We are honoured to have so many overseas visitors join us for our swing dance events in Galway. Some also like to combine this with a mini-break and take advantage of the opportunity to see a little more of our city and the picturesque western seafront. For practical information like how to get here and where to stay etc., please see our page about Visiting Galway. Here you will find some suggestions for what to do when you're here, and to inspire a longer stay in Galway and around the west of Ireland.
If you have just one day:
Galway is a small medieval city, so the best way to see it is on foot.
- A stroll around Galway will reward you with a host of unique little shops, cafes, museums, street entertainment, and galleries. To see the best of what Galway has to offer, walk from Eyre Square along Shop St and Quay St to the Spanish Arch and the Claddagh. Then turn back to go by St. Nicholas' Church (which has a great food and craft market on Saturdays) and along Abbeygate St, then over the River Corrib to the Cathedral before returning to the city centre via Eglington Street. Be sure to stop at Neactain’s traditional pub on Quay St, where you can partake in some pleasant people-watching with your favourite tipple
- Enjoy the fresh Atlantic air with a walk along the prom in Salthill, Ireland's longest seaside promenade. And don’t forget to kick the wall at Blackrock! It’s a weird local tradition. Bus Éireann number 401 departs for Salthill from Eyre Square at 20 minute intervals throughout the day (see the schedule for details). Alternatively, you can walk there in about 45mins using this handy guide to The Kick The Wall Trail.
- In the evening, listen in on a traditional Irish music session at Tigh Cóilí or Taafes (both at the intersection of High St and Mainguard St). Or check out Swing Forum Galway on Facebook to see where you can catch one of the many free live swing and jazz music gigs in town.
A free app called Galway Map and Walks is downloadable from the iTunes and Play stores if you want some guidance along the way. Another free app, called Experience Galway, includes less sites, but has more information on each, and it is also available for both iPhone and Android.
If you have more time:
Some of Ireland’s biggest tourist attractions are just a short journey from our city, including:
- The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher
- The Aran Islands
The Galway Tour Company offers bus day-tours of each of these locations, starting from €20. It is also possible to combine some of these sites on selected tours.
Burren Wild Tours offer alternatives to the bus, including walking tours as well as food-themed trips.
The Experience Galway app mentioned above also features self-drive tours if you prefer to see things at your own pace. Several car rental companies have depots in Galway, including Enterprise, Europcar, and Budget. I would recommend booking in advance to ensure that the class of car you favour is available. If you prefer to drive an automatic, then pre-booking is essential, as these are less common in Ireland. And remember – we drive on the left side, always travel counter-clockwise around a roundabout/traffic circle, and are not permitted to turn left at a red traffic light! The Road Safety Authority website has more information about driving in Ireland for tourists.
Want to see even more?
If you plan on seeing more of Ireland, we highly recommend following the Wild Atlantic Way, which wends its way around the rugged coastline and colourful villages of our island.
Inland Ireland also has lots to offer, including the Rock of Cashel and historic Kilkenny city.
If you have any particular interests you wish to pursue, feel free to ask and we'll do our best to tailor our suggestions for your trip.
We look forward to meeting you soon!