Before going to Ireland, I didn't have a ton of knowledge about the city of Galway besides a few lyrics in an Ed Sheeran song. When planning our trip to Ireland, I knew we were going to avoid the major city of Dublin and Galway looked like a smaller and more kid-friendly city to spend a few nights for the last part of our trip.
I am so glad we did because we had so much fun exploring the city of Galway. Like most cities, you have your options of shops and restaurants, bars and cafes, and a mix of urban and suburban landscapes. We stayed just outside the city walking distance to a big town park. When we went into the city, we spent some time walking the pedestrian streets (always a peek especially when traveling with kids), visiting the playgrounds, and stopping for treats like donuts and ice cream.
We had a car so it was easy for us to slip in and out of the city and to use it as a launching point for other day trips. We stayed by Doughiska playground which was perfect for daily trips to let the kids play and meet other kids.
After lunch, we discovered a scenic river cruise on the Corrib River and Lake through "Get Your Guide". We spent 42 euro on two adult tickets and kids are free 3 and under. The ride was 1.5 hours round trip and the boat had a full bar, coffee and snacks available for purchase. A river cruise was the perfect way to soak up the day of Irish sun and slow down a bit. The kids loved being on the boat and the adults loved enjoying a cold Guinness on the top deck in the sunshine while the guide narrated the river cruise and shared some history of the area.
Galway with kids highlights:
- Doughiska playground
- Millennium Children's Park on University Road (near Galway Cathedral)
- Walk Quay Street, the pedestrianized street in the heart of the city
- Scenic river cruise on the Corrib River and Lake through "Get Your Guide"
- Amazing donuts at Dungeons And Donuts
