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 the full rundown, and see Where to Stay in Galway for the choice between the city centre and Salthill. If you're short on time, Galway in One Day turns that same coverage 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 headline sights, Food & Drink in Galway, Hidden Gems in Galway and Nature & Outdoors in Galway go a layer deeper, and Best Day Trips from Galway is worth reading once you've covered the city itself — the routes further out vary more by ferry, bus or car than most guides admit. The Aran Islands deserve their own guide rather than a single line in that one.