Galway

Main sights

• Spanish Arch

  Part of the extension of the medieval walls built in 1584 to protect the quays, and nearly all that survives of them. Galway City Museum, free to enter, stands beside it. This is where the shopping streets give way to the river.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Spanish Arch (opens in a new tab)
• Eyre Square

  The green square at the top of the town and next to the transport hub. It is the usual starting point for a walk, and tip-based tours often meet here.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Eyre Square (opens in a new tab)
• Galway Cathedral

  A large domed limestone cathedral, built between 1958 and 1965 on the site of the old prison. Reach it on foot by crossing the Corrib at the Salmon Weir, where salmon can be seen moving upriver in early summer.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Galway Cathedral (opens in a new tab)
• St Nicholas' Collegiate Church

  Founded in 1320 and enlarged over the next two centuries, and described as the largest medieval church in everyday use in Ireland. It is a short step off Shop Street, on Lombard Street.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for St Nicholas' Collegiate Church (opens in a new tab)
• Quay Street

  The lower, pedestrianised end of the spine, in the heart of the Latin Quarter. It is lined with pubs and shops, and leads to the Spanish Arch.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Quay Street (opens in a new tab)
• Salthill Promenade

  The Prom, opened in 1856, runs for about 2 km along Galway Bay to the diving tower at Blackrock, built in 1953. Local habit is to walk to the end and kick the wall before turning back.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Salthill Promenade (opens in a new tab)

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Neighbourhoods worth wandering

• Latin Quarter

  The narrow streets at the Spanish Arch end of the spine, with pubs, shops and buskers. Lynch's Castle, a medieval town house now used as a bank, stands further up at the top of Shop Street.

• Claddagh

  The old fishing village west of the river mouth, and the name behind the Claddagh ring. Nothing of the original village survives, and the homes are modern.

• Salthill

  The seaside suburb south-west of the centre, strung along the Prom. West of Salthill the paved promenade ends.

Best areas to explore on foot

1. Eyre Square to the Spanish Arch

   William Street, Shop Street, High Street and Quay Street make one continuous pedestrianised route on level ground. Lynch's Castle is at the top of Shop Street and St Nicholas' Church a short way off it. Crowds of shoppers and buskers are the only obstacle.

2. Long Walk and Claddagh

   Go through the Spanish Arch to the Long Walk, a short riverside path of a few hundred metres with views over the Claddagh. Nimmo's Pier is a good viewpoint, and a causeway of about 1 km runs from Claddagh to Mutton Island.

3. Salthill Promenade

   Allow roughly half an hour from the centre to Blackrock, then the same back. The Prom is paved and open to Atlantic weather, so bring a windproof layer.

4. River Corrib

   A walkway along the lower Corrib links the Wolfe Tone Bridge with the Salmon Weir Bridge, which has a pedestrian and cycle crossing beside it. Cross there for the cathedral, or look out for the Eglinton Canal, cut to the west of it in the 19th century.

Practical walking notes

• Terrain

  Flat and easy. The central streets are pedestrianised, and the Prom is paved.

• Weather

  Wet, windy and cool for much of the year, even in summer. Pack a waterproof and a windproof layer whatever the forecast says. The Prom and Mutton Island causeway are the most exposed stretches.

• Distances

  The centre is small, so a walk of the whole spine is short. Most of a day on foot goes on stops rather than distance. Add the Prom if you want a longer outing.

• Festivals and races

  The Galway Arts Festival and the races bring summer crowds, and the pedestrian streets fill up. Book ahead, and walk early if you want room.

• Choosing a walk

  A free tip-based tour, usually about two hours from Eyre Square, covers the medieval story at low cost. A paid guided walk makes more sense for pub, food or music themes. The town is simple enough to walk alone, and a self-guided route lets you take in the Prom or the river at your own pace.

When to visit

• Summer

  Galway Arts Festival and the races.

• Spring and autumn

  Mild and quieter.

• Winter

  Wet, cosy pubs.

Getting there and getting around

Arriving

• By rail

  Trains reach Dublin in about two and a half hours.

Local transport

• On foot

  The centre is best walked.