The Best Budget Hotels in Galway, Ireland

The Connacht is on the Old Dublin Road approaching Galway city centre, and although it’s more than a half an hour’s walk from the main attractions, the hotel is well served by taxis. Accommodations here range from classic double and twins up to self-catering suites with one or two bedrooms, and all are clean and comfortable. It’s a perfect hotel for a relatively inexpensive family mini-break, as the on-site Kids Club runs during school holidays and weekends, with activities for children of all ages.

Right in the heart of the city, the three-star Victoria Hotel’s location is a major selling point. Just off Eyre Square, it’s close to the bus and train stations – a plus for weary travellers. Double, twin and triple rooms are available at reasonable price points, which are regularly further reduced with special offers for guests staying longer than one night. The sociable Vic Bar downstairs is a comfortable place to relax after a day of sightseeing and serves a quality pub-grub menu from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and bank holiday Sunday nights.

Staying at the 195-room, four-star Clayton Hotel in Ballybrit – close to the home of the famous Galway Races racecourse – will require vehicular transportation of some kind, but it’s ideal for those exploring the west by car and those who would prefer to set up camp outside the city centre. Featuring contemporary design, even the standard rooms are modern and slick. And between the casual Enclosure Bar & Bistro, the luxurious Tribes restaurant and The Coffee Dock café off the lobby, you won’t be stuck for dining options.

Situated in the beautiful seaside area to the west of the city, the Salthill Hotel is the place to go if you’re looking for a stay that’s more getaway than city break. Perched on the edge of Galway Bay, with a two-kilometre-long (1.2-mile-long) promenade and views across the water towards the hills of the Burren in County Clare, Salthill is a dream holiday destination. And thanks to its superb location, accommodating staff, and other virtues, the modern Salthill Hotel is one of the top five most highly ranked hotels in all of Galway on TripAdvisor.

The aptly named Harbour Hotel in the Galway Docks is just a brief saunter away from the very centre of the city, but its waterside surroundings give it a peaceful feeling that so many urban hotels lack. Family-owned and stylishly kitted out, this popular establishment knows how to sell itself – the beds here aren’t just comfortable; they come ‘pillow-topped with crisp white linen, extra-large pillows and fluffy duvets’. As well as mid-week deals and other special offers, they provide advance-purchase discounts for stays booked more than two weeks ahead.

Baptising itself ‘Galway’s trendiest new hotel’, Nox first opened in 2015, filling an opening for low-cost accommodation that still feels upmarket. Two years later, it has succeeded in carving out its own distinct niche among the plentiful choices in the vicinity. Nox might be a no-frills option, but the people behind it are committed to getting the bare essentials absolutely right, from spot-on décor to high-speed wifi access to creating the ideal ‘sleep environment’ through individual thermostat control.