Nature and Outdoor Activities
- National Parks Nearby
- The Burren National Park (County Clare, 45 mins drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Salthill Promenade (2km walk along the sea)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Sky Road in Clifden (scenic loop overlooking the Atlantic)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Nimmo's Pier (near Spanish Arch) for swans and wading birds
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Strictly regulated; small gatherings sometimes at Silverstrand (check local bylaws)
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Connemara National Park (1 hour drive) or the Cliffs of Moher
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- An Post (Eglinton Street Post Office) and DHL Express
- Tech Repair Services
- The Laptop Shop (Eglinton Street)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Westside Community Centre
- Language Classes
- Bridge Mills Galway Language Centre (St. Augustine St)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Galway Central Library (St. Augustine St) - Free Wi-Fi and desks
- Community Centers
- Galway Mechanics' Institute (Middle St) for cultural workshops
- Gaming Lounges
- Dungeons & Donuts (Abbeygate St) - Board games and donuts
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Caesar's Palace (Salthill Arcade)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €5,500 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = €192,500)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €4,000 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = €140,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €5,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €250,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,800 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €190,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,500 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €337,500)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,500 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €262,500)
- Corporate Tax
- 12.5% for trading income; 15% for companies with revenue >€750m
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (subject to tax treaty exemptions)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents and domiciled individuals
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 40% (plus USC and PRSI contributions)
- VAT
- 23% (Standard rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, implemented under EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive
- Property Tax
- Local Property Tax (LPT) based on market value bands (approx. 0.1029%)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp Duty: 1% on first €1m, 2% on excess
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; Foreign Earned Income relief is limited
Essentials
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards/Apple Pay accepted almost everywhere; small pubs may still prefer cash
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local B&Bs along Salthill Promenade
- Budget Accommodation
- Kinlay Hostel (Eyre Square) - approx. €35-€50/night for a dorm bed
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Latin Quarter and Salthill for proximity to pubs and the ocean
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- The West End (Dominick St) for a local vibe, or Claddagh for quiet scenic views
- City
- Galway, County Galway, Connacht, Ireland
- Population
- 83,500
- Internet Speed
- Fiber broadband widely available, approx. 150-500 Mbps via Virgin Media or Eir
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks include AIB (Eyre Square) and Bank of Ireland (Mainguard St)
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and safe throughout the city
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK/Ireland three-pin)
- SIM Card
- Three (unlimited data for €20/28 days), Vodafone, or Gomo (€15/month)
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut is the most popular; Wise and N26 are widely accepted
- Accommodation
- Daft.ie and Rent.ie are the primary long-term platforms; high demand for housing
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- PorterShed (Market Street & bowling green) - Day pass approx. €25; Monthly €225
- Best Cafe for Work
- Revive Café (Eyre St) or Coffeewerk + Laps (Quay St) for short sessions
- Networking Events
- Galway Technology Centre (GTC) meetups and 'Creative Mornings Galway'
- Social Events for Expats
- Galway Expats & Internationals Facebook group and Language Exchange at The Ol' 55
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- FreeNow (Uber is restricted to licensed taxis only in Ireland)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- TFI Bikes (Coca-Cola Zero Bikes) - €10 annual subscription, first 30 mins free
- Best Beach Nearby
- Salthill (Blackrock Diving Tower) or Silverstrand (5km from city center)
- Top Regional Airline
- Aer Lingus Regional (operating via Dublin)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair and Aer Lingus (Shannon Airport is the closest hub, 1 hour away)
- Highway Access
- M6 Motorway (connecting Galway directly to Dublin in 2.5 hours)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Galway Ceannt Station (Eyre Square)
- Public Transport Passes
- Leap Card (Reduces fares by 30% on Bus Éireann and City Direct)
- Regional Travel
- Citylink or GoBus to Dublin Airport (€15-€21); Irish Rail to Dublin (€20-€40)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- University Hospital Galway (UHG), Newcastle Road
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Shala (Westside) - Drop-in approx. €15
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Galway City Gym (Tuam Rd) or Warehouse Gym (Mervue) - €10 Day pass
- Laundry Services
- The Soap Box (Eglinton St) - Approx. €15 for a medium wash/dry/fold
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- JustEat and Deliveroo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Galway Bay Oysters or Seafood Chowder at McDonagh’s (Quay St)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Lighthouse Café (Abbeygate St Upper) - Creative plant-based meals
- Best Dessert Spots
- Murphy’s Ice Cream (High St) - Famous for sea salt and gin flavors
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Aldi and Lidl (Westside & Headford Rd) for low-cost groceries
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.co.uk (delivery via An Post) and Argos
- Grocery Delivery
- Tesco Ireland and SuperValu
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The Latin Quarter (Quay Street) and the West End (Dominick Street)
- Local Brewery
- Galway Bay Brewery (Oslo Bar in Salthill) - Try the 'Full Sail' IPA
- Wine Bars
- Sheridans Cheesemongers & Wine Bar (Churchyard St) - Overlooks the market
- Street Food Stalls
- Galway Market (Saturdays/Sundays at St. Nicholas' Church) - €7-€10 meals
- Popular International Cuisine
- Xi'an Street Food (Quay St) for authentic spice bags and noodles
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Spanish Arch and Dunguaire Castle (Kinvara)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Galway City Museum (Spanish Parade) - Free entry
- Historical Sites
- St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church (built in 1320)
- Religious Sites
- Galway Cathedral (Cathedral Square) - Mid-century Renaissance style
- Annual Events
- Galway International Arts Festival (July) and Galway Races (August)
- Cultural Districts
- The West End - the heart of local music and arts
- Theater Venues
- Town Hall Theatre (Courthouse Square) and Druid Theatre
- Local Markets
- Galway Market (near Churchyard St) for crafts and local produce
- Music Scene
- The Crane Bar (Sea Road) for traditional Irish music (Trad sessions)
- Street Art
- Murals around the Persse’s Distillery/Eyre Square North
- Cooking Classes
- Aniar Cookery School (Dominick St) - High-end terroir-based classes
- Art Galleries
- 126 Artist-Run Gallery (St. Bridget's Place)
- Historic Buildings
- Lynch's Castle (now an AIB Bank branch) on Shop Street
- Local Heritage
- The Claddagh Ring history (Thomas Dillon's museum)