# Galway

> **Type:** WAW Section 5 of 7
> **Dates:** ~Aug 21–23 (3 nights)
> **Recommended stay:** 3 nights — includes Clare as a day trip
> **Best for:** Best city on the WAW, Aran Islands, traditional music, workation base

## Why Visit
Galway is Ireland's most vibrant city outside Dublin — a university town with a permanent festival energy, the gateway to the Aran Islands, and the best place on the entire Wild Atlantic Way to spend a proper work day. It's also where the Wild Atlantic Way briefly becomes urban before the route drops south into Clare.

## Must-See

- ⭐ **Latin Quarter** — The medieval heart of Galway: Shop Street, Quay Street, Kirwan's Lane. Tigh Neachtain at the corner of Cross Street is the traditional music epicentre — session most nights. Buskers fill the streets in August.
- ⭐ **Aran Islands (Inis Mór)** — Day trip or overnight from Rossaveal (40 min ferry; Rossaveal is 37km west of Galway). Inis Mór is the largest island: **Dún Aonghasa** is an Iron Age fort perching directly on the edge of a 100m Atlantic cliff — one of the most dramatic ancient sites in Europe. Rent a bike at the pier for the day — the island roads are nearly car-free and flat enough for anyone.
- **Salthill Promenade** — 2km seafront walk; kick the wall at the end (a Galway tradition taken seriously by locals). Blackrock diving tower for the brave.
- **Spanish Arch** — Medieval arch at the mouth of the River Corrib; good spot to sit and watch the city.
- **Food:** Galway punches well above its size — Ard Bia at Nimmos (riverside, excellent), Cava Bodega (Spanish tapas), Dela (café/brunch).

## Itinerary

### Day 1 — Aran Islands day trip
Early start: drive to Rossaveal (45 min), ferry to Inis Mór (40 min). Hire a bike at the pier. Cycle to Dún Aonghasa (8km), the Seven Churches, and back. Ferry returns late afternoon. Evening in Galway Latin Quarter.

### Day 2 — City day / work day
Morning: slow walk of the Latin Quarter, Spanish Arch, covered English Market. Afternoon: work from a café (Coffeewerk + Press on Kirwan's Lane is the best in the city), or Salthill Promenade walk. Evening: traditional music session — Tigh Neachtain, Taaffes, or the Crane Bar (the most serious trad pub, slightly outside the tourist zone).

## EV Charging

**Situation: Best charging on the WAW. Full recharge stop.**

- **Galway Retail Park** (Headford Road) — Tesla Supercharger; fastest option
- **Eyre Square area** — ESB ecars rapid chargers in city centre car parks
- **Salthill** — ESB charger near the promenade
- **Rossaveal** — Check current availability before the Aran Islands ferry; limited options out there

**Treat Galway as a full recharge.** You arrive from the Connemara gap and leave for Clare where availability is more variable.

## Practical Info
- **Workation:** Best stop on the WAW for remote work. Coffeewerk + Press (Kirwan's Lane) is the standout café. Multiple coworking spaces if you need a full desk setup. Plan your heaviest meeting days here.
- **Aran Islands ferry:** Book at [aranislandferries.com](https://www.aranislandferries.com) or [oileain-arann.ie](https://oileain-arann.ie). August is busy — book a day ahead at minimum.
- **Accommodation:** Book well ahead in August; Galway fills up fast.
- **Currency:** Euro

## Links
- [Aran Islands Ferries](https://www.aranislandferries.com)
- [Dún Aonghasa](https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/dun-aonghasa/)
- [Visit Galway](https://www.visitgalway.ie)