Some suggestions are have an entry fee, some are free. Some indoor, some not.
Explore the city
Do an organised walking tour:- Galway Walks small-group walking tours,
- Marteen Lane tours
- Galway History Tours
- Wonderful Walls Walk - explore outdoor artwork in the quieter streets
- Do a Food Tour
- WestEnd Walks - see the other side of the city
- Stroll to the Stout - a free (tip-only) walking tour, ending with the chance to pour your own pint
Or a self-guided tour:
- Poetry trail
- Look for sculptures and statues
- Galway National Park City - website has suggestions and maps for a number of walks around the area
- Walk the canals - get information about them here.
Watch the buskers on Shop Street
Visit a market
St Nicholas market - open at weekends, five days a week in summer, and full time just before Christmas
Eyre Square market - a small number of local traders
Tiny Traders - a pop-up market, with a variety of traders and locations
Explore the outdoors
Walk the Salthill Prom - getting there
Or the Ballyloughane “prom” -
getting there
Feed the swans at the Claddagh (wholemeal bread only, not moldy please as this makes the swans sick)
Walk the Long Walk and docks
Nimmos Pier
Mutton Island lighthouse / causewalk walk
Rinville Park - near Oranmore, no public transport to this park
Socalise
Attend a gig / concert / festival
See our list of festivals
Galway Whiskey Trail
meanders through pubs with a special interest in the mountain dew - it may
not have been updated to take account of current closures.
Visit a cafe
See our list of open cafes in Galway for more info.Gamble
Casino / Bingo / Arcade Games:Seapoint
The Eglington
Claudes
Caesar's Palace
Visit an interesting place
Outdoors
Eyre Square / JF Kennedy Park: Martin fountain, Browne doorway, Liam
Mellows statue, Pádraic O'Conaire replica statue
Spanish Arch (locally known as Buckfast Plaza) / Fishmonger Plaza / Christopher Columbus monument
Fisheries Tower - museum now open, hours vary.
The Claddagh
St Augustines Well
Fisheries Field lime kiln
Bollingbrook Fort (Sean Mulvoy Rd)
Forthill Cemetery
Lynch's Castle (now houses AIB bank, Shop St)
Lynch Window - Market Street, in the original railings behind St Nicholas church
Salmon Race on the Corrib
The Two Oscars statue
The replica Padraic Conaire statue in Eyre Square
Padraic Conaire's birthplace
Busker Browne's pub - a former Dominican convent
Kirwan's Lane - get the real feeling of Galway's medieval streets
Bridgemills - an old mill beside O'Briens Bridge
Spanish Arch (locally known as Buckfast Plaza) / Fishmonger Plaza / Christopher Columbus monument
Fisheries Tower - museum now open, hours vary.
The Claddagh
St Augustines Well
Fisheries Field lime kiln
Bollingbrook Fort (Sean Mulvoy Rd)
Forthill Cemetery
Lynch's Castle (now houses AIB bank, Shop St)
Lynch Window - Market Street, in the original railings behind St Nicholas church
Salmon Race on the Corrib
The Two Oscars statue
The replica Padraic Conaire statue in Eyre Square
Padraic Conaire's birthplace
Busker Browne's pub - a former Dominican convent
Kirwan's Lane - get the real feeling of Galway's medieval streets
Bridgemills - an old mill beside O'Briens Bridge
NUIG (National University of Ireland - Galway) Campus map / Getting there, including the:
Quadrangle,
Zoology and Marine Biology
Museum (Martin Ryan Institute, ground floor)
James Mitchell Museum. Geology Department (1st floor in the quad)
Computer and Communications Museum (DERI - IDA business park in Dangan)
River walk-way from the main campus to Dangan sports area Sports
Imbusch Observatory - open nights once a month
James Mitchell Museum. Geology Department (1st floor in the quad)
Computer and Communications Museum (DERI - IDA business park in Dangan)
River walk-way from the main campus to Dangan sports area Sports
Imbusch Observatory - open nights once a month
Claregalway Castle (slightly outside the city, but worth a visit)
Micil Distillery - behind the Oslo in Salthill, offering tours and taskings
Interesting churches
St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church (Church of Ireland)
Galway Cathedral (Catholic) - Europe's newest cathedralPoor Clare Monastery - Nuns Island
Augustinian Church - notable for the in-choir seating for everyone
Watch some sport - or take part
Greyhound racingGAA or hurling match at Pearse Stadium
10-pin bowling in Terryland
Swim at Leisureland off the diving board in Blackrock or the beach
Canoe / kayak tours
Hire a bicycle and ride a loop from Knocknacarra out to Barna and then back into Salthill
Go for a hill-walk or a ramble
Go for a run - Dangan track or around the city streets
Play golf: Cregmore Park, Bearna Golf and Country Club, Athenry Golf Club, Glenlo Abbey, Oughterard Golf club, Galway Bay Gold Resort, Galway Golf Club.
Watch rugby - at the Sportsground, Crowley Park, Corinthian's Park.
Go-karting: Galway City Karting
Skateboard: Millenium Skate Park, Doughiska Playground, Westside Skate Park.
Indoor skills based sports challenges at
PureSkill
Trampoline at JumpLanes, Ballybrit (ages 5-18 only)
Simulation games: Virtual Reality World in Liosbaun- from 15 August 2p40
Free-play and recreation
Visit a playground
Millenium Children's ParkDoughiska / Merlin Woods playground
Terryland Forest Park
Or take the kids out to play inside
Monkey Business
- Knocknacarra
Planet Entertainment - Headford RdProve your skills as a clue-solving escape artist
Cultural activities
Watch a movie
Omniplex SalthillEye Cinema, Wellpark
IMC, Headford Rd
Gallery 126
Kenny Gallery
Vanda Gallery
Watch a play
An Taibhdhearc - Irish language theatre
Druid Theatre
Visit an art gallery
Galway Arts Centre -Gallery 126
Kenny Gallery
Vanda Gallery
Engage Art Studio in Salthill
Learn art / craft skills - take a course
Just Art It - a range of classes in a combined art store / workshop / creative space / music studio in Dominick Street
Creative Writing / poetry / art-techniques - Galway Arts Centre offers a range of classes
Pottery / ceramics - at O'Kelly's Galway Pottery Classes
Part-time / evening classes in a range of topics are available at
- Galway Technical Institute - beside the Claddagh
- Galway Community College Further Education - in Wellpark
- GRETB - courses at the training Centre in Mervue, and various locations in the county. Mainly strongly workplace-linked
- AUT- in Ballybane
- NUIG Adult and Continuing Education courses - in Newcastle
Learn a language
As well as the general course-providers listed above, languages are also taught by
Arus na nGael (Irish)
The Confucious Institute (Mandarin)
Music
Look for events advertised in the city's music shops:
Galway Slow Session
is a beginners / learners Irish Traditional Music group, and is
operating online for now.
Music for Galway run a regular programme of classical concerts
Galway Cathedral Recitals
- an annual summer programme of organ / classical works
Galway Choral Association - have a list of Galway choirs of all levels of ability and commitment
Powell's Four Corners Music, Arts and Crafts
Kenny Bookshop and Gallery
Visit a unique local shop
Charlie Burns BookshopPowell's Four Corners Music, Arts and Crafts
Kenny Bookshop and Gallery
Mishnóc Leathergoods
Wooden Heart Toyshop
Judy Greene Pottery
Dungeons and Donuts - boardgames, hobbies and miniatures
Sheridan's Cheesemongers and Winebar
Tempo Antiques
Wooden Heart Toyshop
Judy Greene Pottery
Dungeons and Donuts - boardgames, hobbies and miniatures
Sheridan's Cheesemongers and Winebar
Tempo Antiques