Galway
Galway is a small city on Ireland’s west coast. Hear live music in its pubs, explore the center on foot and use the city as a starting point for trips to nearby islands and countryside.
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Galway sits on Ireland’s west coast, where the River Corrib meets Galway Bay. Its compact center is easy to explore on foot, with pubs known for live music and a food culture shaped by the coast. Oysters are a local specialty, and the city’s July arts festival adds performances and events to a summer visit. Galway suits travelers looking for a walkable city break or a base for exploring the west of Ireland.
The city is a starting point for trips to the Aran Islands, Connemara and the Cliffs of Moher. Plan how to get beyond Galway before choosing your outings. Allow a couple of days for the city and one excursion, and add nights if you want to take several trips. Summer is a good fit if you want to visit during the arts festival. Spring and early fall suit trips focused on the city and surrounding region.
Galway in five
- Take the ferry to Inis Mór from RossavealAran Islands ferries leave from Rossaveal, about 40 minutes west by road, with shuttle buses from the city. Rent a bike on the island.Aran Islands
- Book festival weeks earlyJuly's arts festival and the late-summer races fill the city. The Galway City guide has the festival dates and the districts to sleep in.Galway City
- Pay for the Cliffs of Moher visitor centerThe cliffs are about 1.5 hours south by road. Admission covers the visitor center and parking; buses and tours run from Galway.Cliffs of Moher
- Drive Connemara slowlyRoads are narrow, with sheep and cyclists around blind bends. Allow more time than the map suggests.Connemara
Things to do in Galway
See all attractions in Galway
Need to know
- Airport
- Shannon (SNN), about 1.5 hours; Dublin (DUB), about 2.5
- Getting there
- Trains from Dublin Heuston, about 2.5 hours
- Getting around
- Walk the city; buses and tours for the coast
- Best base
- The Latin Quarter or near Eyre Square
- Time needed
- 2 days, plus a day trip
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Festival
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain17 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°Wet, windyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 108 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- FebruaryRain17 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Wet, windyFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 121 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- MarchRain16 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°ShowersMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 117 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Mild, showersAprilRain
Best
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, showers
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Long daysMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JuneRain16 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyRain16 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Arts festivalJulyRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Arts festival
- AugustRain19 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Races, busyAugustRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 138 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Races, busy
- SeptemberRain18 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Oyster seasonSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 122 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Oyster season
- OctoberRain19 rainy daysHigh13°Low9°Wet, windyOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 139 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh10°Low6°Wet, darkNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, dark
- DecemberRain18 rainy daysHigh9°Low5°Christmas marketDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 131 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas market
Average daily high and low in Galway, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jul Galway International Arts Festival
Right now in Galway
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 6°
- Humidity
- 90%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
County Galway
08:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today11°1°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue12°2°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed11°3°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu11°6°6%Thursday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Fri10°7°12%Friday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sat9°5°10%Saturday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sun7°4°11%Sunday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 11%.
Updated 06:18 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- JulGalway International Arts FestivalGalway
Day trips by train
Before you go to Galway
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Rules for Galway, checked
- Check Ireland’s entry requirements with Irish Immigration before you travel. Requirements depend on your nationality and travel document.Source
- Drive on the left in Ireland. If you hire a car, make sure you are comfortable driving on the left before setting off.
- Smoking is banned in enclosed workplaces, including pubs and restaurants. Use designated outdoor areas.
Plan around Galway
Regions, rail, driving, money and entry
Read the guideGalway CityLatin Quarter, West End and Salthill
Read the guideAran IslandsFerries, forts and bikes across the bay
Read the guideCliffs of MoherTickets, hours and the Doolin cruise
Read the guideConnemaraBog, lakes and Kylemore Abbey
Read the guideThe BurrenLimestone trails and wildflowers in Clare
Read the guideDublinTrains from Heuston, about 2.5 hours
Read the guideTrains, buses and carsGetting out of Galway to the coast
Read the guideGalway FAQ
Is Galway better as a base or a destination?
Both work. For a night or two the city itself is the draw; for longer, the day trips are the reason to stay. The Galway City guide covers the districts, the museum and the promenade.
How do you get from Dublin to Galway?
By train from Heuston in about 2.5 hours, or by express coach from the city center and the airport in a similar time.
Can I see the Cliffs of Moher from Galway without a car?
Yes. Day tours and public buses run from Galway, and tours often stop in the Burren on the way.
How many days do you need for Galway and its day trips?
Three to four: two for the city, then one full day for each day trip you choose. The Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher each need a whole day from Galway.
Aran Islands or Cliffs of Moher from Galway?
The Aran Islands give a quieter, car-free day with bikes and ancient forts; the Cliffs of Moher are bigger, busier and easier by bus. If you have one day, pick the Aran Islands in good weather and the cliffs otherwise.