In this guide to the best hotels in Galway City Centre, you’ll find super-central hotels with great reviews a short ramble from attractions, pubs and restaurants.
Galway is a vibrant city that’s steeped in history and it makes a great base to explore from.
However, before you start looking at the various things to do in Galway, you’ll need a place to rest your head – luckily, there’s no shortage of great Galway hotels to choose from.
Below, you’ll find everywhere from the Hardiman and the Galmont to some of the best hotels Galway City has to offer for first-time visitors.
The best hotels in Galway City Centre
Our Galway hotels map above will give you a sense of the layout of the city’s top attractions along with where each hotel is located.
Now, if you don’t fancy staying in the city, don’t worry – hop into our guide on where to stay in Galway for a good overview of the whole county!
Note: if you book a stay through one of the links below we may make a tiny commission that helps us keep this site going. You won’t pay extra, but we really do appreciate it.
1. The Galmont Hotel and Spa
Photos via The Galmont on FB
First up is the Galmont – arguably one of the best hotels in Galway City with a spa and a pool! You’ll find it on Lough Atalia Rd, a 3-minute ramble from the train station.
The Galmont has been one of our long-standing favourites when it comes to Galway hotels – yes, there’s an award-winning Spirit One Spa and a fine big pool, but it’s the consistency of the service and the location that has made this our go-to for accommodation in the city.
The hotel also boasts two restaurants (Marinas and Coopers) and a large outdoor terrace area offering views of Lough Atalia.
One of the more notable features of the Galmont is the parking – there’s a large underground car park on-site, which is rare for hotels in Galway City Centre.
2. The G Hotel
Photos via G Hotel on FB
Right, a quick disclaimer – if you scroll back up to our map of the best hotels in Galway City Centre, you’ll see that The G Hotel isn’t exactly in the centre itself.
However, it’s a 20-minute stroll from Eyre Square, so it’s still nice and central. If you’re happy to spend a few quid, get yourself to the G.
This place isn’t cheap by any means, but it’s one of the finest 5 star hotels in Ireland. Designed by the celebrated milliner Phillip Treacy, the G Hotel has everything from beautifully decorated rooms to an award-winning spa and restaurant on offer.
The rooms are spacious, fitted with comfortable beds and some, like the one in the photo above, have gorgeous sea views.
3. Park House Hotel
The 4-star Park House Hotel is one of several Galway hotels in this guide with an unbeatable location – you’ll find it on Eyre Square, right at the heart of the action.
The Park House combines old-world charm with contemporary luxury from inside a 19th-century building has been carefully restored and transformed into a cozy city-centre retreat.
Dining wise, there’s The Park House Restaurant and Boss Doyle’s Bar and when it comes to the rooms, there’s everything from a Junior Suite to a Deluxe.
Although this isn’t one of the hotels in Galway that you tend to hear about too often, the reviews online speak for themselves. This is one of the best hotels Galway City has to offer for good reason.
4. The Hardiman
Photos via The Hardiman on FB
Next up is another of the Galway hotels that calls Eyre Square ‘home. The Hardiman (previously ‘the Meyrick’) is one of the more impressive hotels in Galway City Centre.
Operating under several different names since 1852, The Hardiman has acted as a hospitable haven for weary tourists for over a century.
Room wise, there’s everything from classic Queen and Kings to opulent suites, each of which is uniquely designed with Victorian charm and modern comfort.
For dining, there’s the popular Gaslight Brasserie and the Oyster Bar. However, if you don’t fancy eating in, many of the best restaurants in Galway are just minutes away.
5. The Harbour Hotel
Photos via The Harbour Hotel on FB
The Harbour is another of the many Galway hotels that’s racked up rave reviews online over the years and it’s a hotel that I’ve had recommended to me on countless occasions by family friends that live in the city.
Located on the waterfront in the heart of Galway City, this 4 Star hotel is known for it’s top-notch service, comfortable bedrooms, and central location.
The hotel’s restaurant, Dillisk, is reputed to dish out a fine feed, also. If you fancy a tipple, many of the best pubs in Galway are a stone’s throw away.
6. The House Hotel
Photos via The House Hotel on FB
The House Hotel is a 4-star boutique stay that’s finely located in the city’s Latin Quarter, near the Spanish Arch, Galway City Museum and the Long Walk.
Personally, I prefer this end of Galway City to the Eyre Square end as you’re right next to the river, but don’t take my word for it – the reviews online for the House Hotel speak for themselves.
There’s a good mix of rooms available here including a 3 bedroom room with interconnecting doors that should suit those looking for the best hotels in Galway City for families
The rooms are cozy, yet fairly basic. However, it’s the location that gives this place its ‘X Factor’.
7. Jurys Inn (now Leonardo Hotel)
Photos via Jurys on FB
Next up in our guide to the best hotels Galway City has to offer is the brilliant Jurys Inn. This is one of the few Galway hotels that I’ve stayed in in recent years.
We stayed here during a visit to Galway two Christmases ago, and it was brilliant from start to finish, from the service to the cleanliness of the rooms.
It’s also located a handy 5-minute stroll from Galway Cathedral and Galway Train Station, this spot overlooks Galway Bay and the Spanish Arch.
8. Skeffington Arms Hotel
Photos via The Skeffington on FB
If you’ve ever spent a weekend roaming around Galway’s many different pubs, then you’re probably familiar with the Skeff.
Overlooking Eyre Square and close to all of the city’s main attractions, The Skeffington Arms Hotel boasts bright, modern rooms, a vibrant bar, and a restaurant.
The Skeff is the perfect place to watch a match. If you’re visiting Galway at the weekend, check out what matches are on and try and catch one while you’re there.
However, although it’s arguably best know for its bar, the hotel gets rave reviews from international and domestic tourists.
9. The Dean
Photos via The Dean on FB
The Dean is one of the newest hotels in Galway City, having only opened its doors in recent years.
If you’re in search of some of the quirkier hotels Galway has to offer, you won’t go wrong here, as The Dean has a fine aul artsy feel to it with the owners describing it as ‘Galway’s first-ever design–led establishment’.
The rooms are colourful, quirky, clean and bright and you’ll be sleeping a 3-minute stroll from Eyre Square.
If you fancy a feed or a tipple, head up to Sophie’s – it’s located on the roof and you’ll be treated to a panoramic view of the city.
10. The HYDE
Photos via The HYDE on FB
Last but by no means least in our guide to the best hotels in Galway City is The HYDE on Forster Street.
This is another of the funkier hotels Galway City has to offer, as you’ll see from the snaps above.
Rooms are spacious and well equipped and there’s a wide range of dining and drinking options, such as:
- HYDE Bar (cocktails all in a chic-but-casual ambiance)
- WYLDE (their high-end coffee shop)
As is the case with many Galway hotels, you’ll have to pay for parking (€12 per 24 hours).
What top hotels in Galway have we missed
Now, I know people will land in the comments and say that we’ve missed the likes of the Twelve, Ballynahinch and Glenlo Abbey but remember, this is a guide to city centre hotels only.
If you know a spot that you think could go toe-to-toe with the best hotels in Galway City Centre, shout in the comments below. Here are some other Galway accommodation guides to hop into:
- 17 quirky places to go glamping in Galway
- 7 of the most incredible spa hotels in Galway
- 6 of the best hostels in Galway
- The fanciest luxury accommodation and 5 star hotels in Galway
- 15 of the most unique Airbnbs in Galway
- 13 scenic places to go camping in Galway
FAQs about the best hotels Galway has to offer
We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What are some top hotels in Galway for couples?’ to ‘Which are the cheapest?’.
In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.
What are the best Galway hotels for a weekend break?
What are the best hotels in Galway luxury wise?
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.