Begin at Galway Railway Station (Ceannt Station), a charming 19th-century hub with a limestone facade, perfect for kicking off your tour in the heart of the city. Head west (5-minute walk) to Eyre Square, Galway’s bustling central plaza, surrounded by colourful shopfronts. Pop into The Coffee House on Upper Cross Street, just off the square, for a quick coffee or artisan pastry, its cosy vibe and local brews are ideal for a midday pick-me-up.
Stroll south-west (10 minutes) to Shop Street, Galway’s vibrant pedestrianised heart, alive with buskers and historic charm. Stop at McCambridge’s of Galway, a beloved deli and café since 1925, for a cheap, hearty lunch, try their signature crab sandwich or a fresh soup, perfect for a no-reservations, bistro experience. Arrive by 12:30 PM to snag a table, as it’s a local hotspot. The 19th-century interior, with its wooden shelves.
Continue west (5 minutes) to The Latin Quarter, where you’ll find The Spanish Arch, a 16th-century remnant of Galway’s city walls by the River Corrib. The nearby Galway City Museum, free to enter, offers a quick dive into the city’s maritime and cultural history, think Claddagh rings and medieval artefacts. It’s a compact stop, rich with local lore.
Head north (10-minute walk) along Quay Street to Tigh Neachtain, a historic pub from 1894 with a bright blue facade and snug interiors. Grab a quick pint or a bowl of their famous seafood chowder for a taste of Galway’s coastal heritage. Its lively, no-bookings atmosphere and traditional music sessions (often spontaneous) make it a must-visit.
Continue north-east (10 minutes) to Kirwan’s Lane, a narrow, cobbled alley with medieval vibes and boutique shops. Pop into The Dew Drop Inn on Mainguard Street, a quirky gastropub with a nod to Galway’s literary past. It’s perfect for a hot chocolate or coffee, served in a setting that feels both historic and refined. The nearby Lynch’s Castle, a 16th-century merchant’s house now a bank, is worth a glance for its ornate limestone carvings.
End your tour (10-minute walk) at St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, a 14th-century gem where Christopher Columbus is said to have prayed. Its Gothic arches and stained glass offer a serene cultural pause. If time allows, stroll east (5 minutes) to the Corrib Princess dock for a quick view of the river or pop into the Galway Arts Centre on Dominick Street for a free exhibit of contemporary Irish art.
Largest town walking tour
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Population of towns in county Galway
Towns
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Villages
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
County Galway:
Ireland’s county Galway offers a delightful mix of cultural heritage and coastal beauty, with Galway City’s Latin Quarter showcasing historic streets and traditional music venues. The Connemara National Park provides hiking trails through rugged mountains and bogs, while the Aran Islands offer ancient stone forts like Dún Aonghasa. Other favourite stop is ithe Kylemore Abbey’s Victorian gardens and coastal cliffs. Galway is Ireland’s second largest county by size (5,939 sq km) and fifth largest by population (277,737). Population peaked at 440,198 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 148,340 in 1966. In terms of hospitality, Galway is Ireland’s third most visited tourist county with around 1,028,000 international visitors per year.
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Music – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
