Galways best beaches

Best Beaches

Discover the top beaches in Galway 🏊

Galway is an enviable city as it has an abundance of beautiful beaches close to the city, and some of the best beaches on the west coast of Ireland within its county. The closest beach to Galway is in Salthill, a short walk from the city centre along the promenade which starts in The Claddagh area. There are three separate beaches in Salthill which are very popular with visitors and residents during the summer and many of the more resilient locals continue their swimming all year round when the weather is less forgiving. The diving board at Blackrock at the end of the Salthill promenade is a magnet for swimmers and dares brave souls to test their mettle against the swirling Atlantic sea below. Salthill beach along with most of the larger beaches in the county are monitored by lifeguards from May to September. Below is our list of some but not all of the great beaches in Galway.

Dogs Bay / Gurteen Bay Beaches, Roundstone

Lying back to back, Dogs Bay and Gurteen Bay are two of the most beautiful beaches in County Galway and probably in the West of Ireland. They are situated only 2 miles outside the picturesque village of Roundstone in Connemara, Co. Galway. Dogs Bay and Gurteen Bay make up one of the finest stretches of coastline in Connemara, offering uncompromising views of Errisbeg and the surrounding countryside. Dogs Bay is a spectacular horseshoe shaped bay with more than a mile long stretch of white sandy beach. Similar to Gurteen Bay, the sand is not comprised of traditional limestone but rather made entirely of fragments of seashells which give it a pure white colour.

Both beaches are well sheltered from currents and are considered safe for swimming and other watersports such as windsurfing and kitesurfing. The are also wonderful destinations for walking.

Location: Roundstone, Co. Galway, Ireland
Dogs Bay / Gurteen Bay Beaches

Glassilaun Beach, North Connemara

Glassilaun is one of those beaches you expect to find only in exotic tropical locations and most visitors to Connemara are surprised that Ireland has beaches of such exceptional outstanding beauty. With a stunning backdrop of mountains to the north and east and positioned between the bays of Renvyle and Killary, the natural beauty of the place is second to none. The crescent shaped white sandy beach is accessed through sand dunes from a small car park to the rear and visitors can enjoy crystal clear waters and gradual beach incline to ensure a safe and refreshing swim. To the west end of the beach there is a small island which can be accessed at low tide or explored by paddleboard or kayak.

Location: Glassilaun, Co. Galway
Glassilaun Beach

Lettergesh Beach

On a sunny day, forget about visiting the Caribbean, Lettergesh Beach on Ireland’s breathtaking west coast is a must. This is one of Galway’s nicest beaches, and it’s worth strolling along even when the weather isn’t ideal. Lettergesh Beach is located in County Galway’s magnificent Connemara region. It is situated right on the Renvyle Peninsula, roughly a 1.5-hour journey from Galway City, with Clifden only 30-mins drive away too. Lettergesh Beach is a picture perfect postcard location. Beautiful golden dunes are lapped by the Atlantic Ocean’s immaculately clear waters while Mweerlea Mountain towers in the distance. On a nice day, it’s the best place to just relax on the golden sands and lose yourself in the great expanse where often you could be the only one on the beach. The backdrop of grazing sheep in the grassy hills and mountains provide a unique contrast to the soft splashing sea and the squawks of seabirds. The calm, blue waters of this well protected seaside location are alluring, and many people enjoy swimming here year round. However, it should be noted that there are no lifeguards on duty at the beach. Lettergesh Beach has a sizable parking area, however wheelchair users or those with restricted mobility may have difficulty as you need to traverse an area of stones to get to the sand.

Location: Lettergesh, North Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland
Lettergesh Beach

Trá an Dóilín Coral Beach, Carraroe

Carraroe Coral Strand, which is also known as Trá an Dóilin is an area of great natural beauty. The beach is noted for its very fine coral. The beach is lifeguarded and has toilets throughout the bathing season. There are lots of little rock pools to explore along with good snorkling and is usually less busy that the city beaches.

Location: Carraroe, Co. Galway, Ireland
Coral Beach Carraroe

Salthill Beach

The beach at Salthill, along the famous Salthill Promenade is actually several small beaches separated by rocky outcrops running all the way down to Blackrock Diving Tower at its western end. Some of the beaches are sandy and some pebbly. The largest and most popular is Ladies Beach which has its very own beach hut serving coffees, ice-creams and treats. It is located in Galway city and overlooks Galway Bay, a Special Area of Conservation. The beaches are lifeguarded from mid-May to the end of September from 11 am to 7 pm. Salthill beach has been a blue flag beach and enormously popular in fine weather during the summer.

Location: Salthill, Galway City, Ireland
Salthill Beach

White Strand Beach, Renvyle, Co. Galway

White Strand in Renvyle is a beautiful beach with 1 km of pure white sand, crystal clear waters and spectacular views to the Mweelrea mountains in South Mayo. The beach is split in two by a small hillock which commands great panoramic views of the entire beach. Access to the beach is down a narrow country road just beyond the Renvyle Beach Caravan and Camping Park which is signposted and has a small car park.

Location: Renvyle, North Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland
Silver Strand Beach

Other Amazing Galway Beaches

Kilmurvey Beach, Inis MĂłr

Kilmurvey Beach is a magnificent sandy beach with blue flag status on Inis Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands. It is perfectly safe for swimming for those of all ages as there are no strong currents unlike some of the more hidden and inaccessible beaches. The white sand contrasts beautifully with the blue water on a sunny day. There are some perfect picnic spots on the dunes and toilets near the roads. When the tide is right you can jump off the old pier into the clear water.

Location: Inis Mor, Aran Islands, Co. Galway, Ireland
Kilmurvey Beach

Spiddal Beach, An Spidéal

Spanning the length of the promenade and bookended by rocky outcrops , the wide sandy beach at An Spidéal is great option for lovers of the seaside. Consistently awarded a blue flag for excellent water quality, the water depth deepens very gradually to ensure safe swimming for all ages and it is overlooked by a manned lifeguard hut during summer months (May to September) too. With easy parking along the promenade, it’s very convenient to carry all of your beach gear to your preferred spot and with lots of shops and restaurants nearby all needs are catered for. Don’t forget to explore the wonderful Ceardlann Craft Village just across the road, before watching the sun go down over Galway Bay to wrap up your perfect beach day out.

Location: An Spidéal, Co. Galway, Ireland
Spiddal Beach, Connemara

Silverstrand Beach, Galway City

Silverstrand has a safe, shallow, sandy beach of approximately 0.25km bounded on one side by a cliff and the other by rocks. It is particularly popular with and suitable for young families. It faces directly into Galway Bay giving spectacular views. There is a promenade with parking capacity for about 60 vehicles. It is suitable for swimming at low tide but the beach is largely covered during high tides. It is lifeguarded during the summer months. Only 2 miles from Salthill.

Location: Barna, Galway, Ireland
Silver Strand Beach

Dumhnach Beach, Inishbofin Island

Dumhach Beach is positioned to the east of Inishbofin Island about 15 minutes walk from the harbour. The beach is sheltered at the south end by a long tidal rocky outcrop which connects Inishbofin to its smaller neighbour Inishlyon Island. With its calm waters and long pristine white sandy beach backed by small sand dunes makes for an idyllic bathing area on sunny days. Dumhnach Beach has been awarded the Green Coast Award for environmental excellence.

Location: Inishbofin Island, Co. Galway, Ireland
Dumhnach Beach, Inishbofin

Trá gCaorach, Inis Óirr

Located on the smallest of the Aran Islands, Inis Ă“irr in Galway Bay, Trá gCaorach is easy to spot with its turquoise blue/green waters and pure golden sands. Visible from the ferry dock in the main village it is overlooked by O’Briens Castle from the highest point on the island. Dolphins have been known to swim close to the shore here and young beachgoers can enjoy the well equipped playground just behind the beach.

Location: Inis Ă“irr, Aran Islands, Co. Galway, Ireland
Trá gCaorach, Inis Óirr

Best beaches in Galway: What to expect

County Galway is lucky enough to have some of the country’s most beautiful beaches on its doorstep. Below is a taste of some of the wonderful seaside locations just waiting to be discovered.

Frequent questions about Galway Beaches

There are few better places to go on a sunny day in Galway than the beach, but not every beach has the same appeal to all visitors. Below are some of the common questions we get on the topic.

What are the best accessible beaches in Galway?

The following beaches have wheelchair ramps with handrails in Galway.

  • Silverstrand (Galway City)
  • Ladies Beach (Salthill)
  • Grattan Beach (Salthill)
  • Furbo Beach (Na Forbacha)
  • Spiddal Beach (An SpidĂ©al)
  • Trá an DĂłilĂ­n coral beach (Carraroe)
What are the best ‘off the beaten track’ beaches in Galway?
  • Anchor Beach (Cleggan)
  • Trá gCaorach (Inis Ă“irr)
  • Kilmurvey Beach (Inis MĂłr)
  • Dumhnach Beach (Inishbofin)
  • Trá SáilĂ­n (An SpidĂ©al)
What beaches have toilet facilities in Galway?

The following beaches have toilet facilities a short distance from the beach.

  • Spiddal Beach (An SpidĂ©al)
  • An Trá MhĂłr (Inverin)
  • Trá an DĂłilĂ­n coral beach (Carraroe)
  • Silverstrand (Galway City)
  • Ladies Beach (Salthill)

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