A colourful student city on Ireland's west coast: buskers in the Latin Quarter, pubs with traditional music, the Spanish Arch and the Claddagh ring. It is the base for day trips to the best of the Atlantic coast — the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren's limestone plateau, Dún Aonghasa fort on the Aran Islands, the Connemara mountains, Kylemore Abbey and Killary Fjord. No direct flights: fly via Istanbul or Frankfurt to Dublin, then ~2.5 hours by coach or train. Ireland is not in Schengen — a separate Irish visa is needed.
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Costs and prices on the ground
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return from $1000
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Weather
Daytime 9–20°C · warmest in July
Orange — daytime average, blue — night, grey bars — rainfall, green — sea temperature. Best months: May, June, July, August, September.
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Things to see (12)
12 places: Latin Quarter and Shop Street, Galway Market, Spanish Arch and the Long Walk…
📍🧸 for kids
Latin Quarter and Shop Street★ 4.7 (15,000)
CityFreeStreets always open; pubs ≈10:30–23:30, later at weekends
The heart of the city — pedestrian streets of colourful houses with buskers and jugglers all day. Pubs such as Tigh Neachtain and Monroe's have traditional Irish music sessions every night, and Monroe's sometimes has set dancing. Fine for a daytime stroll with children.
FoodFree entrySat 8:00–18:00, Sun 12:00–18:00 (also Wed–Fri in July–August)
Show all (12)
🧸 for kids
The Claddagh★ 4.5 (3,000)
CultureFree (rings from about €30)Always open; shops ≈10:00–18:00
The old fishing village across the river — birthplace of the Claddagh ring with its two hands, heart and crown. Swans gather along the shore and there are fine views of the Spanish Arch. Jewellers in the centre have small ring-history displays.
Adult return fare: $1000–$1900Flight times are to Dublin; add ~2.5 hours by coach to Galway (Citylink €22 single, €33 return). Turkish Airlines return fares Dublin–Ulaanbaatar run about €895–1,440. Book connections on one ticket. Connecting in London: the UK Direct Airside Transit visa (£41.50) is not valid for onward travel to Ireland — you need a UK Standard Visitor visa (£135), unless your Irish visa is marked 'BC' or 'BC BIVS' in the Remarks. Galway hotels are very expensive during the July arts festival and race week.
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Visa and documents
Visa required · 90 days · $68 · language, safety, medical, SIM
Visa required · 90 days · $68
Ireland is not in Schengen — Schengen and UK visas are not valid for Ireland. Mongolia is on Ireland's visa-required list, so a short-stay 'C' visit visa is required in advance (up to 90 days). Apply online on AVATS, then hand in the signed printout and documents in person at the VFS Global Ireland Visa Application Centre in Ulaanbaatar; the decision is made by the Irish Embassy visa office in Beijing. The fee is €60 single entry (~$68, ~245,000₮) or €100 multiple entry (~$113), plus a VFS service charge — all paid at the centre on your appointment day (not online) and non-refundable if refused. Decisions take a minimum of 8–12 weeks, so apply early. Documents not in English need a notarised translation. The British-Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS) is only for Chinese and Indian nationals, and Mongolia is not in the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme that lets some nationalities enter Ireland on a UK visa. Connecting via London, a UK DATV is not enough — you need a UK Standard Visitor visa (£135) or an Irish visa marked 'BC'/'BC BIVS'.
Visa rules can change — confirm with the embassy or an official source before you travel.
Language:English; Connemara and the Aran Islands are Irish-speaking (Gaeltacht) areas — signs are mostly in Irish, but everyone speaks English. The west of Ireland accent may sound fast at first
Safety:One of Ireland's calmest cities; occasional drunkenness and pickpocketing in the Latin Quarter and Eyre Square at night. The main danger is nature: at the Cliffs of Moher and Dún Aonghasa there are unfenced 90–200 m drops and strong winds — keep away from the edge and hold children's hands. The weather changes fast, so a waterproof jacket is essential. Traffic drives on the left and country roads are narrow. Emergency 112 or 999.
Healthcare:University Hospital Galway is the main hospital for the west; Emergency Department waits are long and visitors are charged — medical insurance is a must. Hospitals are far from the islands and Connemara villages, so use a pharmacy or GP for minor problems.
Phone:Easiest is an eSIM bought before you fly (Airalo, Ubigi); or a prepaid Three, Vodafone or Eir SIM at Dublin Airport. Coverage is patchy in parts of Connemara and the Aran Islands — download offline maps.
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Travel guide
Arrival, SIM, transport, money, customs — step by step
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goIrish visas take a long time, so sort the visa first, then flights and hotels. Galway hotels sell out early during the summer festivals.+
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Visa: Irish 'C' visit visa (not Schengen)
Ireland is not in Schengen — Schengen and UK visas are not valid. Apply online on AVATS, then hand in the signed printout in person at the VFS Global Ireland Visa Application Centre in Ulaanbaatar; the decision is made by the Irish Embassy in Beijing. The fee is €60 single entry or €100 multiple entry, plus a VFS service charge. Decisions take a minimum of 8–12 weeks.
Tip: Buy your ticket after the visa is issued, or choose a refundable fare.
The UK Direct Airside Transit visa (£41.50) is not valid for onward travel to Ireland. To change planes in London for Ireland you need a UK Standard Visitor visa (£135) — unless your Irish visa says 'BC' or 'BC BIVS' in the Remarks. The British-Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS) is only for Chinese and Indian nationals. Flying to Dublin via Istanbul or Frankfurt is simplest.
June–August is warmest with the longest days. In 2026 the Galway International Arts Festival runs 13–26 July, the Galway Races Summer Festival 27 July–2 August and the International Oyster Festival 25–27 September. Book hotels months ahead for those dates. It is wet and windy in every season — bring a waterproof jacket and layers.
🛬Landing and getting to GalwayMost people land in Dublin; continue to Galway by coach or train.+
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At the border
Show your passport and visa to the officer and answer briefly about the purpose of your trip, where you are staying and when you leave; have your hotel booking and return ticket ready. The stamp in your passport sets your permitted stay. Meat and dairy products from outside the EU (including borts and aaruul) are banned.
Citylink (and GoBus) coaches leave from outside the Dublin Airport terminals for Galway many times a day: ~2.5 hours on the non-stop service, ~3 hours via the city centre. Adults €22 single, €33 return; children €16/€24. In Galway you arrive at the Fairgreen coach station near Eyre Square.
Irish Rail runs direct trains from Dublin Heuston to Galway Ceannt station in ~2.5 hours, from about €14 when booked online in advance. If you fly into Shannon Airport, the Bus Éireann coach to Galway takes ~1 h 50 min.
📶Phone and internet+
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Buy an eSIM at home
If your phone supports eSIM, install an Ireland or Europe eSIM from Airalo, Ubigi or similar before flying — it works as soon as you land. Free Wi-Fi is common on coaches, in cafés and hotels.
Three, Vodafone and Eir SIMs are sold at Dublin Airport, network shops in central Galway and supermarkets. Signal drops in the Connemara mountains and parts of the Aran Islands, so download your maps for offline use.
Tip: Save Galway, Connemara and County Clare offline in Google Maps.
🚇Getting aroundCentral Galway is small and walkable. For day trips use tours, ferries or a hire car.+
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City buses and day tours
Galway city buses (Salthill, the university) cost €1.35–1.55 with a Leap card. Tour companies run 8–9 hour day trips every morning from Eyre Square to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren, and to Connemara and Kylemore Abbey (Lally Tours from ≈€65; abbey admission usually extra).
Aran Island Ferries' shuttle bus runs from Victoria Place by Eyre Square to Rossaveal harbour in ~1 hour (€10 return), then the ferry to Inis Mór takes 40 minutes (€34 return, children €17, under 5 free). Hire a bike at Kilronan harbour to ride to Dún Aonghasa.
Tip: Book the shuttle bus 12 hours ahead; sailings are cancelled in storms.
A car gives the most freedom for Connemara, the Sky Road and the Burren. Traffic drives on the left and the steering wheel is on the right; country roads are narrow, so watch for sheep and tractors. Visitors may drive for up to 12 months on a Mongolian licence together with an International Driving Permit (IDP) — get the IDP in Mongolia before you leave. Rental firms usually require age 25+ and a credit card.
💳Money+
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Euro, cards everywhere
Ireland uses the euro (EUR). Pubs, cafés, taxis and buses almost all take contactless cards and Apple/Google Pay. On the Aran Islands and in small Connemara villages (bike hire, markets) cash comes in handy, so withdraw a little from a bank ATM.
Tip: When paying, choose to be charged in EUR — decline conversion into your home currency.
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Tipping and tax refunds
Leaving a tip for good restaurant service is customary — check whether a service charge is already on the bill; no tip is needed when ordering at the pub bar. Visitors from outside the EU spending over €75 in one shop can ask for a tax-free form, get it validated at the airport and reclaim the VAT.
🍜FoodGalway is Ireland's seafood capital: oysters, mussels and fish.+
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What to eat
Galway Bay oysters and mussels, seafood chowder with brown bread, fish and chips, and lamb Irish stew — familiar comfort food for Mongolians. Connemara lamb is famous. Pub lunches are good value and families are welcome.
Tip: During the September Oyster Festival you can try oysters on the street.
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Cheap and quick
The Galway Market by St Nicholas' Church on Saturdays and Sundays has cheap hot food, cheese and fruit. Ready sandwiches from Tesco, Dunnes, Lidl and Aldi are cheapest. Pack food for the islands and Connemara — village cafés are few and close early.
Tap water is drinkable — ask for 'tap water' in restaurants and it's free. Most pubs welcome families in the daytime but restrict children in the evening. Alcohol is not sold to minors.
🛡️Safety and health+
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Emergency numbers
Police (Garda), ambulance, fire and coast guard — 112 or 999, both identical, free, 24 hours. If you cannot speak you can text 112 (registration needed in advance). If you lose your passport, contact the Embassy of Mongolia in London, which covers Ireland.
The Cliffs of Moher and Dún Aonghasa have high unfenced edges and sudden strong gusts — stay on marked paths and hold children's hands. The Atlantic is cold even in summer with strong currents — swim only at lifeguarded beaches. Check the forecast before hill walks and wear waterproofs.
Galway is calm, but drunk groups and pickpockets sometimes appear around Eyre Square and the Latin Quarter at night — carry your bag in front. Emergency Departments charge visitors and waits are long — travel with medical insurance; use a pharmacy or GP for minor problems.
Friends buy drinks for the whole group in turns ('rounds') — when your turn comes, you buy for everyone. During a traditional music session don't talk loudly, don't sit at the musicians' table and don't join in uninvited. If you photograph buskers, dropping a coin is polite.
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The Irish language and friendliness
Connemara and the Aran Islands are Irish-speaking — locals are pleased to hear 'Dia duit' (hello) and 'Go raibh maith agat' (thank you). Saying 'thanks' to the bus driver as you get off is customary. Never call Ireland 'Britain'; don't raise Northern Irish politics or religion yourself.
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In the countryside
Much of Connemara and the Burren is private grazing land — close gates, don't frighten sheep and keep dogs on a lead. Don't take stones from walls or climb on ancient monuments (dolmens, fort walls). Take your rubbish home.
📱Useful apps+
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Transport
TFI Live — live times for city buses, coaches and trains. Book your Dublin–Galway coach in advance on the Citylink site or app. Google Maps covers Galway public transport well.
Book Cliffs of Moher tickets on the official site — cheaper, with quieter time slots. Reserve Aran Islands ferries, the Killary Fjord boat and day tours in advance in summer.
Citylink's direct coach from Galway to Dublin Airport takes ~2.5 hours, €22 single — book online. Plan to be at the airport 3 hours before an international flight, with spare time for traffic. Dublin Airport has two terminals — check which is yours.
With a tax-free form, show your goods to customs before check-in and get the form validated. On one ticket via Istanbul or Frankfurt your bags go straight through to Ulaanbaatar. Check the hand-luggage liquids rule.
A centuries-old market beside the 14th-century St Nicholas' Church: fresh oysters, cheese, crafts and hot food stalls (crêpes, curry, soup). Busiest on Saturday morning.
CultureFree (Galway City Museum free)Always open; museum Tue–Sat 10:00–17:00, Sun 12:00–17:00
A remnant of the 1584 city walls, next to the Long Walk of colourful houses along the River Corrib — the most photographed spot in town. The Galway City Museum right beside it is free: city history, Irish-language culture and a Galway hooker boat — good with children on a rainy day.
Completed in 1965, one of the last great stone cathedrals built in Europe: a green dome, stained glass and mosaics. By the bridge over the River Corrib, a 5-minute walk from the centre.
A ~3 km seafront walk along Galway Bay with playgrounds, ice cream and fish-and-chip shops. At the end is the Blackrock diving tower, where by tradition you 'kick the wall' before turning back. On a clear day you can see the Burren hills; the sea stays cold even in summer (15–16°C).
NatureOnline €7–12 (€15 at the gate, children 12 and under free); tours from Galway from ≈€65Varies by season, ≈8:00–19:00/21:00
Sheer cliffs up to 214 m above the Atlantic, with puffins nesting from April to July. About 1.5 hours from Galway; usually visited on an 8-hour day tour with the Burren and Dunguaire Castle. Early-morning or evening online slots are cheaper and quieter.
A tomb more than 5,000 years old on the Burren's grey limestone pavement — one of Ireland's most famous ancient monuments. In spring rare alpine flowers grow in the cracks. A 15–20 minute stop on the way to the Cliffs of Moher is enough.
Nature€5 (child €3, family €13); ferry return €34 (child €17), bus from Galway return €10Apr–Oct 9:30–18:00, Nov–Mar 9:30–16:00
A 3,000-year-old semicircular stone fort on a 100 m cliff edge on Inis Mór, the largest Aran Island. 40 minutes by ferry from Rossaveal; hire a bike at Kilronan harbour and ride ~7 km along stone-walled lanes to the fort. There is no railing at the edge — hold children's hands.
NatureFree (parking free too)Park always open; visitor centre Wed–Sun 9:00–17:30
2,000 ha of mountain, bog and lakes at Letterfrack: waymarked 3–7 km trails up Diamond Hill (442 m), with views of Kylemore and the offshore islands from the top; Connemara ponies. Nearby, Clifden's Sky Road is a 15 km scenic coastal drive.
Culture≈€18 (child and family reductions)≈10:00–18:00 (shorter in winter)
A neo-Gothic castle built in 1868 on a lake below the mountains, now a Benedictine abbey: restored rooms, a small Gothic church and a 2.5 ha Victorian walled garden (reached by shuttle bus). About 1.5 hours from Galway; usually included on Connemara day tours.
NatureBoat tour €27 (ages 11–17 €15, 10 and under free)April–October, up to 4 sailings a day (1.5 h)
A 16 km fjord, often called Ireland's only one, flanked by mountains. A 1.5-hour boat tour from Nancy's Point near Leenane village: mussel farms, seals and sometimes dolphins. The boat has a café and covered cabin, so it works on a rainy day.
