Galway walking tour & city guide

The Latin Quarter

Shop Street and Quay Street are pedestrian streets full of buskers, pubs and colorful shopfronts. The Spanish Arch, part of the old city walls, stands by the River Corrib. The promenade to Salthill is a favorite seaside walk.

Around Galway

The Cliffs of Moher, Connemara's mountains and the Aran Islands are all within reach. The Galway International Arts Festival and the Galway Races are big summer events.

A day in Galway

Wander the colorful Latin Quarter, with its pubs, buskers and small shops. Walk along the river to the Spanish Arch and the Long Walk.

In the afternoon, stroll the Salthill promenade and touch the wall at the end for luck.

Good to know

Galway is the gateway to Connemara and the Aran Islands. Traditional music fills the pubs most nights.

The Galway Arts Festival and the Galway Races in summer are big events.

Music, markets and oysters

Galway is a young, creative city with a large student population, and its pubs are among the best places in Ireland to hear traditional music in sessions where locals simply join in. The Saturday market next to St Nicholas' Church sells oysters, crêpes and crafts. The Galway Oyster Festival in September celebrates the local seafood, and the Claddagh, just across the river, is the old fishing village that gave its name to the famous Claddagh ring.