When David and I were leaving Oktoberfest to head to Galway, Ireland, I cried. Yes, cried. Why, do you ask? Well, we had just spent three days drinking beer and hanging out with friends. And those are some of my favorite activities in the world. And combined? It was literally one of the best vacations of my life.

And now our friends were going to Amsterdam and we were separating and heading to Ireland. And it’s not that I don’t love and want to spend time with my husband. But I was having a serious case of FOMO. Had I made the right choice by splitting off to see Ireland?

Before the trip, we had wanted to see Ireland more than Amsterdam. We decided it would be nice to get away and have a few days just David and I. However, I thought we made a huge mistake. I was sure there was no way Ireland could live up to Amsterdam when our friends were in it. What if I decided wrong?!

As we headed to Ireland, I decided to focus on what we were doing next. Our first stop was in Galway. And because we had heard over and over again how many things there were to do in Galway, I hadn’t really planned anything. Instead, I was ready to take Galway on without a plan as soon as we got there.

But as our taxi pulled up in front of our hotel on Quay Street, all of my fears were assuaged. We stepped out to the most beautiful view of Galway’s nightlife. At that moment, David turned to me, with a literal sparkle in his eye and said, “Let’s go!” I knew then that Galway would be worth it.

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Four Reasons Why Galway Should Be on Your Bucket List

What we found over our next few days of exploring Galway is that it is one of those towns that should be on anyone’s bucket list. Here’s why:

#1 – Pubs – Alright, I do have to admit that my favorite part of any city is its nightlife. But Galway took it to a new level with its options. Within a few blocks of our hotel, there were at least a dozen historic, classically European bars. Each of them had a different feel, but all offered the same Irish atmosphere (and Irish beers!) – even when we went on a Wednesday! With so many offerings, we ended up doing a makeshift bar crawl around Galway. Some of our favorites included:

• The King’s Head – This pub has an old-style feel with a huge stage full of Trad in the middle. This was the cleanest bar we went to in Galway and had the largest beer selection. A local brewery also brews a beer that King’s Head serves exclusively.
• Quays – Pronounced “keys,” this bar is classic Galway. Irish musicians play Trad all throughout the bar – from the stage inside, to the outside seating. We loved this place because it had a variety of options – we could sit inside and watch/listen to the music, sit outside and chat with some locals, or sit at the bar and have a few beers. Quays is also right at the heart of the Latin Quarter, so this is a great place to start any night.

#2 – Trad and Street Music -The pubs aren’t the only place where you can hear music. Between here and Dublin, Galway wins for better pubs hands down. We found that pubs in Dublin played the music that tourists had come to expect. Songs like Sweet Caroline and Living on a Prayer. But Galway? Music I have never heard before flowed out of every window. The town has so much beautiful, traditional music to share (known as Trad). Buskers line quay street, trad flows out of bars and stores. Even the mall down the street plays Trad over the loudspeakers! If you’re looking for a town full of great music, visit Galway.

#3 – Restaurants & Food – Some of the best food I have ever eaten in Europe was in Galway. This is a broad generalization, but it really is true. From extremely fresh seafood to an upscale twist on Irish food, and even a Michelin-starred restaurant, Galway is a perfect town for any foodie. With so many choices, we struggled to pick which one to try. Luckily, we ended up finding some great options – you can read below for some of my recommendations. 

#4  – Classic Ireland Feel – When we woke up in Galway and started to explore, I literally felt, “the Irish feel.” It’s a weird thing to write about because it’s something you have to experience to understand. But during that moment, everything I imagined Ireland to became true: the grass around me was some the greenest I had ever seen, the streets old and cobbled, there was music everywhere – I mean, when we walked along the seaside, my scarf whipped around like you always see in movies! This might sound a little lame to you, but I remember thinking to myself, “This is why you come to Ireland.” And Galway had that feel. I didn’t feel this anywhere else that we visited in Ireland (including Dublin). So if you’re looking to visit a place that truly “feels” like Ireland, then I highly suggest Galway!

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Galway Tips & Tricks

When we visited Galway, I didn’t plan anything. And while I ended up finding some of the best of what Galway had to offer, here is what I wish I had known:

Where to Eat

• McDonagh’s – We loved McDonagh because it had more than the traditional fish and chips. They served almost any type of fish you could want (from cod to plaice – even haggis!) We marveled at the fact that we had never had: fried salmon and chips. The cool part about this restaurant is it is a fast-casual place during the day, but a full-service restaurant at night. So, depending on how you enjoy your seafood, this can be a great place
• The Quay Street Kitchen – We ended up here on our first night and I have to recommend it because it was just that good. They have a regular menu, but the best part of this place is the specials – they rotate every night based on what the (small – which you know means good) kitchen has every night. The restaurant is very intimate, but you’ll find many locals here. The best part of this restaurant? Fresh seafood, caught just down the street. And the menu riffed on classic Irish food – ranging from a different take on fish and chips to lamb or a fun cheese board. Their menu was also extremely vegetarian/vegan-friendly.
• Michelin starred restaurants – Something that surprised me was how much of a foodie scene there was in Galway! And not just regular, but well-rated food all throughout the city. During our walk around the city, we turned the corner and found Cava Bodega – a tapas bar with one star. It had just opened, so we were able to find a seat in the back and try some of the best food we had ever tasted. Visiting a Michelin-starred restaurant is very unique experience. And what better place to have a unique experience than Ireland? And, with almost a dozen similarly-rated restaurants in Galway, there are many options in town.

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Where to Stay

Jurys Inn – I HIGHLY recommend the Jurys Inn at the end of Quay Street. Honestly, I kind of picked this place because of the good reviews and nothing else. But we fell in love with this place because of its location! It was literally in the middle of nightlife, in a central location and the price is great. Plus, breakfast is included! (This is a great addition, as there were not many breakfast options in town). Honestly, I was happy to stay here for location, but all of the perks made it that much better. I highly recommend staying here!

A few things to note about this hotel and location:

• The only downside to this hotel was the noise outside at night. We stayed in the hotel right around the time school was back in session for students. Our room was right against the bottom of Quay Street. Because my husband sleeps very hot, we slept with the window open. This meant we were hearing students all. night. long. Around 6 a.m., we found ourselves waking up to the noise of street sweepers, picking up the bottles left behind by students. When we mentioned it to the receptionist she said, “Yeah. Around 6 a.m., right?” This implies to me that the street sweepers are a common occurrence.
• However, don’t let this scare you away. I really do highly recommend it and its location. We talked with hotel guests who stayed on the other side of the hotel and had no issue with noise. If you stay here, just make sure to request a hotel on the riverside (away from Quay Street). Or just keep your window closed. Either way, you should be fine!

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How to Get There

End to end, it only takes about two and a half hours to get from Dublin to Galway. This makes Galway a great place to visit during your trip to Dublin, whether you do so during the day or at night.

• Airport (closed) – During our Oct. 2019 trip, we found that the Galway airport is a great option to get into town – however, the airport is closed indefinitely. However, I list the airport to note that it might open between me publishing this post and you reading this post, it might open up. Look into it!
• Bus – The bus was our transportation from Dublin Airport to Galway. I found it to be quick and easy and a really painless way to get to Galway. We ended up taking both the bus and the train, and while I would pick the train over the bus, this is definitely a good option directly from the Dublin Airport.
  • I booked my ticket beforehand for the Citylink bus and this ended up being the best way to get on the bus. During boarding, anyone who had a reservation sat down first. This gives you a chance to put your luggage in the best place, pick the best seats on the bus, etc. Once the reservation time comes around, they open the rest of the bus up to anyone in the standby line to board. This goes to show that it is possible to get on the bus without a reservation, but not ideal (as those who had reserved had an easier time).
  • Your ticket price includes Wi-Fi. I found that the Wi-Fi was fast enough to not only write a post for this blog but also watch a video for my master’s homework.
  • Something to note: We also sat next to some very, very drunk girls. They had some wine in a pouch and kept drinking and getting louder the closer we got to Galway. This is probably an experience that is something unique only to our bus ride, but I wanted to note it anyway.
• Train – This was my favorite way to get from Dublin to Galway. It allowed you to watch the scenery, your baggage stays close, and if you book beforehand, you have a reserved seat. During our train ride, there was also a snack cart that passed through a handful of times, serving a variety of foods from chips to sweets. I really recommend the train, especially during the daytime when you can watch the Ireland countryside go by!
• Drive – While we didn’t use this a mode of transportation between Dublin and Galway, it’s something to note. The drive will take around 2.5 hours from beginning to end – just remember you will have to drive on the wrong side of the road (if you’re originating from the U.S.)!  

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More Things to do in Galway

• Day Trips to Cliffs of Moher – While we didn’t do this during our trip, it was one of the highest-advertised day trips in Galway. We decided not to visit as it seemed, on average, that a trip took around 10-12 hours. However, I have heard a lot of great things about the Cliffs’ beauty, so if this sounds interesting to you, then I highly recommend you look into it.  
• Salthill & Aran Islands – With a twenty-minute walk, you can arrive at a small area of Galway called “Salthill.” Four of the six locals I talked with recommended visiting this part of town. Each of them explained that this area of town had not only the best views but some of the most iconic pubs – making it a must-visit. (You can read why Ed Sheeran loves Salthill below).
  
  Aran Islands are a grouping of three islands across the bay from Galway and only accessible by boat. A friend of mine recommended the Islands because she said she had some of the most fun over there; after taking the ferry, her husband and she rented a set of bikes and just rode around all day, exploring the island and seeing what it had to offer. But don’t worry if you can’t visit – some of the goods produced on the islands are still available in Galway (we liked the Aran Islands wool shop).

• Claddagh – Galway is actually the birthplace of the Claddagh symbol! If you’re like me and love the symbol (I have worn a Claddagh ring on my thumb since college), then this is a great place to buy a ring or necklace. A store claiming to be the original designer of Claddagh even has a museum in the back, allowing you to explore how Claddagh has affected Ireland and other cultures.
• Bookstores – A great way to pass time is to explore many of Galway’s bookstores. My favorite was Charlie Byrne’s – a store with over 100,000 books to browse through. Each bookstore had a wide variety; from new to old, collectibles to your next beach read. My favorite part of exploring the bookstores was buying a book with a setting in Ireland (and only published in Ireland). I love reading the series and learning more about Irish culture.
• A food tour – Something I wish we had done in Galway was take a food tour! Even in October, this tour was completely full when I went to book. I wanted to take this tour because II felt it was a great way to not only see the town but also try some of the city’s best food. Food is always the way to my heart, and this would be the first thing I would book if we went back.

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Other Tips & Things to Note

• Galway is a student town – Just across the water is the University of Ireland (Galway). Quay Street/The Latin Quarter is less than ten minutes from campus and also has the closest pubs. During the school year (September through June), be ready to throw elbows with students if you’re trying to grab a drink near the top of Quay Street.
• Ed Sheeran’s Galway Girl video – Ed Sheeran actually taped his infamous Galway Girl music video in Galway. If you watch the video, you can see Ed making his way around town. If you’re looking to visit filming locations, he doesn’t go through the main strip (Quay Street in the Latin Quarter), but he does check out Salthill and a bar near Eyre Square. Check out this blog post if you want to see the locations where Ed filmed in Galway!
• Most pubs don’t have Wi-Fi – Most pubs and stores in the area don’t have Wi-Fi and if they do? They probably won’t give you the password (or they might make fun of you if they do give it out). So be prepared to get a little shit if you do ask.
  • When we did find a password at a bar, we found that it was usually written on a chalkboard or hidden on a table tent behind the bar. So, if you really have to have that password, keep an eye out!

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My Biggest Piece of Advice

Go to Dublin first. We went the other way around (Galway, then Dublin) and ultimately, I was really disappointed with that decision. Honestly, as I said above, Galway “feels” like Ireland – it is exactly like what you want Ireland to be when you think about an Irish movie. While Dublin DOES have that Irish feel, it’s still a city and feels as such.

I wish I had gone to Galway second so I could get a taste of Irish culture in Dublin first, before really appreciating Ireland in its form. Dublin is a great city, but I describe it as “New York City in Ireland.” It’s a city, that feels like a city. But Galway? Galway felt like the Ireland you see in the movies, you read about in books and you think about in your *dreams.* Therefore, I highly recommend going here as the last stop of your trip, allowing you to really get a good taste of Ireland before you leave.  

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Would I go to Galway Again?

You know, before I went to Dublin, I would have said no. I felt Galway was a small town and I was hesitant to recommend it to anyone. But now that I have gone to Dublin and Galway, I understand why so many people had recommended it before we went! Galway is literally the “classic” Irish town – friendly people, great food and pubs, plenty of greenery,

However, I will say that I wouldn’t spend more than a day or two in Galway, even if I went back. In terms of sightseeing, there wasn’t much. If I returned, I would do a food tour and maybe try some other restaurants, but I don’t think I could fill more than another day or two there.

I recommend Galway if you find that you have more than a few days in Dublin (and don’t forget you can read my Dublin guide here).

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Any Questions?

Hopefully, I have shown you why you need to visit Galway in the near future. But if you have questions, feel free to ask away in the comments and I will get back to you ASAP!

Want to see more of my time in Ireland? Take a look at my Instagram stories (under the green Ireland highlight). Have you visited Galway? What did you think? Do you want to visit? Leave a comment below!

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