10 Days in Galway

What You Should Know Before Going On A Galway Tour

Galway Weather & When to Visit

Galway’s weather is seasonal, though it does not experience any massive changes. Weather is cool year-round, although it is coldest in the winter, when the city can receive some snow (chances of precipitation are slightly higher in the winter as well.)

Average temperatures between November until February are around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, often dropping in the evenings to a below-freezing point.

The warmest time of the year, generally considered the best time to travel to Galway, is in the end of summer. Between July to September is actually the warmest time of the year in Galway, with average temperatures sitting in the mid-50’s, and highs commonly reaching the high 60’s. Traveling in September or even October, when temperatures start to drop, is also advisable because these months tend to round out the tourist season. You not only have a better chance of getting travel discounts, but you will also experience less crowds in general.

For these reasons, some will also recommend traveling in late spring. However, it is significantly warmer in the fall, and the tourist crowds in Galway are never overwhelming, and so we stand by our beliefs that late summer and early fall are truly the best times to see Galway.

Galway Food & Food Tours

Galway’s new restaurant scene, along with its classic pubs, make it a popular place for a growing number of food tours in the city. On a tour of Ireland, going on a food tour is a great way to break up the routine and learn something new. 

On your tour, you will get to try new a lot of new food, yes, but that isn’t the only thing you walk away with. With each treat, the manufacturer or your tour guide will probably explain how the food is produced, and the history of this kind of food in the region.

For example, in Galway, you are guaranteed to try some kind of seafood. Whether it’s fresh oyster with a little bit of cream on top, or a delicious nibble of smoked salmon on brown Irish soda bread, you will learn about the ingredients but also learn about Galway’s past as a main sea port. In this way, you take away more than just the food you sampled, you learn a significant amount about the past.

Some of the other classic foods you may taste on your tour of Galway include local cheeses, locally-distilled Irish spirits and microbrews, fragrant and tasty sausages, and probably some sweets as well!

Galway Music Scene

Galway is known for its traditional Irish music, and for good reason. Galway has one of the best folk music scenes in Ireland, with many pubs having quality music on a consistent schedule that appeal not just to tourists, but to the locals.

One thing to be aware of is that folk music, while sometimes featuring a set performer, is not necessarily a planned show. Usually performances are called “sessions”, in which folk performers are invited to come play. As a result, the instruments, songs played, and number of performers are highly variable.

Another common way to experience traditional music is to take a festival tour of Galway. Most festivals in the city feature some kind of folk performance and song, and are a particularly fun way to meet the locals and experience the area.  

Some of the most famous pubs for music in Galway include:

• The Quays
• Barr and Chaladh
• Tigh Coili
• Taafres
• The Spanish Arch Bar
• The Crane
• Monroes