Galway wears its creativity like a second skin. On the edge of the Wild Atlantic Way, this bohemian city doesn’t just showcase art, it lives it. Crowned European Capital of Culture in 2020 and named by Lonely Planet among the Top 20 Most Incredible Places to Visit in Ireland, Galway is a city that hums with stories, songs, and soul. Celebrated as “best for immersing yourself in Irish culture”, take this as your sign to visit Galway and immerse yourself in its arts and culture scene. Discover more here...
A UNESCO City of Film, Galway City pulses with creativity, flickering across cinema screens, painted on stone walls, echoed in theatres, and whispered through music that drifts down cobbled lanes. This two-day arts and culture itinerary is your invitation to step beyond the postcards and into the real Galway, into the colourful studios, bustling cafés, and storied stages where imagination never sleeps.
For more inspiration on things to do in Galway City visit: www.
above: Fairhill Coffee & Design
Day One
Morning
Begin your day the way all of the best mornings begin with a coffee! At Fairhill Coffee & Design, a sunlit nook on Abbeygate Street where minimalism meets Irish craftsmanship. Savour a velvety flat white while browsing curated ceramics, textiles, and homeware that make the space feel more gallery than coffee shop. It’s the kind of place where you overhear conversations about Bauhaus and bog oak - and somehow, it all makes perfect sense.
Just around the corner, step into literary history at The Nora Barnacle House Museum on Bowling Green. Once home to Nora Barnacle, wife and muse of James Joyce, this tiny museum offers a window into early 20th-century Galway life, and the quiet spark behind one of Ireland’s greatest literary voices.
above: Galway Arts Centre, photo by Tom Flanagan
Late Morning
From there wander over to Galway Arts Centre on Dominick Street, a cultural nucleus showcasing contemporary Irish and international art. The exhibitions here are often bold, sometimes surreal, and always thought-provoking. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a Thursday evening show or a youth theatre rehearsal echoing from Nun’s Island Theatre nearby.
A few streets away, the Druid/Mick Lally Theatre stands as a beacon of Galway’s creative soul. Located in a restored 19th-century warehouse, this intimate venue is more than a stage, it’s a keystone of Irish storytelling. Founded in 1975, Druid has redefined Irish theatre. Named after the beloved actor Mick Lally, a founding member of Druid Theatre Company, the space hums with the energy of decades of groundbreaking performances. Step inside and you’ll find a space that’s both stripped-back and deeply atmospheric. The walls seem to hold echoes of past productions, while the courtyard outside offers a quiet moment to reflect before the curtain rises. Whether you’re catching a world premiere or a reimagined classic, the experience is visceral, immediate, and unmistakably Galwegian.
above: photo courtesy Cúirt International Festival of Literature
Lunch
Back in Galway’s Westend, on William Street West, The Secret Garden is Galway’s own bohemian tea shop. Choose from over 100 teas and sink into a cushion-laden corner surrounded by local art and kitschy mismatched furniture. This is where ideas bloom over chai and cheesecake.
Walk off lunch by following the river walk from the Westend to Woodquay where the Town Hall Theatre reigns as a cornerstone of Galway’s cultural scene. Housed in a stately 1820s building overlooking Courthouse Square, the theatre has lived many lives: courthouse, town hall, cinema, and now, a vibrant municipal theatre that hosts over 100,000 visitors annually. Hosting everything from local plays to world-renowned festivals such as the Galway International Arts Festival, Cúirt International Festival of Literature, the Galway Film Fleadh, and the Galway Comedy Festival, it’s the beating heart of the city’s arts calendar and the host of Galway’s most celebrated cultural events.
Afternoon
From Woodquay to Bohermore where Galway’s art scene continues to thrive in 126 Artist-Run Gallery - Galway’s only artist-run gallery. This grassroots space is a crucible for emerging talent, often hosting installations that challenge convention and invite dialogue. It’s raw, real, and refreshingly unpolished, perfect for those who prefer their art with a side of rebellion.
For something truly unique, Dangan House Café hosts occasional jazz nights and film nights as part of the Café Lates initiative. Set in a 19th-century grain store within a garden centre, this venue offers soulful live jazz paired with cheese boards and wine, all overlooking a Georgian walled garden.
above: The Crane Bar
Evening
As twilight falls, head to The Crane Bar in the Small Crane Square. Upstairs, the Listeners Club offers intimate gigs, think trad, folk and experimental sounds in a candlelit room. Downstairs, spontaneous sessions unfold around pints and fiddles. It’s Galway’s musical soul, unfiltered. If you’re lucky you might catch a Seanachaí or Storyteller in the Crane Bar - so talented in their craft, you’ll leave with a greater appreciation for spoken word & how these stories survived the passage of time.
Celtic Tales at The Crane Bar is one of Galway’s most enchanting cultural experiences, a live storytelling show that brings Irish and Scottish folklore to life in a candlelit room above one of the city’s most iconic trad pubs. Hosted by master storyteller Rab Fulton, the show runs every Tuesday and Thursday at 7.30pm, weaving together tales of magic, myth, murder, comedy, and horror. Expect stories of the cailleach, trickster spirits, haunted landscapes, and ancient heroes, all told with wit, warmth, and theatrical flair.
above: Plámás
Day Two
Morning
Let your second day begin at Plámás on Dominick Street Upper for a completely wholesome experience. Plámás is a café-gallery hybrid that captures the spirit of Galway’s Westend. Sip locally roasted Compass coffee while browsing cards, prints, and crafts by Galway makers.
With your takeaway coffee and sweet treat stroll through the Westend, where art studios and murals paint beautiful stories on every wall. This corner of Galway is home to Blue Teapot Theatre Company, HystERia Theatre, West End Art Collective, and Just Art It - a thriving network of creatives redefining what Galway art means today.
Late Morning
Step into the poetic world of An Taibhdhearc, Ireland’s national Irish-language theatre. Even if you don’t speak Gaeilge, the architecture and aura of this Middle Street gem are worth experiencing. Check listings for matinee performances or behind-the-scenes tours.
Afternoon/Lunch
For a taste of Galway’s avant-garde, head to the Black Box Theatre on Dyke Road. Minimalist and versatile, it’s home to experimental performances, modern dance, and multimedia works that push the boundaries of art and performance. This is Galway for the curious - bold, unexpected, and entirely original.
Before you bid farewell to Galway, visiting Coffeewerk + Press is a must! Here is where Scandinavian design meets Irish warmth. Perched on Quay Street, this beautiful café-gallery offers world-class coffee, contemporary art, and views of the street that make for the perfect last sip of your cultural escape. Surrounding it are a number of restaurants that all make for brilliant options come lunch time too!
above: Outset Gallery, photo by Julie McLoughlin
Evening
Pop into Outset Gallery, a vibrant creative hub in the City Centre that combines an art shop, gallery and framing services. It features high-quality cards, candles, original prints by Irish artists, and tons of other fabulous gifting options. It’s part gallery, part store, and wholly devoted to Ireland’s creative community.
For dinner, why not elevate things with a bit of artistic charm? Daróg Wine Bar in Galway’s Westend is a gorgeous wine bar featuring the best of Irish cuisine, with a gallery wall that exhibits the creations of local artists. We recommend bringing a pal, and catch up over a few glasses of natural wine while admiring works by contemporary artists. It’s a sensory blend of visual and culinary indulgence.
For more inspiration on things to do in Galway City visit: www.
Main image from Outset Gallery's ‘Stay Forever More’ exhibition by Patryk Gizicki, photo by Julie McLoughlin
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