Dublin and Galway are two of Ireland’s most iconic cities but they offer very different experiences. Dublin is a larger capital city and Galway is a smaller city with small-town charm. This is the ultimate guide to help you decide whether to visit Dublin or Galway.
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Dublin or Galway Overview
Dublin
Dublin is the capital of Ireland and easily its largest city with over 550,000 in the city and a much larger metro area. It is the chief port city in the country. The city has been named an Alpha Global City, meaning it is one of the top 30 cities in the world. Dublin is also a major university city with many institutions of higher learning.
The city is also considered to be one of the youngest cities in Europe with roughly 50% of the population being under the age of 25. Over the years, Dublin has also become one of the most popular cities in Europe. The main reasons why people are so intrigued by Dublin is because of its many pubs, museums, its many historic buildings, and for being the birthplace of Guinness beer.
Galway
Galway is the 4th largest city in Ireland with just over 80,000 residents living in the city proper. The city is known for having a vibrant Irish culture and it is actually the 2020 European Capital of Culture. People are drawn to always because it has one of, if not the best Irish Cultures in all of Ireland.
There is also a thriving art scene in Galway which will become apparent if you visit. Galway is a university city, with 1/4th of the population being university students. Galway is also known for being the “festival capital of Ireland“, holding over 100 festivals including its most famous, the Galway Arts Festival.
Things to See
Dublin
Dublin Castle opened in 1204 and was the seat of the British Government in Ireland.
Christ Church Cathedral was founded in 1030 and is the oldest Medieval church in Dublin.
Temple Bar (and surrounding area) is the most famous bar in Dublin. It offers over 450 types of whiskey.
Trinity College Library is one of the most famous libraries in the world.
Guinness Storehouse shows the history of beer and the history of Guinness.
Galway
The Galway Cathedral was built in 1965 making it one of the newest large cathedrals built in Europe.
Eyre Square, also known as John F. Kennedy Square, is the main public square in Galway.
The National University of Ireland Galway is ranked in the top 1% in the world and has a beautiful campus.
Shop Street is the main shopping street in Galway.
Galway Harbor is one of the best places in the city to explore.
Food
Dublin
The capital of Ireland may be a coastal city, but the Irish typically prefer beef to seafood. However, the famous dish of cockles and mussels is still an essential meal in Dublin. Part of what makes this meal so famous is the song Molly Malone, whose lyrics refer to a woman selling cockles and mussels in a cart along the street. The song was so famous, a statue was even built-in her honor!
Along with cockles and mussels, Irish Stew is also a beloved dish to the Irish people in Dublin. Don’t forget to visit one of the traditional pubs and get some Guinness in the city it originated in.
Galway
When visiting Galway, the best dish you can try is Irish Stew. This meal is slow-cooked with some form of hard meat, as well as hearty vegetables like carrots and potatoes. Goat meat is traditionally used, but mutton or lamb are common, as well. Fish and chips is always a safe option when you visit Galway. Seafood chowder is also a classic dish in Galway.
Getting Around
Dublin
When visiting Dublin, it would be smart of you to book your lodging near the city center because most of the city’s attractions are within walking distance there. Other options for getting around the city are buses, trains, and the hop on hop off buses. DoDublin is your best bet for Hop on Hop off buses, mainly because a day pass is only 19.80 Euros for 24hrs and 23.40 Euros for a 48hr pass. Dublin is notorious for having terrible traffic so renting a car might be a headache.
Galway
Galway is not a huge city which makes it extremely easy to get around, especially when walking. You can walk to most of the city’s attractions within a 10 or 20 minute walk. The city’s public transportation revolves around a network of buses. Renting a bike would be the fastest way to see the city and may be your best option if you have limited time to explore.
Nightlife
Dublin
Dublin is a city with roughly 700 pubs so you won’t have any problem finding a place to get a drink. One thing to note is that most pubs quit serving drinks at 11:30 during the week and 12:30am on Friday and Saturday which means the nightlife starts a little earlier and stops sooner in the night.
The area around Camden Place has one of the highest concentrations of bars and pubs in Dublin. If you are getting sick of pubs, you should head over to Diceys is a really fun place to go. For more of a club scene, head to Opium or Copper Face Jacks. There is quite the selection of nightclubs to choose from.
Galway
For being a smaller city, Galway holds its own in regards to its nightlife. Since the city’s population is 1/4th university students, you can expect there to be some pretty lively establishments, especially during the weeknights. As you would expect, most of the nightlife is concentrated in the city center. You will want to start your night at a traditional bar or pub-like Murphys or The Dáil Bar. If you want more of a clubbing atmosphere, you should head to Halo or Electric.
Day Trips
Dublin
Wicklow Mountains National Park is just to the south of Dublin.
Wexford is a small city known for its medieval feel.
Skerries is a small coastal city to the north of Dublin.
Galway
The Cliffs of Moher are arguably Ireland’s most iconic sight to see.
Aran Islands is a group of small islands that you can take a ferry to from Galway.
Kylemore Abbey is located on the bank of Polacapall Lough, to the northwest of Galway.
Either Dublin or Galway are great home bases to take off to cities like Cork or Limerick as well because of how well-connected Ireland’s major cities are.
Overall
Dublin and Galway are two of the most famous cities in Ireland and they are quite different cities. Dublin is a much larger city and you can feel every bit of it. Galway is a smaller city with small-town charm to it. If you like big capital cities and great nightlife, Dublin is the obvious choice for you. If you want a small city that is easy to get around and is located near the famous Cliffs of Moher, Galway would be the city for you.
