5 Best Ares to Stay in Galway

My standard drinking ale in Ireland. (The hooker is a kind of boat, BTW. ;-) )

If you can manage to swing a little extra vacation time to come to the West coast of Ireland during your holiday, then DO IT. The West Coast is home to some of the best the country has to offer, with exceptional views from the Cliffs of Moher, ideal surfing at Lahinch, live music in Clare, bustling pubs in Galway City, and the intimidating mountains of Connemara in Mayo. 

So, where should you stay if you are heading to the West? Galway is arguably the best home base, as you are within 1.5 hour’s drive of Clifden (the main town in Connemara), the Cliffs of Moher, and Westport (a fun and cute coastal town ever-popular for romantic getaways and hen/stag parties). 

Let’s check out the best areas and neighborhoods to base yourself in Galway city during your upcoming holiday.

Salthill

Salthill and Galway Bay, Galway, Co. Galway, Ireland – By Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada – Salthill and Galway Bay, Galway (506275), CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68849467

If you can come during the summer months, basing yourself in Salthill is a great idea for proximity to the water and town. Of course, it depends where in Salthill, but you will always be within walking distance of one of the main pubs, grocery store, and the waterfront – with views that extend to the Burren in County Clare and can take your breath away.

During the mornings, you can walk to one of the coffee shops along the water – we recommend Coco Cafe or Ground & Co – and then take a walk along the “Prom.” Short for “promenade,” tons of locals in Galway have made a habit of ‘walking the prom’ every morning or evening for some pre or post-work exercise. 

There are tons of B&Bs in the Salthill area, like Feeney’s or The Nest, that offer various options for people on different budgets. We recommend trying to get an Airbnb or B&B along the main street to avoid having to walk 30-40 minutes to the center of town. 

Tip: If you really want to be like a local, jump off Black Rock diving tower and go for a chilly morning swim! 

Woodquay

Galway Shop Street – By Sabine Holzmann, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54156879

Okay, it might be noisy here every night of the week, but we don’t care! After all, you’re in Ireland to go and have fun, right? Woodquay is a cool little area of the city center that has craft beer bars, typical Irish pubs, and a few rooms/B&Bs to rent. 

With McGinn’s as a more modern pub showing live sports almost every day, Caribou as a Scandanavian-influenced craft beer bar, and Bar nah Chaladh, an always-popular favorite among students, Woodquay is a great spot to base yourself if you want to go out during your time in Galway city.

Plus, cafes are just a two minutes’ walk in either direction, with Revive Cafe, Gourmet Tart & Co., and Roscoe’s all basically on your doorstep.

Tip: For some strong Italian coffee, stop at Ciarlantini in Woodquay to get an espresso-based pick-me-up. 

Eyre Square

Eyre Square Galway – By By Sulmac (talk) (Uploads) – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=107818311

Although Eyre Square is the center of everything, it is not the cultural center of the town. However, it is extremely convenient for a stay in Galway. You are literally going to be looking at the bus and train station from wherever you stay, making it easy to get to/from the airport transfer in just a few minutes. 

Plus, for buses that head to Clifden, Lahinch, Ennis, Limerick, and other hotspots, you can walk to the coach bus station in less than 5 minutes. We recommend trying to find a room at The Skeffington Arms or Eyre Square hotel.

Tip: Head to Esquire’s for a great cup of coffee (and a super friendly owner!) in the morning and finish off with a pint at The Skeffington Arms (known as ‘The Skeff’) in the evenings. 

Quay Street

Galway Shop Street – By Jerzy Strzelecki – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15871775

If you are lucky enough to find a room off of Quay Street or Shop Street, you are truly in the center of everything. At night, Galway comes alive on Quay Street, boasting big-name pubs like Busker Browne’s, The Front Door, Tigh Neachtain, The Dail, The Quays, and 1520. 

For those who want to be close to the action, and walk home at night after a few-too-many drinks, a room to rent off the main street is ideal.

Tip: We recommend getting a seat at Tigh Neachtain – the bright blue pub on the corner of The Front Door and Quay Street – for the best people-watching place in the entire city. Come here Saturday before 5 pm to stay for the night!

The Claddagh

Galway Riverside Quay – By Adesile Ajisafe – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62513669

Last but not least, we have The Claddagh. A historically important area in the city of Galway, The Claddagh is now mainly family homes that have been passed down from generation to generation. However, some AirBnB’ers rent out a room – or their entire house – to vacationers for part of the year.

If you and your wallet can swing it, we think this is the best place to stay. You are across the water from Quay Street, meaning you won’t get the loudness from the pubs all night long, but you can easily walk to Salthill in 10 minutes and the center of the pubs in less than 5. Talk about the best of both worlds!

Tip: Try and get a room that looks out at the ‘Long Walk’ – the colorful houses that you see on all of the Galway postcards!