Best Saunas in Galway, Ireland
Blackrock Sauna
A seaside sauna on the edge of Salthill Promenade, beside the Blackrock Diving Tower, run from Blackrock Cottage. It is aimed at swimmers recovering after a dip in Galway Bay and at anyone wanting to unwind by the Atlantic, with slots and group bookings made online. Open daily from 10:00 to 22:00, and from 07:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Driftwood Sauna
Two wood-fired seaside saunas on New Pier beach in An Spidéal, seating 14 and 6, with panoramic windows over the Atlantic and a shared plunge pool. Owners Edward and Monique are trained sauna masters and run guided rituals with thermal leaf whisking at least monthly. Shared 50-minute social sessions are for over-18s, private sessions are available, and swimwear must be worn. Open Mon, Thu, Fri 4-9pm and weekends 9am-7pm.
Power Saunas
Two wood-fired saunas at Silverstrand, west of Galway city, heated with locally sourced wood; guests pour water on the stones for steam and may use aromas and essential oils. Separate male and female changing rooms are on site, and both saunas can be hired privately for groups of up to 30. Open Monday to Thursday 13:00 to 21:00, Friday from 07:00, and weekends 08:00 to 20:00.
Sauna Fiáin
A wood-fired, Finnish-style dry sauna on Renville Pier near Oranmore, on the north shore of Galway Bay, heated to about 80C with water poured on Connemara granite. Guests cool off in the sea or a freshwater cold plunge barrel. Shared 50-minute social sessions for up to 7 people cost EUR 17, and the sauna can be hired privately for 1 to 8 people. There are no changing facilities at the pier.
Leisureland
Galway City Council's swimming complex on the Salthill seafront, with a 25m pool, learner pool and a leisure pool with a 65m water slide. It has two saunas: one in the pool area, open during public swim sessions, and one beside the gym that members can use at any time during gym hours. Public sessions cost EUR 11 for adults and run daily, with times varying by day.
The Galmont Hotel & Spa
Hotel on Lough Atalia with the Spirit One Spa Thermal Suite: a rock sauna at 85 to 90C, a laconium with gentle dry heat, experience showers, a Sabia Med and heated loungers. Non-residents can book the Thermal Suite for EUR 40 Monday to Friday; on Saturdays it is only open to treatment guests. Its Energize leisure club adds an 18m pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and outdoor hot tub. Swimsuits are required. Spa open daily 10:00 to 18:00.
Active 24 Fitness & Leisure at The Connacht Hotel
Leisure centre at The Connacht Hotel on the Dublin Road with a 20m indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and a 24-hour gym. It is open seven days a week to hotel guests and to local members of the public through membership. Leisure facilities run Monday to Friday 6:30 to 22:00 and weekends 8:00 to 22:00.
Club Vitae Clayton Hotel Galway
Leisure centre at the Clayton Hotel in Ballybrit with a 20m heated pool, gym and an adults-only mixed Swedish-style sauna and steam room. The sauna and steam room are free for hotel residents and pool members; 3, 6 and 12-month gym and pool memberships start from EUR 100. Open Monday to Friday 7:00 to 20:45.
NRG Health & Fitness Bohermore
Gym and leisure club at Cúirt Seoige in Bohermore with a 20m pool and a spa suite of sauna, eucalyptus steam room, a tylarium that blends sauna and steam heat, a jacuzzi and a purpose-built ice bath. Access is through pool and gym membership, shared with the Knocknacarra club. Open Monday to Friday 6:00 to 22:00, Saturday 9:00 to 19:00 and Sunday 9:00 to 18:00.
NRG Health & Fitness Knocknacarra
Gym and leisure club in the Clybaun Hotel in Knocknacarra, west Galway, with an 18m pool and a spa suite of sauna, steam room with eucalyptus aromas, jacuzzi and an outdoor hot tub. Access is through pool and gym membership, which also covers the Bohermore club. Open Monday to Friday 6:00 to 22:00 and weekends 8:00 to 20:00.
Ocean Fitness at Salthill Hotel
Members' leisure club inside the Salthill Hotel on the Salthill Promenade, with a 25m six-lane pool, an 18m hydrotherapy pool, whirlpool, sauna and steam room, gym and spin and Pilates studios. It is a members-only facility with no public single entry; hotel guests get complimentary access. Open Monday to Friday 6:00 to 22:00 and weekends 8:00 to 20:00.
Oranmore Lodge Leisure Centre
Leisure club at the Oranmore Lodge Hotel with a 17m pool, separate kids' pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and gym, open to hotel guests and to local members. Towels are provided, and the sauna, steam room and jacuzzi are for those aged 16 and over. Open Monday to Thursday 6:30 to 22:00, Friday 6:30 to 20:00 and weekends 8:00 to 20:00.
The Ardilaun Leisure Club
Leisure club at The Ardilaun Hotel on Taylor's Hill with an 18m pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and an air-conditioned gym. Gym and pool memberships are sold to the public, and hotel guests also have access. Adult hours are Monday to Friday 6:45 to 22:00 and weekends and bank holidays 8:00 to 21:00; under-16s may not use the sauna or steam room.
Blackrock Sauna
A seaside sauna on the edge of Salthill Promenade, beside the Blackrock Diving Tower, run from Blackrock Cottage. It is aimed at swimmers recovering after a dip in Galway Bay and at anyone wanting to unwind by the Atlantic, with slots and group bookings made online. Open daily from 10:00 to 22:00, and from 07:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Driftwood Sauna
Two wood-fired seaside saunas on New Pier beach in An Spidéal, seating 14 and 6, with panoramic windows over the Atlantic and a shared plunge pool. Owners Edward and Monique are trained sauna masters and run guided rituals with thermal leaf whisking at least monthly. Shared 50-minute social sessions are for over-18s, private sessions are available, and swimwear must be worn. Open Mon, Thu, Fri 4-9pm and weekends 9am-7pm.
Power Saunas
Two wood-fired saunas at Silverstrand, west of Galway city, heated with locally sourced wood; guests pour water on the stones for steam and may use aromas and essential oils. Separate male and female changing rooms are on site, and both saunas can be hired privately for groups of up to 30. Open Monday to Thursday 13:00 to 21:00, Friday from 07:00, and weekends 08:00 to 20:00.
Sauna Fiáin
A wood-fired, Finnish-style dry sauna on Renville Pier near Oranmore, on the north shore of Galway Bay, heated to about 80C with water poured on Connemara granite. Guests cool off in the sea or a freshwater cold plunge barrel. Shared 50-minute social sessions for up to 7 people cost EUR 17, and the sauna can be hired privately for 1 to 8 people. There are no changing facilities at the pier.
Leisureland
Galway City Council's swimming complex on the Salthill seafront, with a 25m pool, learner pool and a leisure pool with a 65m water slide. It has two saunas: one in the pool area, open during public swim sessions, and one beside the gym that members can use at any time during gym hours. Public sessions cost EUR 11 for adults and run daily, with times varying by day.
The Galmont Hotel & Spa
Hotel on Lough Atalia with the Spirit One Spa Thermal Suite: a rock sauna at 85 to 90C, a laconium with gentle dry heat, experience showers, a Sabia Med and heated loungers. Non-residents can book the Thermal Suite for EUR 40 Monday to Friday; on Saturdays it is only open to treatment guests. Its Energize leisure club adds an 18m pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and outdoor hot tub. Swimsuits are required. Spa open daily 10:00 to 18:00.
Active 24 Fitness & Leisure at The Connacht Hotel
Leisure centre at The Connacht Hotel on the Dublin Road with a 20m indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and a 24-hour gym. It is open seven days a week to hotel guests and to local members of the public through membership. Leisure facilities run Monday to Friday 6:30 to 22:00 and weekends 8:00 to 22:00.
Club Vitae Clayton Hotel Galway
Leisure centre at the Clayton Hotel in Ballybrit with a 20m heated pool, gym and an adults-only mixed Swedish-style sauna and steam room. The sauna and steam room are free for hotel residents and pool members; 3, 6 and 12-month gym and pool memberships start from EUR 100. Open Monday to Friday 7:00 to 20:45.
NRG Health & Fitness Bohermore
Gym and leisure club at Cúirt Seoige in Bohermore with a 20m pool and a spa suite of sauna, eucalyptus steam room, a tylarium that blends sauna and steam heat, a jacuzzi and a purpose-built ice bath. Access is through pool and gym membership, shared with the Knocknacarra club. Open Monday to Friday 6:00 to 22:00, Saturday 9:00 to 19:00 and Sunday 9:00 to 18:00.
NRG Health & Fitness Knocknacarra
Gym and leisure club in the Clybaun Hotel in Knocknacarra, west Galway, with an 18m pool and a spa suite of sauna, steam room with eucalyptus aromas, jacuzzi and an outdoor hot tub. Access is through pool and gym membership, which also covers the Bohermore club. Open Monday to Friday 6:00 to 22:00 and weekends 8:00 to 20:00.
Ocean Fitness at Salthill Hotel
Members' leisure club inside the Salthill Hotel on the Salthill Promenade, with a 25m six-lane pool, an 18m hydrotherapy pool, whirlpool, sauna and steam room, gym and spin and Pilates studios. It is a members-only facility with no public single entry; hotel guests get complimentary access. Open Monday to Friday 6:00 to 22:00 and weekends 8:00 to 20:00.
Oranmore Lodge Leisure Centre
Leisure club at the Oranmore Lodge Hotel with a 17m pool, separate kids' pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and gym, open to hotel guests and to local members. Towels are provided, and the sauna, steam room and jacuzzi are for those aged 16 and over. Open Monday to Thursday 6:30 to 22:00, Friday 6:30 to 20:00 and weekends 8:00 to 20:00.
The Ardilaun Leisure Club
Leisure club at The Ardilaun Hotel on Taylor's Hill with an 18m pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and an air-conditioned gym. Gym and pool memberships are sold to the public, and hotel guests also have access. Adult hours are Monday to Friday 6:45 to 22:00 and weekends and bank holidays 8:00 to 21:00; under-16s may not use the sauna or steam room.