Roisin Kelly

This is a city on the west coast of Ireland, at the very edge of Europe before it gives way to the wild Atlantic, which makes the variety of things to do in Galway a non-surprise. The town's famously bohemian vibe has always been as far as wandering artists and musicians could go so, very often, the folks just stayed. In the city centre, craft shops sit alongside old-fashioned pubs where nightly sessions of traditional music and dance send echoes through the cobbled streets. History pulsates  everywhere, from the remnants of the city walls by the Latin Quarter (now a lively strip of restaurants and bars) to a convent-turned-boutique-hotel and the traditional fishing boats at rest in Claddagh, home of the famous Claddagh ring design. As you drink coffee or a pint at an outdoor table and watch the world go by, the fresh salt wind will reminds you that Galway is at heart an ocean town and that the sea has informed the local way of life for generations. Done something on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutDoList and tag @TimeOutEverywhere. Find out more about how Time Out selects the very best things to do all over the world.

The inhabitants of the Republic of Ireland’s second-largest city are famously proud of what is also known as the ‘rebel city,’ spread out over rolling hills overlooking the River Lee and offering a variety of fun things to do. Cork is renowned for its food scene and is a haven for lovers of independent coffee shops, second-hand bookshops and cool record stores. The city’s music and arts scene is celebrated throughout the year, from the buzzy Cork Jazz Festival, held annually since 1978, to the more intimate Quarter Block Party that showcases contemporary art, music and theatre. Wander out to the lush green haven of Fitzgerald’s Park, take in the bleak beauty of the soon-to-be redeveloped docklands or lose yourself in the narrow brick streets interposed with feats of modern architecture for a flavour of Cork’s eccentricity.