Holiday Rentals and Lettings in Galway

Table of Contents

• At a glance: what should you know about renting a holiday letting in Galway?
• Holiday rentals and lettings in Galway: find your perfect retreat
• Exploring Galway: our top recommendations
• Activities: what are the top things to do and see in Galway?

• Galway sits on Ireland's Atlantic west coast, hugging Galway Bay and serving as the gateway to Connemara and the Aran Islands.
• The compact, walkable city centre and its lively Latin Quarter put pubs, live traditional music and independent shops on your doorstep.
• Holiday lettings range from city-centre apartments to seaside homes near Salthill, so you can match the location to your trip.
• Summer brings festivals and long evenings, while spring and autumn offer quieter streets and gentler prices.
• A hire car opens up the wild Connemara landscapes, though the centre itself is best explored on foot.

Galway offers a broad choice of self-catering stays to suit every kind of traveller. City-centre holiday apartments keep you within strolling distance of the Latin Quarter, while a homely bed and breakfast adds a warm local welcome. Families and larger groups often prefer a spacious holiday home with room to spread out after a day by the bay.

• Free Wi-Fi for staying connected and planning day trips
• A private balcony or terrace to enjoy the sea air
• An enclosed garden, ideal for families and pets
• On-site or nearby parking for exploring Connemara by car
• A fully equipped kitchen for self-catering after market shopping

If you fancy a rural escape further afield, a cosy country cottage makes a peaceful base, and outdoorsy travellers can even swap four walls for a camping pitch closer to nature.

What are the best areas to stay in Galway?

Each Galway neighbourhood has its own character, from the buzzing city centre to the seaside calm of Salthill. The table below highlights where to base yourself depending on what you want from your stay.

What do our guests say?

Guests consistently praise Galway for its friendly atmosphere and the ease of getting around on foot. Many highlight how convenient it is to have shops, restaurants and traditional music sessions just moments from their front door. Travellers staying near the bay often mention the beautiful sunsets and bracing coastal walks, while those with a car appreciate how quickly they can reach the dramatic scenery of Connemara. Overall, visitors describe their self-catering stays as comfortable, well located and a genuine home from home.

Galway is Ireland's vibrant west-coast city, set where the River Corrib meets Galway Bay. Famous for its arts, festivals and traditional music, its heart is the colourful Latin Quarter, a maze of cobbled streets lined with pubs, craft shops and buskers. Beyond the city, Galway is the gateway to the rugged landscapes of Connemara and the timeless Aran Islands, making it the perfect base for exploring the wild Atlantic west.

✈️What is the best way to get to Galway?

Galway is well connected to the rest of Ireland and easy to reach whether you travel by road or public transport.

• By car: The M6 motorway links Galway directly with Dublin in roughly two and a half hours, and onward routes connect to Limerick and the south.
• By train/bus: Direct trains and coaches run frequently from Dublin to Galway's Ceannt station in the city centre, with good links from Cork and Limerick too.

🥗Where to eat in Galway?

According to Google Maps reviews, Rúibín Bar & Restaurant is one of the best rated restaurants in Galway. Below is a table showing top highly-rated spots hand-picked by our travel experts.

⭐Our guests' recommendation: Our guest travellers Marta and James rate Cava Bodega, a lively tapas restaurant on Middle Street: a fun, sociable spot for dozens of Spanish small plates and a glass of wine amid the buzz of the Latin Quarter.

☀️When is the best time to visit?

Galway is a year-round destination, but the experience changes with the seasons. Below is a quick guide to help you choose between the lively buzz of summer, the calmer charm of spring and autumn, and the cosy quiet of winter.

Summer (June–August)

• Long, bright evenings ideal for coastal walks along Salthill.
• A packed festival calendar, including the famous Galway International Arts Festival.
• Warm, sociable pub sessions and the busiest, liveliest streets of the year.

Spring & Autumn (April–May, September–October)

• Quieter streets and shorter queues at the main attractions.
• Mild weather that is well suited to day trips into Connemara.
• Often better value on holiday lettings than in peak summer.

Winter (November–March)

• Cosy pubs with roaring fires and intimate live music sessions.
• Atmospheric Christmas markets around Eyre Square.
• Dramatic Atlantic skies and bracing, crowd-free coastal walks.

⭐Our Hosts' recommendation: Set aside at least one full day for a trip out to Connemara or a ferry to the Aran Islands, then round off your evenings with a session in a Latin Quarter pub, where impromptu traditional music is all but guaranteed.

1. Wander the Latin Quarter
2. See the Spanish Arch and the Long Walk
3. Stroll the Salthill promenade
4. Visit Galway Cathedral
5. Explore Connemara and the Aran Islands

1. Wander the Latin Quarter

   The Latin Quarter is the beating heart of Galway, a warren of narrow cobbled streets running from Shop Street down towards the river. Here you will find colourful shopfronts, traditional pubs, craft boutiques and street performers filling the air with music. It is the perfect place to soak up the city's famous atmosphere, browse for Claddagh rings and Irish crafts, and pause for a pint. Come evening, the pubs spill over with live traditional sessions that draw locals and visitors alike.

2. See the Spanish Arch and the Long Walk

   Standing beside the River Corrib where it meets the sea, the Spanish Arch dates from the 16th century and once formed part of the city's defensive walls. Today the grassy riverside is a popular spot to sit and watch the water, especially on a sunny day. Just across the way, the colourful row of houses known as the Long Walk makes one of Galway's most photographed scenes. Nearby, the Galway City Museum tells the story of the region's maritime and cultural past.

3. Stroll the Salthill promenade

   A short walk or bus ride from the centre, Salthill is Galway's classic seaside resort, strung out along the shore of Galway Bay. Its long promenade is made for leisurely strolls, with sweeping views across the water to the hills of County Clare. By tradition, walkers "kick the wall" at the far end before turning back. Along the way you will pass sandy beaches, ice-cream kiosks and the diving boards at Blackrock, a favourite spot for bracing swims year round.

4. Visit Galway Cathedral

   One of the largest and most striking buildings in the city, Galway Cathedral rises beside the River Corrib with its distinctive green dome. Completed in 1965, it is among the last great stone cathedrals built in Europe and blends Renaissance styling with Irish craftsmanship. Inside, visitors can admire the impressive domed ceiling, colourful mosaics and beautiful stained glass. Entry is free, and the peaceful interior offers a calm contrast to the lively streets, as well as a short riverside walk back into town.

5. Explore Connemara and the Aran Islands

   No visit to Galway is complete without venturing into the wild west of Ireland. Connemara, just beyond the city, is a land of bogs, mountains and mirror-still loughs, home to Kylemore Abbey and the Twelve Bens. Out in the bay, the three Aran Islands preserve a traditional Irish-speaking way of life, dramatic cliffs and ancient stone forts such as Dún Aonghasa. Reachable by ferry or organised tour, both make unforgettable day trips into some of the country's finest scenery.