The easiest way to see Galway city is on foot: the old centre runs from Eyre Square down Shop Street and Quay Street to the Spanish Arch, and you can walk it in an afternoon.
A guided city walk gives you the stories behind it; a food-tasting walk adds Galway oysters and local produce; and in the evening the trad music is in the pubs of the Latin Quarter and the West End, or in summer at the Trad on the Prom show in Salthill.
Last checked: November 2026. Tour routes are from the operators’ own listings; show details from Trad on the Prom; the Spanish Arch date is from the plaque on the arch. We don’t print prices or start times: check the booking page before you go.
Most loved by our followers: our Claddagh reel (about 11,000 views) and our Eyre Square walk (about 10,500) were the most-watched Galway city walks on the Love Galway Facebook page this week.
- What does a Galway city walking tour cover?
- Where are the Spanish Arch and the Long Walk in Galway?
- Is there a food tour in Galway?
- Where can you hear traditional Irish music in Galway?
What does a Galway city walking tour cover?
Most guided walks in Galway start at Eyre Square or the Spanish Arch and cover the old walled town between them: Lynch’s Castle, Shop Street, the Latin Quarter and Quay Street, ending by the River Corrib.
They take about 90 minutes to two hours on foot, and the guides tell the story of the merchant families, the Tribes, who gave Galway its nickname: the City of the Tribes.
Galway Latin Quarter and Shop Street: Our guide to the best things to do in Galway. Our guide: Top 10 things to do in Galway.
Tours for Galway Latin Quarter and Shop Street (Viator):
- Galway City Walking Tour with a local guide
- Welcome to Galway group walking tour
- Galway private history walking tour (City of the Tribes)
Where are the Spanish Arch and the Long Walk in Galway?
The Spanish Arch stands at the bottom of Quay Street where the River Corrib meets the sea. The plaque on it says it is one of four arches built in 1584. Galway City Museum is right beside it.
Walk past the arch along the quay and you reach the Long Walk, the row of coloured houses in the photo. Across the river is the Claddagh, the old fishing village outside the town walls.
Spanish Arch and the Long Walk: Galway City Museum (official site). Our guide: The Long Walk in Galway: a visitor's guide. Our guide: The Spanish Arch and the Claddagh.
Tours for Spanish Arch and the Long Walk (Viator):
Is there a food tour in Galway?
Yes. The walking-and-tasting tours set off from Eyre Square and stop at local food and drink places in the old town, ending near the Spanish Arch, with the history of the city along the way.
Oysters are Galway’s best-known food: the Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival is held every September.
Galway food and oysters: Our guide to the Galway Oyster Festival.
Tours for Galway food and oysters (Viator):
Where can you hear traditional Irish music in Galway?
In the pubs, most nights. Our guides cover three of the best-known: The Crane Bar in the West End, Tigh Neachtain on Quay Street and The King’s Head in the Latin Quarter. By day you’ll hear buskers on Shop Street and Quay Street.
For a seated show, Trad on the Prom has put Irish music, song and dance on stage since 2005, at Leisureland Theatre in Salthill. It is a summer show (10 May to 29 September in 2026), so check the next season’s dates on its site.
Trad music in Galway: Trad on the Prom (official site).