Galway City Guide
Oozing Irish culture and heritage, Galway is filled with historic streets offering an abundance of Irish bars, pubs, restaurants, independent stores and more. Learn about Galway’s history and culture in the museums and galleries, enjoy the fantastic view over Galway Bay or explore further afield and immerse yourself in the incredible landscapes and natural beauties that Ireland has to offer.
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Staff Recommends
Best Bar: Taaffes on Shop Street has been open for over 150 years and is one of Galway's best known bars. Make sure to catch one of the many traditional Irish music sessions that have become legendary here.
Best Restaurant: Rúibín Bar & Restaurant For a romantic dinner or special evening. Lovely atmosphere, creative dishes and excellent cocktails in the docklands. A great all-round choice for food and drinks.
Best Shopping: Eyre Square Centre. Best for mainstream high-street shopping, with a range of retailers in a central, covered shopping centre.
Best Kept Secret: The Galway Market (located in the laneway between Shop Street and Market Street) takes place every Saturday and is extremely popular with both locals and visitors.
Culture
Tribes Tours Galway
Tribes Tours Galway offers guided walking tours that introduce visitors to Galway’s rich history, culture, legends and hidden gems. The tours explore popular landmarks such as Eyre Square, the Latin Quarter and the Spanish Arch, giving visitors a chance to learn more about the city while discovering its unique character. They also offer pub crawls for those who want to experience Galway’s lively nightlife and traditional pub culture, making it a great option for tourists looking for an authentic local experience.
Spanish Arch
Built in 1584 on the banks of the River Corrib, the historic Spanish Arch is one of Galway’s most loved attractions. Originally an extension of the famous city walls and once known as ‘The Blind Arch’, this historic gem sits just opposite our Galway hotel and is well worth a peruse.
Rinville Park
Situated around the structures of an old stately home which oozes heritage, this beautiful park offers a ‘network’ of woodlands and open farmland, as well as close proximity to the sea. Rinville Park offers picnic areas and a playground, which are ideal for visiting families.
Located just outside Oranmore, Rinville Park is just a twenty-minute drive from Leonardo Hotel Galway, and admission is free.
Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Garden
One of Ireland’s most popular attractions, Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Garden is an absolute must-see. This incredible abbey is still today the home of the Irish Benedictine nuns, offering visitors a spiritual experience as they explore Kylemore’s natural beauty and awe-inspiring abbey architecture.
Admission costs around €18 for an adult with children under ten entering for free. The estate is open daily between 10am and 5pm. Kylemore Abbey is situated roughly an hour and twenty-minute drive from our hotel.
Galway Arts Centre
Galway Arts Centre is dedicated to providing year-round access to the arts in an inclusive, welcoming hub in the heart of Galway City. Galway Arts Centre operates two venues, located in the heart of Galway City’s Westend. Our main public reception and art galleries are located at Galway Arts Centre (47 Dominick Street), a short walk away from our performance space at Nuns Island Theatre.
Days Out
Salthill
Salthill is a small resort with amusements, a leisure centre and sandy beaches just a mile out of Galway city centre.
Salthill is leisurely twenty-minute walk or a short five-minute drive from Leonardo Hotels. Alternatively, you can catch a bus a few minutes’ walk our hotel.
Cliffs of Moher
These stunning 214m high cliffs span five miles of utterly breath-taking landscape. One of Ireland’s most visited natural attractions, the Cliffs of Moher offer incredible views towards Galway Bay, the Aran Islands and more.
The ‘magical vista’ of the cliffs of Moher is situated over an hour from our hotel in Galway, however there is plenty to do in the area, making it the ideal day out.
Aran Islands - Inis Mor, Inis Meain, Inis Orr
This group of three islands located in the Atlantic Ocean boasts some of Ireland's most impressive landscapes. Immerse yourself in Irish culture as you explore not only the beautiful terrain and breath-taking landscapes, but discover the historic Celtic churches and mythological heritage of the Aran Islands.
You can take a ferry from Rossaveal, which is situated a 45-minute drive from our Galway hotel. The ferry takes roughly 40 minutes and is passenger only- cars cannot be taken across to the islands.
The ferry is serviced by a number of main agents who provide coach-and-ferry tickets, or ferry-only tickets. Pick-ups are made from the hotel. Tickets approximately €25 return per adult.
Atlantaquaria
A great day out for all, Galway Atlantaquaria National Aquarium offers a plethora of aquatic life for visitors to discover. Learn about the diverse marine ecosystem of Ireland from live presentations, engaging displays and ‘animal interaction sessions’.
Located just one mile from Galway city centre, Atlantaquaria is Ireland’s largest aquarium. Admission costs €15 for adults and €10 for children aged 3-15. The aquarium is open seven days a week, opening 10am-5pm weekdays, closing an hour later on weekends. Our hotel is a leisurely twenty three-minute walk (or five-minute drive ) from Atlantaquaria.
Connemara National Park
Explore 2,957 hectares of awe-inspiring landscapes from scenic mountains to woodlands, heaths, and bogs! Connemara National Park’s visitor centre is situated just outside Letterfrack in Connemara, over an hour’s drive from Leonardo Hotel Galway. Admission and parking is free of charge.
Glengowla Mines
An exciting and unique day out to enjoy with the kids, the Glengowla Mines offer a fantastic underground tour of Ireland's only show mines. You can also enjoy a farm walk and a wander around the museum.
The mines are situated just outside Oughterard, which is roughly a forty-five minute drive from our hotel.
Connemara
Approximately one hour’s drive from Leonardo Hotel Galway, Connemara is an area of unspoilt beauty within County Galway. Enjoy a ‘wonderland of sights, experiences, adventure and activities’ as you discover the wild, rugged, and breath-taking Irish countryside. With a plethora of outdoor activities, such as walking, fishing, golfing and cycling to immerse in, Connemara offers a day out that can be enjoyed by all.
Explore this city of captivating landscapes and vibrant culture that's also a shopper's paradise. The city's bustling streets and historic squares are adorned with an eclectic mix of shops that cater to a wide range of tastes and interests. Galway shopping is a delightful blend of traditional Irish crafts, modern fashion, and unique treasures waiting to be discovered.
Shopping
Eyre Square Centre
Offering a range of your favourite high street stores as well as boutique/independent stores, the Eyre Square Centre is the perfect spot for a day of retail therapy, ideally situated just an eight-minute walk from Leonardo Hotel Galway.
The Latin Quarter
The Latin Quarter is a thriving hub of Irish culture and heritage. Home to many of Galway’s attractions, such as the Saturday Market and the Druid Theatre company, the Quarter is a bustling centre for quirky independently owned shops, bars and restaurants. A trip to Galway is not complete without a perusal of the Latin Quarter’s shops and a spot of lunch in one of the pubs, all on Leonardo Hotel’s doorstep.
Explore this city of captivating landscapes and vibrant culture that's also a shopper's paradise. The city's bustling streets and historic squares are adorned with an eclectic mix of shops that cater to a wide range of tastes and interests. Galway shopping is a delightful blend of traditional Irish crafts, modern fashion, and unique treasures waiting to be discovered.
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