A charming city with serenading buskers, pristine beaches and plenty of craic (Image: Getty)
A visit to this seaside gem provides a host of things to see and experience, and is far less known than many of its more popular European neighbours.
Alongside the region’s pristine beaches, this spot also offers a cosmopolitan and thriving city centre that will undoubtedly keep you busy and entertained while visiting.
Here, less than a two-hour flight away from Britain, you will be greeted with warm hospitality with quaint cobbled streets troughout, a rapid river flowing through and medieval buildings scattered throughout.
This unique Irish spot also boasts a Spanish influence thanks to the region’s surviving arches known as Spanish Arch, which was built for protection for ships coming in from .
Galway in may be lesser-known compared to Dublin but this charming city certainly deserves a spot on your next European getaway.
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Galway is found on Ireland’s west coast and sits where the mighty Atlantic Ocean and the River Corrib meet.
This convergence is synonymous with Galway itself and is a city that boasts of being a melting pot of cultures.
A walk down the cobbled streets of Galway and you will be met with an array of shops and traditional pubs where folk music and Guinness flow through their veins.
In the city centre you will find Galway’s 18th-century Eyre Square and the city’s meeting spot where locals enjoy a good natter, and is ideal for people watching.
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Galway has a lively city centre with an array of buskers, pubs and restaurants (Image: Getty)
Galway also retains portions of its medieval city walls which can be found down a winding lane of the Latin Quarter.
There are also a number of notable spots to explore here, including Galway Cathedral, Saint Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Galway City Museum, and Galway Market, which has operated for centuries.
This Irish gem is also famed for being an ideal spot for nearby day trips with a visit to the Aran Islands, Connemara National Park, Kylemore Abbey, The Burren and the hauntingly beautiful Cliffs of Moher all found on Galway’s doorstep.
It is also home to an array of lively events and festivals taking place all-year round, including a week-long international film festival known as Galway Film Fleadh and the Galway International Oyster Festival.
Aerial view Galway Pier and Corrib river (Image: Getty)
And for those who didn’t think Ireland could offer some stunning beaches, think again as Salthill is only just yonder and offers a lively promenade by the sea where you can soak up the picturesque coastline of Galway Bay with endless views toward the Aran Islands.
A journey to Galway from London only takes 1.5 hours, taking you to Shannon Airport where you can catch a bus to this one-of-a-kind city.
“There were buskers entertaining, and it was such a lovely vibe, we loved just taking it all in,” read one review on TripAdvisor.
Another added: “We had an amazing time. Lots of pubs and lots of excitement. We went during the day and shopped a bit along with lunch and drinks and went back in the evening to hear some local music in the pubs. Great time.”