Galway Holiday Weather Overview
Galway is known as the Gaelic capital of Ireland and it has a very strong Irish identity. Famed for its friendly bars and nightlife, the city's pubs are a major attraction for many. Galway has an interesting medieval history, and is situated in a beautifully scenic area.
Many visitors come to enjoy the craic, but stay to enjoy the landscapes, the history and the vibrancy of Galway and the surrounding areas.
Renowned throughout Ireland as being the cultural heart of the country, Galway City is truly a magnificent sight to behold. Vibrating with festivals and cultural celebrations throughout the year, Galway City has received many awards highlighting its tourism culture. The city is located on the western coast of Ireland, and rests upon the banks of the River Corrib.
Eyre Square is the centre of town, accommodating thousands of people each day. Lynch's Castle is a medieval establishment that has been transformed into a bank. Galway Cathedral, Galway Museum, and the Church of Ireland St Nicholas' Collegiate Church, the oldest church in the country, draw visitors year round.
Nevertheless, the city's main attraction is its celebratory culture. Festivals and events are held throughout Galway City's calendar, earning it a healthy reputation for fun-filled holidays. Irish music and dance is a dominating theme for many of these festivals, which include events like the Galway Arts Festival. Galway City consistently receives a higher tourism ranking than some of Europe's most famous cities.
When is the best month to visit Galway?
If hordes of tourists singing and dancing along to the Galway City Arts festival is not a traveller's idea of a relaxing vacation, then July probably isn't the best time to visit. Aside from this, visiting the city of Galway can be done across the year, as the weather in Galway City remains relatively constant throughout the year, with mild to cool days and a moderate amount of precipitation.
Galway's Climate
Galway has a wet, temperate climate, receiving a lot of rainfall but with no extremes of temperature. The city experiences very long summer days, with sunset not until around 11pm; by contrast, winter days are extremely short, with sunrise not until gone 9am.
Galway in Summer
June, July and August are the peak tourist times in Galway. Summer is a warm season, but not hot. Average daily highs of around 20°C are pleasant, and there is less rainfall than through the rest of the year.
Summer is a popular time for windsurfing in Galway, although some would find the sea rather chilly for swimming. Summer nights can be cool too, at around 12°C, so if you're visiting Galway in the summer bring something with long sleeves.
Galway in Autumn
The countryside around Galway is gorgeous in the autumn months, but the autumn weather in Galway can be on the wet and wild side, often with strong winds.
Expect average daily highs of 17°C in September, falling to 11°C in November. By mid November, the nights are turning pretty cold, with overnight lows of around 5°C. Expect to see plenty of rain - if you're visiting Galway in autumn, you'll need to take an umbrella and a waterproof jacket.
Galway in Winter
Winters in Galway are chilly. Throughout the winter months, average daily highs reach only around 9°C, with overnight lows staying just above freezing at the 2-3°C mark. December is the wettest month of the year, and the skies are mostly overcast and grey.
However, Galway has plenty going on in the winter months, and it's a great time to explore the city's museums and indoor attractions, or to soak up the festive atmosphere as Christmas approaches.
Galway in Spring
As Galway emerges from its dark winter, spring brings the city back to life. It's not a quick warm up by any means - in March, average daily highs still reach only around 10°C - but by May temperatures in the mid teens Celsius are respectable and there is a lot more sunshine around. The strong winds tend to die down as the spring progresses, and late spring is a great time to enjoy bright, sunny weather without the crowds. Spring is also the ideal season for exploring the countryside around Galway, and the rest of Co Galway.
What to pack and wear in Galway?
The weather in Galway City is relatively mild all year round. Hot temperatures in Galway City are quite rare, so it is important to bring cool weather clothing when visiting. Snow is uncommon, so it probably isn't beneficial to pack snow-protecting clothing, unless the city is experiencing an abnormally cold January or February. Galway City weather brings rainfall across the calendar so pack an umbrella.
Best months to visit Galway?
June and July are the best month to go for holiday or travel to Galway. The weather averages gathered from Galway weather forecast and Galway weather history also forecast these months temperature to be around 17°c and average of 82.06667 hours of sunshine in a month.
Coldest months of Galway?
February and March are the coldest months with temperature at around 4°c.
Which months receive most rainfall in Galway?
November and December receive most rainfall with precipitation count of 118.27mm.
Travelling to Galway? Check out our Weather averages of Galway to better plan your holiday or travel.
If you would just like to know what the weather was for a past dates for research or education or you are just curious then visit our historical weather of Galway section.