Discover the best Galway tourist attractions in the city! If this is your first time in Galway city and you’re looking for things to do, this guide to the city's top tourist activities is for you! Whether you are visiting Galway for the first time, or a local learning to be a tourist in your own city, we’re inviting you to indulge in what makes Galway City so special! From cosying up in the perfect Aran knit to sipping on a Guinness while listening to traditional music, this is the perfect guide to Galway for tourists!
Go Sightseeing!
Who: Lally Tours Galway offers a range of unforgettable city, day and multi-day tours in the West of Ireland - perfect for both long and short visits to Galway!
Book your tour here
What: Lally Tours offers some of the best tours in Galway which showcase the very best attractions of the West of Ireland. With decades of local experience as a second-generation family business, they run expertly guided day tours and multi-day trips to must-see destinations including Connemara, the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, the Aran Islands, and Galway City. Tours depart from Galway and Dublin, with options ranging from classic guided experiences to premium small-group tours for those seeking a more personal touch. Known for their friendly guides, local insight, and seamless travel, Lally Tours makes exploring Western Ireland easy, memorable, and genuinely enjoyable.
above: photo courtesy Galway City Sightseeing
Kick the wall at Blackrock
Where: Salthill Rd Lower, Blackrock Diving Tower
What: After a stroll down the Salthill Prom, mark the end of the walk by kicking the wall at Blackrock Diving Tower! You can't miss it - like rainbows leading to a pot of gold, the promenade leads to the iconic yellow Blackrock Diving Tower! Tradition says that a kick at the end of the walk will bring good fortune. Join in with the locals and give the wall a light kick, who knows it could bring good luck and make your trip to Galway that much better. Nearby, pop into Blackrock Cottage for a coffee and acai bowl, we recommend enjoying your cuppa outside as from here you've got unreal views of swimmers diving off Blackrock into the crisp Atlantic waters below.
Get a Claddagh Ring
Where: Heart in Hands 13 High Street; & Foxford Jewellers Corbett Court Shopping Centre, Eyre Square
What: The Claddagh ring is a timeless symbol of love, loyalty, and friendship, with its roots firmly planted in the historic fishing village of Claddagh in Galway. This iconic piece of Irish jewellery features two hands gently holding a crowned heart: the heart represents love, the crown stands for loyalty, and the hands symbolise friendship. Tradition also dictates how the ring is worn. If you're in a relationship or married, wear the ring with the heart pointing inward, toward your heart. If you're single and open to love, wear it with the heart facing outward. The design is often summed up by the phrase: Let love and friendship reign. You can find authentic Claddagh rings at Heart in Hands and Foxford Jewellers. For everything you need to know, check out our complete guide to getting a Claddagh ring in Galway at the link here.
above: photo from Foxford Jewellers by Ciarán MacChoncarriage
Go for a dip in the Ocean
Where: Blackrock Diving Tower, Ladies Beach
What: Rain or shine, you’ll always find people at Blackrock Diving Tower going for a sea swim. It sounds crazy, we know, but swimming in Blackrock is one of our favourite tourist activities in Galway city. The water is crisp and frigid all year round, but a dip in the ocean is such a lovely way to spend a morning, evening or afternoon in Galway. We encourage you to be brave, go around high-tide, and jump off the diving tower!
Try a '99 Ice Cream
Where: The Creamery, The Promenade, Salthill, Over the Moon at Eyre Square Shopping Centre
What: After your swim, if the sun is shining, call into either Over the Moon by Eyre Square or The Creamery in Salthill for a classic ‘99. The soft serve ice cream cone with a chocolate flake is a pillar of a Galway summertime scene. You can also find places to get a ‘99 all around town! The Centras, Spars, etc…
above: photo from Over the Moon by Ciarán MacChoncarraige
Enjoy a pint of Guinness
Where:Check out this guide to our favourite pints of Guinness in the city.
What: Galway is known for its incredible pubs so while you're here order a pint of plain and split the ‘G’ in one of the city's many incredible pubs. To split the ‘G’, take one big sip of your Guinness. The line between the dark stout and the white head should split the ‘G’ in the word ‘Guinness’ on your glass. We recommend O’Connell’s Pub or Tigh Neachtains for their incredible outdoor seating, or if the rain is pouring head into Taaffes, or The Kings Head and cosy up with the locals.
above: photo from Taaffes by Ciarán MacChoncarraige
Cosy up in an Aran Sweater from Designs of Ireland
Where: 2 Cross Street Lower
What: Is there anything more Irish than a cosy Aran Knit sweater? Luckily when you’re in Galway there’s a sweater shop on pretty much every corner. We love to shop local at This is Galway, so we suggest you explore the beautiful knits at Designs of Ireland on Cross Street. Here in the little store front you’ll find an abundance of knitwear. From sweaters and scarves to slippers and caps, there’s something for everyone.
Listen to trad music in Tig Chóilí
Where: Mainguard St
Irish traditional Irish music times: Monday to Wednesday at 6pm+9.30pm, Thursday at 6.30pm+9.30pm, Friday & Saturday at 6pm+10.30pm, Sunday at 2.30pm+8pm
What: This Galway city family-owned traditional Irish bar, Tig Chóilí, runs on a love for trad music. The space is full of snugs and stools, so there’s plenty of room to get cosy in time for their twice daily live traditional Irish music sessions. This spot also makes a delicious Irish coffee which is perfect for those colder nights and regardless of the time of day there is always plenty of conversation and craic to be had. There’s nothing better than settling into a snug with a pint in one of Galway’s many pubs and listening to the incredible live traditional music pour out across the room, and at Tig Chóilí is an authentic an experience as you'll ever get.
To discover more spots in Galway city which are famous for their live trad music see here.
above: photo courtesy Tig Chóilí
Experience a night of Celtic Storytelling
Where: The Crane Bar, Galway’s Westend
What: If you’re looking for an evening of storytelling, magic and fable ‘Celtic Tales Storytelling’ will be right up your alley. Rab Fulton is an expert storyteller, weaving together fantastic tales rooted in Celtic myth and tradition. You can hear these stories every week on Thursday in the candle lit upstairs of the Crane Bar in Galway’s Westend. In the summer, the show takes place two nights per week. If you want to learn more about Celtic Tales Storytelling you can find their Instagram here.
Take an Irish Dance lesson
Where: Galway's Westend
What: For a truly unique tourist activity in Galway city, The Irish Dance Experience offers an immersive journey into Ireland’s rich dance heritage in a lively, friendly, and inclusive setting! This is a fun and lively way to spend a day in Galway. Sessions are tailored to ensure an enjoyable and welcoming atmosphere. No prior dance experience is needed, just a willingness to have fun and embrace the culture! Best of all, these sessions are kid-friendly so the whole family can get involved in the fun. Save this for a rainy day and dance the blues away.
above: photo from The Irish Dance Experience by Ciarán MacChoncarraige
Take a stroll down The Long Walk
What: The Long Walk is one of the most iconic views of Galway city. Its colourful row of houses have inspired many artists, songs and photographers. You’ll find the Long Walk just behind the Spanish Arch (another iconic Galway landmark) and we will always recommend that first-time visitors to Galway take a walk down the row of houses by Galway Bay and soak up the incredible vibrant views. If you’re hoping to snap a pic of the Long Walk, we suggest you view from Middle Arch to capture that picture perfect Instagram shot.
Go ‘Sparching’ in the Summertime
Where: The Spanish Arch
What: When the sun is shining in Galway, we say go sparching! If you want to blend in with the locals, grab a few cans from a nearby off licence and head to the Spanish Arch. Sit in the sun, have a few drinks and soak up the Galway atmosphere! Sparching is an incredibly important summertime activity for many Galwegains. There’s just something special about taking advantage of the sunshine and having a beverage or two with such a beautiful view. (Remember to enjoy it responsibly!)
above: The Spanish Arch, photo by Ado Lyons
Feature image by Ciarán MacChoncarraige
Published on Updated on
