AI-generatedGalway at a glance
- Best time
- Apr – Jun, Sep
- Warmest month
- Jul · 18°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 16.2°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,280 h
- Rain a year
- 1,069 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+0 / UTC+1
- Elevation
- 10 m
Climate in Galway
Galway has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 18 °C, while January is the coolest at 8 °C. With around 1,280 hours of sunshine a year, Galway is rather dull; May is the sunniest month with 5.7 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: April – June, September
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 9°
- Midday, 13:00: about 13°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 13°
- Evening, 20:00: about 11°
- Night, 23:00: about 10°
08:0118:43
Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 07:39–08:49 · evening 17:55–19:04
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:26–07:39 · evening 19:04–19:18
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Galway in October?
In October, Galway is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 13.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 105 mm. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Galway.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 42 min08:01 – 18:43
- UV index
- 2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 22 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 77 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
- Time zone
- UTC+1Europe/Dublin
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %0 %
- Seaweight 25 %0 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %0 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %20 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Galway
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 13.3 – 14.4 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Galway ranges from 8.6 °C in February to 16.2 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in August, while the air already peaks in July. From October to January the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 15.7 and 16.9 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 9.1° | 8.6° | 9.7° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 8.6° | 8.0° | 9.0° | cold |
| MarchMar | 8.8° | 7.9° | 9.3° | cold |
| AprilApr | 10.0° | 9.2° | 10.8° | cold |
| MayMay | 12.0° | 11.1° | 13.1° | cold |
| JuneJun | 14.2° | 13.3° | 15.1° | cold |
| JulyJul | 15.7° | 14.9° | 16.8° | cold |
| AugustAug | 16.2° | 15.7° | 16.9° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 15.4° | 14.8° | 16.0° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 13.9° | 13.3° | 14.4° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 12.0° | 11.3° | 12.6° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 10.3° | 9.6° | 10.9° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Galway
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 2.9 of 10.7 hours of daylight in Galway, 27 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Galway
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 2 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 7).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 80 min
- Fair skin
- about 100 min
- Light brown skin
- over 2 h
- Olive skin
- over 2 h
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Galway: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Galway has about 15 rainy days with 105 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Galway
How breezy and how cloudy Galway is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Galway typically peaks at 22 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: Aug – Jun.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 77 % of the sky over Galway: mostly cloudy, with about 2.9 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Galway
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
CoolOctober: nights around 9°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in January (4°), the warmest in July (12°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to April, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 5 | 8° | 4° | 9.1° | 1.7 h | 15 | 94 |
| FebruaryFeb | 7 | 9° | 4° | 8.6° | 2.4 h | 13 | 87 |
| MarchMar | 8 | 10° | 4° | 8.8° | 3.3 h | 13 | 79 |
| AprilApr | 14 | 12° | 6° | 10.0° | 5.1 h | 13 | 72 |
| MayMay | 15 | 15° | 8° | 12.0° | 5.7 h | 14 | 81 |
| JuneJun | 14 | 17° | 11° | 14.2° | 5.2 h | 13 | 82 |
| JulyJul | 9 | 18° | 12° | 15.7° | 4.1 h | 15 | 86 |
| AugustAug | 9 | 18° | 12° | 16.2° | 4.4 h | 15 | 94 |
| SeptemberSep | 10 | 16° | 11° | 15.4° | 3.7 h | 12 | 80 |
| OctoberOct | 4 | 13° | 9° | 13.9° | 2.9 h | 15 | 105 |
| NovemberNov | 5 | 10° | 6° | 12.0° | 2.0 h | 14 | 105 |
| DecemberDec | 4 | 8° | 4° | 10.3° | 1.5 h | 15 | 106 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
53.27° N, 9.05° W · 10 m · Europe/Dublin
Best time to visit Galway
The best time to visit Galway is from April to June and in September. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 16.2 °C. The wettest month is December with 106 mm of precipitation.
Galway through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Galway in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 10–15 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 40 rainy days in all
Galway in summer
Jun – Aug
Poor
- 17–18 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 43 rainy days in all
Galway in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 10–16 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 3 h of sun a day
- 42 rainy days in all
Galway in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 8–9 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 2 h of sun a day
- 43 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Galway for you.
Your best months: April – June
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Galway
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
May has the better holiday weather in Galway: score 15 against 4. In May, days are 2 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 2 °C cooler in May. May has one rainy day fewer. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in May.
| Month | October | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 4 | 15better |
| Day high | 13° | 15° |
| Night low | 9° | 8° |
| Sea | 13.9° | 12.0° |
| Sunshine | 2.9 h | 5.7 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 15 | 14better |
| Rainfall | 105 mm | 81 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
All year
12 or more rainy days
Galway month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
5January8° · Sea 9° · 2 h
In January, Galway is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 9.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 94 mm. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Galway.
Galway in January7February9° · Sea 9° · 2 h
In February, Galway is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 8.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 87 mm in total. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Galway.
Galway in February8March10° · Sea 9° · 3 h
In March, Galway is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 8.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 79 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Galway.
Galway in March14April12° · Sea 10° · 5 h
In April, Galway is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 10.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 72 mm in total. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Galway.
Galway in April15May15° · Sea 12° · 6 h
In May, Galway is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 12.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 81 mm in total. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Galway.
Galway in May14June17° · Sea 14° · 5 h
In June, Galway is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 14.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 82 mm in total. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Galway.
Galway in June9July18° · Sea 16° · 4 h
In July, Galway is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 15.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 86 mm. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Galway.
Galway in July9August18° · Sea 16° · 4 h
In August, Galway is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 16.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 94 mm. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Galway.
Galway in August10September16° · Sea 15° · 4 h
In September, Galway is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 15.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 80 mm in total. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Galway.
Galway in September4October13° · Sea 14° · 3 h
In October, Galway is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 13.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 105 mm. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Galway.
Galway in October5November10° · Sea 12° · 2 h
In November, Galway is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 12.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 105 mm. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Galway.
Galway in November4December8° · Sea 10° · 2 h
In December, Galway is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 10.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 106 mm. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Galway.
Galway in DecemberGalway compared
Put Galway side by side with another destination.
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Galway vs. Limerick
In October the holiday weather in Galway and Limerick is about equally good (score 4 vs. 4). During the day Limerick is 1 °C warmer than Galway.
| in October | Galway | Limerick |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 4 | 4 |
| Daytime high | 13° | 14° |
| Sea | 14° | – |
| Sunshine | 3 h | 3 h |
| Rainy days | 15 | 15 |
| Best time | Apr – Jun, Sep | Jun – Aug |
Through the year
Ireland in October: the best places
In October, Galway ranks 14 of 18 destinations in this country.
- Dublin14°14°40
- 2Kilkenny14°39
- 3Cork14°14°39
- 4Waterford14°37
- 5Killarney14°36
- 6Limerick14°34
- 7Dún Laoghaire14°14°9
- 8Bray14°14°9
- 14GalwayThis page13°14°4
Planning a trip to Galway
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Galway in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Galway has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 15) and its weakest during October half-term (score 4).
- 12
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 12 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 4.6 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 15
May half-term
May – Jun
PoorBest holidays
- 15 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 5.6 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 9
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Poor
- 18 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 4.3 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 4
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 13 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 2.9 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 5
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 8 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 1.6 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 1 h 15 min
- Distance
- 620 km
- Time zone
- UTC+1
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Galway
When is the best time to visit Galway?
The best time to visit Galway is from April to June and in September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Galway?
The sea temperature in Galway ranges from 8.6 °C in February to 16.2 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Galway in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 13.9 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Galway?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 18 °C and nights around 12 °C. January is the coolest month at 8 °C.
When does it rain most in Galway?
The wettest month is December with 106 mm of precipitation. The driest month is April with 72 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Galway get?
Galway gets around 1,280 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 5.7 hours a day; in December there are 1.5 hours a day.
What time zone is Galway in?
Galway uses the time zone Europe/Dublin: UTC+0 in January and UTC+1 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Galway?
A nonstop flight from London to Galway takes about 1 h 15 min, for a straight-line distance of about 620 km.
Which school holidays are best for Galway?
Galway has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 15) and its weakest during October half-term (score 4). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 12, May half-term 15, Summer holidays 9, October half-term 4, Christmas holidays 5.
Near Galway
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Galway
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Galway's – good alternatives.