Travel: How to spend 48 hours in Galway

Stay

For an idyllic, relaxing spot in a convenient proximity to the vibrant buzz of Galway city, there’s no better choice than the luxurious Glenlo Abbey Hotel.

Sitting elegantly in a beautiful 138-acre estate, on the waters of Lough Corrib, the hotel is a cosy, countryside paradise and offers a range of activities including falconry, golf, whiskey tasting and fishing.

It also provides a choice of interesting local tours and walks of the surrounding area.

If, however, you’d just like to unwind, opt for a drink in their rustic Oak Cellar Bar, dine at their award-winning Pullman Restaurant or enjoy a film in the hotel’s movie theatre.

Eat

The Pullman Restaurant at the Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate delivers an unforgettably unique dining experience. Dine aboard a beautifully restored train carriage enriched with history and dripping in elegance, one of two original carriages from the Orient Express, which make up the restaurant.

Make yourself comfortable in a private booth or a window seat, and marvel at the spectacular views of the estate.

Foodies will also enjoy a trip to Galway Market (above). It’s almost impossible to leave without indulging in some famed Galway Bay oysters.

Drink

A vibrant, medieval pub in the centre of Galway, The King’s Head is a prime location for either an extended, hearty lunch or a swift half of the local Blood Red Ale.

Steeped in history, this grand establishment is one of the oldest pubs in Galway and provides a strong variety of entertainment, including live music, comedy and sport, or ceol agus craic, as the locals might say.

See

The Druid theatre, founded in 1975 by Garry Hynes, Marie Mullen and Mick Lally, was the first professional Irish theatre company outside of Dublin.

They put on a range of productions throughout the year, one of the more recent being The Cherry Orchard.

Elsewhere Katie’s Claddagh Cottage is a beautifully restored thatched cottage and one of Galway’s most popular heritage attractions, perfectly depicting traditional life in one of Ireland’s oldest fishing villages.