Best Things to Do in Galway, Ireland (One Day Itinerary)

Welcome to Galway, Ireland

Here are some of the best things to do in Galway, Ireland, based on a one-day itinerary. I’ll be covering a mix of well-known spots like the Latin Quarter, along with a few lesser-known places worth exploring. Highlights include lively pubs with traditional Irish music, coastal scenic walks, local cafés and food spots, and some of the best day tour opportunities in Ireland, all based on my own time exploring Galway.

Welcome to my Ireland series, where I share my favorite Ireland destinations. If you missed it, you can find my Dublin guide here.

1. Explore the Latin Quarter

If there’s one place in Galway to best introduce you to the city, it’s the Latin Quarter. This area is full of colorful storefronts, busy pubs, street performers, live traditional music, and narrow streets packed with people exploring at all hours of the day.

Start around Quay Street, one of the most photographed areas of Galway, lined with small shops and cafés. From there, head onto Shop Street, where buskers fill the streets and the energy is lively and festive.

This is also where you will find traditional pubs like Tigh Neachtain, The Quays Bar, and O’Connell’s Bar, often with live Irish music running through the day and into the evening. Continue on and you will pass local craft shops, Aran sweater stores, and wool and handmade goods shops, all woven into the streets leading toward High Street and the Spanish Arch.

2. Visit Thomas Dillon’s Claddagh Rings

Stop by Thomas Dillon’s Claddagh Ring Shop, located in the Latin Quarter. The Claddagh ring traces its origins back to Galway, and Thomas Dillon’s claims to be the original makers still connected to that tradition today. One detail I found especially interesting was that they are reportedly the only jeweler allowed to stamp the word “ORIGINAL” inside their Claddagh rings. The shop itself dates back to 1750 and has even been visited by notable figures over the years, including Walt Disney, Winston Churchill, and Queen Alexandra.

I surprised my wife with one of their Claddagh Rings and she loved it. Every time she wears it, it brings us back to Ireland. Pricing depends on the material and style you want, rings start at around €55. If you want to see all of their options, I’ll link their website here.

3. Walk Grattan Beach to Salthill Promenade

One of the best scenic walks in Galway is the coastal route from Grattan Beach to the Salthill Promenade. Following the shoreline along the Atlantic Ocean, this walk stretches roughly 1.2 miles. Being the nature lover I am, I place this activity high on my list of things to do in Galway. Especially if you’re visiting Galway after Dublin, this may be your first real look at Ireland’s coastal scenery.

The walk ends near the Blackrock Diving Tower, where there’s a local tradition of “kicking the wall” at the end of the promenade before turning back. Why, you ask? Locals say it brings good luck, and well, this is Ireland after all. Before turning around from your coastal walk along Grattan Beach toward Salthill, Magnetti Pizza and Creamery Cafe are an easy stop nearby…

4. Magnetti Pizza + Creamery Cafe

Dare I commit the crime of recommending food that isn’t traditional Irish cuisine? These places are the exception, hear me out. Magnetti Pizza ended up being our favorite food stop in Galway. Even though it’s not traditional Irish food, they source many of their ingredients locally from Ireland, including some incredible cheese. We ordered the Buffalina pizza along with some local wine and beer.

Right next door is Creamery Cafe, Ice Cream & Bistro. What first caught our attention was seeing so many locals walking around with mouth-watering ice cream cones. We figured we had to give it a try ourselves. The ice cream was incredibly rich and creamy, which made perfect sense in Ireland, where dairy is such a big part of the local food scene. The shop itself also seemed to be a local favorite.

5. Galway Coffee & Cafés

Galway has plenty of cafés worth exploring. While we didn’t have the chance to visit all of these cafés, I still wanted to include them since I put in the research and had every intention of visiting them:

• Esquires Coffee Café: A convenient cafe for morning of tours departing from Eyre Square. I highly recommend their bacon cheese croissant for breakfast.

• Coffeewerk + Press: A café for true coffee lovers. They lean more into specialty coffee, including pour-over options, along with some really good-looking pastries and snacks.

• Little Lane Coffee Company: Impressive pastry selection, everything from scones and muffins to cookies and cupcakes. They have a variety of creative coffee flavors and specialty drinks.

• Kali Coffee Bar: The inside has lots of plants. Outdoor seating options available. Easy walk to the beach area. Great place to grab a coffee then go for a walk on the coast.

6. Stay at The Nest Boutique Hostel

If you’re unfamiliar with hostels, think of them as a more social and budget-friendly alternative to hotels. While dorm rooms are common in hostels, The Nest also offers private rooms, which is what our group booked.

One of the biggest positives was the atmosphere. The shared kitchen, dining area, outdoor seating, and lounge spaces made it feel very relaxed and welcoming. I also appreciated the location. It sits just outside the main downtown area, making it quieter at night while still being close to bus stops, cafés, pubs, and the coast.

One thing to note is that air conditioning is uncommon throughout much of Ireland, so that’s something to keep in mind no matter where you stay.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can click here to see their website.

7. Galway Outdoor Crafts & Food Market (Saturday Market)

Galway hosts an outdoor Crafts & Food Market every Saturday year-round. It’s located in the laneway between Shop Street and Market Street, right near St. Nicholas’ Church.

We spent about an hour here checking out the different vendors, sampling food, and listening to live music. There’s a mix of local stalls selling everything from fresh produce and baked goods to handmade crafts and small gifts.

I’ll link their event calendar here.

8. Book a Day Tour from Galway (Cliffs of Moher & The Burren)

Above all else, if there’s one thing I think you should do in Galway, it’s book a day tour. Travelers use Galway as a base for visiting iconic places nearby such as the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren National Park.

If you’re planning a trip to Ireland for the first time, then I highly suggest visiting Galway and booking one of these tours. The tour itself was the highlight of our entire trip to Ireland, and I’ll be covering our full tour experience in my next guide.

If a day tour is something you’d be interested in, I’ll leave a link to the guide we used, click here.

I hope you enjoyed this list of things to do in Galway. Feel free to share your own Galway experiences in the comments. I’d love to hear of any places or experienced I missed. See you in the next guide! 🍀🌈