Quay Street, Galway (must see)

Galway has often been described as “rustically modern,” a phrase that perfectly captures its mix of medieval atmosphere and contemporary flair. Nowhere is this blend more vivid than on Quay Street, where cobbled lanes are alive with music, laughter, and the hum of conversation. It’s a place made for strolling, people-watching, pub hopping, and enjoying good food in good company.

Quay Street is part of a lively sequence of pedestrianized streets that stretches from Eyre Square through Shop Street and High Street, finally leading to the waterfront by the Spanish Arch. As you leave the broad, modern shopping centers near Eyre Square, the streets narrow and the mood becomes distinctly old-world—stone shopfronts, colorful facades, and the sound of fiddles drifting from nearby pubs.

While visitors often speak of the whole area as Quay Street, locals tend to distinguish between its parts: Shop Street as the shopping hub, High Street for its blend of boutiques and bars, and Quay Street at the heart of the Latin Quarter, Galway’s cultural and entertainment district.

Along the way stands the King’s Head Pub, dating from 1649 and steeped in legend. One of its early owners, Colonel Peter Stubbers of Cromwell’s army, is rumored—though never proven—to have been involved in the execution of King Charles I. Further along, visitors can browse the Galway Woollen Market, leaf through cozy bookshops, or settle into one of the many pubs such as Feeney’s, Malloy’s Irish Whiskey Bar, or the Quay Street Pub, where traditional music fills the air.

At the southern end, the walk opens onto the River Corrib and the historic Spanish Arch, once part of the old city walls that sheltered traders and ships. Here, Galway’s past and present meet—a fitting finale to one of Ireland’s most vibrant and atmospheric streets.