Leonardo Hotel Galway, the former Jurys Inn, stands on Spanish Parade beside the Spanish Arch and directly opposite Galway City Museum, which puts it at the heart of the old harbour and a few steps from the Latin Quarter. It is a four-star hotel with an eco certification, a wide breakfast selection and an on-site restaurant, and its guests like the central position. It is a straightforward, comfortable hotel rather than a boutique one, and its great strength is location: you can walk to the river, the Spanish Arch, Quay Street and the pubs without a taxi, and to Eyre Square in a few minutes. It suits first-time visitors, families, groups of friends and anyone who wants to be in the middle of the evening action.
Location and getting around
The museum's own visitor information places accessible parking in the Jurys Inn car park opposite the building, which confirms how close the hotel is to the Spanish Arch and the museum. From here the Latin Quarter, the Claddagh and the start of the Salthill Promenade are all within a short walk.
If you are driving, ask the hotel about parking, because it is a city-centre property and arrangements and charges can change. The Christmas Market in Eyre Square runs from 6 November to 22 December 2026 and is a few minutes away on foot.
Rooms and who it suits
Expect clean, modern, practical rooms of a kind that suits families and groups, with larger rooms available for those travelling with children. The wide breakfast selection is a plus before a long day to the Cliffs of Moher or Connemara, and the on-site restaurant gives an easy option for an early dinner. It is less atmospheric than The Hardiman, and less luxurious than The G Hotel, but it offers the best proximity to the sights that most first-time visitors come for.
Good to know
Because the hotel stands close to the pubs and the quay, evening noise can reach some rooms, so ask for a room on a higher floor or away from the street if you are a light sleeper. Weekends and December nights fill early, and some travellers still know the hotel by its former name, so check the name on your booking. Check cancellation terms, breakfast inclusions and parking on the booking page, and use the museum next door as a rainy-day fallback.
Why stay here
- ✓Beside the Spanish Arch
- ✓Opposite Galway City Museum
- ✓Eco-certified hotel
- ✓Wide breakfast selection
- ✓On-site restaurant
- ✓Walk to the Latin Quarter
- ✓Walk to the Claddagh
- ✓Short walk to Eyre Square
Good questions
Is this the former Jurys Inn?+
Yes. The hotel stands on Spanish Parade and is the property formerly known as Jurys Inn Galway, so older guides and local directions may use that name.
What is nearby?+
The Spanish Arch, Galway City Museum, the Latin Quarter and the Claddagh are all within a short walk, and Eyre Square is a few minutes away.
Does it have a restaurant?+
Yes. It has an on-site restaurant and a wide breakfast selection.
