Galway

Galway's Latin Quarter — cobbled streets on the left bank of the River Corrib, running down to the Spanish Arch — is the compact heart of the city, known for live traditional music and independent shops. The Spanish Arch itself, part of the old medieval city walls, marks where the river meets Galway Bay.

From Galway, ferries run to the three Aran Islands (Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer) year-round from Rossaveel and seasonally from the city itself, and the city sits at the start of the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's signature west-coast touring route.

Start here

Galway city centre is small enough to walk end to end in under twenty minutes, which makes it an easy place to get your bearings quickly. Start with Things to Do in Galway for a full rundown of the Latin Quarter, Spanish Arch, Galway Cathedral, Eyre Square and Salthill promenade. If you're short on time, Galway in One Day turns those same sights into a single walking route, and Free Things to Do in Galway rounds up everything on that list that costs nothing to see.

Once you've covered the city, Best Day Trips from Galway covers how to actually reach the Aran Islands, Connemara and Kylemore Abbey, and the Cliffs of Moher — including which ferry or bus to take, since the routes vary more than most guides admit.