Galway - Ireland 2014 - page 434

Arrival in Galway
Trains and most buses share the same station, virtually on Eyre Square (which has the
nearest ATMs). The train station can store your bag (€2.50/day, Mon-Fri 8:00-18:00,
closed Sat-Sun). To get from the station to the TI, go left on Station Road as you exit the
station (toward Eyre Square), and then turn right on Forster Street.
Don't confuse the public bus station (in same building as the train station) with the
coach station (a block away, across the street from the TI), which handles only privately
owned coaches. Citylink buses from Dublin and Dublin's airport, as well as regional day-
tour buses, use the coach station.
Drivers staying overnight at a College Road B&B can park there for free (each has a
small lot in front). For daytime parking, the most central and handiest parking garage is
under the recommended Jurys Inn Galway in the town center (€2.20/hour, €20/24 hours,
Mon-Sat 8:00-1:00 in the morning, Sun 9:00-18:00). Otherwise, you'll have to buy a pay-
and-display ticket and put it on your dashboard (€2, 2-hour maximum, buy from machines
on street).
Helpful Hints
Crowd Control: Expect huge crowds—and much higher prices—during the Galway Arts
Festival (mid-to-late-July, www.galwayartsfestival.com ) and Galway Oyster Festival
(late Sept, www.galwayoysterfest.com ). The Galway Races are heaven for lovers of
horse racing and hell for everyone else (summer races in late July-early Aug, fall races
in mid-Sept and late Oct, www.galwayraces.com ); prices double for food and lodging,
and simple evening strolls feel like punt returns.
Markets: On Saturdays year-round and Sundays in summer, a fun market clusters around
St. Nicholas' Church (all day, but best 9:00-14:00).
Internet Access: There are several good places along High Street.
Post Office: It squats on Eglinton Street (Mon-Sat 9:00-17:30, closed Sun).
Bookstore: Dubray Books is directly across the pedestrian drag from Lynch's Castle
(Mon-Sat 9:00-18:00, Sun 12:00-18:00, 4 Shop Street, tel. [phone]).
Laundry: Galway Dry Cleaners is close to the recommended B&Bs on College Road
(€10 drop-off, Mon-Fri 9:00-18:30, Sat 9:00-18:00, Sun 12:00-16:00, on Bothar Ui
Eithir, 2-minute walk uphill from TI, tel. [phone]).
Bike Rental: On Yer Bike rents bikes to tool around flat Galway town. Consider a pleas-
ant ride out to the end of Salthill's beachfront promenade and back (€10/day, 42 Pro-
spect Hill, tel. [phone], mobile [phone], www.onyourbikecycles.com ) .
Taxi: Give Big-O-Taxis a try (tel. [phone]).