24hrs in Galway 🍀

I recently traveled to Ireland to celebrate my 34th birthday. With only a few months left living in Europe, I’ve been focused on returning to my favorite countries rather than adding new ones. Ireland, specifically Dublin, was at the top of the list! I had heard great things about Galway so I wanted to fit that into my 5 day itinerary. I am SO glad that I did. If you’re looking for coastal, colorful, good vibes - Galway is it. We had a blast exploring the Latin quarter, listening to talented musicians, snacking on delicious Galway oysters, and having a pint. We loved Galway so much that on the train back, we were researching visas and citizenship options 🤭

I’m sharing all the things we did and recommendations for your future trip to Galway. Cheers! 🍻

Getting There

It’s ridiculously easy to reach from Dublin.

The train from Dublin to Galway takes roughly 2.5 hours, and you can usually grab tickets for around $16 (€15-ish) if you book ahead. I recommend downloading the Irish Rail app and booking your seats beforehand. You’ll want to search it from Dublin Heuston to Galway Ceannt.

Where to Stay

If you want to be right in the heart of the action, stay at The Snug.  It’s perfectly located in the Latin Quarter, which means you’re steps away from pubs, music, restaurants, and the iconic Galway streets. Ideal for a quick trip where you want everything walkable. The rooms are… snug… but worth it!

Morning: Wander + Coffee

Start your day slowly! Galway is made for wandering. Grab a coffee from Coffeewerk + Press and stroll through the Latin Quarter, soaking up the street performers and colorful shopfronts.

Midday: Vintage Heaven

If you love a good thrift moment, Galway delivers. Our favorites were, Public Romance & Planet Retro. They had funky, affordable finds with a lot of personality. You could easily lose an hour (or three) digging through racks here. There’s also a ton of charity consignment shops on almost every street that had some good finds! I walked away with a pair of sunglasses (not that I needed them in Galway ☔️) and a funky, lavender leather jacket that I am excited to pair with a white tee and jeans.

Time to Grub

After working up the appetite at the vintage shops, stop into McDonaghs for some traditional fish & chips! If the weather is nice, you can take it to go and sit out by the water and enjoy a little mid day picnic. I am not sure how they get the batter THAT perfect but it is incredible.

Afternoon: Walk to Nimmo’s

When the weather behaves, take a walk out toward the Claddagh and the pier to see Nimmo’s houses (those iconic colorful homes by the water). It’s peaceful, photogenic, and feels like classic coastal Galway. If you keep walking, you’ll get gorgeous views back toward the city too. We were lucky enough to have some sunshine at this point and the colors really came through in all our photos.

Dinner: Unreal Food + Cozy Vibes

Galway’s food scene is seriously strong. The first night we had an amazing meal at Darog. It was cozy, delicious, creative plating, known for its wines. We ordered the oysters (obvi), monkfish, marinated olives, and the fried polenta. I am STILL dreaming of that meal. On the second night, we hit up the highly recommended, Ruibin. It was incredible food with equally good atmosphere. The standouts here were their cocktail selection and again, the oysters! I also really enjoyed their take on a seabass ceviche. Both spots absolutely deliver on flavor and vibe, so you really can’t go wrong.

Evening: Pints!

You cannot leave Galway without a proper pub stop. Head to The Quays for a creamy pint, live music, and peak Galway energy. It’s lively, a bit chaotic in the best way, and exactly what you want from a Galway night.

Final Thoughts

Galway is one of those places that feels small but somehow packed with life. You could do Galway as a solo girlie, with your bestie, or even with the whole group chat. In just 24 hours you get color, coast, culture, and craic…which is exactly why I will be back! I am already dreaming up my next trip to Ireland and Galway will 1000% be a stop along the journey again. TYWIL 💚🍀🖤🍻