A Guide To Silverstrand Beach In Galway (Barna Beach)

Towered over by a lone slice of cliff, Silverstrand Beach is one of the more unique beaches in Galway.

And, when combined with a ramble in nearby Barna Woods, it makes for a fine spot for an active afternoon.

Below, you’ll find info on everything from parking and swimming to where to visit very close to Barna Beach.

Some quick need-to-knows about Silverstrand Beach

Although a visit to Silverstrand Beach in Galway is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

Barna Beach is, unsurprisingly enough, located next to the small seaside village of Barna on Galway Bay.  It’s a 13-minute drive from the centre of Galway. It’s a 10-minute drive from Salthill and a 15-minute drive from both Spiddal and Galway City.

2. Parking

There is a fairly large car park directly behind the beach which has space for about 60 cars, with access via a short slipway (here on Google Maps). You’ll also find some handy public toilets in a concrete building at the centre of the car park.

3. Swimming

Silverstrand Beach in Galway has Blue Flag status and is reputed to be one of the cleanest in the west and it’s popular amongst swimmers. There’s a lifeguard service from June until September. Note that in high tides the beach is largely covered.

5. Safety

Understanding water safety is absolutely crucial when visiting beaches in Ireland. Please take a minute to read these water safety tips. Cheers!

About Silverstrand Beach in Barna

Silverstrand Beach in Galway is a lovely sandy stretch located around 6km west of the city with some stunning views across Galway Bay towards The Burren.

It’s not a particularly big beach and is only around 100 metres in length, although it feels more dramatic than it is with the presence of the looming cliff behind! 

Located between two scatterings of rocks, Barna Beach is actually largely submerged at high tide, so it’s a good idea to check tidal tables before planning a visit.

The fact that Silverstrand is a lovely sandy beach means that it’s probably a better option for families than Salthill Beach nearer to Galway (assuming kids prefer sandy beaches over pebble beaches? I know I did!). 

Galway Bay is home to tons of wildlife too so keep an eye out, particularly for birdlife and waterfowl. Brent Goose, Golden Plover and Tern will probably be the most likely culprits you’ll spot nearby!

Places to visit near Silverstrand Beach

One of the beauties of Barna Beach is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best places to visit in Galway.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from Silverstrand (plus places to eat and where to grab a post-adventure pint!).

1. Barna Woods (2-minute drive)

Barna Woods are home to one of our favourite walks in Galway. It’s a short spin from the beach and it’s the perfect spot for a gentle pre-dinner ramble.

2. Galway City (13-minute drive)

There’s tons to see and do in vibrant Galway and it’s less than 15 minutes from Barna Beach! The European Capital of Culture for 2020 and Ireland’s 6th largest city, there’s some excellent restaurants in Galway (and there’s class pubs in Galway, too!).

3. Eilemental Activity Park (16-minute drive)

The great outdoors is all part of a visit to Ireland, though Eilemental Activity Park goes a little bit further than the a leisurely walk or hike! You’ll get put through your places at this spot just outside of Galway, where you can expect to get stuck into paintball, archery, laser tag and disc golf.

FAQs about Silverstrand Beach in Galway

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Is parking a hassle?’ to ‘Are dogs allowed?’.

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.