Local Essentials
The practical stuff most travel sites skip. Everything you need to know before visiting Galway, from parking to pharmacies.
Accessibility
Town Centre
The Latin Quarter is pedestrianised and largely level, though the streets are cobbled, which can be uneven for wheelchairs and buggies. Shop Street and Eyre Square are flat and step-free.
Spanish Arch
The Spanish Arch and the Long Walk waterfront are at street level and reachable on level paths; the Galway City Museum beside the Arch has step-free access and a lift.
Cathedral
Galway Cathedral has a wheelchair ramp at the east transept facing the Salmon Weir Bridge.
Station
Galway Ceannt Station is fully accessible; pre-arrange assistance with Iarnrod Eireann ahead of travel.
For venue-level access, contact each venue directly. The cobbled medieval streets are the main obstacle in the centre.
ATMs & Banking
Eyre Square and Shop Street banks
Eyre Square and Shop Street
Bank ATMs cluster around Eyre Square and along Shop Street and William Street. AIB occupies the medieval Lynch's Castle on the corner of Shop Street and Abbeygate Street.
Bike Rental
TFI Bikes Galway
Galway has the TFI Bikes public bike-share scheme (formerly Coca-Cola Zero Bikes), with docking stations around Eyre Square, the Spanish Arch and the Cathedral. Register through the TFI Bikes app or website.
Emergency Services
General Emergency
112 or 999
Coast Guard
112 (ask for the Coast Guard). The Galway Bay area is covered by the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI Galway lifeboat at Galway Docks.
Garda Station
Galway Garda Station, Mill Street, Galway, H91 FX61, +353 91 538000
University Hospital Galway (UHG), Newcastle Road, Galway, H91 YR71. 24-hour Emergency Department, all ages, about 10 minutes by road or 25 minutes on foot from the city centre.
+353 91 544544Galway City Medical Centre
1 Ely Place, Sea Road, Galway
+353 91 584155GP practice in the West End, a short walk from the city centre. Appointments for non-emergency care; not an emergency department.
For emergencies dial 112 or 999. The nearest 24-hour Emergency Department is at University Hospital Galway on Newcastle Road.
For emergencies dial 112 or 999. University Hospital Galway on Newcastle Road has the nearest Emergency Department. Attending an ED costs €100 without a medical card or GP referral.
Luggage Storage
There is no large left-luggage office in the city centre. Galway Coach Station and several city-centre hostels offer luggage storage; confirm directly. Day visitors arriving by coach can leave bags at their accommodation on arrival.
Parking
Cathedral Car Park
Rate: Long-stay car park; daily rate confirm on arrival
Long-stay car park beside Galway Cathedral and the Salmon Weir Bridge, an easy walk into the centre. The city centre is congested and the Latin Quarter (Quay Street, High Street, Shop Street) is pedestrianised, so park on the edge and walk.
Dyke Road Car Park
Long-stay car park near the Black Box Theatre on the north side of the centre. Galway City Council also operates a park-and-ride; arriving by train or coach avoids the city-centre congestion entirely.
Pharmacies
Matt O'Flaherty Chemists, William Street
16-18 William Street, Galway
Long-established Galway pharmacy chain in the city centre, with Sunday opening. The same chain has a branch at 37 Eyre Square (+353 91 563526). Boots is at 35 Shop Street.
Supermarkets & Groceries
City-centre supermarkets and food halls
Shop Street and the Eyre Square Centre, Galway
Dunnes Stores and SuperValu have city-centre branches, and McCambridge's on Shop Street is the long-established fine-food hall and deli, trading since 1925.
Taxis & Rideshare
Eyre Square taxi rank / FreeNow
The main taxi rank is at Eyre Square, with another near the Spanish Arch on busy nights. FreeNow operates across the city.
Public Toilets
Eyre Square
WiFi & Connectivity
Latin Quarter cafes
Most city-centre cafes offer free WiFi for customers, including Coffeewerk + Press on Quay Street and McCambridge's on Shop Street.
SIM Cards
The main mobile network stores (Three, Vodafone, Eir) are on and around Shop Street and Eyre Square, and in the Eyre Square Centre. A prepaid tourist SIM with data costs around €20.