Galway

Day 1: Old Galway, bookshops and trad

Ease into Galway’s bohemian buzz on the cobbles of the Latin Quarter, where buskers soundtrack the day and cafés spill onto the street. This is also Ireland’s great book town—plan time to browse and chat; staff recommendations are half the fun.

• Morning: Orient yourself around Eyre Square and stroll to Galway City Museum for a quick primer on the city (peek at the original Pádraic Ó Conaire statue), then amble by the Spanish Arch and along the Long Walk. As you wander, keep an eye out for Galway Poetry Trail plaques; reading a poem in situ is a lovely way to tune your ear.
• Midday: Get happily lost in Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop on Middle Street; ask the team for local writers beyond Yeats (try Rita Ann Higgins or Mike McCormack). If it’s Sat/Sun, detour to Galway Market by St Nicholas’ Church for a warm crêpe or a dozen oysters and easy chat with stallholders.
• Afternoon: Pop into An Taibhdhearc on Middle Street to check what’s on (some shows have surtitles); even a foyer visit gives a feel for Irish-language theatre. If you’ve time, taxi or bus to Kennys Bookshop (Liosbán) for rare/second-hand Irish-interest shelves; it’s a pilgrimage for bibliophiles.
• Evening: Settle into a snug at Tigh Neachtain on Cross Street, then cross the bridge to the West End for a trad session at The Crane Bar (upstairs is for listening). Pub tip: take part in the rounds system and keep voices low near musicians; for a late gig or comedy, Róisín Dubh is a short stroll away.

Day 2: Yeats country and stage lights

Head south into the limestone and woodlands that fired the Irish Literary Revival. Return to town in time to catch Galway’s world-class theatre scene.

• Morning: Drive or join a half-day tour to Coole Park near Gort; walk the Seven Woods and visit the Autograph Tree with the carved initials of Yeats, Synge and Shaw. Seasonal note: the visitor centre has limited winter hours—carry a printed poem (The Wild Swans at Coole) for lakeside reading if it’s off-season.
• Midday: Continue to Thoor Ballylee, Yeats’s tower house; climb the narrow stair and imagine the River running below (check opening dates—typically summer only). Lunch in Gort or Kinvara; seafood chowder hits the spot on a wet day.
• Afternoon: Back in Galway, swing by the Druid Theatre on Chapel Lane or Town Hall Theatre to see what’s on (book ahead in festival weeks). If you prefer something informal, check Galway City Library listings for an Over The Edge reading or drop into Tigh Cóilí for an early session.
• Evening: Start with a whiskey flight at Garavan’s (staff will tailor pours to your taste). Then take in a play—Druid for cutting-edge Irish drama or An Taibhdhearc for an Irish-language experience—before a relaxed nightcap in the King’s Head or under the lights of O’Connell’s beer garden if the evening is fine.

Day 3: Atlantic air, Gaeltacht rhythms and festival flair

Today is about sea, language and that easy Galway friendliness. Choose coast and craft in Connemara or an island hop if seas and schedules allow.

• Morning: Walk the Salthill Prom and kick the wall at Blackrock for luck; strong swimmers can brave a dip (bring a robe—Atlantic temps are brisk year-round). Coffee with a view along the seafront is perfect on a blustery day.
• Midday: Option A (summer/settled seas): ferry to Inis Meáin for a quiet Aran Islands ramble, Irish spoken in the shop and low walls stretching to the horizon. Option B (year-round): bus to An Spidéal for the craft village and lunch; you’ll likely hear Irish in the cafés—use a cúpla focal (Sláinte, Go raibh maith agat).
• Afternoon: Return to town and browse Kennys (if not yet visited) or dip into Galway City Museum’s upper floors for changing exhibitions. If it’s a match day, a GAA game at Pearse Stadium is a superb, shouty slice of local life—ask your neighbour to explain a rule.
• Evening: If you’re here in April, Cúirt readings animate venues across town—book a headline event and follow with a signing in the pop-up festival bookshop. In July, Galway International Arts Festival brings big-top gigs and street spectacle; otherwise, Monroe’s offers nightly music and Tuesday set dancing. Finish at the Spanish Arch at sunset, where impromptu sessions and easy chat flow freely.

By Air

• Galway has no commercial airport.
• Shannon Airport (SNN): ~1 hr 10 min drive via M18. Frequent Expressway route 51 coaches to Galway (about 1 hr 15–1 hr 30).
• Ireland West Airport Knock (NOC): ~1 hr 20 min drive via N17/M17. Bus Éireann route 64 links the airport and Galway (about 1 hr 45–2 hr).
• Dublin Airport (DUB): ~2 hr 30 min drive via M6. 24/7 direct coaches by Citylink and Aircoach to Galway city (typically 2 hr 45–3 hr 15). No rail link from the airport; to take the train, transfer to Heuston by bus/LUAS/taxi.
• Cork Airport (ORK): ~2 hr 45–3 hr drive via N20/M18. Expressway 51 coach via Limerick to Galway (about 3 hr 45–4 hr 15).

By Train

• Main station: Galway Ceannt (city centre, beside Eyre Square).
• Dublin Heuston – Galway: direct InterCity service, typically 2 hr 20–2 hr 35; up to hourly at peaks. Book via Irish Rail (irishrail.ie).
• Limerick – Galway: services via Ennis/Athenry, often direct, around 2 hr (some require a change at Athenry).
• From Cork/Kerry/Waterford: connect via Limerick Junction/Limerick and Athenry, or route via Dublin; no direct trains to Galway from these cities.

By Bus/Coach

• Main stops: Galway Coach Station (Fairgreen Road) for Citylink/Aircoach; Bus Éireann Bus Station (adjacent to Ceannt) for Expressway/local routes.
• Dublin Airport/City – Galway: Citylink and Aircoach operate very frequent non-stop and limited-stop services (about 2 hr 45–3 hr 15).
• Limerick/Shannon – Galway: Expressway 51 (about 1 hr 20–1 hr 30 from Limerick; ~1 hr 15 from Shannon Airport).
• Cork – Galway: Expressway 51 via Limerick (~3 hr 45–4 hr 15).
• Sligo/Knock Airport – Galway: Bus Éireann 64 (about 2 hr 30 from Sligo; ~1 hr 45–2 hr from the airport).

By Car

• Dublin – Galway: M6 motorway (~2 hr 20–2 hr 40). Note the M6 toll near Ballinasloe and the M50 barrier-free toll around Dublin.
• Shannon/Limerick – Galway: M18 (~1 hr 10–1 hr 20).
• Sligo – Galway: N17/M17 (~2 hr 15–2 hr 30).
• Connemara/Clifden – Galway: N59 (allow 1 hr 15–1 hr 45 depending on location).
• City driving/parking: Central areas are busy and parts of the core are pedestrianised. Use multi-storey car parks near Eyre Square/Market Street; pay-and-display on-street. EV fast chargers are available in the city and along the M6.