Galway, IRELAND

Compared to the big Irish cities like Dublin, which has a population of over five lakh, and Cork, home to over two lakh people, Galway on the west coast has a head count of about 80,000. Along with Rijeka in Croatia, Galway was declared the European Capital of Culture in 2020. To understand why, visit the Galway City Museum on the banks of River Corrib to see its repository of cultural memorabilia. Then there’s Eyre Square, the city’s main plaza, which is almost always abuzz with festivals. Take a stroll on the Salmon Weir Bridge to get to Galway Cathedral across the river.

The Saturday Galway Market is the best place to get your hands on local produce and handicrafts. tourismireland.com