Galway is well known for its rainy weather. If you’re waiting for a sunny day to explore, you might miss out on some of the amazing things that our lovely city has to offer. We’ve put together a list of ways to spend a rainy day in Galway.
- Cosy-up in a coffee shop
Get in out of the rain and find yourself a cosy coffee shop to settle into.There’s no better way to dry off on a wet day than cradling a warm mug of coffee and staring out at the rainy weather. Treat yourself to a comforting sweet treat while you wait for the shower to pass. Some of our favourite spots to visit are Ean, Little Lane Coffee, Coffeewerk + Press, Hazel Mountain Chocolate, Urban Grind, Fairhill and The Secret Garden.
- Browse a bookstore
Cuddling up with a new book while listening to the sound of rain falling on the roof sounds like a dreamy way to spend a rainy afternoon. We love Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop as they have over 100,000 books, both new and second-hand, meaning everyone is bound to find their perfect rainy day read. Their independent shop is a labyrinthine maze of books that you could browse for hours while staying nice and dry. Their exciting children’s section is sure to keep little ones entertained when the weather isn’t great too.
- Grab a bite to eat
Why not take shelter from the weather while trying out one of Galway’s many delicious spots to eat? Some of our favourite places to grab a tasty meal are Greens and Co, Kai, Dela, and if you’re outside the city in Oranmore, Basilico has a stunning Italian menu with fresh pasta and Armorica serves scrumptious French cuisine over Jazz brunch. Nearby in Clarinbridge, Poppyseed Cafe has a flavourful menu and you can stroll through the forest when the rain lifts.
- Watch a movie
Located near the Docks, The unique arthouse Palas Cinema is a great rainy day activity. Choose from their eclectic range of Irish and international films to enjoy in one of their three atmospheric screens. They even have a restaurant and bar inside, so no need to leave and brave the bad weather for snacks or drinks.
- Visit a museum
Galway is home to several museums that often get overlooked on a sunny day. Galway City Museum is free to enter and is full of artefacts related to the heritage of Galway and its people. Pay it a visit and learn all about the history of our great city.
- Go shopping
If you’re brave enough to face the showers in between shops, going on a vintage and sustainable shop crawl can be a lovely way to spend an afternoon. Galway is in no short supply of places to get your sustainable fashion fix, such as Kindfolk, Aplomb, No. 8 and Public Romance and you also never know what treasures you will discover in the many charity shops located throughout the city, so add those to your list!
Image credit: @chaoshengzhang
