Beach · County Galway
Salthill Beach
Can I swim here? Outside the bathing season
The bathing season runs from 1 June to 15 September. Outside it the water is not tested weekly and lifeguards are not on duty. The last sample, on 7 September 2026, was excellent. Live status on beaches.ie, which the EPA updates hourly in season.
The beach at Salthill is actually several small beaches separated by outcrops. Some of the beaches are sandy and some pebbly, with the main bathing areas located at Blackrock and Ladies Beach. The beach faces directly across Galway Bay and boasts breath-taking views.
Excellent (2025): The highest standard: results over four years were consistently very clean.
The record, year by year
| Year | EPA classification | Samples | Excellent | Good | Sufficient | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | — | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | Excellent | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Excellent | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Excellent | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Excellent | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Facilities
| Lifeguards | Yes | Life Guard hut marked on beach map and is yellow & orange in colour, easily identifiable |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | Yes | |
| Parking | Yes | |
| Wheelchair access | Yes | Access ramps available |
| Beach wheelchair | Yes | To book beach wheelchair contact Amanda Scott - Amanda.Scott@abilitywest.ie, Phone: 091 540900. Advanced booking is advised. |
| Public transport | Yes | Bus stop located adjacent to Ladies beach and Blackrock |
| First aid | Yes | First aid available from lifeguard hut |
| Lifebuoy | Yes | |
| Information board | Yes | |
| Activity zones | No | |
| Litter bins | Yes | |
| Recycling | Yes |
Dogs and cars
- Dogs are not allowedRefer to beach code of conduct and dog control bye-laws 2008
- No cars on the beach
Latest sample (2026-09-07): E. coli <10, intestinal enterococci 11 (cfu/100 ml).
The EPA's bathing water profile
Outdoors in County Galway this week
Best day outdoors: Sun, 11 Oct — dry by day, breezy, up to 15°C
Status Yellow - Rain warning for Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo
From Thu, 8 Oct, 09:00 until Fri, 9 Oct, 04:00
Heavy spells of rain.
Be aware of potential impacts:
- Difficult travelling conditions
- Localised flooding possible
Issued by Met Éireann · met.ie/warnings
- Fri, 9 Oct13° / 9°Scattered clouds
- Sat, 10 Oct13° / 7°Sun with light cloud
- Sun, 11 Oct15° / 14°Sun with light cloud
Make a day of it
The nearest trails, beaches, woods and heritage within 25 km.
Trails & walks
Beaches & bathing waters
Forests & woodlands
Parks, gardens & islands
Nature spot · 600 m awayCircle of Life National Organ Donor Commemorative GardenGardenGalway CityCircle of Life is Ireland's National Organ Donor commemorative garden and is Galway's International Heritage Garden. Its welcoming design, and its richness of imagery and symbolism offer visitors an inspirational and memorable experience.
Nature spot · 9.2 km awayRinville ParkParkRamble through the beautiful grounds of Rinville Park and take in stunning views of the adjacent ancient castle and 16th century estate demesne.