County Galway, the cultural heart of the west coast of Ireland, is famed for its rugged coastline, Gaelic-speaking islands, Irish music, beautiful beaches, and quaint villages. The city of Galway, the seat of the county, is one of the most popular destinations in Ireland, famed for its Bohemian spirit, cobblestone streets, culture, cuisine, music, pubs, and film scene. Galway is also a departure point for the wild and windswept Aran Islands, which are known for their ancient sites and traditional Irish life.
Region: Ireland
See All Destinations
With more restaurants per capita than any other Irish city and a smorgasbord of festivals including the Jazz Festival, the Easter Festival of Literature and the Galway Arts Festival in July, even the near-constant rain fails to dampen the city's spirits.
The breathtaking Connemara region and the Aran Islands abound with walking and cycling opportunities and are both an easy daytrip from Galway. Most adventures in the city itself are cultural in nature, with plenty of theatres and book or poetry readings. However, your biceps can get a good workout from lifting pints at the bar.
Enhancing the festive spirit of the many annual events hosted by Galway and the surrounding communities, licensing laws are usually suspended, permitting pubs to remain open 24 hours a day (many restaurants also stay open).
The Cùirt Poetry & Literature Festival is a well established event that takes place in Galway and grows in importance each year. The Galway Arts Festival is another cultural extravaganza, with two weeks of round-the-clock theatre, music, art and comedy. For good measure, one of Ireland's biggest film festivals takes place at the same time. Galway's International Oyster Festival is a strange mix of oyster slurping and partying. Finally, Galway Race Week in Ballybrit, 3km (1.8mi) east of the city, becomes a site of feverish bacchanalia.
Call our travel experts 1-800-742-9244
Call our travel experts 1-800-742-9244