Inishmore, Aran Islands – An Essential Travel Guide for 2025

Inis Mór, or Inishmore in English, is the largest of the three Aran islands and the second largest island in Ireland, after Achill. It sits in Galway Bay alongside Inishmaan and Inisheer and was famously the setting for Martin McDonagh’s movie the Banshees of Inisherin. Its winding roads, stone walls and 760 Irish-speaking inhabitants provide a glimpse into what Ireland once looked like. Many opt to visit the island as a day trip from Doolin in County Clare. The isle certainly warrants an overnight stay but is it worth visiting as a day trip?

Read on to find out!

Unlike Achill Island, Inis Mór isn’t accessible by bridge and must be reached via ferry or airplane. The ferries in question are passenger-only, meaning you won’t be bringing your personal wheels with you! Cars are transported on special unscheduled services.

Airplane from Galway: Aer Arann Islands run daily flights from the tiny Connemara Regional Airport to Inis Mór Aerodrome at €63 return for an adult . These services are weather dependent and run on a restricted schedule during the winter.

Aer Arann Islands Timetables and Bookings

Ferry from Galway: Aran Island Ferries depart from Rossaveel Port in Connemara, 37km west of Galway City. Multiple ferries run each day, with the earliest departing Rossaveel at 09:30 and the latest returning from Inishmore at 19:15. The trip takes around 40 minutes and will set you back €34 for an adult return.

Aran Island Ferries Timetables and Bookings

Ferry from Doolin: The Doolin Ferry Co offers the fastest passage from Doolin Pier in County Clare. Multiple ferries run each day, with the earliest departing at 09:00 and the latest returning from Inishmore at 16:00. The journey takes around 35 minutes, with tickets costing up to €40 for an adult return.

Doolin Ferry Co Timetables and Bookings

For a tiny island Inis Mór has no shortage of places to eat and drink. Prices can be a little steep however, due to the costs of transporting ingredients from the mainland. Kilronan is the main town on the island and is home to many great eateries. Seafood is the specialty at Joe Watty’s Bar, a short walk from the pier where you disembark the ferry, but it caters to all tastes.

Those looking for an early feed should head to The Bar in Kilronan before 12pm for a delicious full Irish breakfast, albeit a little steep at €16. If visiting later in the day we recommend opting for the Heineken battered fish and chips, for €19.

Hot Beverages: Teach Nan Phaidi is a gorgeous family-run cottage café near Kilmurvey Beach. They offer hot food, as well as delicious coffee, with a lovely outdoor seating area for sunny days. It gets absolutely wedged with people during the summer months, but we still love to grab a takeaway coffee and sit on the wall outside to soak in the views.

Alcohol: Kilronan has many great haunts for a pint. Joe Watty’s Bar is definitely our favourite, largely due to the traditional Irish music every night. It was actually listed by Lonely Planet as one of the 10 best pubs in Ireland for traditional music! This is the place to head if visiting Inishmore during one of the island’s many festivals. If staying overnight head to Kilronan in the evening, when the pubs truly come alive.

Inishmore’s awesome karst landscape is an extension of the famous Burren in County Clare, and provides a home to a variety of unusual plants and animals. The entire island looks like a scene from a movie, thanks to the tight laneways and the shabby stone walls, assembled using rocks picked from the surrounding fields.

The miniature Kilmurvey Beach is home to white sands and clear blue flag waters like those usually reserved for much more temperate climates. Day trippers may not have time to take a dip, but should still stop to admire the beauty of this cove and its rare plants and birdlife.

A small snack shack close to Kilmurvey Beach also marks the perfect viewing point to witness the island’s seal colony. Despite being common to Ireland, these grey seals are in fact one of the rarest species on the planet! The viewpoint also offers stunning views of Connemara on the mainland.

This is the most authentically Irish place we have ever visited. Keep your ears open to hear the proud inhabitants conversing in their native Irish language, in a dialect almost unrecognizable to mainlanders. There is even an Irish Summer College which runs courses in Irish for the youth from the mainland.

Seemingly all of the inhabitants know each other, which makes the bus tours fascinating as the drivers stop to chat to one another, momentarily forgetting about the patrons they carry! This familiarity really comes to the fore when there is a wedding or a celebration on the island. The whole of Inishmore comes alive in unison!

The friendly locals and time-capsule nature of the island combine to create a merry atmosphere, unmatched anywhere else in Ireland. Throw into this mix the swarms of international tourists and you get a melting pot of craic – the quintessential Irish experience!

Check out our Travel Guide to nearby Doolin

The most popular methods of traversing the island are by bicycle, horse drawn carriage or a private minibus. For €20 you can rent a mountain bike at Aran Islands Bike Hire for the day. Rather handily, these can be picked up in Kilronan, near the ferry pier. The lack of traffic makes this a very safe option for children, and the island is mostly flat and easy to navigate.

Kilronan Pier feels like a Costa Del Sol strip due to the manner in which bus and carriage drivers vie for your attention! They are polite though and endlessly funny, so its definitely a positive experience. Horse and carriage prices vary, as do trip durations so enquire before boarding. Minibus tours typically cost around €20 per person and usually only accept cash. They are informative and fun, but enquire about the duration beforehand so you don’t miss your ferry!

Alternatively explore on foot via the ultra-scenic 8km long island loop. Follow the route from Dún Aonghasa fort, along the Cliffs of Aran, to reach the captivating Poll Na bPéist. Be mindful of the strong winds for a safe and enjoyable walk.

Rent a Bike with Aran Islands Bike Hire

It’s hard to believe that this extraordinary rectangular pool, accessible via a tricky 20-minute rocky trail, was carved out entirely by nature. This natural wonder has been a global sensation ever since one daring individual posted a thrilling dive video on YouTube over a decade ago. Local legends weave tales about its mysterious formation, while also cautioning against swimming.

In 2012, the Wormhole made waves as a venue for the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, drawing adrenaline junkies from around the world to Inishmore.

A scenic 10-minute uphill stroll takes you to the magical Dún Aonghasa, a remarkable 3000-year-old stone fort perched on a cliff edge. You will witness truly breathtaking panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean beneath roaring beneath you at the most must-see destination on Inishmore. Dún Aonghasa offers a captivating glimpse into Ireland’s ancient past, but exercise extreme caution if visiting with young children. There are no barriers at the cliff’s edge.

To see Inishmore truly come alive plan your visit to coincide with one of the island’s many famous festivals.

Our personal favourite, and unquestionably the most famous, is Ted Fest, which takes place every March at the Aran Islands Hotel. Honouring the famous Irish comedy TV series Fr. Ted, the celebration is a mix of boozing sessions and themed events, with special appearances by the cast of the show. The pubs around town brim with life during the festivities, with laughter and fun being guaranteed!

Check out the Aran Islands Hotel