Study Ireland – Stories & Guides from International Students

I recently spent a Saturday in Galway and wanted to share some of the highlights of the day for other travelers looking for things to do when visiting. I took a train in the morning as well as the last train back in the early evening. One of the first things I noticed was how pretty the city was. There are multiple statues and art pieces in the streets, I saw one immediately after exiting the train station. The buildings were beautiful, I found myself trying to take pictures of everything. There were multiple street performers such as a man juggling fire sticks and singers on a few of the streets which really added to the beauty of the area and made it all the more welcoming and interesting. 

On Saturdays they have a market open on the streets with many interesting items and food that smelled amazing. The amount of art and decor for sale was incredible and so fun to look through. Everyone was so kind and welcoming in the market and throughout the city. I would definitely recommend visiting on a Saturday so you can experience the market. 

I next wanted to visit the Galway cathedral. I walked along the water on the way, which was beautiful and had countless picture spots. The cathedral might have been my favorite part. The architecture was so beautiful, the stained-glass windows were stunning. It is definitely a must-see when in Galway. Another must see and picture spot is the Galway Girl statue 

We also visited a museum in the city, which was completely free. The Galway City Museum was a cool experience that had some interesting artifacts and information on things like the history of the Claddagh ring and more. I would recommend it for anyone looking for things that don’t cost extra in the city.  

Early on our trip I wanted a fun drink so I got a boba tea at Retea that was really good and super refreshing. For a late lunch we got pizza at The Dough Bros which was incredible. They had such a fun menu and were definitely a popular spot as they were busy. Even with a full restaurant our food didn’t take long and was great. I would recommend both spots for anyone looking to grab casual food while in Galway.  

Overall, Galway is probably my favorite trip I have taken so far. With the beauty of the city and the liveliness of the streets I had such a great time. There were also countless places to get food and drinks with all different kinds of menus. Even though I felt like one day there was plenty of time to explore the city, if given the chance to go again, I would explore further out and visit the pubs at night.