Getting to Aran Islands (Inis Mór)
How to reach Aran Islands (Inis Mór) by train, ferry, plane, bus, car, or bicycle.
Train
There is no railway on Inis Mór, and none is possible; it is an island reached only by sea or air. The nearest railway station is Galway (Ceannt Station) on the mainland, with direct trains from Dublin Heuston and connections beyond. From Galway, continue to the island by the ferry company's shuttle bus to Rossaveal and then the ferry, or by road to Doolin, Co. Clare, for the seasonal crossing. Anyone arriving by train should plan to break the journey at Galway and cover the rest by bus and boat.
- Nearest Station
- Galway (Ceannt Station), about 37 km from the Rossaveal ferry terminal, then the shuttle bus and ferry to reach Inis Mór
- Connections
- Galway has direct trains to Dublin Heuston, with onward connections across the network
- Onward
- Aran Island Ferries shuttle bus from Galway city to Rossaveal, then the ferry; or road/coach to Doolin, Co. Clare for the seasonal Doolin Ferry Co. crossing
Tips
- •There is no station anywhere on the island; treat Galway as the rail gateway and the ferry as the last leg.
- •Check the Irish Rail timetable to Galway and the ferry company's shuttle bus and sailing times together.
- •If travelling via Doolin instead, the nearest station is Ennis, Co. Clare, with a further road transfer to Doolin.
Ferry
The ferry is how almost everyone reaches Inis Mór, and it is worth treating as the town's front door rather than an afterthought. Aran Island Ferries sails year-round from Ros a' Mhíl (Rossaveal) on the Connemara coast, a 40-minute crossing, with a shuttle bus connecting Galway city to the Rossaveal terminal. Doolin Ferry Co. runs a faster, 35-minute crossing from Doolin, Co. Clare, but only in season, roughly late February to early November; it does not run in deep winter. Both operators sell tickets online, and both are weather-dependent: sailings can be delayed or cancelled in poor conditions, more often in autumn and winter, so build slack into any travel plan around a crossing.
- Rossaveal
- Aran Island Ferries, Ros a' Mhíl (Rossaveal), Co. Galway. Year-round. Crossing time about 40 minutes. Winter: 1 sailing daily; expands through spring to up to 4 sailings daily at the July-August peak.
- Doolin
- Doolin Ferry Co., Doolin, Co. Clare. Seasonal only, roughly late February to early November (2 sailings daily off-peak, 3 daily April-August). Crossing time about 35 minutes, the fastest of the two routes.
- Fare
- Aran Island Ferries adult return c.€34, child (5-12) return c.€17, under-5s free but must be pre-booked. For Doolin Ferry Co. fares, check doolinferry.com.
- Galway Shuttle
- Aran Island Ferries runs its own shuttle bus from Victoria Place in Galway city to the Rossaveal terminal, about 50 minutes, booked with the ferry ticket and required at least 12 hours ahead.
Tips
- •Book online in advance in summer; sailings can sell out on a fine day.
- •The Doolin crossing does not run in winter; from November to February, Rossaveal is the only sea route to the island.
- •Both routes are weather-dependent; check the operator's live status before travelling, especially outside summer.
- •If cycling on, confirm the operator currently carries bikes and any surcharge.
Inter-Island Flight
Aer Árann Islands flies short hops from Connemara Airport, near Indreabhán on the Connemara mainland, out to Inis Mór's own airstrip at Cill Éinne, a genuine alternative to the ferry and sometimes the only way across when the sea is too rough for a crossing. It runs several times a day, more in summer, and is a working lifeline service for islanders as much as a visitor novelty. Flights, like ferries, can be affected by weather.
- Departure
- Connemara Airport (NNR), Indreabhán, Co. Galway
- Frequency
- Up to 4 flights daily in summer (Mon-Sat), fewer on Sundays and in winter
- Fare
- Adult single c.€30, return c.€55; child, student and senior fares available; confirm current prices
Tips
- •Useful as a backup when ferries are cancelled for weather, though flights can also be affected by weather.
- •Book directly with Aer Árann Islands; seats are limited on the small aircraft used.
- •A short flight rather than a scenic tour, though the island views on a clear day are a genuine bonus.
Bus (to the ferry terminal)
There is no scheduled public bus service on Inis Mór itself. The bus that matters is the mainland connector: Aran Island Ferries' own shuttle bus from Galway city to the Rossaveal ferry terminal, which most visitors without a car use to reach the boat. Bus Éireann also serves Galway city itself from around the country, so the practical route for most visitors is train or coach to Galway, then the ferry company's shuttle bus to Rossaveal, then the ferry.
- On Island
- No scheduled public bus service operates on Inis Mór; getting around the island itself is by bike, minibus tour, pony-trap or on foot (see bicycle and the island's tour operators).
- To Rossaveal
- Aran Island Ferries shuttle bus from Victoria Place, Galway city, to Rossaveal, about 50 minutes, booked with the ferry ticket.
- To Galway
- Bus Éireann and other coach operators serve Galway city from Dublin, Cork, Limerick and elsewhere; from Galway, continue via the ferry company's shuttle bus.
Tips
- •Book the Galway-to-Rossaveal shuttle bus together with your ferry ticket, at least 12 hours ahead.
- •There is no local bus once you are on the island; plan on a hired bike, a tour operator or walking.
- •Bicycles are not carried on the Galway-Rossaveal shuttle bus; hire on the island instead if you do not want to bring your own on the ferry.
Driving
Very few visitors bring a car to Inis Mór, and it is not really necessary: the island is small, has minimal traffic, and is comfortably covered by bike, minibus tour or pony-trap from Cill Rónáin. Most visitors drive only as far as Rossaveal or Doolin and leave the car in the ferry terminal car park before crossing on foot. There is no confirmed car-hire operator based on the island itself.
- To Rossaveal
- Rossaveal ferry terminal is about 37 km west of Galway city on the R336, roughly 45-50 minutes' drive
- To Doolin
- Doolin is about 75 km from Shannon Airport and around an hour's drive via Ennis and the Cliffs of Moher coast road
- On Island
- Assume you will not have a car once on Inis Mór unless you bring your own by ferry
Tips
- •Park at the Rossaveal or Doolin ferry terminal car park rather than bringing a car across, unless you specifically need one on the island.
- •If you do bring a car on the ferry, confirm the current vehicle fare and space availability with the operator well ahead, since capacity for vehicles is limited.
- •Roads on the island itself are narrow, with dry-stone walls close to the edge in places; drive slowly if you do bring a car.
Cycling & Bike Hire
Cycling is the default way to get around Inis Mór, and it is genuinely comfortable: the island carries almost no motor traffic, the main coast road is largely flat to gently rolling, and bike-hire desks line the pier at Cill Rónáin waiting for arriving ferries. Aran Islands Bike Hire (Rothar Árann) is the long-established operator at the harbour, with e-bikes available for anyone who wants to flatten the effort on the roughly 16 km round trip to Dún Aonghasa and back. Wind, not hills, is the main physical challenge, since the island is fully exposed to the Atlantic.
- Hire
- Multiple bike-hire desks at Kilronan pier, including Aran Islands Bike Hire (Rothar Árann); standard and e-bikes available
- Terrain
- Largely flat to gently rolling; the main challenge is wind rather than climbing
- Routes
- The single coast road from Kilronan to Dún Aonghasa and on to the Seven Churches is the main route; side tracks lead to Dún Dúchathair and Poll na bPéist
Tips
- •Reserve a bike ahead in peak summer if you want to guarantee one on arrival; hire desks can run low on a busy day.
- •An e-bike is worth the extra cost if you want energy left for the walk up to Dún Aonghasa itself.
- •Bring or wear a proper windproof layer; the coast road has no shelter from the Atlantic wind.
From the Airport
Live options for reaching the village from the nearest airports. Times and fares are a guide and can change with traffic or operator schedules.
Shannon AirportSNN
75 km away- Duration
- ~1 hour to Doolin, plus a 35-minute seasonal ferry crossing
- Cost
- Fuel and parking, or car hire, plus the Doolin Ferry Co. fare
Shannon Airport is the nearest international airport to the Doolin crossing, via Ennis and the Cliffs of Moher coast road. This route only works when the seasonal Doolin Ferry Co. service is running, roughly late February to early November; in winter, route via Galway and Rossaveal instead.
- Duration
- ~35 minutes
- Cost
- Confirm current fare with Doolin Ferry Co.
The fastest sea crossing to Inis Mór, but seasonal only; does not run in deep winter.
Operator: Doolin Ferry Co.
Ireland West Airport KnockNOC
90 km away- Duration
- ~1 hour 45 minutes to Galway/Rossaveal area
- Cost
- Fuel and parking, or car hire, plus the ferry fare
Ireland West Airport Knock is a smaller regional airport with UK and some European routes; onward travel is via Galway city and the Rossaveal ferry, which runs year-round, making this the more reliable winter option compared with the seasonal Doolin crossing.
- Duration
- ~40 minutes
- Cost
- Adult return c.€34; confirm current fare
The year-round route to Inis Mór, with a connecting shuttle bus available from Galway city to the Rossaveal terminal.
Operator: Aran Island Ferries
Connemara AirportNNR
20 km away- Duration
- A short flight, typically minutes rather than an hour
- Cost
- Adult single c.€30, return c.€55; confirm current fares
A working lifeline air service from Connemara Airport near Indreabhán straight to Inis Mór's own airstrip at Cill Éinne, useful year-round and especially as a backup when ferries are cancelled for weather. Not an international airport; reach Connemara Airport itself by road from Galway city.
Operator: Aer Árann Islands
Leap Card
The Leap Card, Ireland's national reusable transport card, is not accepted by either Aran Island Ferries or Doolin Ferry Co.; both are private ferry operators with their own ticketing. It is useful only for the mainland legs of a journey, such as Bus Éireann services into Galway city, not for the ferry, the shuttle bus to Rossaveal, or the inter-island flight.
- Cost
- €5 for the card plus top-up
- Savings
- Cheaper than cash on eligible Bus Éireann and city services
- Where To Get
- Spar, Centra, Londis and online, on the mainland; not sold or usable on the island itself
Parking
Parking options in and around Aran Islands (Inis Mór). On busy weekends, arriving early is recommended.
Kilronan pier area and Dún Aonghasa car park
Confirm current Dún Aonghasa car park rate locally; OPW admission is separate. Very few visitors bring a car to Inis Mór; almost everyone arrives on foot from the ferry and hires a bike, joins a minibus or trap, or walks. There is a car park at the Dún Aonghasa visitor centre for the small number of vehicles on the island. Street parking around Kilronan pier is informal.
Planning the wider trip?
Our country-level primer covers national rail, intercity buses, airports, the Leap Card, and whether you actually need a hire car for your trip around Ireland.
Getting Around Ireland →