Galway is a city shaped by the sea, its rhythms, its stories, and its soul. From the Claddagh’s proud fishing heritage to the iconic Galway Hooker boats that once ruled the waves, this two-day itinerary invites you to explore the city’s maritime legacy through museums, walking tours and boat journeys. Check it out right here...
The ocean’s influence runs through every part of our fair city, whether you’re enjoying the freshest seafood straight from the bay or spending the day cruising past castles on Lough Corrib or drifting out into the Atlantic to visit the Aran Islands. It’s a valuable and treasured relationship and here are the best ways you can celebrate and experience it in Galway City.
For more inspiration on things to do in Galway City visit: www.
Day One
Morning
Begin your adventure at the Galway City Museum, a sleek modern space beside the Spanish Arch. Inside, you’ll find exhibitions that chart the city’s maritime past, from ancient Atlantic trade routes to the evolution of the Galway Hooker. Step outside and stroll along Nimmo’s Pier, The Long Walk, and the Claddagh Basin, where gulls wheel overhead and the sea breeze still carries whispers of old fishing tales.
above: Rúibín
Lunch
Come lunchtime, settle in at Rúibín, a stylish spot known for its fresh, locally inspired dishes. Whether you're craving seafood or something heartier, this is the perfect place to refuel before your afternoon adventure.
No seafood tour of Galway is complete without a stop at McDonagh’s, a local institution since 1902. It’s casual, iconic, and always buzzing. The chips are crispy, the batter light and the fish, whether cod, haddock, or hake is always fresh from the bay.
Afternoon
Book a spot on the Journey Through Time & Place Walking Tour, and enjoy an interactive guided experience that brings Galway’s maritime legacy to life. Starting at Raven’s Terrace, you’ll trace the evolution of the Claddagh, from its days as a fishing village to its role in Spanish trade and canal commerce. Learn about the traditions of Claddagh women, the craftsmanship behind the Galway Hooker boats, and the lock gates and towpaths that still shape the city’s flow. For more on that please see here.
above: Spanish Arch
Evening
End your day at Ard Bia at Nimmos, a rustic-chic restaurant tucked beside the Spanish Arch. With candlelit tables and a menu that celebrates local produce and global flavours, it’s the kind of place where dinner feels like a celebration of place.
Oscar’s Seafood Bistro is all mismatched charm and culinary finesse. The menu reads like a love letter to the sea: smoked coalfish fishcakes, Aran Island brown crab, wild prawns in garlic butter. It’s intimate, unpretentious, and utterly delicious.
above: views from Blackrock Cottage
Day Two
Morning
Begin your day the Galwegian way, with a stroll along the Salthill Promenade. The Atlantic rolls in as the shoreline teems with walkers, joggers, and wild swimmers who take to the water year-round. Tradition says you should kick the wall at Blackrock before turning back, it’s a small ritual that’s pure Galway, and might bring you some luck.
Reward your efforts with breakfast at Blackrock Cottage, a restored stone beauty with sweeping views of Galway Bay. It’s the kind of spot where the coffee is strong, and the menu is full of local goodness. Think: fluffy pancakes, hearty eggs, and house-baked sourdough, it’s got a breakfast menu that is well worth the walk.
Midday
Step into the living heart of Galway’s maritime heritage at a Galway Hooker Workshop Tour. It offers a look inside working boatyard where the legendary Galway Hooker (the traditional red-sailed fishing boat that’s become a symbol of Galway) is being lovingly restored by master craftsmen. Here, the scent of native oak and larch fills the air as skilled hands shape timber using time-honoured techniques passed down through generations.
After your visit, trade dry land for open water and climb aboard a Galway Bay Boat Tour helmed by Ciaran Oliver, a local mariner whose family has sailed these waters for centuries. As you glide past the colourful houses of Claddagh and out into the open bay, stories of the sea come alive - woven with history, salt air, and the quiet pride of a community that still lives by the tides.
above: Corrib Princess
If your idea of maritime magic includes a tune on the fiddle and a pint, Galway Girl Cruises delivers exactly that. Departing from the city docks, this 90-minute voyage blends live traditional Irish music with views of Gleninagh Castle, Martello towers, and seal colonies lounging on the rocks. It’s essentially a floating céilí with panoramic views, perfect for those who want to mix culture with a splash of craic.
For something a little more serene, climb aboard the Corrib Princess, departing from Woodquay. This elegant river cruiser glides from Woodquay to the wild expanse of Lough Corrib, Ireland’s second-largest lake. As ivy-clad ruins and riverside woodlands drift by, live commentary brings to life the legends of castles, trade routes, and ancient clans who once ruled these waters. Equal parts scenic and soulful, it’s Galway from a whole new angle.
Afternoon
Back on land, make your way to Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, a beloved literary labyrinth tucked on Middle Street. With floor-to-ceiling shelves and a curated collection of Irish and international titles, it’s the perfect place to lose yourself in a story or find one to take home.
On Saturdays, follow your nose to the Galway Market beside St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church. Here, Churchyard Street comes alive with the chatter of traders, the scent of sizzling food, and the freshest local produce you’ll find. From artisan cheeses and fresh seafood to handmade crafts, it’s Galway at its most authentic.
Seek out the stall for Galway Oysters, where you can enjoy oysters that have been freshly shucked, just kilometres from where they’re harvested. The result is a plump, mineral-forward delicacy with a firm texture and a finish that whispers of the Atlantic. Unlike their Pacific cousins, Galway natives are flatter, rounder, and more complex in flavour. A flavour so distinctive it has its own festival: the world-famous Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival, celebrated every September with tastings, music, and shucking championships. But even outside festival season, a plate of Galway Bay oysters is a passport to the region’s maritime soul.
Evening
For dinner, head west to Hooked, a cosy maritime gem in Galway’s Westend. With wooden tables and open-plan seating, it’s where locals linger and visitors feel instantly at home. Start with the creamy seafood chowder, rich, warming and deeply satisfying. Then dive into golden battered fish and chips or Galway Bay prawns. It’s our go-to!
Bonus Trip: Go Beyond the Bay
If you are tempted to stay a little longer and see more of the Irish West Coast. From the heart of Galway City Docks, hop aboard the Aran Island Ferries who provide seasonal sailings (March to September) to and from the Aran Islands, while also offering year-round departures from Rossaveel Harbour, just a 45-minute drive west, with a convenient shuttle bus from the city centre. It’s a trip worth doing at least once because when you’re standing atop the prehistoric stone fort of Dún Aonghasa or watching Atlantic swells crash against limestone cliffs, the Aran Islands is a beautiful reminder of what makes the west so wild, and so wonderful.
For more inspiration on things to do in Galway City visit: www.
Main image by Chaosheng Zhang.
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