THE FESTIVAL CAPITAL OF IRELAND HAS MAJOR PARTY VIBES

Galway is a historic trading port city that is now largely a culture hub for tourists; known for constantly having festivals and its arts scene, the city bustles with bars, restaurants, and people having a good time. I could easily see it being an ideal destination for a stag party. For me, though, the city was not a great fit for my style of travel.

I think you’ll notice a trend in my Ireland reports: the way I’m traveling in Ireland generally, for me, is not ideal. The cities are great places to go out to eat with friends, to go party, or to go for a concert. As a solo traveler with a small budget, that’s not normally what I’m looking for; I’m looking for things that stir something inside of me, usually beautiful architecture or nature. I’m also looking for things that are free or low cost. While Ireland is full of natural beauty, castles, and ruins, the public transit from the cities out to them is not great. I think to really get the best of Ireland, you have to have a car.

That said, if you find yourself in Galway without a car for a few days, you can definitely keep yourself amused.

HEAD RIGHT TO QUAY STREET AND THE LATIN QUARTER

The heart of Galway is the Latin Quarter - and the heart of the Latin Quarter is Quay Street. This is where the city comes alive with music, art, bars, and restaurants. Take a stroll through this area of the city to find street performers, cool shops, and to grab something to eat or drink.

WALK ALONG THE SALTHILL PROMENADE

My favorite thing to do in Galway was to walk along the Salthill Promenade - a four mile seaside walk that has beaches along the route. During the summer months, there are spots you can go swimming and enjoy a more traditional beach day.

HEAD TO THE CLIFFS OF MOHER

Perhaps most famous for being a shooting location in Harry Potter, the Cliffs of Moher are the most common day trip out of Galway for backpackers; this may not only be because of the dramatic viewss but because there is actually a bus that goes to them from Galway. Unfortunately for me, the day I was planning to go, it poured the entire time; so, I decided to skip it and just take a rest day inside.

OTHER THINGS TO DO

To be honest, I found the other common to-dos in the city - the Cathedral, the Spanish Arch, and Eyre Square - quite unremarkable. I think it’s important to know what kind of city you’re going to when planning - and Galway is just not a city with once in a lifetime tourist attractions. It’s a culture hub - and it’s best enjoyed trying to see the local artists, craftspeople, and festivals.

If you have access to a car, though, the area really opens up to you. You can head to places like Dungaire Castle, Connemara National Park, or Kylemore Abbey.