Best Beaches in Galway

Galway is known for a lot of things and beaches are one of them! Being part of the Wild Atlantic Way, Galway has some outstanding beaches to offer, and with many of them located in the Connemara region, a lot of them are quiet and less visited than other beaches in Ireland. Gold sands and clear blue water? Yes please. Let’s go through “The Best Beaches in Galway“.

The Best Beaches in Galway – Beaches in Galway

The Best Beaches near Galway City

Salthill Beach – Just outside Galway City

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Salthill beach stretches a whopping 1 km. Although, it is technically multiple beaches in a row, divided by stone outcrops. Some are sandy, some pebbly but all are beautiful. It is absolutely the most famous beach in Galway with anywhere around 2500 people visiting the beach each day in Summer! It’s within walking distance from Galway city and is famous for the Blackrock diving board.

Parking? Yes, free car park and ample parking along the street
Dogs allowed? No dogs between 9 am – 8 pm May- the end of September
Blue flag beach? Yes
Toilets? Yes with charge

Silverstrand Beach near Galway City

This beach is great for families as it is a more shallow sandy beach. Although get there early, because the car park isn’t very big. It is just 2 km from Salthill and has large cliffs to the side. The beach faces Galway Bay and transitions from sand to pebbles. Make sure to get there at low tide, otherwise, there is no beach to see.

Parking? Small Carpark fitting less than 100 cars
Dogs allowed? No dogs between 9 am – 8 pm May- the end of September
Toilets? Yes
Blue Flag Beach? Yes

Beaches in Connemara Galway – Beautiful Beaches in Galway Ireland

Furbo Beach – Furbogh – Tra na Bhforbacha

Located alongside the road between Barna and Spiddeal is this beautiful horseshoe-shaped beach. There is a 250 m long stretch of sand to enjoy.

Parking? Yes, car park alongside the road
Dogs? Yes once on a lead
Toilets? No – but there is a pub/restaurant with toilets beside the beach

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Spiddal Beach – Beach near Galway

Spiddal beach is alongside the main road into Spiddal. It is 200m long and has a promenade running alongside, which goes just shy of 1km along the coast and on to another beach – Cebh an Spideil. It is a lovely route passing the harbor and ending beside the large pier.

I love coming to Spiddal Beach for a morning dip as it’s much quieter than Salthill and silver strand.

Parking? Parking alongside the main road
Dogs allowed? Not sure of the times dogs are allowed but on a lead
Toilets? No

An Trá Mór – Best Beaches in Galway

An Trá Mór , which translates as “Big Beach” is just outside Spiddal near Inverin Village. It is a long beach which at low tide, seems to extend miles towards the horizon. While at high tide, there is no beach at all. It is great as it’s a lot quieter than city beaches.

Important to note: at low tide, you can’t swim as it’s much too rocky.

Parking? Yes, a large car park
Dogs allowed? Yes, on a lead / under control
Toilets? Yes
Blue Flag Beach? Yes

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Renvyle – White Strand Beach

Renvyle Beach is also known as An Trá Bán (white strand beach). It’s yet another beautiful beach in Galway along the Wild Atlantic Way, which gives incredible views of Achill, as well as Mweelrea and Croagh Patrick mountains.

Parking? Yes, a small car park
Dogs Allowed? No info – presumably on a lead/under control
Toilets? No

Gurteen Bay and Dogs Bay – Goirtin/Port Na Fadoige

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Dogs Bay & Gurteen Bay are some of the most beautiful beaches in Ireland. While they are absolutely stunning in their own right, they are unique in that they like back to back. Both horseshoe-shaped beaches are divided by a thin stretch and sand dunes.

Both Dogs Bay and Gurteen Bay are very sheltered. I’ve never experienced a beach so calm as Gurteen bay, with water so blue. Both are brilliant for swimming and are just a few minutes drive from Roundstone fishing village. Also unlike normal traditional “limestone” beaches, here the sands are made of foraminifera shells eroded over time to produce fine white sand.

Parking: yes both have parking – Dogs Bay car park is very small
Dogs? Yes under control
Toilets? There is a sign for toilets in the Gurteen Bay car park, not sure where they are, perhaps the Gurteen Bay Caravan Park

Glausilaun Beach

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Another white andy beach with stunning mountain views. I have wanted to visit this beach for so long but it is clear from the images that this is one of the most beautiful beaches in Galway. Surprisingly it is not a Wild Atlantic Way point and does not seem to have any facilities except a small car park

Parking? Yes small car park
Dogs? Yes
Toilets?

Moyrus – Tra Mhairois

Without wanting to repeat myself this is another beautiful white sandy beach, 80 km outside of Galway city

Parking? Yes big car park
Dogs? Yes
Toilets? No

Lettergesh Beach – Beaches in Connemara

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I am across Lettergesh Beach accidentally and was surprised by just how great this spot is. Quiet and clean, it is a real hidden Gem deep in Connemara. When the tide is out, there is lots of space to walk and sunbathe, and you can walk along the sand to other beaches. The water is also shallow quite far out into the ocean so it is good for swimming and families. You will enjoy views of the Connemara Islands as well as the Mayo coastline in the distance.

How many beaches are there in Galway?

There are 4 beaches in Galway City –

Salthill
Sliverstrand
Ballyloughane
Grattan

There are countless beaches outside of the city though. While I have named a lot of them here, it certainly isn’t all of them.

What is a Blue Flag Beach?

In order to receive the Blue Flag Beach award, a series of environmental, educational, safety-related and access-related criteria must be met and maintained. To have been honored this award would suggest that the beach is easily accessible, has facilities and good water quality as well as encouraging the public to take steps to reduce their impact on the environment. This is a worldwide program.