Here’s everything you can expect from the 2024 Galway Christmas Market.
Galway City Centre is transformed into a wintry wonderland with the arrival of the Galway Continental Christmas Market. This is the fourteenth year of the festive festival, and it is the biggest one yet.
What date is the Galway Christmas Market open?
The festive fun kicks off on Friday, 8th November and runs until Sunday, 5th January 2025.
What time does the Christmas market open in Galway?
The Galway Christmas Market opening hours are as follows:
Monday – Wednesday: 12 noon – 8 pm (bar until 10 pm)
Thursday – Saturday: 10 am – 10 pm
Sunday: 10 am – 8 pm
Where is the Galway Christmas Market located?
The Galway Christmas Market sprawls across Eyre Square, right in the heart of Galway City.
Highlights of Galway Christmas Market 2024
Let’s start with beautiful wooden chalets that give the market a continental feel. More than 50 stalls are selling European and Irish Christmas gifts and artisan food and drink products this year.
What to buy at the Galway Christmas Market
This is a great place to do your Christmas shopping, especially if you want something more bespoke and unique. You’ll also be supporting local businesses. Look for gift sets made with local seaweed, jewellery made by local artists, and all manner of natural products made using locally sourced ingredients.
What to eat at the Galway Christmas Market
When you’ve worked up an appetite, you can refuel on some truly festive fayre. Vendors tempt you from all sides with German sausages (bratwurst in a fresh bread roll topped with mustard and ketchup is a must), followed by a soft, salty, warm pretzel. Close your eyes as you eat, and you’ll feel like you’re in some Alpine resort, almost.
For some festive French favourites, chow down on crêpes smothered in Chantilly cream and exquisite patisserie. For a taste of Belgium, indulge in some warm waffles and frites covered in mayonnaise. There’ll also be a chance to try some Irish favourites, including sweet and cream Irish fudge. It’s delicious.
What to drink at the Galway Christmas Market
All that eating and chatting with stall owners is thirsty work, but thankfully, there are plenty of options to quench your thirst. While Santa and his raindeers sip milk, the rest of us can sip a stein of traditional German beer at the Bierkeller, try apple cider, and warm up with a mug of mulled wine.
Of course, there are plenty of non-alcoholic options as well, and we suggest you seek out locally brewed non-alcoholic craft beers, freshly pressed apple juice, and calorific cups of hot chocolate. Go on, get the whipped cream on top, oh, and the marshmallows, too. It is Christmas, after all.
What to do at the Galway Christmas Market
There’s plenty to keep you entertained and the little ones happy, too. Climb aboard the 32-metre-high Ferris wheel, sit back, and enjoy beautiful views of the Galway from way up high.
You can feel nostalgic by riding the traditional carousel, and children can also play on the Helter Skelter. You can also ride on the Santa Express train, but make sure you stop off at Santa’s postbox and post your letter. Santa is currently making his list and checking it twice.
Speaking of the Big Man, you can visit Father Christmas at Santa’s Grotto, which local charities run. Give a little back if you can, and donate some of your spare change. Every little helps.
There’s also plenty of family entertainment, including school choir performances, puppet shows, storytelling theatre, and carol singing.
If you are looking for a party, just follow the crowds spilling in and out of the buzzing après ski bar or the Bierkeller. Here, various events and live performances occur throughout the Christmas Market.
The Light Up Galway Festival
As part of Yuletide, the streets of Galway have been given some twinkling, sparkling glamour. Across the city’s centre, from Eyre Square down to the Spanish Arch and beyond, you’ll see glittering LED light installations and dramatic light projections on the city’s buildings.
The light installations act as attraction points and help you navigate the city. Each lighting display has interactive photo opportunities at some of Galway’s most famous landmarks. Think of all the Instagram opportunities!
It is the ultimate glow-up for Galway. So make sure you leave some time to stroll around the city and the enchanted light gardens of the market and soak up the electric atmosphere. And make sure you check out the magnificent Christmas tree in Eyre Square, too.
Visiting the Galway Christmas Market
Of course, Galway is buzzing no matter what time of year you visit, but the Galway Christmas Market just ups the ante and festive cheer of this vibrant Irish city.
Finally, if you are hungry for more blog posts about food and travel, here you go…
Flying into Ireland, read this first: Dublin Airport Travel Advice – Know Before You Fly.
Looking for a delicious cookie recipe? This is one of my favourites: Chewy and Crunchy Coconut Cookies.
For a taste of Italy, try making this unusual cake: Recipe: Pastiera Napoletana Crostata – Italian Easter Cake.
For travel inspiration, look no further: Frankfurt Travel Tips – 9 Unusual Things To Do.
Have you been to the Kingdom? Here’s why you should go: Things to do in Kerry – See, Do, Eat, and Drink.
Are you curious to learn more about wine? Take a look at this: White Wine Food Pairing – Expert Tips and Recommendations.
Find out more about my radio show here: Melanie May New Talk Travel Radio Show.