In 2020, the Irish city of Galway has been chosen as one of the European capitals of culture, making it a must-visit spot this year. With so much to see and do in this city, this is why Galway in Ireland is Europe’s Capital of Culture for 2020.

The music and drinking

While it’s true of many Irish cities that the party never stops, in Galway, that is pretty accurate. On any given day you can find a traditional Irish folk band playing, and within moments of them starting up, your toes will be tapping along. The atmosphere in an Irish pub is unlike anything you’ll find anywhere else in the world, and it really has to be tried to be believed.

While bands are hired to play every night, sometimes it’s the spontaneous outbursts of song that stay with you forever. Galway has many pubs, and most of them are filled with character. No matter what your drink of choice is, you’ll find it on your crawl around Galway’s most-loved pubs. You might even befriend a local or two along the way.

Amazing seafood

Thanks to the fact that Galway is on the west coast of Ireland, you can get some amazing treats from the ocean. Catches are made and brought to shore daily, so your seafood is always going to be super fresh. Galway Bay oysters are known to be a delicacy, while west coast monkfish is also loved by people who like eating fish. You can find other cuisines in Galway, but if you are a fish lover, you won’t want to.

Festivals

Throughout the year, Galway will be hosting many festivals to help celebrate its European Capital of Culture status. The arts and culture will be celebrated a lot, but festivals displaying the talented scientists, tattoo artists, and comedians will also be enjoyed by visitors to the city. With so much food to celebrate, there will also be a food festival in the spring, and of course, many traditional Irish bands will keep the party going throughout.

Exploring the outdoors

Galway is unlike many other cities because it isn’t such a crowded space, and there is plenty of natural beauty all over. Visiting Galway can feel like visiting somewhere from the past because it has a living history vibe. The small fishing communities still remain largely where they were set up, inside the 13th-century city walls.

Those who like to enjoy the places they visit by walking are in for a treat in Galway. There are plenty of hiking routes out of the city that make the most of having the Atlantic coast so close. Being so reliant on the fishing industry means it’s not a surprise that there are great places to set up a rod. If you really want to, you can even catch your own lunch on a cruise looking for salmon and sea trout.

Lots of people are going to be flocking to Galway this year thanks to its status as a European Capital of Culture. To make sure you don’t miss out on all of these amazing things, make sure you are one of them.