One Day In Galway: How To Spend 24 Hours In Galway!
Last Updated: September 14 2025
If you want to spend one day in Galway, you’ve come to the right place! This vibrant harbour city on Ireland’s west coast is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, and with good reason.
From entertaining street performers and traditional Irish pubs to beautiful architecture and fascinating museums, the “City of Tribes” has plenty of things that draw travellers in, including us. As such, it can be hard to see it all in one visit, especially if you only have one day.
Luckily, though, we’re here to help you plan the perfect 24 hours in Galway. We’ll cover the best things to do in Galway, where to stay, how to get around, and a selection of exciting tours. Let’s dive straight in!
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A Quick Overview of Your One Day in Galway
Your One Day In Galway – Morning
Galway Cathedral
The Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven & St Nicholas is one of the most popular things to see in Galway. More commonly known as Galway Cathedral, this 20th-century landmark is located along the banks of the River Corrib.
Despite the cathedral’s impressive architectural design, it only took 7 years to construct (1958-1965). Interestingly, it’s also one of Europe’s youngest stone cathedrals.
Galway Cathedral has a Renaissance Revival design with Romanesque and Gothic elements. Its most prominent feature is a 44-metre (145-foot) tall green dome – we highly recommend taking a shot of this dome from outside.
Inside, Galway Cathedral is adorned with vibrant rose windows, intricate stone arches, pristine marble floors, and beautiful paintings/mosaics. This incredible building is free to visit, but you can leave a donation. You can usually visit between 8:30 am and 6:30 pm, but entry times are subject to change.
Quay Street
No trip to Galway is complete without walking along Quay Street. One of, if not the city’s most famous street, this pedestrianised throughfare is renowned for its lively atmosphere, live street performers, colourful facades, and traditional pubs.
In other words, your senses are in for a feast. One minute, you’ll photograph the vibrant buildings. Next, you’ll be getting lost in the quaint shops. There’s so much to see on Quay Street that you’ll likely find yourself visiting a few times.
Luckily, the street is ideally located in the heart of the Latin Quarter and steps away from many popular attractions. For example, the cathedral is only a 10-minute walk away. That said, we also recommend getting a Guinness from a traditional pub at lunchtime – M.Fitzgerald’s Bar is a fantastic choice!
Notable highlights on Quay Street include the Galway Girl Statue, the Seattle Stone, the Claddagh Ring Museum, and Aran Sweater Market.
Go on a food tour
If you’re anything like us, you enjoy eating your way around the cities you visit. If that’s you, you’ll thoroughly enjoy your trip to Galway, as there are plenty of places to grab a tasty bite.
One of the best ways to experience the city’s finest food and drink is on this food tour. Food tours are an excellent way to sample a wide variety of local delights from the best establishments in a short space of time.
Led by a local guide, this 2.5-hour tour gives you a fascinating insight into Galway’s culinary scene. You’ll meet local food producers and sample their products. Highlights include drinking a beer at one of the city’s oldest pubs, sampling a delicious chowder, and tucking into a hearty Irish stew.
As if this tour didn’t already sound exciting, you’ll also walk away with a goodie bag. We’re getting hungry just thinking about it!
Your One Day In Galway – Afternoon
Have lunch in Galway
If you don’t go on the food tour or are still hungry for something else, consider grabbing a bite to eat before continuing with the rest of your day. Whether you’re looking for a hearty pub lunch, traditional Irish food, light bites, or international cuisine, the city has it all.
One of the best pubs in Galway is the Front Door. This hugely popular Irish pub is renowned for its welcoming atmosphere, delicious food, and live music. Popular menu items include homemade soup of the day, seafood chowder, Irish stew, and burgers.
If you’re looking for something lighter or quicker, you could stop at somewhere like Prátaí instead. Prátaí is a small establishment that serves ‘proper Irish chips’. You can order the chips plain or with various toppings, such as cheese, garlic aioli, and crispy onions.
Other popular places to eat include the Magpie Bakery, the Dough Bros, and the Kings Head.
Spanish Arch
The Spanish Arch is easily one of the top things to do in Galway, Ireland. It’s also one of the city’s most iconic historical attractions. Better yet, it’s completely free to visit!
The Spanish Arch was built in 1548. However, it’s an extension of a 12th-century Norman town wall – soldiers once kept watch here and manned cannons.
Remarkably, it’s reported that famed explorer Christopher Columbus visited the original wall in 1477. Originally called Ceann an Bhalla (‘the head of the wall’), the Spanish Arch is located in a scenic location along the bank of the River Corrib.
Aside from being a historic sight, the arch is a fantastic place to relax, admire the harbour, and enjoy a leisurely stroll. Occasionally, you can also find buskers playing here. The Spanish Arch is only steps away from Quay Street, so it won’t take you long to find it.
Galway City Museum
History lovers looking to learn more about Galway’s rich history simply have to visit Galway City Museum. The museum opened in 2006 and is conveniently located next to the Spanish Arch.
There are three different floors to explore, each with a different theme. You can expect to learn all about the city’s history, archaeology, and culture through a variety of permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Some of the museum’s most interesting exhibitions include Revolution in Galway, Galway Hooker, and Keepers of the Gael. Meanwhile, specific highlights include the Galway Civic Sword, a 17th-century altarpiece, and the Nan O’Toole Collection.
The museum also features a vast collection of artefacts dating back to medieval and prehistoric times. Galway City Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Entry to the museum is free, but donations are welcome. We recommend allowing 1-2 hours for your visit.
Your One Day In Galway – Evening
Have dinner in Galway
After a busy day of exploring, you’ll likely be in the mood for something else to eat. That said, why don’t you find somewhere lovely to enjoy dinner?
As we mentioned a few times already in this guide, there are many places to eat in the city, so you won’t struggle to find somewhere. Again, there’s something for every taste. While you might be tempted to grab a quick bite, we do recommend enjoying a nice sit-down meal. That way, you’ll have more energy for the rest of your day.
One of the best places for dinner in Galway is Brasserie Galway. This award-winning restaurant specialises in seafood and steak dishes. It prides itself on offering locally sourced and seasonal food!
Another popular option is John Keogh’s Gastropub, a traditional-style pub offering a wide range of dishes. Burgers, steak, and fish and chips are just some of its tasty offerings.
Salthill Promenade
One of the most beautiful things to see in Galway is Salthill Promenade. A leisurely 40-minute walk from the Spanish Arch, the promenade offers a peaceful and scenic escape from the busy city centre.
It spans 3 km (1.9 miles) of coastline from the Claddagh Quay to the Blackrock Diving Tower. Walking along the promenade is an excellent way to admire part of Ireland’s stunning coastline.
You can walk along the promenade any time of day, but it’s especially beautiful in the evening around sunset. There are benches here too, so why don’t you find a pleasant place to sit and enjoy the views? On a clear day, you can see the hills in Burren National Park.
If you don’t want to walk to Salthill Promenade, you can take a taxi or the bus (services 401 and 402). The bus takes approximately 15 minutes to reach the promenade.
O’Connor’s Pub
Before heading back into the city centre to put your head down for the night, stop by O’Connor’s Pub for a nightcap or two.
O’Connor’s Pub is one of the city’s most famous pubs! It’s well known for offering a wide range of drinks and live music. Interestingly, the pub also appeared in the music video for Ed Sheeran’s “Galway Girl”.
Regarding the offerings at O’Connor’s, you can choose everything from traditional Irish whiskey and Guinness to cocktails and shots. Aside from the expansive drinks menu and epic live music, you’ll also enjoy O’Connor’s vibrant atmosphere and cosy setting.
O’Connor’s is open 7 days a week from 7:30 pm. Closing times vary between 11 pm and 12 am. You can listen to live music at O’Connor’s on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm and 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm.
Have More Than One Day in Galway?
If you only have enough time to plan a one-day Galway itinerary, then we recommend sticking to the attractions and things to do that we’ve already shown you. However, if you’ve got longer, you can start looking at extra attractions!
Luckily for you, we’re here to help. Here are some extra things you can do in Galway if you have more time. We highly recommend planning for multiple days in the city because you’ll get to see a lot more.
Galway Bay Boat Tour
If you have more time, you could head out on this Galway Bay boat tour. Ireland is well known for its vast coastline and rich maritime history. Honestly, you could easily spend one or two weeks exploring the country’s picturesque coast.
That said, a boat tour of Galway Bay is a fantastic way to get a glimpse into the coast’s impressive natural beauty and history in a short space of time.
This boat tour allows you to explore the bay with an experienced local fisherman. You’ll enjoy scenic views of the city’s main attractions, such as the Spanish Arch and Claddagh, while also learning about Ireland’s maritime history, including the Galway Hookers (traditional sailboats).
Across the bay, you’ll also take in views of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Burren in Co. Clare. The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and costs €20 (£17.35). Tours depart at 10 am and 12 pm.
Go on a walking tour
One of our favourite ways to explore a new place is on a walking tour. We love walking tours because they’re an enjoyable way to see and learn more about a destination!
In Galway, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to walking tours. For example, you could explore the city’s main highlights and some hidden gems with an expert local guide on this welcome to Galway walking tour. This 75-minute tour visits traditional pubs, iconic spots like the Spanish Arch, and takes you along the small canals.
Alternatively, if you’re after something more unique, go on this dark history guided tour instead. This spooky 1.5-hour tour takes you on a journey through the city’s macabre and haunted past. It takes place daily at 6:30 pm and is led by a local guide.
During the tour, you’ll uncover mysterious and murderous tales of Galway while passing some of the city’s most popular attractions.
Day trip to the Cliffs of Moher
If you have enough time, you could leave Galway and head to one of Ireland’s most famous attractions, the Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs of Moher are located on the West Coast of Ireland, along the picturesque Wild Atlantic Way.
They are a set of cliffs that make up part of the Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark. These cliffs are renowned for their stunning scenery and immense size. You might also recognise them from the Harry Potter franchise!
They are an impressive 8 km (5 miles) long and 214 metres (702 feet) high. These cliffs are also only 1.5 hours from Galway, so you can easily drive there.
Alternatively, you can explore the Cliffs of Moher from Galway on this full-day tour. This fully guided tour takes you to the cliffs, while also stopping at other popular Wild Atlantic Way attractions, such as Corcomroe Abbey and Dunguaire Castle.
Day trip to the Aran Islands
Another popular day trip from Galway is the Aran Islands, one of our absolute favourite places in Ireland. The Aran Islands are a group of three islands located in Galway Bay – Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer.
These islands are known for their natural scenery, wildlife, and ancient sites. Our favourite island is Inishmore, a care-free island you can cycle around, with highlights including the seal colony, Dún Aonghasa, and Kilmurvery Beach.
If you only have a few days in Galway, we recommend visiting the Aran Islands on a tour. This Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher tour and cruise is a great option!
This 10-hour tour takes you to the smallest of the Aran Islands, Inis Oirr. Here, you’ll find beautiful beaches, a shipwreck, a lighthouse, and a castle. You can get around the island on foot, by pony and cart, or by bicycle. Conveniently, this tour also visits the Cliffs of Moher.
Helpful Information for Your One Day in Galway
How to get to Galway
Galway itself doesn’t have an airport, but there are multiple airports nearby – Dublin Airport is only a 2.5-hour drive away (traffic dependent). You can fly into Dublin, Ireland’s capital, on a direct flight from many destinations, including Manchester, London, Barcelona, and Chicago.
You’ll also find two domestic airports near Galway City (Knock and Shannon). When you arrive in Ireland, we recommend hiring a car. Hiring a car is a popular option because Galway is located along the Wild Atlantic Way, a popular road trip route!
Alternatively, you could drive your own car to Galway from Dublin by taking a ferry from Liverpool or Holyhead. If you don’t want to drive, there are daily train services from Dublin to Ceannt Station (Galway). You can also use Ireland’s bus/coach system to travel between the two cities.
Meanwhile, Citylink provides bus services to Galway from other destinations in Ireland, including Cork, Limerick, and Clifden.
How to get around Galway
Spending one day in Galway is made easy because the city is so compact. Therefore, getting around is effortless. Many of the city’s most popular attractions are close together, making Galway very walkable.
We love that you can easily explore Galway on foot because it allows you to truly experience the city’s vibrant atmosphere – you’ll pass by the quaint shops, traditional pubs, and fabulous street performers.
We also find that walking allows us to discover hidden gems. However, you don’t have to walk around Galway. You can also pick up a bicycle and ride around the city. West Ireland Cycling is a popular choice!
Of course, you can also get around Galway and its surrounding area using the local bus services. Bus Éireann offers several bus services from Eyre Square. Eyre Square is conveniently located in Galway city centre.
The best time to visit Galway
You’ll find plenty of exciting things to see in Galway City whenever you visit. Honestly, we don’t believe there’s a bad time to visit. That said, there are a few things to take into consideration.
For example, if you visit Galway in the high season (July and August), you can expect better weather. Temperatures average 16°C (60.8°F), and you’ll have more sunlight hours, which is perfect for exploring. However, these favourable weather conditions, along with the school summer holidays, can lead to larger crowds and higher prices.
On the flip side, you could visit in the shoulder season (April to May and September to October).
These times of year feature cooler temperatures and more unpredictable weather, but fewer crowds and more affordable accommodation prices. It’s also worth considering the events that occur throughout the year, such as the Galway Film Fleadh in July.
If you visit in November/December, there’s also Galway’s Christmas markets.
Exploring Galway by tour
Even if you only have one day in Galway, you can easily see most of the city independently. However, it’s worth noting that there are a variety of exciting tour options if you’d prefer to explore the city with a local guide.
Here are three of the city’s best tours:
- Welcome to Galway Walking Tour – On this walking tour, you’ll learn all about Galway’s culture, heritage, and music history thanks to an expert local guide.
- Galway Food Tour – On this 2.5-hour walking food tour, keen foodies can sample and learn about delicious local dishes. The tour includes multiple food tastings, beer tastings, and a goodie bag.
- Galway: City sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus tour – This hop-on hop-off bus ticket, featuring audio commentary, offers unlimited travel between 13 tourist spots in Galway for 24 to 48 hours.
Where to stay in Galway
If you only have one day in Galway, you’ll want to make sure you find the perfect accommodation. Luckily, the city isn’t short of fantastic places to stay.
Here are three popular accommodation options you might want to consider:
Budget: The Eyre Square Townhouse
The Eyre Square Townhouse is an affordable place to stay in the heart of Galway. It features stylish/modern couple and family bedrooms equipped with en-suite facilities, air conditioning, and free WiFi.
The townhouse is only a 2-minute walk from the train and coach station, and Eyre Square is only steps away. Better yet, there are plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops nearby.
Mid-range: Leonardo Hotel Galway
This 4-star hotel is situated on Quay Street, a short walk from popular attractions such as Galway Cathedral, the Spanish Arch, and the Galway City Museum. Some of the hotel’s bedrooms also offer excellent views of Galway Bay.
Regarding amenities, the Leonardo Hotel Galway has an in-house restaurant, a bar, and a beer garden. Meanwhile, the bedrooms feature free WiFi, TVs, and en-suite bathrooms.
Luxury: The g Hotel & Spa
The g Hotel & Spa is one of the best places to stay in Galway if you seek luxury. This glamorous 5-star hotel has over 100 beautifully appointed bedrooms/suites featuring high-speed internet, bath robes, and en-suite bathrooms.
After a busy day of exploring, you can sip cocktails in the Grand Salon, relax at the spa, or tuck into a delicious meal at the on-site restaurant.
Frequently Asked Questions about Spending 24 Hours in Galway
What to do for one day in Galway?
Galway Cathedral, Quay Street, and the Spanish Arch are among the best things to do if you only have one day in Galway. There are many things to see in Galway, but you can easily cover the main attractions in one day.
An excellent way to explore the city is on a tour. Galway’s hop-on, hop-off bus service is also a popular way to see the city’s main highlights in a short space of time.
Can Galway be a day trip?
Yes, Galway can be an excellent day trip destination. While there is a vast range of exciting things to see, you can easily explore most of the city in one day.
You can easily visit the most popular attractions, such as the Spanish Arch, Quay Street, and Salthill Promenade and go on a tour. While we highly recommend spending a night in Galway, the city is only a 2-hour drive from Dublin, Ireland’s capital.
Is a day trip to Galway worth it?
Yes, a day trip to Galway is certainly worth it. You can visit popular attractions like the Spanish Arch, sip Guinness in a traditional pub, go on a food tour, and so much more.
Ideally, you’ll be able to spend more than one day in Galway. However, 24 hours is still plenty of time to see the main highlights, go on a tour, and experience the city’s vibrant atmosphere.
Is Galway a walkable city?
Yes, Galway is a walkable city. Most of the city’s main attractions are close together, and you’re never too far away from pubs, shops, restaurants, and hotels.
You can easily walk between attractions like Galway City Museum, Quay Street, and the Spanish Arch. As Galway is relatively compact, walking tours and bicycle rentals are popular. You can also easily get around Galway using the local bus services operated by Bus Éireann.
Final Thoughts on Your One Day in Galway
We’ve shown you how to spend 24 hours in Galway. While we recommend spending two to three days in the city, it’s possible to experience everything on offer in one day.
Whether you want to get a sense of the city’s vibrant atmosphere, drink Guinness in a traditional pub, or visit historical landmarks, there’s something for everyone. For the best experience, prioritise the most popular attractions, and spend a few hours exploring the city’s bustling streets.
If you have other questions about spending one day in Galway, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via our Instagram, Facebook, or in the comments below!
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I’m one half of Acouplescalling. I'm passionate about all things travel and photography and I love sharing my experiences with others. I've seen a lot of the world already and I want to help as many people as I can do the same thing!
