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There aren’t enough words in the English/Irish language to describe how fantastic the city of Galway is, but I’ll try my best! lol Galway was 100% my favorite stop on this trip. The people, the food, the views, the music. All of it swept me up so much that I extended my stay a few more days haha The longest part of my trip ending up being the best part. First thing’s first: Accommodations. Of all the hostels I stayed at on this trip, the best experience I had was with:
Galway City Hostel
Shout out to Hostelworld for providing the easiest way to book a stay while I was on my trip. The rates were great, the staff was super friendly, the bathrooms were the cleanest I’ve ever seen, and the location was convenient, walkable, and extremely safe for a solo traveler! Hostels can have a bad rap (looking at you, Eli Roth!) but I promise you, they are nothing like the 2005 horror movie. Hostels are a really great way to make new friends, and in this particular one, they promote a lot of group activities to help everyone get to know each other.
My first night there, I was immediately invited to the nightly pub crawl and I had a great time! The rain didn’t stop us, that’s for sure haha A few pubs of note include Darcy‘s Bar, which is right below the hostel (told you this place was convenient!) and RĂłisĂn Dubh.
Also some of the best food I had on my trip was in Galway. If you’re going to eat anywhere, eat at The Dough Bros Pizza. Trust me. Just do it.
Some others places I recommend:
- Ember Firehouse– Halal chicken bowls, kebabs & skewers, and seasoned potatoes with garlic and piri piri sauce for dipping. I went twice lol
- McDonagh’s– Best fish & chips in Galway. ‘Nuff said.
- Murphy’s Ice Cream– Best ice cream I had on this trip (and I had a lot!) If you want to sample all the flavors, go for it. They encourage it! 🙂
And now…for the main attraction…
Cliffs of Moher
Guys…if you’re a nature lover like me, this is THE spot to see. The cliffs, the water, the birds, everything about this place was peaceful AF lol For this tour, I booked with Get Your Guide, which includes the bus ride there and back, entry to the cliffs, and multiple stops along the way. Shoutout to Alan, the tour guide/driver, who made this ride super enjoyable and entertaining. Cracking jokes in an Irish accent had me in tears lol The thing that made this trip so perfect was that, while it rained off and on during the drive up, the sun came out at exactly the right time to get some really beautiful pictures.
Kylemore Abbey
Also booked through Get Your Guide, this beautiful estate in Connemara was built in the late 1800s by businessman Mitchell Henry. Inspired by his love for his wife Margaret, the estate consists of the abbey, a walled garden, walking trails, a Neo-Gothic church, and a mausoleum, where the couple were laid to rest together. *What a guy!*
Cong
The last stop on this tour was in Cong, a picturesque little village that straddles the border between County Mayo and County Galway. Most notably, it is the filming location for the 1952 John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara movie, “The Quiet Man,” and home to a museum of the same name.
Overall, I’d give Galway a 10 out of 10. Not being generous, just honest. Hands down the best part of my trip. So good that I actually extended my trip a few more days…I visited in March, so how could I not stay for St. Patrick’s Day??? Seemed like a no-brainer to me…
