What to Do in Galway: Pubs, Aquarium, Museum

November 5, 2026

A quick guide by interest

Galway is small enough that one afternoon covers a lot. Here is what to do, sorted by what you like, with the practical details. Prices are in euro.

If you like live music

The city’s pubs host traditional sessions, and the musicians sit together rather than on a stage.

The Crane Bar, Sea Road: sessions every night of the week, with the upstairs room starting about 21:30.
Taaffe’s Bar, Shop Street: sessions around 17:00 and 21:00 daily, with food served until about 14:00.
Tig Cóilí, Mainguard Street: a session pub, though times are not fixed.
Tigh Neachtain, 17 Cross Street: live traditional music across the week.

Sit quietly, order a drink and let the musicians lead. Pop requests are not welcome.

If you like museums and history

Galway City Museum by the Spanish Arch charges nothing and opens Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 17:00. The building is modern and dates from 2006.
St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church was founded in 1320 and is the biggest medieval parish church in Ireland that is still in everyday use.
Thomas Dillon’s Claddagh Gold, 1 Quay Street, has a free ring museum at the back, open Monday to Saturday.

If you like animals

Galway Atlantaquaria, on Seapoint Promenade in Salthill, keeps native Irish sea and freshwater species, including sharks and rays. Tickets booked online are €15 for adults and €10 for children, with walk-in prices a euro higher. See the aquarium’s plan-your-visit page for hours.

If you like to walk

The seafront promenade runs 3.2 km from the Claddagh to the Blackrock Diving Tower. Locals kick the wall at the far end and then turn round. Swimmers and jumpers use the tower all year, but the bay is cold and tidal, so avoid it in rough weather and never jump in a storm.

If you like the outdoors

Connemara National Park at Letterfrack costs nothing to enter. The upper Diamond Hill loop is about 6.2 km and climbs 400 m, taking about 2 hours. Fog can drop quickly, so keep to the marked trail.

Things to skip

The River Corrib in the city is fast, cold and full of weirs. Do not swim or paddle in it, and do not expect rafting. Salthill’s bay has no surf, so surf lessons mean a drive to County Clare.

In the rain

Pubs, the museum and the aquarium all work in bad weather. Rain shows up in any month.