WANDER WITHIN A DAY
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Galway

Updated September 2022.

City of the Tribes

Located on the West side of Ireland, Galway is a great spot to experience Irish culture with a gateway to visit the Cliffs of Moher. Its English name originates from the Irish Gaillimh, which was part of the earliest settlement, Dún Gaillimhe "Fort Gaillimh". Its nickname comes from the fourteen merchant families (“tribes”) who formed an oligarchy and ruled the city during the Middle Ages.
Tips
1-Day Plan
places to Eat
Cliffs of Moher

​Overview

  • 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Galway Cathedral - beautiful stone Cathedral
  • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Galway Atlantaquaria - aquarium
  • 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: Lunch in Quay Street - famous street in Latin Quarter
  • 1:45 PM - 2:00 PM: Spanish Arch - historical wall
  • 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM: Galway City Museum - city museum
  • 3:45 PM - 4:00 PM: Saint Nicholas' Collegiate Church - medieval church
  • 4:00 PM - 4:15 PM: Lynch's Castle - historic fortified house
  • 4:20 PM - 4:30 PM: Statue of Oscar Wilde and Eduard Vilde - famous author statues
  • 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM: Eyre Square - museum of artwork
  • 6:00 PM+: Night Life - enjoy the food and festivities

​Click the star to add the map to your Google Maps!​ To view it, simply open Google Maps, navigate to the Menu, choose “Your Places,” click "Maps", and voila, the map should be added.
 

Tips

To/From Galway
There are no major airports that land in Galway. I recommend taking the Irish Rail from Dublin (Dublin Heuston station) to the Galway (Ceannt Station). Note that in Dublin, you will need to use a number sent through email to collect your ticket at one of the ticket machines before boarding.
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Irish Rail
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Ticketing Machine
 

​1-Day Plan



9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Galway Cathedral (Free)
Roman Catholic cathedral opened in 1965. It has beautiful stain glass windows and has a layered stone feel inside.
View of Cathedral from the Salmon Weir Bridge
Main entrance on the Eastern side
South view of the Cathedral
Eastern facing stained glass flower
Organ and north-facing stained glass window
Northern interior of the cathedral
South-facing interior
Stained glass window
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Galway Atlantaquaria (€14)
The National Aquarium of Ireland is about a 30-minute walk from Dublin along the Galway Cost. It offers great exhibits on all types of marine life (especially Irish marine life), and unlike other aquariums, it isn't as massive, so one can easily see everything within 2 hours. Check out the feeding times with knowledgeable caretakers.
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: Lunch in Quay Street
​Heart of Galway, offering lots of bars, music, and food options. There is also a statue of the “Galway Girl”, put in March of 2022 by the Quays Bar.
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​1:45 - 2:00 PM: Spanish Arch
An extension of the city wall to protect the city’s quays in 1584. It incorporates a line of machicoulis, a defensive feature of walls where stones or boiling liquids can be dropped.
2:00 - 3:30 PM: Galway City Museum (Closed on Sundays and Mondays, Free)
In-depth museum about the archaeology, history, and culture of Galway.
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​3:45 PM - 4:00 PM: Saint Nicholas' Collegiate Church​

​Medieval church building dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of seafarers and became the first Irish church to publicly bless a same-sex couple in 2002.





4:00 PM - 4:15 PM: Lynch's Castle​
A medieval fortified house known for its carved windows, gargoyles, and cornices. Built by the Lynch family, one of the 14 tribes who ruled Galway, to protect from raids. One can see the Lynch coat of arms on the front. Visit the ground floor during bank opening hours to see details about the architecture and history of the building.
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​4:20 PM - 4:30 PM
: Statue of Oscar Wilde and Eduard Vilde
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Honoring the Irish writer, Oscar Wilde, and Eduard Vilde, an Estonian writer. These two authors have never met and the statue was given to Galway after Estonia joined the EU in 2004.


4:30 - 6:00 PM: Eyre Square
A park where many students and young people gather in the evenings. It has a strange assortment of statues and busts with the Quincentennial Fountain as a centerpiece. One can end the day here relaxing if the weather permits or head to one of the nearby pubs or check out the nearby shopping mall.
Quincentennial Fountain
Lawns to relax on
Flags of all 14 Tribes
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O’Connell’s Bar Galway



​6:00 PM+
: Night Life
Galway has a lively night life around Quay Street and High Street (The Latin Quarter), where one can enter pubs to listen to live music, grab some dinner, or head to a number of the boutiques around Galway. While most of the retail stores close by 7 PM on weekdays, the pubs and restaurants offer fun dining options.

​Note: There is a place on the map called Mutton Island. It is now a sewage treatment center and one isn’t able to actually visit it. While it provides a nice walking opportunity, there’s no reason to head there.
 

Places to Eat

There are a lot of options in Galway's Latin Quarter. If you are headed there on a weekend night, try to make reservations ahead of time or be ready to wait. Note that most bars and pubs also serve food.
  • O’Connell’s Bar Galway: Popular pub that can be crowded but has lots of great options.
  • 1520 Bar: Lively bar with live music at 9 PM filled with more locals than tourists. 
  • An Púcán: Traditional pub also known for their delicious food.
  • The Quays Bar: Bar known for drinks and live music.
  • The Dáil Bar Galway: Great desserts, food, and cocktails.
  • Caribou: Bar known for burgers, craft beer, and live music.
  • The Front Door Pub: Lovely restaurant that serves traditional Irish food. Can be quite busy but reasonable prices.

The Galway Market (Open only on Saturdays and Sunday afternoons, Fridays in July and August): Food and craft market with many local vendors. Be sure to bring cash as many places don't accept card.
 

Cliffs of Moher

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A series of cliffs facing the Atlantic Ocean on East Ireland. They are made from Namurian shale and sandstone to form the sedimentary layers, spanning 14 kilometers (~9 miles). They are 214 meters (~700 feet) above the water, offering gorgeous views.
 
Its name stems from a fort called Mothar which previously stood at Hag’s Head, the south end of the cliffs. "Mothar" in ancient Gaeilge means "ruined fort" as the fort is no longer there but a signal tower built by the British in 1808 resides at the location.
 
While one can visit the cliffs with multiple points and there is an 18 kilometer (~11 mile) Cliff Walk, the official visitor center is the most popular place to view the cliffs and where tour groups bring people. The visitor center, built into the hill, has two cafés, informational exhibits, and a fun photo spot opportunity. Near the visitor center is O’Brien’s Tower, a folly (ornamental building with no practical purpose) constructed at one of the highest vantage points on the site to entertain guests
Hag's Head signal tower in the distance
View of O'Brien's Tower
O'Brien's Tower
Walkway towards the Cliffs from the official visitor center parking lot
Its prevalence has increased in recent years and has served as multiple filming locations:
  • The Princess Bride (Man in Black climbing the Cliffs of Insanity)
  • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry and Dumbledore search for Voldemort’s locket Horcrux)
  • Leap Year (proposal scene)
The Princess Bride
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Leap Year
Getting Here
One of the easiest methods is to take a guided tour from Galway. I would recommend this guided tour. ​It is possible to take a tour to see the cliffs from the water on a trip to the nearby Aran Island; however, it may be difficult to see the cliffs if the weather doesn’t allow for it.

If driving, head to the town of Doolin (recommend eating there) and one can also start the Cliffs of Moher Walking Trail, if one is wanting to walk. Otherwise, head towards the main Cliffs of Moher entrance (Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark) section of the cliffs.

Other Resources

  • Official Galway Tourism site

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  • Home
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