Best Time to Visit Galway

Spring and early summer: the sweet spot

April to July is when Galway works best. April is cool and still showery, but the days stretch out and the crowds haven't arrived. By June it's mild, with highs around 19°C and the lowest rain of the summer months. You can wander the Latin Quarter, walk the Salthill promenade and still get a seat in a pub without a fight.

Don't expect dry weather, though. Even in June it rains on about half the days, usually in quick showers that pass. Hoping for a long, sunny stretch? You'll be lucky, but the evenings stay light very late, so there's time for a second try.

July and August: busy and a bit wetter

July is the warmest month, at 20°C. It's also one of the busiest, and the rain is creeping up. August is the wettest of the summer, with rain on 20 days. Irish and international school holidays fill the hostels and B&Bs, and prices follow.

Events keep people coming. The Galway International Arts Festival takes over the city in July. The Galway Races at Ballybrit, a week of horse racing and dressing up, come at the end of July. Both are fun, but rooms go fast. If you want to use Galway as a base for the Aran Islands or the Cliffs of Moher, summer ferries and tours run most often.

September: calmer and still decent

September is a good choice if you like quieter streets. Highs are still 17°C, and the summer crowds thin out after the school term starts. The Galway Oyster Festival, usually late in the month, is a good excuse to try Galway Bay oysters with a pint of stout. Rain is steady, so plan indoor stops like the Galway City Museum near the Spanish Arch.

October to March: dark, wet and cosy

These months rate Poor here, and December is the wettest, with rain on 20 days. Sun is scarce, at about two hours a day in midwinter. Some seasonal tours and island services slow down, and you'll need a proper waterproof for the Salthill prom.

Still, winter has its charm. Pubs with turf fires and live trad (traditional Irish music) sessions feel best now. Prices drop, and the city is calm. St Patrick's Day on 17 March brings a big parade and a short burst of visitors.