mutton Island, located between Galway and its "seaside resort", Salthill. Note that access to the island is forbidden for the moment. There is a water treatment station on the island, and the health authorities surely don't want to see individuals walk around the decantation basins. |
7. Admire the view from Salthill... [ ] Salthill, Galway's seaside resort, is located by Galway Bay, where you can enjoy a unique view of the Burren (Co. Clare). On the right-hand side, you can see a photo taken in the area. You can't make it bluer! |
 Photo 7. Salthill in blue. |
| 8. Walk on the Promenade... [ ] Like Nice in France, Salthill has its promenade by the sea. The only difference is that there are only a few palm trees here and very few English people. Maybe it should be renamed "Promenade des Irlandais". In any cases, the stroll is well worth a try, particularly the day after a party. |
| City of Galway in pictures |
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 Photo 2. View on the Spanish Arch in Galway.. |
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 Photo 3. The swans in Cladagh. |
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 Photo 4. River Corrib. |
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 Photo 5. Galway Arts Festival, 2004. |
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 Photo 6. I on Mutton Island. |
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 Photo 8. "Promenade des Irlandais" in Salthill. |
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Legend:
Nice; Worth a visit; Well worth visiting
Please note that this grading system is only based on my interests and personal experience as a French expat in Ireland. Feel free to visit the same locations and share your experience 
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Free or Not Applicable 
Entrance fee ≤€5 ; €5<Entrance fee≤€10 ; €10<Entrance fee≤€15 and so on...
These price ranges are indicative only to help you plan your holiday budget and are subject to change. Discounts generally apply for families, groups, children, students and seniors citizens.
While the admission to this site is free, a parking fee may apply.
Heritage Site managed by the Office of Public Works. Most OPW sites are free of charge on the first Wednesday of every month during 2011. A Good tip: the Heritage Card entitles you unlimited admission for one year to all OPW sites (around €21).