Galway hen party

It's time for a hen party in Galway!

This beautiful coastal city is the fifth largest in Ireland and it's a perfect alternative if you're looking for something a little more restful than more rambunctious Irish hen destinations like Cork and Dublin! The charming city plays host to the finest hospitality in Ireland and with a mix of relaxing pampering days, wet and wild activities, and a selection of hot nightclubs, Galway caters perfectly to everything you could possibly want on a hen weekend too! If you're looking for a chilled out destination in Ireland to hold your hen party, Galway just about has it all.

Why: Reasons to go to Galway for a hen party?

Friendly, striking and fresh, Galway is one of Ireland's best hen party destinations - in fact, it's consistently in line with capital cities like Dublin and Belfast. It's well worth visiting on your hen party for the fantastic activities, world renowned festivals, lively nightlife and picturesque coastline. Known as the 'City of Tribes', it's a thriving city that grows in popularity every year and is well placed to provide a fun, memorable weekend for you and the girls. It's both a popular seaside destination and a buzzing city centre which is truly stunning and completely energetic with loads of great options to fill up your days to the brim. If you want to try out somewhere a little different for the hen party, Galway will most definitely hit the spot with your girlfriends!

What: Planning your hen party in Galway?

If you're keen to experience the busy nightlife of a city but love the tranquillity of the country and fresh air activities on your hen party, Galway is perfect! It's a great place to get out and about, with everything from archery to white water rafting available on tap. Genteel, relaxed activities make for a more serene hen party - or why not combine the best of both worlds and get some horse riding and a hot stone massage in there for the ultimate day? Handily for your hen party, Galway really comes to life at night and the famously fine Irish hospitality is clear to see in the many bars, restaurants and clubs that are spread in and around the city centre. With a combination of swanky bars, friendly pubs, sleek cocktail venues and clubs, Galway is a guaranteed winner with all the girls. It's always good to pack a few extras in to keep everyone happy too and we've got simply fantastic evening entertainment such as limousines and guest list nightclub entry to really make the most out of your Galway hen weekend!

Shop: Galway shopping areas & recommendations

Shop Street is the main retail street in Galway and as the name suggests it's the best area to try out some retail therapy! This street consists of old brick buildings, bright shopfronts and a wide array of street performers. On this street you'll also be able to find Galway's best preserved ancient building, Lynch's Castle, as well as numerous cute and cosy book stores. Another place to check out is the Eyre Square Shopping Centre, which has over 100 shops and sells everything from fashion to homewares. Roches Store also has some great traditional Irish goods and for unique independent stores head to the Latin Quarter. If you need a shopping fix on your hen weekend, Galway will truly spoil the girls!

How: Getting to Galway?

Galway is located on the west coast of Ireland, so taking a plane over is certainly the quickest and easiest way of getting there. Shannon Airport is the closest runway but since it still lies around 1 ½ hours away from the city, travelling in via Dublin or Cork is a great option to consider too - rent a car from there or take a bus or coach. Trains run in from Dublin, as well as buses from both Dublin city centre and Dublin airport, when you fancy leaving the driving to someone else! If you do decide to drive, the M6 west will take you most of the way - and unlike many Irish cities, there's long term parking available from as little as €5, so you don't have to worry about high parking rates during your Galway hen party.

Stay: Choosing your Galway hen weekend accommodation

When planning accommodation, Galway is compact enough to mean that you and the girls can get just about everywhere you need to be on foot. Being based in the city centre, close to all of the best activities, shopping and nightlife is a number one priority for most hen groups and luckily, we can find one to suit your exact needs! We've got a great selection of group-pleasing hotels, from purse-pleasing 2 star options to the more luxurious 4 star hen hotels, so no matter how tight the budget is, you're sorted.

When: The best times to visit for a hen party in Galway

If you're keen to try water sports events, we'd suggest heading to Galway in the summer months - unless you fancy braving the North Atlantic in frigid winter conditions! Even when you don't fancy taking a dip, there are incredible festivals going on all year around in Galway. The biggest event by far is the Galway International Oyster Festival, which takes place on the last weekend of September and attracts around 10,000 people. Punters tuck into fresh oysters and Guinness during a weekend of festivities. Also in September is the Americana Festival, and then in October there's the Galway Comedy Festival which attracts big names like Sean Lock, Lee Mack, Phil Jupitus, and GoHen office favourite Russell Howard all year round! Whenever you visit for your hen party, Galway will not disappoint!