County Galway is on the Western Atlantic coast of Ireland and covers the shores of Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. Galway is also home to one of the larger freshwater lakes, Lough Corrib.
The city of Galway is the west coast's largest city and an ideal position to explore Galway bay and the surrounding areas.
Why not check beaches nearby as we have 13 beaches in Galway, or have a look at our list of Galway dog friendly beaches, or even our Ireland Blue Flag beach list.
Galway Coast Search Bar
Where would you like to go? Use our search bar to search across all our local listings, ideal for finding that nearest spot to visit:
Want some ideas on where to visit?
Every favourite location must be visited for the first time. Want some ideas, why not check out the below small selection of coastal locations, including beaches, activities, things to see and do, places to stay and eat:
- The Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas opened on 15 August 1965, commonly known as Galway Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Galway, and one of the largest and most impressive buildings in the city.
- Lettergesh beach is a sandy beach with some pebbles at high water mark. You have a large gravel car park but no other facilities.
- The Connemara National Park features 2,000 hectares of mountains, bogs, heaths, grasslands and forests. Activities include Diamond Hill Trails, Nature Trails, Picnic Areas, Children’s Playground and Tea Room. Dogs that are under control are welcome in the National Park, but owners must at all times be conscious of their responsibility to other visitors and wildlife. Opening:Visitor Centre – Open daily, 9am to 5.30pm from March to November, admission free Park Grounds – Open daily 9.00am-5.30pm all year round, admission free Tea Room – Open daily March – November 9.30am – 5.30pm; Weekends Only December – February Camping allowed although some strict rules do apply
- Gurteen Bay Beach is a west facing horseshoe shaped white sandy seashell beach. You get some protection from the headland that makesGurteen and Dogs Bay excellent swimming beaches. Gurteen Bay beach sits right beside Dogs Bay Beach only seperated by a small strip of marram grass covered dunes.
- Coral Strand (or Tra an Doilin) beach is a very special small beach. The beach is made up of coralline algae known as maerl, making this biogenic gravel beach very rare and of great conservation importance. Facilities include car parking, seasonal lifeguards, toilets, first aid points.
- Glassillaun beach is a sandy beach sitting within a cuirving bay that has a spectacular mountain backdrop. The beach has some interesting rocks to explore or use as shelter and at low tide a few small caves appear. No facilities other than a small car park.
- Dogs Bay beach is a west facing horseshoe shaped white sandy beach. The beach is roughly 1 mile long and the whiteness of the sand comes from very fine seashells. You get some protection from the headland that makes Dogs Bay an excellent swimming beach. Dogs Bay beach sits right beside Gurteen Bay Beach only seperated by a small strip of marram grass dunes.
- Corcomroe Abbey is an early 13th-century Cistercian monastery, once known as “St. Mary of the Fertile Rock”, a reference to the Barony of Burren’s fertile soil. The Romanesque ruins feature stone carvings that are considered to be among the finest in a Cistercian church in Ireland.
