Being a Galway Girl
For New Years Eve 2016, I went with a group of eight friends to Ireland and Scotland. After spending a few days in Dublin and a few days (including NYE) in Edinburgh, Scotland, we spent one night in Galway. We tried to jam pack as much as we could in our eight day trip, and Galway was a destination that everyone agreed on. Maybe because we all love to watch ‘PS, I love you’ and imagine we met Gerard Butler in a field? We knew we had to make it out east to Galway after spending time in Dublin.
After landing in Dublin from Edinburgh around 9:30 AM, we hopped on a two and a half hour bus to Galway. We dropped our bags off at the hostel, and began exploring the town around 1:00 PM. We had the rest of the day to explore before our Cliffs of Moher trip at 9:30 AM the next day. If you also only have one day in Galway, check out some of the tips below. However, let it be known that I’d recommend slowing down your pace and staying for two to three days in this enchanting town.
Things to do in Galway
- Grab lunch at Tigh Neachtain on Quay Street. You can sip on some perfectly poured pints of Guinness and snack on fish & chips at this quaint restaurant downtown. You may be there when traditional Irish music (trad) is playing at one of the tables. It’s quite the site to see – it usually begins with just a few people playing the accordion, mandolin, guitar, etc. Other musicians will casually join or leave, never skipping a beat. When we were there, the musicians looked about college-aged, it was extremely impressive.
- Enjoy a walking tour around the city. We did one through www.galwaytalkingtours.com. It was about 50 euros for our large group, and worth every cent. Shout out to our amazing tour guide, Fiona, for giving interesting history facts, enjoyable conversation, and great tips for eating and drinking.
Streets of Galway
Plan a Night Out on the Town
- Eat at Ard Bia. Treat yourself to an amazing meal at this local, farm to table, decadent restaurant. The atmosphere is cozy, romantic, and located right next to the Spanish Arch. This was one of my favorite meals of the trip, my mouth is drooling thinking about the perfectly cooked steak I had. Our server gave us great tips, including listening to trad at The Crane, described below.
Ard Bia
- Head over to The Crane Bar on Sea Road. It’s across the bridge from Ard Bia, and frequented by locals. Grab a table upstairs and take in the traditional Irish music in this intimate bar. This experience was similar to the rotating musicians at Tigh Neachtain, but with more seasoned musicians. The music at The Crane Bar also includes singing. To this day, two years later, my friends and I still request the songs we heard at The Crane Bar whenever we’re at an Irish Bar.
The Crane Bar
- Drink with the tourists on Quay Street. Fun bars include The Quays and King’s Head Pub, among many others downtown. We experienced that some of the bars become clubs past a certain time and require cover. We ended up just leaving once that happened, but if the clubs in Galway are as fun as Dublin, you’re in for a treat!
Stay Downtown, Even on a Budget!
- Stay at the Kinlay Hostel Galway, especially if you’re on a budget. This hostel is so clean, organized, and affordable. You can book bus tours through the hostel, even the day before or the day of. It’s centrally located and the people that work there are so nice. The common rooms are spacious and have a lot of seating. You also get breakfast included – what’s not to love!
- Take a bus tour to the Cliffs of Moher. You can take a bus tour over to the Cliffs, which is about an hour and a half drive, for 20 euros a person. For an additional 10 euros, the bus will take you back to Dublin. The Cliffs are just as amazing as they look in person (if you’re lucky enough to have a clear view), and are a must-see while in Ireland. Our bus tour included some stops at a church, a castle, a film scene from Harry Potter, and of course – Irish music.
Cliffs of Moher
When I envision a quaint Irish town with soothing Irish music and friendly people, Galway comes to mind. I may have only spent a day there, but it was such a memorable trip. I highly recommend spending some time in this charming place!