Galway

56 Central

Chic and stylish, if a little pretentious. Offers fancy coffee and a decent selection of food.

€4 for a coffee, €5 for various fancy stuff (matcha latte, hot chocolate etc), €6.50 for a smoothie

An Púcán

Lively bar with music and dancing, it's the food that reviewers seem most to enjoy.

Mon–Thu 10:30AM–11:30PM, Fri Sat 10:30–2AM, Sun 10:30AM–11PM

An Taibhdhearc

The national Irish language theatre. It has produced some of Ireland's most celebrated actors.

Box Office Tue–Fri 10AM–5PM, Sat noon–5PM

Cooke's Thatch Bar

The last thatched pub in Galway city, dating back to the 1600s. (Within the county are Powers at Oughterad, and Morans at Kilcolgan). Has trad music on Wednesday and Sunday nights.

Daily

Corrib Princess river cruises

Corrib Princess is a 157-seat river boat that sails from Woodhead Quay, east bank of the river just above the weir, for 90-min cruises up the Corrib into the lough.

May–Sep, closed Mondays·Adult €20

Eyre Square Centre

It's the big mall next to the railway and bus stations. It has a massive chunk of the city wall inside, and a cafe where you can eat a panini while looking at said wall.

Freddy's

Longest established cheap-and-cheerful place: pizza and other Italian food.

Daily noon—9PM; Fri–Sun noon–9:30PM·€14 for a pizza

Galway Atlantaquaria

Galway Aquarium

Large aquarium majoring on local marine life, so you will see sharks, but they're Irish sharks and proud of it. Staff display the various beasties: care to cuddle a huge crab?

Wed–Fri 10AM–5PM, Sat Sun 10AM–6PM·Adult €15, child €10

Galway Cathedral

Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and Saint Nicholas

Roman Catholic cathedral built 1958-1965 on the site of an old prison; it's an imposing limestone building in a mixture of retro-classical styles, which some detest. The dome, pillars and round arches are Renaissance, while a Romanesque portico dominates the main façade. The organ was re-conditioned in 2007, and recitals show off the acoustics. Regular mass, with one Sunday mass in Irish.

Daily 8AM–8PM·Suggested donation €3

Galway City Museum

Three floors of galleries have seven long-term exhibitions on Galway's archaeology, history and links to the sea. Two halls have rotating exhibitions.

Tue–Sat 10AM–5PM, Sun (Apr–Sep) noon–5PM·Free (suggested donation €5)

Galway Market

Authentic traditional market selling food and various handmade goods. The boerie rolls are incredible!

Sat 8AM–6PM, Sun 2–6PM

Galway Races

They host four events a year: Summer Festival is a week in late July and early Aug, then they have two days early Sept, a day early Oct and three days late Oct. These are jumps races, which include "chases", similar rules but without jumps.

Hall of the Red Earl

The Hall is the earliest medieval structure to be seen within the walls of the city. It was built by the de Burgo family in the 13th century and was the main municipal building, acting as town hall, court house and tax collection office. Only a fragment remains, protected behind glass, and it won't take a minute to see. The modern building adjoining is the base of Galway Civic Trust, and their guided walks through the city start here, see below.

Free

Hooked

Delicious fresh seafood, often caught the same day. Most consistent quality.

Tue–Thu 5–9:30PM, Fri–Sun 1–9:30PM·€15–20 for a main

Legend of the Claddagh Ring

Called a museum but mostly a marketing exercise. The Claddagh Ring is a style of mani in fede finger ring: two hands join to clasp a heart. It's been a design for wedding or engagement rings since medieval times but became a Galway tradition from 1700, when the jewellers worked near an Claddagh, the city shore. It became popular from the late 20th century, and legends were embellished around it as ingeniously as its designs. This museum hews to the "Joyce" legend, after the man captured by Algerian corsairs and learning the design in captivity; he returned to Galway where of course his sweetheart had remained true... aah, bless. The heart is often surmounted by a crown, or isn't, depending on your allegiances in that matter.

Mon–Sat 9AM–6PM, Sun 11AM–6PM·Free (no, not the rings)

Magpie Bakery

Very popular independent bakery. Make sure to come early before it's sold out.

Thu Fri 8:30AM–3PM, Sat Sun 10AM–3PM·€5–10

McCambridges

Deli food hall downstairs does take away sandwiches, upstairs cafe serves good sit-down meals. Used to be family-owned; not the same since corporate Musgraves took ownership in 2022.

8AM–6PM; closed Sundays·€5–10

McDonagh's

Famous fish and chip shop, open since 1902. Takeaway or eat either at the communal cafe tables or in the restaurant.

Mon–Sat noon–10PM, Sun 1–9PM·€16 for cod and chips

McSwiggans

Big restaurant on the two floors above the bar but rightly popular and gets crowded. Gastropub with traditional fare.

Daily noon–9PM; Dinner from 4PM·€20–30 for a main

Murphy's Ice Cream

Murphy's

Possibly the best ice cream you will ever eat in your life. Seriously, it's that good, albeit very expensive.

Daily 11:30AM–10PM·€6.50–9.50

O'Reilly's

Mostly traditional Irish fare with a leavening of Med dishes.

Daily 10AM–9PM; Fri Sat 10AM–9:30PM; dinner from 12:30PM·€15–20 for a main

Planet Retro

Independent vintage clothing shop, the staff are very chatty. By far the gayest place in town.

Plámás

Small simple place with simple coffee. Often touted as "the friendliest coffee shop in Ireland", but that's subjective of course. You get a discount if you order as Gaeilge (in Irish).

8AM–5PM·€4 for a coffee

Saint Nicholas Collegiate Church

A collegiate church doesn't have a resident priest, but members of a seminary (here, a College of Vicars) take turns. St Nicholas is the largest medieval church still in everyday use in Ireland. It was founded in 1320 and enlarged over the following two centuries. It's dedicated to St Nicholas of Myra (circa 300 AD), the patron saint of seafarers who later became Santa Claus. There are large tombs of the Lynch family, and a plaque at the Lynch memorial window claims to be the spot where 15th-century mayor James hanged his own son Walter: for killing a Spanish visitor, so goes the tale, but what was that really all about? In 2002 St Nick's conducted the first blessing of a same-sex partnership in an Irish church, but the Bishop prohibited any such unbiblical goings-on in future. The church is Anglican Protestant (which it obviously wasn't when Christopher Columbus attended mass here), but has occasionally been used by RC, Romanian, Russian Orthodox and Mar Thoma Syrian congregations. When in Rome, as they say....

Mon Tue Thu–Sat 10AM–6PM, Wed noon–6PM, Sun 1–5:30PM·Adult €5, children free, guided tours €10

Taaffes Pub

Great authentic Irish experience. You can find trad music there almost any night and there's a friendly atmosphere. Food only to 5PM.

Daily 10:30–12:30AM

The Crane Bar

Great pub, music nightly: trad downstairs or various styles upstairs, where you need to grab your seat not much after 9PM. Some outdoor seating, but you are moved inside around 11PM. Cash or card accepted.

Daily 3–11:30PM

The Quays

Lively pub, the interior is done up like a church. Also calls itself a "gastropub" (which frankly it's not, you won't starve but few visitors rate the food) and a "music hall" which is on the mark, there's always live folk and other styles of music.

Daily 11–2AM

The Secret Garden

Cozy little hidden gem with beanbags and free board games. Offers a huge selection of specialty tea from around the world.

Daily 9AM–9PM·€4.80 for a small pot of tea, €6.80 for a large pot

Town Hall Theatre

The THT features plays, music, dance, comedy and of course panto. They run three venues: the main auditorium has only 400 seats, so it's cosy and suits many performances but is a bit small for grand occasions. Studio Space also in the square has 52 seats. Black Box, 500 m north on Dyke Road, has 600 seats and is more suitable for a rock concert.

Box office Mon–Sat 10AM–7:30PM, Sundays an hour before the show·Babies under 2 free

University Quad

This was the original quadrangle of the college that opened in 1849 and became one of the three colleges of Queens University of Ireland, the others being Belfast and Cork. Since 1997 it changed its name to National University of Ireland Galway, and again in 2022 to University of Galway. The Quad buildings are in mock Tudor Gothic modelled on Oxford's Christ Church, so their aspirations are clear. They're nowadays the admin offices of a huge modern campus stretching from the river and canal to Newcastle Road, then continuing west as University Hospital.

Daily 8AM-9PM·Free