Galway is the administrative center of the homonymous county and is located in the west of the country, at the mouth of the Corrib River. The fifth largest city in the Republic of Ireland and a major port in the bay, Galway is considered to be the gateway to Galtakht and Connemara, a geographic area in Galway County.

The Galway Tourist Office is located at: Forster Street.

How to get to Galway

Galway airport, located 10 km east of the city, operates direct flights from Dublin, Cork, Belfast and Waterford to Ireland, Edinburgh, London and Manchester in the UK, Lorient in France.

Since the runway at Galway Airport is too short, it takes a limited number of flights. Therefore, you can use nearby airports, for example in Shannon airport, Knock airport and Inverana.

From the airport to the city center can be reached by public transport. However, it should be borne in mind that bus trips are performed only three times a day and are not docked with the arrival / departure time of airplanes.

Taxis from the airport to the city will cost 15-25 EUR depending on traffic (this fee includes a fee of 5 EUR, which the taxi driver must pay at the entrance to the airport).

By train

The railway connects Galway with many large cities of Ireland. For example, the cost of a ticket from Dublin (departure from the station Dublin Heuston station) in Galway will vary from 29 EUR and higher depending on the day of the week, the journey time is about 3 hours. On Friday and on holidays, prices are almost twice as high as on weekdays. Every day 6 trains leave from Dublin to Galway (on the weekend - 4 trains). More information on the Irish Railways website.

By bus

From Galway there is a bus connection with both major cities of Ireland, and with remote resorts and villages. The ticket from Galway to Dublin will cost 13 EUR, the journey time is 3 hours and 45 minutes. More information on the Bus Eireann website.

In addition to Bus Eireann in Galway, there are many private companies involved in the transportation of passengers. For example, Bus Nestor organizes flights to Dublin (from 5 to 8 flights per day). The route follows via Dublin International Airport, the cost of the trip is 10 EUR. Buses depart from the tourist office daily from 06:30 to 17: 25.

Every hour, daily flights to City Link are sent to Dublin. Bus stop at the tourist office. The fare to the center of Dublin is 12 EUR, to the international airport of Dublin - 17 EUR. In addition, City Link operates regular flights to Galway from Clifden, Limerick and Cork.

Also in Dublin flights of the company GoBus. The ticket to the center of Dublin will cost 10 EUR, to the international airport of Dublin - 15 EUR.

Regional buses depart from the main railway station. The bus ticket from Galway to the small town of Karna, lodged on the Atlantic coast, is 16 EUR. Travel time is about 2 hours.

Michael Nee Coaches shuttle buses to Connemara and depart 2-3 times a day from the tourist office.

Galway is the central port on the west coast of Ireland. Regular ferries, carrying passengers and cargo, go from Galway to the Aran Islands. The islands also have regular communication with the cities of Doolin and Rossauville, which are geographically located nearer. The Corrib River is by far the most important waterway in Galway and has many channels.

On auto

In Galway there are 3 main roads of national importance:

• N17 (northern direction) connects Galway with the cities of Tuam, Sligo, Donegal, Letterkenny, Derry;
• motorway M6 (east direction) - connects Galway with the cities of Athlone and Dublin;
• N18 (south direction) connects Galway with the cities of Shannon, Limerick and Cork.

Two routes - the first along the western shore of Loch Corrib, the second largest in Ireland, the second along the northern shore of the Galway Bay - pass through rural and very picturesque areas.

Transport Galway

It is better to walk around the city on foot. All major attractions are within walking distance. Although there are regular buses departing from Eyre Square (cost 1, 2 euros).

Parking in the city is paid and costs about 1 EUR for 1 hour and 0, 8 EUR for each subsequent hour. Taxi parking is located on Eyre Square, Bridge Street and near the train station.

You can also rent a bicycle, the price is from 10 EUR per day. The rental office is located at 11 Upper Dominick Street. More information on the West Ireland Cycling website.

Climate

The climate of Ireland is temperate marine. In Galway, there is a mild and humid weather all year round, as the south-west winds blowing from the ocean and the North Atlantic current bring warm air masses to the coast.

Rain is the most common form of rainfall. Humidity is high and ranges from 70% to 100%. The average temperature in January is 7 ° C, July - 16 ° C.

March 1, Sunday Overcast, light rain +7 ° C in the day +6 ° С at night ° С water	March 2, Monday Overcast, light rain +5 ° С in the afternoon +3 ° C at night ° С water	March 3, Tuesday Partly cloudy, light rain +6 ° С in the day +2 ° С at night ° С water
The weather in Galway for 10 days is

Money

Currency can be exchanged in banks, specialized exchange offices and hotels. Banks are usually open from 10:00 to 16:00. Cash can be withdrawn from the card at street machines, available around the clock.

Shopping in Galway

The main shopping street of Galway starts from Eyre Square and then goes south towards the Corrib River.

Most of the shops, shopping centers, restaurants and pubs are located on the central pedestrian streets of the city - William Street, Shop Street, High Street, Mainguard Street and Quay Street. The ancient buildings and the business atmosphere prevailing in these streets make them the most attractive for tourists.

On the street Middle Street, which runs parallel to the street Shop Street, you can find many interesting places. Opposite to the design studio "cocoon" is the national Irish theater "An Taibhdhearc", as well as the bookstore Charlie Byrne, the Kenny's art gallery (Kenny's gallery) and the Japanese restaurant.

The modern shopping center Eyre Square Center is almost entirely hidden behind the facades of old buildings. The entrance to the center opens on the south side of Eyre Square and from Williams Street.

Large shopping centers are usually open from 09:00 to 21:00 on weekdays, on weekends to 18:00.

Kitchen

Irish food is very simple and hearty. The main ingredients are mainly meat, fish and seafood, as well as potatoes, which is a part of many dishes. Be sure to try the famous Irish stew, and from drinks Irish coffee (be careful, he's with whiskey).

The basis of the traditional Irish breakfast consists of pork sausages, bacon slices, fried egg, blood sausage, white sausage, tea, coffee, toast or traditional soda bread. It can also include potato pancakes, fried tomatoes and baked beans in tomato.

Excursions, entertainment and attractions of Galway

Lynch Castle is an example of Irish Gothic. Located between the streets of Shop Street and Abbeygate Street, the castle belonged to one of the most powerful Irish families. The exact date of the beginning of the construction of the castle is unknown, but a number of features indicate the late 15th - early 16th centuries. In 1930, it was acquired by the union of Irish banks and rebuilt. The first floor of the castle is open for visitors.

Church of St. Nicholas, the largest medieval church, located in the heart of the city, which is still used for its intended purpose. The church was erected in 1320 and for the next 200 years was significantly expanded.

The Galway cathedral, built of limestone, is located on the west bank of the Corrib River, northwest of the city center. The construction of the cathedral began in 1958 on the site of the old city prison. In 1965, the cathedral was consecrated by Cardinal Richard Cushing in honor of the Ascension of Our Lady and St. Nicholas. The architecture of the cathedral is a mixture of several styles: the dome, columns and arches are made in the Renaissance style, and the portico is in the Romanesque style. One of the best organs of Ireland is in the cathedral.

Not far from the cathedral stands the original quadrangular building of the University of Ireland, which was founded in 1849. It is one of three royal universities in Ireland (along with universities in Belfast and Cork).

Also noteworthy is the Spanish arch in the south-west of the city, which was originally built as an addition to the city wall. And the city museum, consisting of two sections - at the exhibition "Fragments of the city" is an exposition on the heritage of Galway, and at the exhibition "In Reflection" - a collection of Irish artists of the second half of the 20th century.

At 38 km from Galway, there is a village called Menlough, where the ruins of Garbally Castle are preserved.

Galway events

Every year in September the International Oyster Festival (Galway Oysters Festival, website) takes place, which dates back to 1954. The festival is known far beyond Ireland.

In May, the annual ancient music festival (Galway Early Music, website) takes place.

International Art Festival (Galway Arts Festival, website), the leading art festival in Ireland has more than 30 years of history. It is one of the key cultural events in Europe. About 150 thousand visitors and about a hundred writers, artists, musicians, artists of the theater, representatives of street art, writers come to it every year.

Every year in Galway there is a festival of horse racing, which has gained worldwide fame. More information on the website of The Galway Races festival. Photos of Galway (38)