Taking the Ferry to the Aran Islands: What to Know

Three islands, three very different crossings, and the practical detail that decides whether you day-trip or stay the night.

The three crossings and how long they actually take

Almost everyone sails to Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands, from Ros an Mhíl in Connemara, about 50 minutes west of Galway city on the R336; the crossing takes roughly 40 to 50 minutes. A second, faster option runs from Doolin in north Clare on a passenger-only boat, around 35 minutes, handy if you are basing yourself near the Cliffs of Moher. Inis Oírr, the smallest and nearest island, is served from Doolin in about 20 minutes, and a seasonal service links Inis Oírr with Galway city docks. Inis Meáin, the quiet middle island, is reached from Inis Mór or Inis Oírr by a short inter-island hop.

Schedules are weather-dependent and change with the season, so treat any published timetable as a guide rather than a promise. Winter sailings drop to a handful a week; between May and September you will usually find several departures a day. Foot passengers book online in advance during high season, when the Doolin boats in particular fill up. Cars stay on the mainland at all three main departure points; on the islands you walk, cycle or take a minibus tour. Bring a windproof layer even in July, as the crossing is exposed and the piers are breezy.

Day trip or overnight: which one to book

A day trip works well for Inis Oírr, which you can walk end to end in an afternoon, taking in the wreck of the Plassey on the rocky shore and the Bronze Age stone fort of Dún Formna. Inis Mór deserves more. The cliff-edge fort of Dún Aonghasa alone takes a good hour, and the cycle out past the Seven Churches and the seal colony at the Worm Hole eats a morning. The last return sailing often leaves mid-afternoon, which leaves little slack if you hire a bike and lose track of time.

My recommendation: two nights on Inis Mór and a single day on Inis Oírr, or the reverse if you are based in Clare. Staying overnight gives you the islands after the day-trippers leave. Base yourself in Galway city for the Ros an Mhíl crossing, or in Doolin or Ennistymon for the Clare boats. Visitors searching for accommodation here tend to concentrate on Galway, Doolin and Clifden, so book those beds early in July and August, when a weekend room in Doolin can be hard to find at short notice.

Where to base yourself on the mainland

Galway city is the natural hub for the Connemara crossing. Buses run from Eyre Square to Ros an Mhíl, taking about an hour, and the city gives you Salthill promenade, the Latin Quarter and a wide spread of hotels and guesthouses in every price band. Clifden, an hour further west on the N59, suits anyone combining the islands with Connemara National Park and Kylemore Abbey. If you are flying in, Shannon is roughly 90 minutes from Doolin, while Ireland West Airport Knock is around 90 minutes from Galway.

Doolin has the shortest sea route to Inis Oírr but a thin bed stock: a handful of hotels, guesthouses and hostels strung along the coast road, all busy from June to September. Lisdoonvarna, ten minutes inland, and Ennistymon, twenty minutes south, give you more choice and easy access to the Cliffs of Moher. Doolin's small harbour car park fills by mid-morning in summer, so arrive early or leave the car at your accommodation. Skip the idea of driving from Dublin and sailing the same day: the run to Ros an Mhíl is about three hours via the M6.

Practicalities worth knowing before you go

Book the ferry and your first-night bed together rather than leaving the crossing to the morning of travel. Sailings are cancelled in strong winds reasonably often, and the operators will move you to a later boat, so keep your first night flexible and avoid a tight onward flight. On the islands, cash is useful for small cafés and bicycle hire; card acceptance has improved but is not universal. Bring walking shoes rather than trainers for Dún Aonghasa, where the approach is rough limestone. The best months are May, June and September: good light, fewer crowds, and a better chance of calm seas.

On the islands themselves, expect a handful of pubs, a couple of cafés and a small craft shop or two rather than a resort strip. Inis Mór's main settlement, Cill Rónáin, sits around the pier and is walkable; bikes are the sensible way to reach the far side. Inis Meáin is the one to choose if you want silence, with a sweater workshop and a scattering of stone walls. I would skip the combined Cliffs of Moher and Inis Oírr tour if you want unhurried time on either: it is a long day, and the cliffs deserve their own afternoon.

Questions, answered

Do I need to book the Aran Islands ferry in advance?

In July and August, yes, especially the Doolin boats. Outside high season you can usually turn up, but booking ahead secures your preferred sailing and gives the operator a way to contact you if weather cancels the crossing.

Can I take a car to the Aran Islands?

No. The ferries carry foot passengers and bicycles only. Leave the car at Ros an Mhíl, Doolin or your accommodation. On the islands, hire a bike or join a minibus tour from the pier.

Which Aran Island is best for a first visit?

Inis Mór, for Dún Aonghasa and the cliff scenery. Inis Oírr suits a shorter day trip from Doolin. Inis Meáin rewards travellers who want quiet and have time to spare.

← Ireland's page