I really do hate crowded, noisy, expensive, modern cities with lots of traffic! Galway is all of those things. But Galway is also cool – very cool, in fact!
Intro and travel report
Galway is buzzing! I can’t put it any other way. There’s hardly a city in Ireland as lively as this one. Unfortunately, you really notice this whenever you try to get through the city, as it takes quite a while.
And so, this time too, it takes us a while to reach the campsite on the western edge in our motorhome. We manage to snap up one of the last pitches and stay for two nights.
The campsite is situated right on the beach in the lovely neighbourhood of Salthill.
Here, one beach follows another, some of them lined with wide seafront promenades. Hotels line the coastal road; there’s the occasional funfair, and there are certainly plenty of people here enjoying the promenades and the beaches.
We were no exception. On our first evening, we cycled along the coast for a while, found a beachside bistro for dinner and enjoyed the lovely evening by the sea.
The next morning, we hopped back on our bikes and carried on towards the city centre. A stiff wind didn’t always make cycling easy, but it was simply lovely.
The Wolfe Tone Bridge takes us across the River Corrib. The city centre begins on the other side. This is where the famous Spanish Arch and the Galway City Museum are located.
But first I take a stroll in the other direction: along the green banks of the River Corrib, I walk towards Salmon Weir Bridge and Galway Cathedral.
Salmon fishing is indeed very important in Ireland, and here in Galway too there are information boards providing details about the river and the fishing industry.
The riverbank is pleasantly peaceful and green; every now and then you come across small groups of people who are simply sitting here, enjoying the moment.
A little further on, I come across the cathedral and am able to take a look inside as well. Just as outside, a procession comes towards me on the neighbouring bridge. Church dignitaries in ceremonial robes are making their way to the cathedral, accompanied by a long line of people.
But I’m drawn in the opposite direction, towards the city centre. Galway’s actual old town is called the Latin Quarter, and that’s where the action is: the Galway Fest clearly attracts not only tourists but also plenty of locals.
Incidentally, there are always plenty of tourists in Galway – all the time! This is thanks to the numerous coach companies offering day trips and multi-day tours from Dublin. The journey from the east coast to the west coast takes only about 2–3 hours, and Galway is clearly a magnet for people.
The Latin Quarter is just as touristy: there are loads of colourful pubs and souvenir shops catering to the crowds. The nice thing is that there’s always live music playing somewhere, both during the day and in the evening.
Today, it’s mainly street music here: street performers and musicians are everywhere, entertaining the people as they stroll cheerfully through the narrow, car-free alleyways.
Food, drink, shopping, music – there’s plenty to enjoy here. And people clearly are enjoying themselves, as the atmosphere is generally cheerful and friendly.
I take a long detour past Lynch’s Castle on my way to the docks. Harbours and boats have a magical pull on me. The modern harbour isn’t all that exciting, but the Long Walk is very much to my taste.
Here, at the mouth of the River Corrib, lie the charming little colourful fishing boats and pleasure craft. Anglers stand on the bank, walkers enjoy the view of the sea, and I stroll with them through the Spanish Arch and back to where we started.
Here on the riverbank, there are lots of little white tents with food stalls – probably because of the festival. There are also a few arts and crafts stalls and other things to be found there.
Feeling a bit tired but very satisfied, we get back on our bikes and let the sea breeze really blow through us once more on the Salthill Promenade before we reach our campsite and call it a day.
Conclusion
Galway is always busy – always! They don’t even need a festival for that. And Galway is always full of tourists.
But the hustle and bustle in Galway is usually a very positive thing: people want to have fun, and that’s exactly what they find there. Cool vibes – that about sums it up.
Not just in the bustling restaurants of the Latin Quarter, or at the various sights, but also along the quays, docks, or on the many lakeside promenades and beaches, such as in the Salthill district. By the way, you can find all the information on places of interest here: https://www.visitgalway.ie.
We felt the same as most people in Galway: we had fun and enjoyed the hustle and bustle. And coming from me – someone who usually likes to avoid crowds – that’s a huge compliment!
More interesting articles for you
LIMERICK: DEFINITELY WORTH A VISIT!
DONEGAL TOWN: THE NORTH-WEST IS COOL!
CARRICK-ON-SHANNON: BEAUTY BY THE RIVER
Credit for cover photo: On the Long Walk in Galway (Photo: Ulrich Knüppel-Gertberg)
