Galway
Ireland
Backpacking Galway
Information on Galway, sights to see, nightlife, activities and more.
Galway, a colorful city with a warm feel, offers backpackers rich history, picturesque views, lively pubs and beautiful architecture. Located along the Corrib River in western Ireland, Galway is a convenient home base for exploring the region and the nearby Cliffs of Moher. With so many things to do in Galway, you can easily fill a long weekend up. Travelers can explore the city in a day and spend another touring the Cliffs of Moher and the surrounding countryside depending on your schedule. It is a great city for backpackers because you can get around easily by foot and there’s a lot to do for free. Plus the nightlife is awesome as it usually is in Ireland. Galway is a hotbed of traditional Irish music, as you’ll find out walking the lively pedestrian streets of the Latin Quarter, where buskers play and there’s always music and dancing in the pubs. In the bay you can sail to the Aran Islands where it feels like time has stood still for hundreds of years.
Must See
Dunguaire Castle - One of the most photographed castle in Ireland, the 23 meter, 16th-century tower house is undoubtedly a sight to behold. You can find it about half an hour from Galway on the bay, surrounded by water on all but one side.
Salthill Promenade - Southwest of the city center is the Salthill Promenade. A two kilometre long stretch with a beautiful view of the bay. The land behind the promenade was used for farming until the Great Famine in the middle of the 19th century, and was then set up for tourism with the building of the Eglinton Hotel, which is still there today. The promenade is packed with pubs, seafood restaurants and cafes.
Must Do
Day Trip to the Cliffs of Moher - The Cliffs of Moher are about an hour from Galway and stretch for five miles along the Atlantic coast with a height reaching 214 meters. You will see a variety of birds and they have some of the most stunning views of the ocean in Ireland
Day Trip to the Aran Islands - The Aran islands is an archipelago of small rocky islands that you can reach by ferry. Mostly farming communities, the Aran Islands farmers used seaweed for centuries to enrich the soil and have kept a quiet vibe that can’t easily be found in most places. The islands’ pastures are divided by stone walls and hiking trails will lead you to cliffs and beaches as well as ruins of medieval churches and old forts.
Nightlife
Quay Street in Galway’s Latin Quarter is lively by day and rowdy at night. With cobblestone streets in the old center of Galway, the Latin Quarter is a small and sociable place where many of Galway’s favorite pubs, bars, restaurants, galleries and shops are located. Street-performers and entertainers provide a constant soundtrack while you’re bar-hopping. Drinking under the awnings during the day or partying here at night is a must while in Galway.
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