Galway has an extensive coastline offering quality beaches and amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean. The miles of beaches available are great for swimming, walking, exploring rock pools, wind-surfing, kite-surfing and all sorts of beach fun. The Blue Flag is an international award for beach excellence.

It is presented to beaches, which have excellent water quality, which provide a range of services and visitor facilities, and which fulfil other specified criteria including environmental management, litter control and education. Galway’s coastal blue flag beaches include An Trá Mór /Inverin, Cill Muirbhigh (Aran), Portumna, Salthill, Silverstrand, Trá an Dóilin /(An Cheathrú Rua), and Traught.