Overview
Take a trip to Galway on your Ireland Vacation
Galway is a city on Ireland's rugged western coast. A stroll through its streets will reveal a charming blend of medieval and modern landmarks, with an infectious sense of warmth from the locals. Galway's medieval roots are evident in the city's cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and ancient city walls. The Lynch's Castle, a medieval townhouse, and the Spanish Arch, a remnant of the city's fortifications, speak to its historical significance.
The city thrives as a cultural hub, earning the title of City of Festivals. From the lively Galway International Arts Festival to the spirited Galway Races, there's a year-round celebration of the arts, music, and heritage. Don't miss the Galway Oyster Festival, a gastronomic delight.
For a taste of the outdoors, head to Salthill, a scenic promenade along Galway Bay. Here, you can breathe in the salty sea air, dip in the Atlantic, or enjoy a leisurely walk with stunning coastal views. Galway's culinary scene is a fusion of traditional Irish dishes and international flavours. Immerse yourself in the hub for traditional Irish music and can catch impromptu sessions in its welcoming pubs. As the gateway to the enchanting Connemara region and the mesmerizing Aran Islands, Galway provides the perfect base for exploring the natural wonders of the Irish countryside.
At a Glance
Languages
EnglishCurrency
Euro (EUR)What do the experts say?
St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th) is always a great time to experience Irish culture at its most festive. And for something unique, visit during Halloween, or as we call it, Oíche Shamhna. Halloween actually originated in Ireland as a pagan festival, and many towns still celebrate with local traditions and festivals
There are plenty of castle stays in Ireland, along with many unique and memorable accommodations. You can sleep under the stars in the Finn Lough Bubble Domes in County Fermanagh, stay in a converted lighthouse, or unwind at the Ice House Hotel & Spa in Ballina, County Mayo just to name a few
Two tips for first time visitors: The weather is famously unpredictable so always pack layers and a rain jacket, no matter the season, and Ireland runs on a relaxed pace, so don’t be surprised if things are a bit slower than you're used to especially in rural areas
If you're visiting Ireland between February and September, you must experience a local hurling or Gaelic football match. It's our national sports and a true reflection of Irish passion and pride!
Most Popular Time to Travel
Know when to go.
Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
GalwayMostly Cloudy
21°C / 69°F
25mm / 1.0"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
-
Travel Stories
Get Inspired About Your Trip to Ireland
Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter.
With our newsletter, you’ll get access to regular communications that inspire you and help you explore the world your way.Exclusive Savings
Insider Benefits
Trending Stories
ExcellentBased on 5,175 ReviewsThe most amazing experience with Goway!! Phoebe did an amazing job planing the best trip to Paris, Florence and Venice with a great mix of relaxing and adventure days. Will be recommending to other travellers. Always someone available which is great when you are travelling in different time zones. Overall cannot be more happy with our experience working with Goway Lauren BouwOur rep at GoWay, Kimberly, was fantastic from start to finish. She came up with the exact itinerary we wanted for Melbourne, Uluru, Cairns and Sydney, and assisted us with both international and domestic flights to help us get the best rates. Once we were on the trip, everything flowed seamlessly and every tour and transport was on time.Lisa WildesAs a travel agent, this is not the first time I’ve chosen to work with Goway for organizing my clients’ trip, this time to Chile, and once again, the experience was outstanding from start to finish.
Throughout the entire process, I could count on truly professional service from Susanna. My clients are very experienced travelers and requested a highly customized itinerary, including many unique experiences that are not typically included in standard tour programs. There were also several occasions when, on behalf of my clients, I requested changes to an already prepared itinerary.
Susanna was consistently helpful, patient, understanding, and — just as importantly — incredibly kind and pleasant to work with. It was clear that she genuinely cared about creating the best possible experience for my clients. I’m also certain that much of the work she put in went well beyond standard hours and expectations.
My clients returned absolutely delighted with their vacation, which is always the greatest confirmation of a job well done.
Thank you, Susanna, for your dedication and exceptional support. And thank you, Goway, for another wonderful experience!BeataOur family trip to Machu Picchu was absolutely incredible, thanks to RuthAnne Leonty. Every tour was thoughtfully organized and the guides were top-notch. The private transportation and transfers were flawless, making everything run smoothly with zero stress from start to finish. Not a single hiccup...just an amazing experience!BarbWe booked our 3,week tour of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and overall it was an excellent experience. I typically book my own travel, but travelling with a group and wanting tours in each destination made GoWay a great choice. We had great hotels and good guides in each city. I will say that our standout guide was Romeo Tran in Ho Chi Minh City. We spent a few days in the city, as well as an over night boat ride on the delta, and he was fantastic. We had alot of fun with him, and would highly recommend him in particular. Neil BraunWe booked a Viking cruise (Venice to Athens) through Goway Travel and it was fantastic! Our agent Kimberly was extremely helpful with air travel options, choosing excursions, and suggestions for pre and post cruise activities. Great communications and a really enjoyable experience.StanleyWe booked through Paula Williamson in the Toronto office, a Great Journeys New Zealand trip and it was fantastic! Although I had already scheduled a trip on The Ghan train in Australia, Paula helped me work it all as one huge 45 day trip including Bali Indonesia. My favorite was the New Zealand trip as I’d never been there before and the tour guide Toni was so spectacular and caring. I’m so pleased Goway was involved and I didn’t require any additional assistance once We'd started the first flight March 8.
If we do another overseas trip, Goway will be involved.JohnMichael Keon arranged our recent trip to Malta. I gave him a rough outline of what we were looking for and he responded quickly making great suggestions, offering alternatives as needed and booking everything. The hotel, excursions and transport he arranged were all exactly what we hoped for. We will be asking Michael to book our future European vacations. Mayssa MirshakOsvaldo Gonzalez was an excellent rep to work with when planning my client's Costa Rica vacation. He was efficient and timely with every correspondence. My clients had an amazing time! Rachel HoeingOur first trip with Goway was a total joy. Shalini worked with me to plan a trip for 5 adults to Portugal. She is a gem! Always responded quickly and offered great suggestions for activities, worked with our preferences and created an ideal itinerary for a week in Porto and Lisbon. The tours were excellent with engaging local guides. The food tour in Lisbon was a highlight. Everything was top notch - flight schedule, hotels, activities, even the weather! Patricia
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified