Galway Hotels

County Galway is situated in the West of Ireland and Galway City is the third most populated city after Dublin City and Cork City.

Galway is one of the most popular areas to visit in Ireland and includes famous tourist spots such as the Aran Islands, Connemara, Galway City, and the Twelve Pins and is home to Ireland’s only fjord at Killary Harbour in Leenane. There are over 75 Galway Hotels and Galway Guesthouses in the city and county with great value Galway hotel breaks and deals.

Galway History

Galway City, otherwise know as the City of the Tribes – known as such because of the charter which was presented to the 13 Anglo-Norman tribes or families in the 14th century. Galway is a vibrant city based at the estuary of the Corrib River, which flows into Galway Bay. The heart of the city is around the elegant Eyre Square and off it run the many colourful streets, which make up the heart of the old medieval part of the city.

Part of the lively atmosphere is due to the many students who attend Galway University. With its location on the Atlantic coastline it is not surprising that Galway is well known for its seafood and in addition festivals, such as the Clarinbridge Oyster Festival. Galway has a number of excellent restaurants, hotels and pubs to sample all types of food.

Galway Activities

The city also has a vibrant nightlife with pubs, clubs and music and theatre venues and every night there is a traditional music sessions going on somewhere in the city. Each year sees Galway City host a number of festivals such as the Galway Arts Festival, the Galway Races, held in Ballybrit each summer and in 2009 the city hosted a stopover for the Volvo Ocean Race.

Irish music, dancing and song abound in County Galway and the area also has a number of Gaeltacht or native Irish speaking areas, such as the Aran Islands – which is made up of three islands including Inis Mor, Inis Meain and Inis Oirr, and one of Ireland’s largest gaeltacht areas, Connemara with its attractive main city of Clifden. Connemara has a dramatic landscape of mountains, lakes, rivers and rugged coastline.

The outdoor enthusiast can enjoy fishing, hiking, boating, surfing and diving throughout the area. It also has islands, gardens and visitor attractions such as Kylemore Abbey that are well worth a visit. The Aran Islands have a unique landscape, which includes thousands of miles of stonewalls criss-crossing the islands and also has dramatic cliff-top walks and spectacular coastal scenery. The islands are also well known for their archaeological treasures, including prehistoric and Christian monuments such as Dún Aengus Fort, one of best examples of this type in Europe. Other sites worth visiting include Dún Eoghanachta and Dún Dúcathair.

Whatever your reason for visiting County Galway you can book any of our fully approved Galway hotels and guesthouses located throughout the county on the Ireland Hotels website. Just use the accommodation search box featured on this page to find a Galway Hotels or Galway Guesthouses to meet your needs.