5.0
Highlights & Hidden Gems of Galway
- 3 hours
- City Highlight Tours
- Galway
Choose one of 2 locals available
Experience hosted by Derek & Michael
- Private Tour
- Carbon Neutral
- Destination
- Galway, Ireland
- Category
- City Highlight Tours
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Transport mode
- Walking tour
- Available languages
- English
- Included
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- Private Guide
- Local Drink or Snack
- All Withlocals are Carbon Neutral
- Excluded
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- Entrance to Attractions
6 reasons to book this tour
- Explore the best of the city in only 3 hours
- Spot classics like Galway Cathedral & Quay Street
- Discover hidden gems away from the tourist paths
- Experience the city from a local’s perspective
- Can be 100% personalized to your wishes
- Privately guided by a local expert
What you can expect
Galway, is a magical place! And with the local host of your choice, you are going to experience it all. So get ready; culture, history, and local lifestyle await!
Dive into the origin of Galway as you see the city’s main landmarks like Galway Cathedral, Quay Street, and The Spanish Arch. And how about the hidden gems? Oh, you’re in for a surprise! Every host has its own story to tell, so pick your favorite, and you’ll discover the city through their eyes. Experience their Galway to the max based on their passions and expertise. They’ll make sure you have fun enjoying a unique and local perspective of Galway.
Want to take a break? Leave it up to your host! This is the perfect opportunity to visit that special eatery where only the locals come and your chance to enjoy a local treat hand-picked by your host. Feel free to ask your host more about their life in their city or get recommendations about the top things to do in Galway. Remember, the locals know best.
The best part of any city tour is definitely the unique stories. Everybody has a story to tell, especially your host. Each one of the local hosts has a different background ranging from arts to history. They can’t wait to share their knowledge with you and exchange ideas and perspectives! Feel like changing the route a bit? No problem, the hosts will be happy to personalize the tour to your wishes and make their Galway, your Galway!
Choose your local
Get to know these 2 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.
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Derek
Tour Guide
5.017 reviewsEnglish -
Michael
The Cat
5.013 reviewsEnglish
This is the plan
Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.
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Meeting point
Meet at At the entrance of the hotel - Galway to start your journey
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Itinerary
This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.
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City Highlights
See from Galway Cathedral, Quay Street, The Spanish Arch, and other landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots in town so you can get the perfect overview of what makes Galway so unique -
Hidden Gems
Along the way, your local host will show you treasures hidden in plain sight that only the locals know about. Get to know the city through a different perspective, the local way, and discover places and stories that not many tourists experience -
Magical Storytelling
Behind every landmark and every stop, there’s a story, and your local host is ready to tell it all. Get ready to listen to incredible stories, one-of-a-kind insights, and fun facts only a knowledgeable local would know! -
Special Treat
Follow your host to one of their favorite eateries for a snack or a drink beloved by the locals. Take a break and catch up with your new local friend and get the answers to all your travel questions -
Make it yours
Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.
Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.
Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.
Flexible cancellation policy
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Feel confident booking
Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.
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Change of plans?
Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.
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Loved by travelers worldwide
Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.
Reviews from guests
Jean
(About local )
23 January 2025
We enjoyed a delightful and enlightening tour despite the occasional showers today. We learned so much about the city's history, social makeup, evolution, and indeed about Ireland's history. We visited several neighborhoods and historical landmarks. We got insider's tips about best restaurants, pubs, and coffee shops, exotic streets away from tourists. Michael is very personable and fun. Not a boring moment. In two hours we got a wonderful overview of Galway and its history.
Highly Recommended!
Gillian
(About local )
9 January 2025
Michael was fantastic! Engaging, knowledgeable and friendly. We were a group of 4 curious adults who peppered him with questions (poor fellow!) and he answered each and every one thoroughly and with good humor. His stories, his knowledge of Irish history and culture and his ability to share so much information were truly commendable. I highly recommend booking Michael for your intro to Ireland in general and Galway in specific!Fantastic and Engaging Tour
Kim
(About local )
1 January 2025
We really enjoyed our guided tour of Galway with Michael. He has a deep knowledge of history, which he presents in a humorous and accessible manner. I would recommend him to friends visiting Galway!Fun and Funny and very informative
Richard
(About local )
26 December 2024
Michael; knowledgable, personable and all around great guide. After the first few minutes it felt as if we were visiting a friend introducing us to new digs. Highly recommended.True local tour of Galway, my hometown
Rebecca
(About local )
21 December 2024
Michael was wonderful! My husband and I booked at the last minute and Michael was ready to go! He is very knowledgeable, personable, and fun. We walked all around Galway and he pointed out things we would've missed on our own. We highly recommend hiring him for the two hours - it is well worth it!Thank you again, Michael! Your tour was the highlight of our visit to Galway. We enjoyed all of it!What a wonderful tour!
Robert
(About local )
16 December 2024
Great tour. Saw the sites of Galway with engaging history and context of each of them and the surrounding area. Michael was informative and a pleasure to spend time with. Left of with a better understanding of the area as well as some recommendations for entertainment and dining. The time with Michael was well spent and fun.Walking the medieval city of Galway with your Local Guide
Michael
(About local )
12 December 2024
Michael knows his stuff! We had a great tour, and it felt more like walking and chatting with a friend, than anything else. Highly recommended.Highly Recommended!
Alastair
(About local )
10 December 2024
We had 3 days of touring with Wild About Ireland. First day, Dublin airport pickup and sightseeing enroute to Galway. Second day, County Clare area south of Galway. Third day, northwest of Galway.
Our guide Derek drove us safely and confidently. Derek is impressively knowledgeable about many aspects of Ireland. Including history from neolithic times to present day, geography, geology, agriculture, economics, folklore and literature. He communicates in a clear and concise manner.
And Derek adjusted the tour to take us to a specific requested aviation monument.
Our time and money were well spent with Wild About Ireland.
Highly recommended.Highly recommended tours
Diana
(About local )
10 December 2024
Derek Spillane is so well spoken and knowledgeable about Irish history and the countryside he gives tours in. We loved his personal and sincere style of telling us about the Burren and surrounding sights. Easy to book and very dependable. Loved our experience.Tour of the Burren and the surrounding landscape in Co. Clare
Nick
(About local )
9 December 2024
Michael provided a good and interesting overview of Galway's history and architecture. He had a good sense of humor and in depth knowledge which made walking around Galway much more interesting.Orientational Galway Walking Tour
Joseph
(About local )
6 December 2024
Micheal was easy going and made for a pleasurable tour any age could enjoy!Michael was Great!
Rachel
(About local )
2 December 2024
Great guide, great tour! Knowledgable and engaging. Also he gave us great Galway recommendations. I would definitely recommend Michael!I would definitely recommend Michael
Angelo
(About local )
1 December 2024
Exceptional tour with a Top-Notch guide! Derek is a knowledgeable and enjoyable host with a multi-discipline approach
to providing information about the area. We are well traveled but this was our first trip to Ireland and thought Derek's trip was a great introduction to the country. Would recommend without hesitation.
Exceptional tour with a top notch guide
Robert
(About local )
29 November 2024
Michael is a great guide and he did a wonderful job. We thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the lovely town of Galway.Great Guide
William
(About local )
19 November 2024
Derek provided our family an exciting and informative walking tour of Galway City. His knowledge of the geography,
culture and history brought the City to life for us. Highly recommend booking a tour with Derek who works through out the Country. We are sure to be back!
Exciting and informative walking tour of Galway
Maura
(About local )
4 November 2024
Above all else, Derek provided in depth insights, historical perspectives, and incredible depth of knowledge of
the people, the environment, the political and ethnic differences through the thousands of years history of incredible Ireland. Tour execution was on time, comfortable, safe for we three travelers. Derek was polite, pleasant, and good company. Maura: no blarney, all great accurate information, non-stop. We got double our money's worth. A thorough going professional, the real deal!! A thorough going professional, the real deal!!
David
(About local )
24 October 2024
Derek is absolutely wonderful! He took such great care of us. He is extremely knowledgeable about the local history and
discussed history and culture throughout our time with him. We basically had an open schedule for the day and asked Derek to show us around at his discretion. So in addition to the cliffs of moher, we saw a tower castle (whose lineage is shared by his wife's family!), the Burrens with ancient burial sites, and had a lovely lunch in Doolin. Would absolutely tour with him again. Cheers!Derek is absolutely wonderful!
Mark
(About local )
24 October 2024
Good communication from driver and right on time. The tour was excellent! Derek was very knowledgeable and educated in
local and Irish history, geography, and culture. Very safe driver and accommodating to all our wishes and needs. He went above and beyond expectations.
Excellent Tour
Nutan
(About local )
23 October 2024
Michael was knowledgeable, teaching us about both Irish history and giving us essential recommendations for food/drink! We thoroughly enjoyed our tourKnowledgeable guide
Alex
(About local )
22 October 2024
Guests had a wonderful time. On time and very professional. Thanks!Very professional.
Denise
(About local )
20 October 2024
We were extremely fortunate to have driver and guide Derek take us on a four day tour of Ireland. We visited Kilkenny, Cork, Limerick, Blarney Castle, Cliffs of moher and Galway. Derek was so knowledgeable and interesting. His car was comfortable and his driving skills were excellent. We never felt rushed or bored. I would highly recommend his tours!Fantastic limo guided tour
Mike
(About local )
12 October 2024
Derek was a pleasure to be with today for our city tour. He is very knowledgeable regarding Irish history as well as
the history of Galway. He hit all the important places during our time. We would highly recommend him. Thanks again Derek, it was a pleasure.Galway City Tour
Kevin
(About local )
7 October 2024
We had a great experience with Derek. Pre tour communication was excellent. Derek cheerfully accommodated us when we
had a last minute change of schedule. The tour was very informative and we learned a great deal about one of our parties family history that originated in Galway. Highly recommend Derek!
We had a great experience with Derek
Ann
(About local )
4 October 2024
One couldn't ask for a better driver and guide. His knowledge of myths and history had our heads spinning with facts
about Ireland. The beauty of his knowledge is that he can relate it to all the future travels with him as we had three tours with him as we travelled from Galway to Derry. If you want an immersion in Irish history and mythology Derek is your guy!One couldn't ask for a better driver and guide
George
(About local )
3 October 2024
My wife and I had great tour of Galway with Derek. He imparted his incredible historical knowledge of the city in a
very interesting manner which greatly enhanced our appreciation of the city. Would highly recommend.Galway City Walk
Jaye
(About local )
19 September 2024
Derek was a wonderful guide. He made us feel very comfortable and he was extremely knowledgeable - he could answer any
questions we had - whether history, geology, language, traditions, Irish mythology and even folktales. We toured a number of towns in the Burren, spent a good amount of time at the Cliffs of Mohr and stopped at several scenic and out of the way spots. Highly recommend!A wonderful guide!
Howard
(About local )
11 September 2024
Derek was a jewel. He had wonderful stories, a good sense of humor, and we could not have been more pleased. Was a terrific day!
Cliffs of Moher Private Day Tour
Ann
(About local )
8 September 2024
Our Galway walking tour with Derek was an absolute delight. Derek was incredibly knowledgeable and personable, making
the history of the city come alive with interesting facts and engaging stories. The tour covered key historic sites and landmarks, providing a deep dive into Galway's rich cultural heritage. What made it even better was that the walk was easy and not at all stressful, making it suitable for all ages. Derek's warm personality and passion for Galway made the experience both informative and enjoyable. Highly recommended for anyone visiting the city!
Derek was incredibly knowledgeable and personable
Robin
(About local )
22 August 2024
We (myself, husband and grown daughter) spent a wonderful historical day July 1, 2024 with Derek, visiting the Cliffs
of Moher and several other historical sites. We visited a Cistercian Abbey (ruins site) and historical graveyard that is still an operating and ongoing burial site today. We also visited Castle Dunguaire, a portal tomb (5,000 years old), and a holy well. We also stopped in a small village for lunch with traditional Irish fare and seafood, and an artisanal chocolate factory. Derek is a great driver and a knowledgeable historian (both at the visited sites and during the drive). The history was fascinating, and the views breathtaking along the ocean road and Corkscrew Hill. Derek packed a lot into one day, was kind and courteous. We learned so much more than we would have with a larger bus tour. I highly recommend Derek!
Cliffs of Moher Private Day Tour
GlobeTrotting424240
(About local )
13 August 2024
Derek is a gem. We had a great two vacation with the kind support of Derek. We had not been to Ireland before. He helped guide our itinerary prior to the trip, listening to our input and making suggestions on where to book lodging, where to eat, and what to do and see, even on days when we had not hired him. Derek was very knowledgeable on the history, geography, and geology of Ireland which enriched our tour immensely. Thank you, Derek, for a wonderful trip. We are already talking about returning to Ireland!Ireland Travels
Withlocals experiencesare always
Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
Without the crowdsExperiences designed to take you away from the crowds towards authentic local spots.
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