21 Best Things to do in Galway (Map + Itinerary)

Although I’ve been visiting Galway for over 36 years, the contrast never gets old — the city buzzes with life, but a short spin away you’ll find open road, wild scenery, and complete stillness.

In this guide, you’ll find:

• The best things to do in Galway: From tourist favourites to hidden gems
• Galway road trips: Several itineraries of different lengths
• Maps galore: Downloadable maps and Google Maps showing what to do in Galway

The best things to do in Galway City and beyond

Galway is home to some of the most notable tourist attractions in Ireland, like Kylemore Abbey, Connemara and the Aran Islands.

However, it also boasts plenty of scenic corners that never make it onto shiny tourist handbooks, as you’ll discover below.

1. The Sky Road

One of the best things to do in Galway is to grab a cup of coffee to-go from one of the cafes in Clifden and drive the Sky Road.

This 16km loop starts and ends in Clifden, bringing you out onto the Kingston peninsula with sweeping Atlantic views. Stick to the Upper Road (that’s where the best scenery is) and drive clockwise for the full effect.

About 5.5km in, you’ll reach a parking area with mighty views. From there, the loop dips back toward the N59. Along the way, you can detour to Clifden Castle, walk the sand at Eyrephort Beach, or (if on foot or bike) visit the John D’Arcy Monument.

2. Galway City

Galway City is very walkable. And, while the hop-on-hop-off bus tour is great if it’s raining, the best places to visit in Galway City are easily reached on foot.

The map above outlines my self-guided Galway walking tour. Start in Eyre Square, where statues and flags nod to Galway’s past.

From there, stroll down Shop Street and into the Latin Quarter, passing Lynch’s Castle, Tigh Neachtain’s and the original Claddagh Ring Museum.

Take a detour to the ruins of the Hall of the Red Earl before looping by the Spanish Arch and Galway City Museum. Cross Wolfe Tone Bridge to catch the Long Walk from Nimmo’s Pier, then follow the river walk to Galway Cathedral – a stone-clad showstopper that ends the trail in style.

Related reads: Check out my guide to the best restaurants in Galway or my guide to the best brunch in Galway!

3. Connemara National Park

You can’t drive through Connemara National Park, and that’s what sets it apart. While the parks in Killarney and the Burren can be admired from the comfort of a car, Connemara makes you step out and earn the experience.

This 2,000-hectare expanse of bog, forest, and mountain can only be explored on foot. The main draw is Diamond Hill, where the summit trail rewards you with wild views over the Twelve Bens and the Atlantic.

For a gentler wander, try the Tree Trail or the Poetry Trail, both starting near the visitor centre in Letterfrack. Inside, you’ll find a short film and exhibition on how the landscape was shaped over millennia.

4. The Aran Islands

Another of the best things to do in Galway is to explore the Aran Islands. However, the biggest issue many face is deciding which Aran Island to visit (the graphic above should help!).

There are three islands – Inis Oirr (home to the Plassey shipwreck), Inis Mor (home to Dun Aonghasa and the Wormhole) and Inis Meain (one of the quieter places to visit in Galway, where beauty and isolation collide).

Inis Mor is attracting a lot of attention lately after it was used as a filming location for the Banshees of Inisherin.

From the city: You can get a ferry from Galway City to the Aran Islands, but note that they are seasonal (they end late September). There’s also this tour from Galway City that takes you out on a cruise to the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands. It’s an 8.5-hour tour and it costs a very reasonable €60.

5. Killary Fjord

Straddling the border of Galway and Mayo, Killary Fjord slices inland for 16km through mountain-flanked silence. It’s often called Ireland’s only fjord, a dramatic inlet with deep water, farmed mussels, and the odd pod of dolphins near the mouth.

You can take it in by boat (April–October), with tours cruising from Leenane out to the Atlantic, or explore on foot via the old famine road along the shoreline.

For something different, swim across it during the annual Great Fjord Swim. The views alone are worth the detour, but with Aasleagh Falls, the Leenane to Louisburgh drive, and Kylemore Abbey all nearby, Killary fits seamlessly into any Galway road trip.

6. The Connemara road trip

If you’re trying to decide on what to see in Galway over 2 days, try the Connemara itinerary that I have outlined in the map above.

I’ve taken this route 4 times now and it never fails to delight. This balances the main Galway attractions with off-the-radar stops, all built around your base in Clifden.

Day one covers wild ground: Aughnanure Castle, the Quiet Man Bridge, and a dramatic spin through the Inagh Valley. There’s fjord views in Leenaun, seafood in Roundstone, and a beach-hop between Dog’s Bay, Gurteen and Mannin Bay.

7. The Leenaun to Louisburgh Drive

The 30.5km drive between Leenane and Louisburgh cuts through some of the rawest scenery on the island. Starting from Leenane, you’ll skirt Killary Fjord before reaching Aasleagh Falls, a quick stop, but a good one.

From there, the road winds into the Doolough Valley where everything sharpens: blackwater lakes, brooding hills, and silence, even during the busier summer months.

Keep an eye out for the simple stone cross that marks the site of the 1849 Doolough Tragedy. Near the Louisburgh end, there’s a Wild Atlantic Way viewpoint where you can park up and admire valley from a vantage point.

8. The Diamond Hill hike

The Diamond Hill hike is one of the more popular walks in Galway, mainly due to the views it treats you to on a fine day. There are 2 walks here: 

• The Lower Diamond Hill walk: 3 km long and takes 1 to 1.5 hours
• The Upper Diamond Hill trail: 7 km long and takes 2.5 to 3 hours to complete

Those who reach the summit on a clear day can kick-back while soaking up outstanding views of Connemara National Park and beyond.

As this hike is one of the more popular things to do in Galway during the summer months, it can get very busy, so arrive early.

9. The Inagh Valley

The Inagh Valley is one of the Galway attractions that tends to fly under the radar. This is a short but spectacular drive that begins just off the N59 (marked as point A on my map above), where you swap the main road for something quieter and far more dramatic.

The road slices through a glacial corridor, with the Maumturks on one side and the Twelve Bens on the other. Lough Inagh runs alongside you, perfectly reflecting the peaks on a calm day.

Roughly halfway in, there’s a small pull-in where you can stop and let the scenery sink in. At the end of the road, you’ll hit a T-junction where you can swing left for Kylemore Abbey or right to loop back toward Leenaun.

10. Kylemore Abbey

The fairytale-like Kylemore Abbey is one of the most famous landmarks in Ireland. Built in 1867, Kylemore Abbey boasts an almost endless number of tales of romance, tragedy, spirituality, and innovation.

Originally built as a private castle in 1868, its story blends love, tragedy, faith and education. Inside, you’ll find restored rooms, a modest mausoleum, and a miniature Gothic church built in memory of the founder’s wife.

The Victorian walled gardens, once likened to Kew, are a highlight – six acres of neat borders, heritage veg, and glasshouse relics. There’s also woodland walks and a handy shuttle if you don’t fancy the stroll.

11. The Connemara day trip

If you’ve had your fill of the city, tackle a day trip out to Connemara.

You have two options:

• Those with a car: Follow the Galway to Connemara road trip (see map above)
• Those without a car: Take this Connemara day trip tour

12. Trad pubs in Galway City

You’ll often see drink-related activities listed in many guides on what to do in Galway. And for good reason. Galway is home to some of the best pubs in Ireland!

For trad sessions and great Guinness, The Crane Bar is one of the best pubs in Galway City, with live music seven nights a week, upstairs and down.

Tig Chóilí is another peach-of-a-pub, with wall-to-wall tunes, twice daily. Neachtain’s charms with timber panelling, nooks, and one of the best outdoor seating areas in the city, whole Garavan’s nails the whiskey and serves a consistently great Guinness.

Fancy the music but not the pub? Try Trad on the Prom – a high-energy alternative to the pub, with world-class Irish music and dance from Riverdance stars and champion performers.

13. Dog’s Bay

Although there are magnificent beaches in Galway, it’s generally the beaches in Connemara that tend to grab much of the attention.

I’m talking, of course, about Dog’s Bay (pictured above with Gurteen Bay), Renvyle Beach and the Mannin Bay Blueway.

Although the ones above attract visitors by the bucket-load (terrible pun, I apologise…) there’s plenty of other great beaches worth a look, like:

• Silverstrand Beach Barna
• Trá an Dóilín
• Glassilaun Beach
• Lettergesh Beach
• Traught Beach
• Salthill Beach

14. Inishbofin Island

A visit to Inishbofin is one of the more off-the-beaten-path things to do in Galway. You’ll find this little island just off the coast of Connemara, not far from the village of Cleggan (it’s a handy 30-minute ferry ride).

This gorgeous island boasts a rich history along with breath-taking Atlantic coast scenery. Look at the views in the photo above… a little slice of magic.

There’s also several brilliant looped walks on the island that’ll treat you to a clatter of scenery while also bringing you past award-winning beaches, ancient sites and plenty more.

Tip: Grab the ferry to Inishbofin from Cleggan Pier. If you’re feeling peckish, nip into Cleggan and try a bit of seafood. Oliver’s Seafood Bar, in particular, is brilliant!

15. Clifden 

Clifden sits between the Twelve Bens and the Atlantic, and it packs a punch for a small town. It’s arguably one of the most picturesque small towns in Ireland and you’ve Connemara and beyond to explore by day and a buzzy little town to retire to at night.

Start with coffee at Upstairs Downstairs before heading to the ruins of Clifden Castle. From there, take the Sky Road loop – it’s short but delivers big views.

Back in town, there are endless restaurants in Clifden that have you covered for dinner, while Lowry’s Pub is hard-to-bate for trad, tipples, and late-night merriment.

Staying in the area? See my guide to the best hotels in Clifden and the top b&bs in Clifden

16. The Connemara Loop

The Connemara Loop is another of the best things to do in Galway – this is 93km of wild beauty, with mountains, lakes, beaches and valleys stitched together by one scenic drive.

Starting at Maam Cross, the route winds past Killary Fjord, through Leenaun village, out along the beaches of Renvyle, past Kylemore Abbey, and into the Inagh Valley before returning via the Twelve Pines viewpoint.

You’ll cross glacial valleys, pass sheep-dotted bogs, and roll through some of Ireland’s most dramatic coastal and mountain scenery.

17. The Salthill Prom

If you’re looking for things to do near Galway City that’ll take you away from the crowds, take a wander out to Salthill. The 3km-long seaside promenade runs from the edge of the Galway City along Salthill and offers fine views out over Galway Bay.

There’s plenty of other things to do in Salthill to keep you busy and there’s also plenty of brilliant restaurants in Salthill to nip into.

The Blackrock Diving Tower is a now-iconic feature in Galway and can be found along the Salthill promenade. The tower was erected in 1942 for safety reasons (up until then there was a springboard in place).

18. Omey Island

Omey Island is one of the best-kept secrets in Galway. You’ll find it in Connemara, near Claddaghduff, and it can only be reached at low tide (check tide times in advance!).

You can reach the island by foot, bike or car and it’s the perfect place for those of you looking to things to do in Galway that’ll take you away from the crowds and that’ll immerse you in an area of immense natural beauty.

There’s a number of different walks that you can head off on around Omey but please make sure you understand the tides before visiting.

19. Castles galore

If you’re wondering what to do in Galway that many people who visit the city tend to miss, carve out some time to drop by Menlo Castle.

You’ll find the 16th century Menlo Castle on the banks of the River Corrib, a handy 12-minute cycle or a 10-minute drive from Galway City.

Once home to the richest family in Galway in 1592 (the Blakes), Menlo is now a picturesque ruin that’s covered head to toe in ivy. Well worth dropping by.

If you fancy discovering other castles nearby, hop into my guide to the best castles near Galway that are worth a visit.

20. Glengowla Mines

Just 35 minutes from Galway, the Glengowla Mines take you deep underground into a restored 1800s silver and lead mine. Explore marble-lined caverns, see shimmering veins of quartz and fluorite, and learn how miners blasted and hauled rock by hand.

Above ground, there’s a blacksmith forge, a museum of mining tools, and working sheepdog demos in the surrounding fields. It’s a hands-on experience that brings Connemara’s lesser-known past to life — tough work, rich history, striking sights.

If you fancy seeing one of the most famous Quiet Man filming locations in Ireland, take the 7-minute drive (here’s the route) to the Quiet Man Bridge. While many of the locations are in nearby Cong, this is the closest one to the city.

21. The Galway Christmas Market

If you’re wondering what to do in Galway in November and December, you can easily plan your trip around the Galway Christmas Markets.

Arguably one of the stand out Christmas Markets in Ireland, the Galway festivities has been kicking off earlier and earlier over the years.

It now begins in early November, bringing with it stalls, amusements and some very impressive lighting.

There’s plenty of things to do in Galway City around Christmas – see my Galway hotels or my Galway B&B guides for places to stay.

Map of Galway attractions

The map above will give you a sense of what to do in Galway City and across the wider county.

It contains a mix of hidden gems, like the Inagh Valley, to some of the more unique things to do in Galway, like the Glengowla Mines.

Now you know what to do in Galway

Now that you have a sense of the different places to visit in Galway, it’s time for some handy tourist info:

• Neighbourhoods: See my where to stay in Galway area guide
• Getting around: How to rent a car in Ireland
• Tourist info: Ireland tipping etiquette, how to plan a trip to Ireland and when to visit Ireland