November in Galway: A 4-Day Family Escape
This past November, my family met up in Ireland to celebrate Thanksgiving together. I know what you’re thinking—Ireland? For Thanksgiving?! But hear me out! Yes, it’s an American holiday, but it’s also a perfect time to travel with that built-in four-day weekend. With our extended family getting smaller, this trip felt like the perfect way to spend quality time together. In fact, we’ve spent Thanksgiving abroad a few times before, and this year, we chose to explore the Galway region of Ireland.
Below, you’ll find a full walkthrough of our itinerary, top recommendations, and a few things I’d do differently next time!
Day 1
After arriving in Dublin and picking up the rental car, I drove to the city center to pick up my brother and up. In hindsight, this was a terrible idea. The stress of driving through those small city streets on the opposite side of the road after not sleeping on the plane was not the best idea. I feel we lost a good portion of our day. What I would have done differently is to have had my brother meet us at the car rental place.
The drive from Dublin to Galway was pretty easy in comparison! Despite being tired, once on the highway, the two and half hour trip was smooth.
If driving in Ireland two things I’d recommend are:
Get a car with all the bells and whistles! I’m forever grateful for the people at Six’t Car Rental at Dublin Airport for upgrading me to a bigger car with all the perks. When driving on the opposite side of the road in the opposite side of the car, you want all the safety precautions possible.
Learn the basics - while in America we typically pass on the left, cars in Ireland pass on the right.
Once in Galway, we headed directly to our Airbnb. We stayed in this beautiful 3 bedroom airbnb in the perfect location - center but on a quiet street. We had a quick hour to get ready before heading to celebrate Thanksgiving at John Keogh’s.
One of the bedrooms at our Airbnb
John Keogh’s is a MUST when visiting Galway! Keogh’s is a gastropub offering delicious food, friendly staff, and that warm pub atmosphere you crave when in Ireland. Request a table in the back room if possible. We made reservations months in advance - so far out that when we walked in they got a good laugh. We were seated at a table near the window in our own cozy little nook - the perfect spot to celebrate our version of Thanksgiving.
While my family continued their evening, I took my tired daughter back to the airbnb. What I love about Airbnbs is that they truly offer that home away from home feel. Everyone has their own bedrooms while also getting to share common space. After putting my daughter to bed, I was able to relax in the living room - planning for the for the day ahead.
Day 2
The King’s Head
While the family was slow to start, my daughter and I picked breakfast up at BakeBox, a small bakery full of beautiful desserts, yummy breakfasts, and coffees.
After some much needed caffeine, we explored the thrift shops on Merchants Road. Starting at Planet Retro, we continued up the street towards the center of the city, hitting about five thrift and vintage shops on the way. Some of our best shopping was done during this time! If you’re into thrift and second hand shops, you are sure to find multiple gems on this street.
We took our time exploring the streets of the city making our way to Eyre Square. Being late November, the square had transformed into a Christmas village. The square was full of shopping, food stalls, a carousel, ferris wheel, and a small cabin hosting the big man himself! We had reservations to see Santa later that night, so we saved walking through the square for the evening.
For lunch we stopped at The King’s Head which came highly recommended from friend and fellow blogger, Jetsetstephh. With history boasting over 800 years, it is a must while in Galway! While waiting to be seated we grabbed a pint in the spacious pub. My daughter had fun walking around and taking pictures by the stage. Lunch at The King’s Head was delicious and the portions were huge. If your little one is open to more than nuggets and fries, they offer a great kids menu! (But don’t worry - they still have nuggets!)
In the afternoon we continued through the winding streets of the city, walking in and out of shops along the way. One must see with kids is Wooden Heart, a children’s toy and book shop. This quaint shop offers the sweetest toys for children! Follow the circular stairway to the second level and explore their children’s book section which is full of local stories. This shop brought out my inner child - I did not want to leave!
After a quiet hour back at the Airbnb, we stopped at Quays Bar on High Street to hear traditional music. Make sure to take a picture with the seated statue of Galway Girl outside the entrance! If the pub looks crowded, look in the side room to the left after the bar. Here we were able to snag two small tables and watch the musicians play. I wish we could have stayed longer but we had an appointment with Santa that we could not miss!
Musicians playing at Quays Bar
Dinner that night was awful - it was the one night I didn’t make reservations!
Day 3
On our last full day we took a road trip down to the Cliffs of Moher. The drive itself isn’t too bad, but please know there are some winding, narrow roads. If you’re headed here, make sure to check out my post on where to find the BEST Cliffs of Moher views without the crowds!
To make the walk more interesting for my little one, we became rainbow hunters on the quest to find a rainbow - and perhaps, the pot of gold at the end. We were lucky enough to spot a rainbow but couldn’t find the gold!
We spent so much time walking the grounds and enjoying the views that we didn’t get to stop at one of my favorite little towns on the way back. If you do have time though, plan to stop in the small, colorful coastal town of Doolin for a pint and bite to eat.
Morans Oyster Cottage
After a day of exploring the cliffs, we drove to what is now my favorite restaurant, Morans on the Weir. I can’t say enough about this place! It’s a beautiful thatched house restaurant overlooking the water. During the warmer months they have outdoor seating where you can really enjoy the view.
It being November, we caught the tail end of the sunset before heading inside to the warmest, coziest restaurant. Stepping through the red door you’re reminded of the history this place carries - it’s over 250 years old! They have two cozy rooms with private tables in the front, and then a larger main dining room that hosts a charming bar, fireplace and wooden tables. The food here is incredible - think fresh, local oysters, mussels, and the most delicious seafood! What more, we couldn’t believe how reasonable the cost was for the quality of food and dining experience!
Wandering the streets of Galway
Once back in the city of Galway, we walked through the Galway Christmas Market one last time. My daughter wanted to ride the carousel and we wanted to do one last walk through of the stalls. If you’re visiting around the holidays, book your visit with Santa in advance - time slots go fast! The visit included a photo, Galway Christmas Market pin, and small toy.
From there, we headed to Rouge, a charming French wine bar and restaurant. We were seated near the piano, enjoying live music as we sipped on a fantastic selection of wines. With delicious desserts and a lively, welcoming staff, it was the perfect way to end the evening!
Day 4
This travel day was another area of the trip I wish I would have done better. Although we had a good portion of the day before our flight back to the States, we still had to drive back to Dublin. In the future, I’ll monitor prices of closer airports or look for flights departing later in the evening.
On this day we were hoping to have breakfast at Ard Bía before leaving but sadly, the wait was too long. We ended up at EAN, a very yummy restaurant that unfortunately closed due to costs.
Final Take-Aways
Make Reservations in Advance - Trust me, Galway’s best spots fill up fast! Booking early will help ensure you get to savor all the city has to offer!
Be Ready for All Kinds of Weather - November in Galway can be unpredictable. Pack layers, a raincoat, and shoes that can get wet.
Get to the Pub Early for Music - If you’re looking to hear some of Ireland’s wonderful Trad music, go on the earlier side! -Especially if you’re bringing the littles! Late afternoon and early evening are best. Anything later than that would not be appropriate for children.
Planning a trip to Galway? Save this itinerary for later, and let me know in the comments—what’s the first thing you’d do in this magical city? Follow along for more adventures in travel and motherhood! @ciebythesea