Top 10 Things to Do and See for 2 Days Galway Trip

February 26, 2021 Mustafa Natalwala 2547 Views

Galway is a city on the west coast of Ireland. The city is part of Galway county and Connacht province. Galway is very different from other popular tourist cities of Ireland like Dublin and Belfast. The city is popularly visited for its laid-back yet lively vibe. The art scene of the city is particularly well known. The Galway Arts Festival is among the best things to do in Galway. Even if your Galway trip does not interject with the festival, you can explore the local art scene at the city’s art center. The city is also well known for traditional Irish Music. There are several places to go in Galway to enjoy genuine traditional Irish Music. The cultural aspects of the city brought it prominence as the European Capital of Culture in 2020. This has elevated Galway tourist attractions drastically.

Another major attraction for the Galway trip is the beautiful countryside. Some of the most incredible things to see in Galway can be found in the wilderness around the city. Among the top things to do in Galway, you can go for hiking and trekking while exploring the natural expanse of Burren, the Cliffs of Moher, the Aran Islands, and so on. There are many activities in Galway you can enjoy in the natural expanses. Equally popular is the coastal line of the city. Some of the most fun things to do in Galway can be found along the coast and at the beaches.

There are not as many grand historical places to visit in Galway as in other cities of Ireland, but there are enough to make your visit to this coast worthwhile. Some of the most well-known Galway attractions are Lynch Castle, Spanish Arch, Galway Cathedral, Augustinian Church, and so on. One of the best ways for Galway sightseeing is with a cruise along river Corrib.

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Table of Contents

A Complete 2 Days Trip Itinerary for Galway Tourist Attractions

This section outlines the most popular places to visit in Galway which you can cover in a span of 2 days.

If you are staying in Galway City for a half day or a day, then here below I am suggesting a couple of tours that you should try in Galway City.

Day 1

1. Galway Arts Center

The art center is a cultural hub of the city. The art gallery of the center is among the popular places to visit in Galway. You can engage with local culture and art through exhibitions and workshops as well. You will need about an hour to explore this center. Do check out upcoming workshops around the time of your visit and make advance bookings. Some of the workshops taking place here are among the most fun things to do in Galway.

2. The Fisheries Watchtower Museum

This watchtower and the museum talk about the history of fishing in the region. Even if you don’t visit the museum, take a few minutes for the watchtower as it is one of the most important historical landmarks among things to see in Galway. Along with the museum, you would 30 to 45 minutes at this place.

3. Spanish Arch (An Póirse)

This arch is what remains of the city’s front wall known as Ceann an Bhalla. This arch is also an important historical structure among Galway tourist attractions. You would need 20 to 30 minutes here.

4. Galway City Museum (Músaem Cathrach na Gaillimhe)

The museum sits just beyond the Spanish Arch. It tells the story of the region and is a major point among Galway attractions. You would need about 2 hours to explore the various exhibits of this museum.

Day 2

1. Cathedral of our Lady Assumed into Heaven & St. Nicholas

This roman cathedral is also known as Galway Cathedral and is a major spot to visit during Galway sightseeing. The cathedral is known for its simple yet beautiful architecture. You would need about an hour to explore this cathedral.

2. Salmon Weir Bridge

The bridge was built in 1819 and connected the prison with the court of law. People enjoy watching various activities in Galway happening in the river from the bridge. You would need about 15 minutes for this Bridge.

3. Eyre Square (An Fhaiche Mhór)

This square is famously associated with USA President John F Kennedy as he addressed a huge crowd from this square in 1963. It is among hustling bustling Galway sights with a lot of activity seen from the citizens. It is a great place for cultural exploration. If shopping is among the fun things to do in Galway for you, Eyre Square is one of the best place for that. You would need about an hour and a half to explore this square and the streets around it.

4. Lynch’s Castle

This castle was designed in the Irish Gothic style of architecture. Visually, it is among the most fascinating places to see in Galway. The castle was built towards the end of the 15th century and belonged to the Lynch family. You would need about 2 hours to explore the castle.

5. Lynch Memorial Window

This window is an important historical landmark among places to go in Galway. This was the place where the Mayor of Galway in 1855 hanged his own son to serve justice. You would need 30 to 45 minutes at this place.

6. St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church

This medieval church looks quaint and beautiful. It also has a lot of history associated with it. You would need 30 to 45 minutes of your Galway trip for this church.

7. The Augustinian Church

The church is part of the Augustinian order which has 500 years of history associated with Galway county. You would need about 30 minutes to explore this church.

If you plan to stay here for more than 2 days, you can check out more places to visit and other fun things to do in Galway in the section below.

Things to do in Galway

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Galway

Spanish Arch
Eyre Square
Galway Cathedral
Galway City Museum
Lynch’s Castle
Saint Nicholas Collegiate Church
Menlo Castle
Hall of the Red Earl
Browne Doorway
Merlin Park Woods
Nora Barnacle’s House
Fisheries Watchtower Museum
Lynch Memorial Window
Statue of Oscar Wilde & Eduard Wilde
Merlin Castle
Vanda Luddy Art Gallery
Ballindooley Castle
Liam Mellow’s Statue
Renville Castle
Oranmore Castle
Cloonacauneen Castle
Claregalway Castle
Connemara Celtic Crystal
Tyrone House
Glinsk Castle
Claregalway Friary

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Galway

Barna Woods
Cappagh Park

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Galway

National Aquarium of Ireland
Galway 2020 Cultural Center
Galway Arts Center
Great Escape Rooms
Caesar’s Palace Casino
Loughwell Farm Park
Eile Mental Activity Park

Shopping in Galway

Shop Street
Mainguard Street
Cross Street
Galway Market
Eyre Square Center
Galway Shopping Center
Corrib Shopping Center
Corbett Court Shopping Center
Briarhill Shopping Center

Beaches & Island in Galway

Mutton Island
Blackrock Beach
SaltHill Beach
Grattan Beach
Silverstrand Beach
Ballyloughane Beach

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Galway

Aran Island Ferries
Galway Walking Tours
Hiking
Trekking
Kayaking

Sightseeing in Galway

Quay Street
The Latin Quarter
Galway Harbour
Salmon Weir Bridge
The Long Walk
Middle Street
Rinville Park

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Galway

The Dough Bros
Dela
Ard Bia
Hooked
Aniar
Kai
Loam
Kappa Ya
Kai Cafe
Merrow
Cave Bodega
Wa Cafe
The Front Door
Quay Street
O’Connor’s
Coffeewerk
Tribeton

Where to Stay in Galway?

Here we have listed Top Rated Hotels in Galway. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Galway.

Luxurious Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Galway

How to Reach Galway?

By Air

The closest airport for Galway travel is Ireland West Airport situated about an hour and a half away from the city. You can get a bus directly from the airport to visit Galway. Another option is Shannon Airport situated at about the same distance. Ireland West Airport is connected to about 23 international destinations. Many people also make Galway trips from Dublin but do not choose Dublin airport if you only want to visit Galway.

By Road

There are several bus lines that you can pick for the Galway trip. Many of these buses are connected to nearby airports. The bus connectivity in Ireland is such that you can get public and private bus transport from almost anywhere in the country to visit Galway.

If you plan for Galway travel by car, you should choose between routes N59, N84, N83, N6, and N7. Among these routes, N59 is associated with outdoor top things to do in Galway like hiking, trekking, camping and so on.

By Water

There are ferries that take you from Galway to the nearby islands. But those islands are anyways considered a part of the county. Other than these, there are no international water routes for Galway travel.

Image Reference

Galway Arts Centre – Johannes Ghee / Flickr
The Fisheries Watchtower Museum – William Murphy / Flickr
Spanish Arch (An Póirse) – Bro. Jeffrey Pioquinto, SJ / Flickr
Galway City Museum (Músaem Cathrach na Gaillimhe) – Mohd Fazlin Mohd Effendy Ooi / Flickr
Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas – Paula Funnell / Flickr
Salmon Weir Bridge – William Murphy / Flickr
Eyre Square (An Fhaiche Mhór) – William Murphy / Flickr
Lynch’s Castle – Robert Linsdell / Flickr
Lynch Memorial Window – Robert Linsdell / Flickr
St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church – Gerd Eichmann / Wikimedia Commons
The Augustinian Church – William Murphy / Flickr