2 Days in Galway: A Tried-and-Tested Itinerary for the City and Connemara

I’ve been to Galway on the Wild Atlantic Way more times than I can count. I’ve stayed in a B&B out in Salthill, spent hours on Shop Street with a coffee watching the buskers, bought my Claddagh ring at the Claddagh shop, and used the city as my base for Kylemore Abbey, the Sky Road, Killary Fjord and the Aran Islands. I’ve also learned the hard way how fast Galway fills up: more on that under where to stay.

I love Galway for three reasons: the traditional music (finding the best session is always on my Galway bucket list), the riot of colour everywhere, and how close it is to some of the most beautiful places in Ireland. This itinerary gives you one full day in the city on foot, then a choice of three Day 2s depending on whether you have a car.

Galway in 2 Days: Fast Facts

Your 2 Days at a Glance

Day 1: Galway City on Foot

Galway is small enough that you never need a taxi on Day 1. Wear comfortable shoes: parts of the Latin Quarter are cobbled.

9:00 – Breakfast

Start with a full Irish breakfast at your hotel, or head to Jungle Café on Forster Street, just off Eyre Square, for coffee and brunch in a plant-filled courtyard.

9:45 – Eyre Square (Kennedy Park)

Eyre Square is the city’s green heart and the start of the pedestrian spine running down to the river. Officially it’s John F. Kennedy Memorial Park: JFK spoke here in June 1963, months before his death, and the park was renamed in his honour in 1965. Look for the Browne Doorway, a 17th-century merchant’s doorway moved here from Lower Abbeygate Street.

10:15 – Shop Street, Lynch’s Castle and St Nicholas’

Walk down William Street into Shop Street, the busiest street in the west, hung with bunting and lined with buskers. Lynch’s Castle, the 16th-century fortified townhouse of one of Galway’s 14 merchant “tribes”, now houses a bank: step inside to see the stonework. Just off Shop Street, St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church (founded 1320) is the largest medieval parish church in Ireland still in use; legend says Christopher Columbus prayed here in 1477. On Saturdays and Sundays, the Galway Market fills the lane beside it with bread, cheese, oysters and street food.

Book lovers: don’t miss Charlie Byrne’s on Middle Street, a rambling new-and-secondhand bookshop that’s easy to lose an hour in.

11:15 – The Latin Quarter and the Hall of the Red Earl

Quay Street, High Street and Cross Street make up the Latin Quarter: pubs, craft shops, cafés and the best street performers. On Druid Lane, the Hall of the Red Earl is the excavated foundation of a 13th-century de Burgo hall, the oldest surviving building in the city, protected under glass and free to visit. It’s a good rainy-day stop.

12:00 – The Spanish Arch and Galway City Museum

The Spanish Arch is what’s left of a 1584 extension of the city walls that protected the quays. Next to it, Galway City Museum is free and covers prehistoric and medieval Galway, the revolutionary years and the sea, with a full-size Galway hooker boat hanging inside. It’s open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am–5pm, plus Sunday afternoons from Easter, and it’s step-free with a lift.

13:00 – Lunch

The best pizza I’ve had in Ireland has been at The Dough Bros on Middle Street. For something lighter, McDonagh’s on Quay Street is Galway’s classic fish and chips (or sit-down seafood), and Ard Bia at Nimmos, in an old stone building beside the Spanish Arch, is lovely for a slower lunch.

14:15 – The Claddagh and the Claddagh Ring

Cross Wolfe Tone Bridge to the Claddagh, once a fishing village outside the walls and the home of the Claddagh ring: two hands for friendship, a heart for love, a crown for loyalty. I bought mine at the Claddagh shop, and if you’re buying one, buy it here, where the story is. Thomas Dillon’s Claddagh Gold on Quay Street has a small free museum of early rings. Watch the swans and the red-sailed Galway hookers at the Claddagh Quay, and look back across the river at the coloured houses of the Long Walk: the classic Galway photo.

Not in Galway? These Amazon picks are a good start: a stunning ladies’ Claddagh ring and a beautiful men’s Claddagh ring.

15:00 – Salthill Prom (or a River Cruise)

From the Claddagh, walk the Salthill promenade along Galway Bay, about 2 to 3 km each way. Local tradition says you walk the whole prom and “kick the wall” at Blackrock before turning back. On a clear day you’ll see the hills of the Burren across the bay.

Alternative (May to September): the Corrib Princess sails from Woodquay at 2:30pm and 4:30pm (plus 12:30pm in July and August) on a 90-minute cruise up the River Corrib to Lough Corrib, past castle ruins. Call ahead to check space.

17:00 – Galway Cathedral and the University Quad

Walk back over the Salmon Weir Bridge (watch for salmon in early summer) to Galway Cathedral, built on the site of the old city jail and consecrated in 1965. It’s often called one of the last great stone cathedrals built in Europe; entry is free, with a donation welcome. Five minutes away, the 1849 Quadrangle at the University of Galway is modelled on Christ Church, Oxford.

19:00 – Dinner, Then Trad Music

Book dinner in summer and at weekends. Ard Bia at Nimmos is my pick for a relaxed Irish meal; Aniar, Galway’s Michelin-starred restaurant, is the splurge.

Then the main event: trad music. Sessions usually start from 9 to 9:30pm and are free. My favourites:

Tigh Chóilí (Mainguard Street): small, packed and the best-known session pub in Galway, with music most afternoons and nights.

Taaffes Bar (Shop Street): traditional pub with daily sessions.

Tigh Neachtain (Cross Street): the painted-blue corner pub, full of snugs, with regular music.

The Crane Bar (Sea Road, West End): an upstairs room built for trad; a short walk over the river.

The Quays (Quay Street): bigger and livelier, with bands, and fitted out with church interiors from France.

Róisín Dubh (Dominick Street): Galway’s best original live-music venue. The name means “Little Dark Rose”, a poetic name for Ireland.

Get in the mood before you go: Steve Earle’s original “Galway Girl” is the one you’ll hear in the pubs, while the Ed Sheeran version is the one everyone knows.

Day 2: Choose Your Day Trip

Option A: The Connemara Loop (Car)

This is the day I’d choose. It’s a loop of about 200 km, so leave by 9am. Read my full guide to things to do in Connemara, and see my guide to renting a car in Ireland if you need one. I always recommend a car here: yes, it can cost more than you expect, but nothing else gives you this freedom.

Kylemore, honestly: I’ve visited, and for me the history is the most impressive part: Mitchell Henry’s love story, the tragedy that followed, and the Benedictine nuns who arrived as refugees from Ypres after the First World War. The Victorian Walled Garden is stunning. The house is more mixed: the rooms open to visitors feel tired and in need of a refresh, so go for the story and the garden. My guide on how to visit Kylemore Abbey has more.

The Sky Road: I’ve driven it, and it’s worth doing slowly. Take the upper road, and stop at the pull-ins for photos rather than shooting on the move: the road is narrow with little room to pass.

Swap-in: Killary Fjord. From Kylemore, it’s 15 minutes east to Leenane at the head of Killary Harbour, Ireland’s best-known fjord on the Galway–Mayo border. I’ve been, and the stillness of the water between those steep mountains is something photos don’t capture. Return via Maam and Oughterard instead of Clifden. If you’d rather continue north, Cong and Westport are in County Mayo.

Option B: The Aran Islands (No Car Needed)

I’ve been out to the Aran Islands, and stepping off the boat really does feel like arriving somewhere older and slower. Aran Island Ferries run a connecting bus from Galway city centre to Rossaveel (about 45 minutes), then it’s a 40-minute crossing to Inis Mór. In summer, some sailings also leave directly from Galway Docks. Hire a bike at the pier in Kilronan and cycle about 7 km to Dún Aonghasa, the prehistoric stone fort on the edge of a 100 m cliff (OPW site). Prefer not to cycle? Minibus and pony-and-trap tours wait at the pier.

Book the ferry ahead in summer, and check the forecast: crossings can be cancelled in strong wind. Aer Arann Islands also flies from Connemara Airport, 30 minutes west of the city, in under 10 minutes. Full details are in my guide to getting to the Aran Islands from Galway, and more islands are in the best of Ireland’s islands.

Option C: The Cliffs of Moher and the Burren

The Cliffs of Moher are about 1 hr 30 min south in County Clare. Day tours from Galway usually stop at Kinvara and Dunguaire Castle (photos only: it has been closed since 2023), the Burren and Doolin. Driving yourself, I’d go via Kinvara and Ballyvaughan, stop at the Burren Smokehouse in Lisdoonvarna (I always buy their smoked salmon), see the cliffs, and come back along the coast road. See my guides to exploring the Burren and things to do in County Clare.

No Car? Book a Day Tour Instead

If you’re not driving, a small-group or coach tour from Galway is the easiest way to do Day 2. These are the best-reviewed Galway departures on Viator; all leave from the city centre in the morning and are back by early evening.

My tips: coach tours are the cheapest (roughly €45–€85 per person) but stops are short; small-group tours cost more and get you more time at Kylemore. Check whether entry tickets are included: some Connemara tours sell Kylemore tickets at a discount on the bus. Tours that combine the Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher make a long day, so pick one if you’d rather not rush.

Rainy-Day Plan

It will rain at some point; Galway gets rain on more days than not. Swap outdoor stops for these:

• Galway City Museum (free; allow 1 to 2 hours)
• Hall of the Red Earl (free; under cover)
• Charlie Byrne’s bookshop and the Galway Market’s covered stalls
• Galway Cathedral and St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church
• An afternoon session in Tigh Chóilí

Free Things to Do in Your 2 Days

• Galway City Museum and the Hall of the Red Earl
• Galway Cathedral (donation welcome) and St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church
• The Spanish Arch, the Long Walk and the Claddagh
• Walking the Salthill prom and kicking the wall
• Buskers on Shop Street and trad sessions in the pubs
• Connemara National Park and the Diamond Hill walk
• The Sky Road

How Much Do 2 Days in Galway Cost?

Galway isn’t cheap, but Day 1 costs almost nothing in entry fees. Here’s what to budget per person for two days, not including getting to Galway. Accommodation is per person sharing a double room (or a hostel bed).

Totals use the Aran Islands or a tour for Day 2 and don’t include car hire. A pint is about €6–€7 in Galway pubs, and trad sessions are free. Prices were checked in October 2026: ferry €34 return and city bus €10 (Aran Island Ferries), bike hire €20 or e-bike €40 (Aran Bike Hire, Kilronan Pier), Dún Aonghasa and Aughnanure €5 (OPW), Kylemore €18, and the Cliffs of Moher €15 at the gate (cheaper booked online).

Where to Eat in Galway

More on traditional Irish food. Oysters are in season from September to April.

Where to Stay in Galway

Book early. I mean it. When my husband was in Galway Hospital, I needed a room at short notice. I ended up calling 11 B&Bs and hotels to find one, and then had to move to another hotel in Salthill for the next two nights because the weekend was booked solid. That was an ordinary weekend, not a festival. In July, Race Week or the Oyster Festival, book months ahead.

City Centre

• Hotel Hardiman (formerly the Meyrick): grand old railway hotel right on Eyre Square.
• The Residence Hotel: boutique, in the Latin Quarter.
• The House Hotel: stylish, steps from Shop Street.
• Leonardo Hotel Galway (formerly Jurys Inn): good-value, by the river at the Spanish Arch end.
• Snoozles Hostel: budget, near the bus and train stations.

Salthill (Sea Views, Easier Parking)

I’ve stayed in a B&B in Salthill and would again: you get the sea air and a 30-minute walk along the prom into town.

• The Nest Boutique Hostel: budget, bright and friendly.
• The Clybaun Hotel: family-friendly, with parking.
• The Salthill Hotel: on the prom, with a leisure centre.

For castle stays, see my castle hotels in Ireland; for the rest of the country, where to stay in Ireland.

Getting to Galway and Getting Around

Parking: don’t drive in the city centre on Day 1. Park at your hotel or a multi-storey car park and walk; the centre is compact and traffic is slow. Public transport: see my guide to public transport in Ireland and getting around Ireland. Phones: EU roaming covers most European visitors; from elsewhere, make sure your phone is unlocked before you leave so you can buy a local SIM or eSIM.

When to Go: Festivals and Busy Weekends

Galway is a festival city, which is wonderful if you plan for it and miserable if you don’t. My best festivals in Ireland guide covers the rest of the country.

My pick is September: the Oyster Festival, oysters back in season, and the summer crowds gone. Visiting in winter? See Ireland at Christmas.

Galway for Limited Mobility

Galway City is mostly flat, but the Latin Quarter has cobbles and Shop Street is crowded on summer afternoons. Galway City Museum is step-free with a lift; the Salthill prom is level; Kylemore runs a shuttle to its walled garden; and the Sky Road and Inagh Valley can be enjoyed from the car. The Aran Islands are hardest, with ferry gangways and rough roads. My honest guides: Accessible Galway City, Accessible County Galway and travelling with hidden disabilities.

2 Days in Galway FAQ

Is 2 days enough for Galway?

Yes. Two days is enough to see Galway City properly on foot and take one big day trip to Connemara, the Aran Islands or the Cliffs of Moher. Add a third day to do two of those trips.

What should I do on my first day in Galway?

Walk the city: Eyre Square, Shop Street, St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, the Latin Quarter, the Spanish Arch and Galway City Museum, then cross to the Claddagh and walk the Salthill promenade. Finish with dinner and a free trad music session in the Latin Quarter.

What is the best day trip from Galway?

With a car, the Connemara loop to Kylemore Abbey, Connemara National Park and the Sky Road is the best day trip. Without a car, the Aran Islands by bus and ferry, or a Cliffs of Moher and Burren tour, are the easiest.

Do I need a car for 2 days in Galway?

Not for Galway City, which is compact and walkable. A car is the best way to see Connemara on Day 2, but you can reach the Aran Islands by bus and ferry, and tours run to Connemara and the Cliffs of Moher.

How do you get from Dublin to Galway?

The train from Dublin Heuston to Galway Ceannt takes about 2 hours 20 minutes. Citylink and Bus Éireann coaches take about 2 hours 30 minutes from Dublin city and Dublin Airport.

Where is the best place to stay in Galway for 2 days?

Stay in the city centre near Eyre Square or the Latin Quarter to walk everywhere, or in Salthill for sea views and easier parking, about 30 minutes’ walk along the promenade from town. Book early: Galway fills up quickly at weekends and during festivals.

Where can I hear traditional Irish music in Galway?

Tigh Chóilí, Taaffes and Tigh Neachtain in the Latin Quarter and The Crane Bar in the West End have regular trad sessions, usually from 9 to 9:30pm. Most sessions are free.

What is free to do in Galway City?

Galway City Museum, the Hall of the Red Earl, Galway Cathedral, St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, the Spanish Arch, the Long Walk, the Claddagh, the Salthill promenade, street buskers and pub trad sessions are all free.

What can you do in Galway when it rains?

Visit Galway City Museum and the Hall of the Red Earl (both free), Charlie Byrne’s bookshop, Galway Cathedral and St Nicholas’ Church, or settle into an afternoon trad session or afternoon tea.

When is the best time to visit Galway?

September is a strong choice, with the Oyster Festival, oysters in season and fewer crowds. July has the Arts Festival and the Races but the highest prices. Winter is quiet and cheap, with a Christmas market in Eyre Square.

Is Kylemore Abbey worth visiting?

Yes, especially for its history and its Victorian Walled Garden. Adult tickets are €18 and include the abbey rooms, neo-Gothic church, lakeshore walks and garden shuttle. It is about 1 hour 25 minutes’ drive from Galway City.

How much does 2 days in Galway cost?

Roughly €185 to €275 per person on a budget (hostel, free city sights, Aran Islands by bus and ferry or a coach tour), €375 to €585 mid-range with a hotel and a day tour, and €690 or more for comfort. Galway City’s main sights and trad sessions are free.

Can you do the Aran Islands as a day trip from Galway?

Yes. Aran Island Ferries runs a bus from Galway city centre to Rossaveel, and the crossing to Inis Mór takes about 40 minutes. You can hire a bike at the pier and cycle to Dún Aonghasa and back in an afternoon.

Plan the Rest of Your Trip

• County Galway Travel Guide
• 3 Days in Galway: Castles, Connemara and Hidden Gems
• Galway or Cork: Which Should You Visit?: pub culture, scenery and day trips compared
• Ireland Itineraries and the Ireland Trip Architect
• Ireland Travel Guide and Ireland Travel Tips
• Is Ireland Worth Visiting? and When to Visit Ireland
• What to Pack for Ireland
• Hidden Gems in Ireland and Ireland Off the Beaten Path
• Answering Your Ireland Travel Questions
• Dublin Travel Guide and Northern Ireland Travel
• Regions: Ireland’s Ancient East, Hidden Heartlands, Wild Atlantic Way

Questions about your Galway trip? Ask me in my Ireland Facebook group and I’ll see if I can help.