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Galway Tours & Travel Packages 2024/2025
Our 145 most popular Galway trips. Compare tour itineraries from 56 tour companies. 371 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.
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Top Galway Attractions & Experiences
Top Galway Experiences
- Walking through the medieval streets of Galway, and seeing the impressive Spanish Art while learning about the city’s history as a center of international trade.
- Trying some fresh fish and chips while overlooking the beautiful river Corrib.
- Taking a ferry from Galway Bay to go hiking through the beaches, farmland, and sea cliffs on the Aran Islands.
- Having a delicious dram of whiskey while listening to traditional Celtic music, with half of the pub stomping their feet and singing along.
- Going on a food tour and learning all about the local food products from around Galway, as well as getting a solid grasp on Irish cuisine!
Galway Tours & Travel Guide
Galway Attractions & Landmarks Guide
Whether you know Galway as a city central to Irish culture, or the place in the hit song “Galway Girl,” you likely know it for the same things. Galway is renowned for its friendly people, traditional folk music scene, and access to Ireland’s beautiful west coast and lands. There are tons of things to do in Galway and just outside of it, and to make sure you catch them all, book a tour of Galway today.
Things to do in Galway
The good news about Galway is the city is one of the most compact in Ireland, easy for walking between attractions on your walking tour. Here are some of the top things to do inside of Galway:
- Eat some oysters. Galway Bay is famous for its oyster. If you like seafood, don’t be afraid to shy away from the area’s salmon as well. Many of these fish are caught locally right in the river Corrib, and they are delicious!
- Visit Dunguaire Castle. Built on the shore of the Galway Bay, this beautiful tower house is in remarkable condition and steeped in history. Not only was it built in the 16th century by the Irish O’Hynes clan, but it was restored once more in the 20th century to become a center for Celtic revivalists, including famous literary figures like William Butler Yeats.
- Tour the Galway City Museum. This museum is must-see in Galway because not only is it free, but it tells the history of Galway, which is relatively unknown and rarely touched upon in guidebooks or otherwise.
- Walk through Galway’s old town. Unlike many Irish cities, which tend to have an industrial feel, Galway still has remnants of its medieval origins, particularly its walls. After being conquered by Anglo Normans, it became a walled town, and began to prosper because of its sea trade relationship with Spain. One famous medieval landmark is the Spanish Arch, which remains perfectly intact today.
- Explore Nun island. This island is a quick walk from city center, and is home to the beautiful Galway cathedral. What you may not know is that this cathedral was built over a previous jail! The streets are also lined with cute pubs and shops, so feel free to grab a bite when in the neighborhood.
- Galway Cathedral. The most impressive religious site in the city, the Galway Cathedral is an active feature in the city. While it is nowhere near medieval (construction was finished in 1965) it still has a beautiful architectural style and is worth visiting.
- Have a local pint. Galway is well known for its pubs, where the beer and whiskey flows as well as the conversation. Sometime on your tour of Galway, make it a priority to have a drink and some good pbu food in Galway. If you can, pick one of the many places known for their live folk music, and you will be in for a treat!
Galway Bay
Galway was historically a fishing town (and still has an active role in the fishing industry), and is located right on the Galway Bay. Unlike the bays of other older cities, Galway’s waters have never become crowded, stagnant, or too stinky. Instead, the waters of Galway have actually inspired songs -- check out the song Galway Bay if you still need motivation to come visit! To get a full sense of the bay’s beauty, we recommend taking a scenic drive from Galway to the town of Spiddal.
Exploring Outside of Galway
The Connemara refers to the Western marshland and coastline of Ireland. Being only an hour away from Galway, Ireland tours including both locations are popular. In particular, people often to travel to the Connemara National Park, which is considered by some to be the most beautiful of Ireland’s national parks. The park is known for its hikes, as well as its spectacular birdwatching. For those interesting archaeology and prehistoric man, there are also multiple megalithic and neolithic burial mounds in the park.
Kylemore Abbey is another accessible day trip from Galway, being only an hour’s drive away. Also in Connemara National Park, the Abbey is a stunning stone manor framed by the towering Diamond Hill in the background. Today the Abbey is run by Benedictine nuns, and its lavish halls, along with the gorgeous Victorian walled garden, are kept in tip top shape.
Finally, the Aran Islands are another must-see if you are visiting Galway. These islands are only a short ferry ride off of Galway bay, and are well known for their incredible views and rustic charm. While there are few man made attractions, a trip to the Aran isles is all about hiking the gorgeous seaside cliffs, soaking in the Irish atmosphere, and having a delicious, fresh seafood dinner in the evenings.
Galway Reviews & Ratings
J
James Armstrong
Sep 2023
Written on
Britain and Ireland Grandeur
Way over priced, a very poor value for the experience.
T
Trusted Customer
Sep 2023
Written on
Britain and Ireland Grandeur
See remarks at top of this page.
W
William Fitzgerald
Aug 2023
Written on
Britain and Ireland Grandeur
For anyone who has the time for a three week tour and wants to visit Great Britain and Ireland they will be hard pressed to fine a better and more thorough tour than...
D
Dianne Dixon-Brown
Jul 2023
Written on
Britain and Ireland Grandeur
Too many passengers crammed onto the bus.
D
Dina Nicklason
Jul 2023
Written on
Britain and Ireland Grandeur
The itinerary was intense, but we saw So much. Enjoyed our hotels. We would have brought fewer clothes if we had known that laundry was available often enough. In Lo...
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