How long is the ferry ride from Galway to Aran Islands?
The Aran IslandsDepending on which island you visit, the ferry journey is approximately 40-minutes from Rossaveel, Connemara and 90-minutes from Galway City.
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The Doolin Express Ferry is the fastest crossing to the Aran Islands, reaching Inis Oirr in only 15 minutes! This ferry has state of the art anti sea sickness technology, Wifi, and a Mini Bar on board providing the ultimate comfort for our passengers.
Out of the 3 main islands, Inis Mor (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.
If one were to do a walked loop of the entire island it would probably take an entire day (roughly 16km ) as the island is 8km long. Walking on the Aran Islands is one of the most popular activities. With miles and miles of small thin roads criss crossing each other most people just venture out and explore.
We recommend bringing a camera, comfortable shoes, a good rain jacket, sun screen (it's Ireland but you never know!) and a little cash. Some businesses on the island do not accept card or have a minimum-spend policy in place.
Please note – it is not possible to bring your car over to the Aran islands, as the ferry services do not allow for this. Vehicles can be left at the ports and the airport before boarding.
Inis Mor is noted for it's sandy sheltered beaches and interesting shorelines. On Inis Mór there is a blue flag beach at Cill Mhuirbhigh which is safe for swimming. During summer this beach is popular and as such has on duty life guards so ensure the safety of swimmers.
Location of the Aran IslandsThey are located about 48 km from Galway City, however they are only 8 km from Doolin Pier, Doolin, Co. Clare. Inis Oirr (Inisheer) is the closest Island to Doolin.
The population of 1,347 (as of 2022) primarily speak Irish, the language of local placenames, making the islands a part of the Gaeltacht. Most islanders are also fluent or proficient in English. The population has steadily declined from around 3,500 in 1841.
The three islands are namely Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer of which Inishmore is the largest and Inisheer is the smallest. These islands are home to a population of approximately 1,200 people who use Irish and English as their prime languages.
Several operators are available to take you on an island tour in a comfortable bus. Tours operate from Kilronan pier, where passengers disembark from the ferry. Once onboard, sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery while you're listening to tales of Inis Mór from ancient history right up to modern-day life.