Galway on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes — Galway is easy to enjoy on a budget, because the city's best experiences are walking the streets, the seafront and listening to free music in pubs. A realistic minimum is about €100 a day per person sharing a room: €50 for a bed, €30 for food, €15 for sights and €5 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €50 | €95 | €170 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €50 | €90 |
| Sights & tickets | €15 | €35 | €60 |
| Local transport | €5 | €15 | €35 |
| Per person, per day | €100 | €195 | €355 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Galway day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Galway City Museum by the Spanish Arch
- Walking the Salthill Prom and kicking the wall at Blackrock
- Traditional music sessions at pubs such as Tig Cóilí and The Crane Bar
- Galway Cathedral
- The Claddagh and the Long Walk along the river
- Browsing the Galway Market beside St Nicholas' Collegiate Church (weekends)
Cheap eats
- Seafood chowder with brown bread — about €9–13
- Fish and chips from a chipper — about €12–16
- Galway Market stalls (crêpes, curries, falafel) — about €7–12
- Breakfast roll from a deli — about €5–7
- Pub lunch special — about €14–18
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay near Eyre Square and Ceannt Station, where several hostels and simple hotels are close to buses and trains. Hostel dorm beds often cost about €25–45 outside festival time, and budget doubles €90–140. Prices rise sharply in July and early August.
Getting around cheaply
Walk everywhere in the centre. For day trips, Bus Éireann and private coaches are cheaper than hiring a car for one or two people. Trains from Dublin take about 2h20; book early for cheaper fares. From Shannon Airport, take the bus (about 1h30).
A sample budget day
- Morning: walk Shop Street to the Spanish Arch and the free City Museum
- Lunch: seafood chowder (about €11)
- Afternoon: the Claddagh, the cathedral and the Salthill Prom (free)
- Evening: fish and chips (about €14), one pint at a trad session (about €6.50)
- Total: about €100 including a hostel bed or shared room (about €50)
More ways to save
- Visit outside the summer festival weeks, ideally in May, June or September.
- Choose one big day trip — the Aran Islands or the Cliffs of Moher — rather than both if money is tight.
- Use supermarkets such as Dunnes, Tesco, Lidl or Aldi for picnics.
- Bring a waterproof jacket so rain does not push you into paid indoor activities.
- Look for early-bird menus in restaurants, usually before 19:00.
- Book train and bus tickets online in advance for lower fares.
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Common questions
How much money do I need per day in Galway?
About €100 per person on a budget, €195 mid-range and €355 for comfort, sharing a room.
Is traditional music in Galway pubs free?
Yes, most sessions are free; you just buy a drink.
What is the cheapest way to see the Aran Islands?
Take the bus and ferry combination (roughly €35–45 return) and hire a bike on Inis Mór.