A complete guide for a Day trip to Inishmore, Aran Islands
This website uses affiliate links which may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.
A unique place off the coast of Ireland, ideal for cycling and relaxing!
The Aran Islands are found in county Galway, on the west coast of Ireland. Out of the 3 main islands, Inis Mór (also, Inishmore) is the largest and most popular for a day trip among locals and tourists. It offers beautiful landscapes, historical sites, turquoise water beaches and vertiginous cliffs.
But what makes Inis Mór one of the best Islands in Ireland to visit is that you can rent a bike for the day and just enjoy visiting the island at your own pace.
In this article, we have laid out all the places you can see, the best places to eat or drink; and our recommendations on accommodation if you plan to extend your trip to a few days. We have also shared a day trip itinerary idea to help you prepare for the best day trip to Inishmore.
Access our Inishmore Cycling Map!
Click on the map and enter your email to gain access to the interactive Google Maps version of our Inis Mor Cycling Itinerary.
How to get to Aran Island? [2025 uPDATE]
Take a Ferry
To visit Inis Mór, you must account for a full day including transfer. The most convenient and cheapest way to get to the island is to take a ferry from Doolin, Rossaveel or Galway Docks. See below a Ferry comparison so you can choose the one that fits best your needs.
From Rossaveel
Choose this route if you are in Galway or are visiting outside the main season. This ferry route runs all year round, and you can bring your bike (subject to availability). If you don’t have a car to reach the Rossaveel dock, you can jump on a shuttle for an extra €10.
- Ferry Price: €34 per adult | €17 per child (5+) | Student/Senior: €29
- Additional Bus from Galway: €10 per adult | €7 per child (5+)
- Timetable:
- Sep 29 – Apr 3: 10:30 AM | Extra: 6:00 PM (Sat–Thu), 6:30 PM (Fri) – Apr 4 – Sep 28: Extra 1:00 PM
- Jun 1 – Jun 27: 10:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 6:30 PM – Jun 28 – Aug 31: Extra departure at 11:45 AM
- Journey duration: 40 min
- Extras: Shuttle from Galway available | Extra bike charge: €20
- Website: https://www.aranislandferries.com/ or Book with Get your Guide
- Add a Stop at the Cliffs of Moher on your Ferry Cruise!!! Check availability & Prices.
From Galway Docks
Galway Dock is a great choice if you’re travelling without a car, as Galway is the easiest city to reach by public transport from Dublin or Cork. However, from Galway, only one-way tickets to Inis Mór are available, unless you book the Cliffs of Moher tour. This tour offers a unique way to experience the cliffs from the sea.
- Ferry Price: €35 one-way per adult | €30 one-way per child (6+)
- Cliffs Tour Return: €55 (Adult) | €30 (Child)
- Timetable:
- Departs daily at 9:30 AM from Apr 4 – Sep 28
- Cliffs Tour Return: Depart 3:30 PM (same day or overnight on Inis Mór)
- Journey duration: 90 min
- Extras: Extra bike charge: €20
- Website: https://www.aranislandferries.com/
You can either return the same day or stay overnight on Inis Mór and take the ferry back the next day (the cost is the same €55 per person). Since there is only one departure per day and seats are limited, booking well in advance is recommended.
If you’re looking for a direct round-trip ferry (on the same day or a different day) without a stop at the Cliffs of Moher, you’ll need to take the ferry from Rossaveel or Doolin instead.
From Doolin
Choose this one if you are in co. Clare and don’t need to bring your bike for the day. It is the quickest ferry but it only runs from March until September.
- Ferry Price: €45 per adult | €23 per child (5+) | Student/Senior: €43
- Timetable:
- Mar 1 – Nov 2: 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM
- Apr 18 – Sep 14: Extra departure at 9:00 AM
- Return:
- Mar 1 – Nov 2: 12:00 PM & 4:15 PM
- Apr 18 – Sep 14: Extra return at 9:50 AM
- Journey duration: 35 min
- Note: No bicycles allowed onboard anymore except for overnight passengers (pre-arranged)
- Website https://doolinferry.com/aran-islands/inis-mor/
Top Tip: When you book your seat on the ferry online, be aware the final document you will receive is NOT your ticket. You will need to check in first at the office on the dock to get access to the boat. Make sure to arrive in advance, the boat will not wait for you if you are late.
Fly to Inishmore
You can take a plane to Inis Mór from Inverin Airport outside of Galway. The Aer Arann Island Airline does about 4 return flights a day.
- Price: around €60+ per person return
- Timetable: departure time varies depending on the time of the year and the day of the week – Check the timetable on this website.
- Journey duration: 40 min
- Transfer: there is a shuttle bus that links the airport to Galway city
- Website: https://aerarannislands.ie/
Travel Free Pass Valid to Aran Island
If you qualify for the Free Travel Pass, note that it is accepted on the ferries from Doolin and Rossaveel… For more details, you can check the Citizens Information Website.
> Read More: 8 Beautiful Islands in Ireland to not miss!
What to see and do on Inishmore
Kilronan
Kilronan is the main village on the island where the ferry docks. It is very animated in the summer with tourists hopping on or off the ferries and picking up or dropping off their bikes.
If you are visiting Inis Mór for the day, you will more than likely spend very little time in Kilronan but if you decide to do so, check out the small museum Aran Heritage Center. It exhibits pieces of the island patrimony such as the traditional clothes and Irish boats called Curragh.
Staying more than a day? Great! You will really enjoy Kilronan in the evening. In fact, even after the last Ferry has left the island, Kilronan remains a lively place. There are a few bars and restaurants where you can grab a bite or enjoy a couple of pints.
Seal Colony
About 8km from Kilronan, across from St Kieran’s church ruins you may spot seals chilling in the sun or swimming around the bay. It is a nice spot to take a break and enjoy the panorama with the famous Twelve Bens hills that dot Connemara in the background.
On the side of the road, there is a small shack serving drinks where you can sit at a table but you can also just enjoy a small stroll on the beach or sit on the side of the road. Just be careful at low tides the rocks can be very slippery.
Kilmurvey beach
Fancy a dip? Well, this is the moment you have been waiting for. Kilmurvey Beach is a beautiful sand beach with clear blue waters. Just be aware there can be jellyfish during the hottest month of the year so always pop by the lifeguards to ensure it is safe to swim.
Dun Aengus
Near Kilmurvey beach but on the other side of the island, you will find one of the most visited places in Inis Mór. Dun Aengus is a ring fort built more than 3,000 years ago.
Bikes are not allowed on site but you can leave them at the bottom of the hill and walk your way up. It costs €5 to enter and takes about 15 min one way.
While the fort is really nice to visit (expect nothing other than a 5-meter high stone wall enclosure), the most impressive feature is the 180° view over the Ocean and 87 m high cliffs called “Blind sound”. Birdwatchers, bring your binoculars as many seabird species live within the cliffs’ crevices.
Dun Aengus definitely offers the best view on the island!
Worm Hole
Also known locally as the Serpent Lair or Poll na bPeist; this rectangular hole in the rock is a playground for local kids and tourists who want to go cliff diving.
This hidden gem discovered internationally as a cliff diving place only a few years ago is completely natural even though it looks carved out.
If you plan to get there, make sure the weather allows it and the tides are not too high. It can get very dangerous out there.
Safety info: It is impossible to cycle all the way to the Worm Hole, but you can drop off your bike and walk for about 20 min. The path isn’t obvious but if you follow the red arrows you should find your way. Also, be careful as the floor is uneven, there are a lot of holes and the rocks can be slippery as you get closer to the cliff edge.
How to travel around Inishmore?
Hire a bike
One of the most popular and BEST ways to see the island is to rent a bike. There is little traffic on the island and biking allows visitors to discover the island at their own pace.
The main sites are found within a 17km loop which can easily be completed during the day. Although, while the island is mostly flat, depending on the route you choose, you may have to cycle up a couple of hills.
Top Tip: Prefer the “low road” (along the coast) both ways if you are looking for an easy cycle. (Green line on map)
If you want to complete the loop (see map – orange itinerary) and do not feel fit enough to handle the hills, rent an electric bike. It will cost about €40 a day. An adult mountain bike costs €20 a day.
pss!! The company renting bikes only accepts cash on-site, so if you want to use a credit or debit card, make sure to book online. Alternatively, they will give you a booklet with a QR code you can scan to find their website and rent online.
When you arrive in the morning and show your voucher, the team will ask you to choose a bike and leave. Make sure to check the gears, the chain and the saddle. If you notice anything wrong with the bike during your cycling, don’t forget to tell the staff when you drop it off. They will put it on the side and service it.
Cycling on the Aran Islands! I have added a FAQ at the bottom of this page with the most common questions I get about cycling on the Aran Islands.
Hiking
It is of course possible to walk around the island but you will need to allow more than one day to visit the top sites. The distances are quite long from the main village Kilronan so staying near Kilmurvey Beach will allow you to reach quickly Dun Aengus, the wormhole or the different ruins scattered around Inis Mór.
Other
Locals offer guided tours by van or horse carriage. I will not share any details on this blog post because I didn’t look into this and don’t have any tips or recommendations on that matter.
Perfect day trip to Inishmore – 1 Day itinerary
- 10:00 – Take the Ferry in Doolin
- 10:45 – Pick up a bike from Aran Bike that you have already booked online
- 11:30 – Arrive at the Seal Colony
- 12:15 – Quick dip in the sea at the Kilurvey beach
- 13:00 – Lunch at Teach nan
- 13:45 – Walk to Dun Aengus
- 14:30 – Cycle to the Wormhole
- 15:15 – Cycle back to Kilronan
- 15:50 – Drop the bike off
- 16:00 – Take the ferry back to Doolin
Where to Stay and eat on Inishmore
While you can see a lot already on a day trip, spending the night on Inishmore will allow you to see more places and even try different activities such as snorkelling or kayaking.
From Glamping and campsites to B&B and hotels, there are several options to stay a night or two on the island.
Search for a place to stay, directly on the map!
Booking.com
Fun facts about the Aran Islands & Inis Mór
- The 3 main Islands are called Inis Mor (Inishmore), Inis Meain (Inishmaan), and Inis Oirr (Inisheer).
- Inis Mor is the biggest Island 12.8k long and 3.2 km large
- The Aran islands are famous for their yarn and the typical Aran sweaters
- Due to their proximity to the Gaeltacht, the Irish language is still mainly spoken on the Islands. There is even an Irish Summer College on Inishmore which runs 3-week courses in Irish to the youth of Ireland!
- The Islands are dotted by kilometres of Dry Stone Walls. They were built with the stones removed from the field and used to shelter the farms from the salty wind while allowing topsoil to settle and accumulate.
- The soil of the Aran island is made of Karst limestone. It is similar to what’s found in the Burren in Co. Clare.
- The “Inis Mor Patrun Festival” lasts 3 days each year and takes place in June. It celebrates St Enda, the Patron Saint of Inishmore. During these 3 days, the local families compete in games such as Tug-of-war, currach races (Irish boats), sandcastle contests, etc.
- The Worm Hole is one of the venues for the Red Bull World Cliff Diving Series.
Day trip to Inis Mór – Cycling FAQ
ARE YOU ON PINTEREST?
What about saving this post to your Pinterest board?
Click on the photo to save this blog post for later. Follow Travel Ireland Today’s boards to see our latest pins.
I help you explore Ireland like a local with insider tips, detailed itineraries, and practical advice.
HEY THERE! I’M JEN…
… a French native who moved to Dublin over 10 years ago. I made it my mission to explore every corner of this incredible island—and share all the best spots with you!
Before calling Ireland home, I spent years backpacking around the globe, visiting 60+ countries and ticking off all seven continents. Along the way, I discovered my love for hiking, photography, and crafting budget-friendly itineraries that make every trip unforgettable.
Through this website, I share the best things to do and see in Ireland, detailed hiking guides, and practical tips to help you plan your perfect Irish adventure. Let’s make your trip unforgettable!
Really enjoyed reading about your day trip guide to Inishmore; it was both informative and captivating! I’m planning my visit soon, and I’m just curious about the bike rental options on the island. Are there plenty of bikes available, or is it advisable to book in advance, especially during peak travel seasons?
Thanks for such a detailed guide—it’s made planning much easier!