Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Galway?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Galway?
Most visitors spend two to three days in Galway when visiting. The friendly city offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include the nightlife, the museums and landmarks, the big city activities, and the food.
Galway is a cultural city that's located on Ireland's western shores. It offers a mix of history and culture in town, with natural beauty in the surrounding countryside. The population is friendly and welcoming and visitors will quickly fall in love with the city's hospitality and energy.
Do you have one or two days to visit Galway? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Galway?
One day is generally not enough time to experience everything in Galway. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to dance the night away, browse through museums, discover the big city activities, and enjoy a meal at a restaurant. To genuinely appreciate the highlights, a more lengthy visit is typically recommended. Many tourists opt for two to three days to immerse themselves fully in the charms of the area. After all, Galway is a medium-sized city with a some good sights and activities, but still hosts a fairly small number of tourists. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.
How to spend a day in Galway
You'll find a few good museums and historic landmarks here, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. Popular landmarks and sights in town include Eyre Square, St. Nicholas' Church, the Galway Cathedral, and the Galway City Museum.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Cliffs of Moher and Burren Day Trip, Including Dunguaire Castle, Aillwee Cave, and Doolin from Galway ($55)
- Cong The Quiet Man Museum Skip-the-Line Ticket ($8)
- Castles of Connemara tour departing Galway city. Guided. Full day ($135)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. The nightlife scene is among the best in Ireland. The city embraces the friendly Irish hospitality and there are laid back pubs and bars around town as well as a few trendy nightclubs.
Galway is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. If you stay in central Galway, the area is generally compact and walkable.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Galway?
Galway isn't a particularly popular city for tourists, despite having some sights and attractions worth seeing. A weekend is probably not enough. You'd feel rushed to see the main attractions of Galway such as the great nightlife along with the terrific museums and landmarks. To thoroughly enjoy all that the city has to offer, you'll probably want more than just a 2 day trip. Most travelers schedule two to three days to fully experience this city. Nevertheless, if a weekend is all you can spare, we have some suggestions for your weekend getaway to Galway below.
Galway, Ireland
How to spend 2 days in Galway
If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in Galway, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.
Galway is large enough to spend at least a full day exploring the local neighborhoods, attractions, and activities found around town. It's a harbor city that is a hub of activity and culture in the area.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Cruise from Galway ($82)
- Small Group - Cliffs Cruise, Aran Islands AND Connemara in One Day from Galway ($120)
- From Galway: Aran Islands & Cliffs of Moher including Cliffs of Moher cruise. ($82)
You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. There are local pubs and traditional restaurants offering authentic Irish dishes. Popular options include Irish Stew, Cockles and Mussels, and Galway Oysters.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Tour & Taste Galway Food Tour ($93)
- Galway Food Tours ($110)
- Irish Gin Tasting in Galway - Irish Gin Flight ($22)
The public transit in Galway is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There are two bus companies in Galway, Bus Eireann and City Direct.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Galway, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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