Aran Islands And Cliffs of Moher In A Day (2024)

Last Updated on March 13, 2024 by Nicole

If you have read any of my previous blogs about our 10 day road trip in Ireland, you will already know that I packed a lot into our Ireland itinerary. I was so curious to see as much of the country as I could. However, I am not one that enjoys blowing through beautiful sites or amazing experiences just to cross them off an invisible check list of “Yes, saw that. Time to get going!” I much prefer to savour the scenery or the experience and prioritize what is a “must see” or a “have to come back another time” moment. Accordingly, when we spent only one day exploring Inis Oirr, one of the Aran Islands, and the Cliffs of Moher, was this enough? Or rather, was I disappointed because we ended rushing through this beautiful and unique part of the world?

It was definitely enough.

Did we see everything? No, but we saw a lot and more importantly, felt relaxed and enjoyed every moment.

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Our Ireland And Northern Ireland Experiences

We spent 10 days exploring Ireland and Northern Ireland on a road trip. We started in Dublin, headed to Northern Ireland, and then, scooted to the other side of the Island to the County Donegal and the Cliffs of Slieve League.

After that, we went to the Aran Islands, saw the Cliffs of Moher, went to Limerick, then to Kilkenny, and back to Dublin. We saw some extraordinary scenery, hiked on beautiful cliffs, and had some amazing experiences.

For more information about our 10 day trip, please see:

• Best And Worst Most Popular Dublin Attractions With Teens;
• Belfast City Break With Teens: An Action Packed Itinerary;
• Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge and Giant’s Causeway: A Spectacular Day Trip;
• The Essential Guide To The Startling Beauty of Slieve League in Ireland;
• Kilkenny With Teens: An Exciting 2 Day Itinerary.

Overview Of Our Day On The Aran Islands And Cliffs Of Moher

This was a fantastic day. We started in Galway, a bucket list destination, and spent the morning and early afternoon on the Aran Islands. In the mid to late afternoon, we cruised below the Cliffs of Moher and then, explored further on foot from the pathways above. At the end of the day, we headed to Limerick for the night.

It was easy, relaxing and filled with amazing encounters with delightful Irishmen. Quite frankly, I wouldn’t have changed a thing (well, except maybe the afternoonweather). Here’s how we did it.

Galway To Aran Islands Ferry at Doolin

We stayed in Galway the night before, got up early and self drove 1 1/2 hours to Doolin to pick up our Aran Islands ferry. We could have picked up a ferry to the Aran Islands from Galway. However, we were not returning to Galway that night, but instead spending the night in Limerick.

Limerick was just over an hour from Doolin. We stayed at No. 1 Pery Square. For a detailed review of our stay at this beautiful small boutique hotel, please scroll down to the end of this article.

If you have more time or would like to avoid driving, I would definitely do the Aran Islands tour with the Cliffs of Moher cruise from Galway. For advanced tickets to this very popular tour, please click here.

If you would like to see the Aran Islands, cruise under the Cliffs of Moher, or explore the Cliffs of Moher on foot, but are staying in Dublin, you can also take this easy full day tour.

Drive from Galway to Doolin

Like most of our Ireland road trip, the drive to Doolin from Galway was effortless and mostly along pretty and narrow country roads. We purchased our ferry tickets online a couple months before our trip. Accordingly, upon arrival in Doolin, we headed to the large parking lot next to the harbour and waited for our boat.

Doolin

However, if you have extra time, Doolin would be a lovely spot to spend time exploring. Doolin is a small village with a bustling but quaint harbour. It is known as a gateway to the Aran Islands, but the town itself offers lots to visitors.

Doolin has shops selling Irish crafts, pubs featuring lots of traditional Irish music and a rugged and dramatic coast beckoning you to explore. The Cliffs of Moher lie southwest of Doolin, only a 10 minute drive away.

Aran Islands

The Aran Islands are comprised of 3 islands – Inis Oirr, Inis Meain, and Inis Mor. Depending on the speed of the boat and the weather, they are between 30 to 50 minutes from Doolin. All of the Aran Islands are strongly rooted in Irish history and culture. In fact, unlike most of Ireland, their first language is Irish, not English.

Inis Oirr – The smallest of the Aran Islands

Inis Oirr (Inisheer) is 3km by 3km wide and the smallest of the Aran islands. It resembles the Burren with its limestone rock and their striking mix of colour. In addition, you can easily see the Cliffs of Moher from its shores. The island is mostly small hills and little valleys that are easily covered by foot or by bike.

Inis Oirr feels like an isolated fishing village with pristine white sandy beaches, crystal waters and plenty of fishing boats. In addition, Inis Oirr offers ancient castles, a shipwreck, a lighthouse, and several pubs, cafes and shops, all within easy reach of the port and main village.

Inis Meain – The least visited of the Aran Islands

Inis Meain is where you’ll find an authentic escape from the modern world and a close connection to Irish culture and tradition. With a population of 200 people, it is the least visited of the three islands. This island has a hilly landscape and features crystal clear views of the Cliffs of Moher.

Inis Mor – The most popular of the Aran Islands

Inis Mór (Inishmore) means “Big Island”, is the largest, the farthest and most visited of the Aran Islands. The population of Inis Mór is around 900 people and it is approximately 14 km by 3.8 km in size. There are over 50 different monuments of Christian, pre Christian and Celtic mythological heritage scattered all over, in addition to beautiful untouched beaches and a rugged landscape.

Doolin to Inis Oirr and Cliffs of Moher

We booked a combo tour through Doolin 2 Aran Ferries to go to Inis Oirr and then, on the return, cruise under the Cliffs of Moher. We loved the idea of being able to explore one of the Aran Islands and then, get a unique perspective of the Cliffs of Moher before walking along them.

The tour options offered by Doolin 2 Aran Ferries were excellent. We could leave Doolin at 10:00 am, 11:00 am or 1:00 pm, and depart Inis Oirr at 1:45pm or 3:45 pm. Accordingly, we had the choice of spending anywhere from a little over 5 hours exploring Inis Oirr or as little as 2 hours. We chose the latter. We left Doolin at 11:00 am and Inis Oirr at 1:45 pm.

Was This Enough Time to Explore Inis Oirr?

Yes, it was the perfect amount of time.

We arrived on Inis Oirr without a plan. I knew that upon arrival, we could rent bikes or explore on foot on our own. I also knew that we could take a guided tour by van or by horse and carriage. However, I really didn’t know what to expect and what we would feel like doing once we arrived.

Of course, the weather was going to be a huge factor in our decision. As always, we had no idea what the weather was going to be.

How We Explored Inis Oirr

Waiting at the dock of Inis Oirr is everything that you need to figure out how you want to spend your time. We saw dozens and dozens of bikes to rent, a dozen or so horse and carriages, and a couple of vans. We were greeted by dozens of locals politely offering their services, or offering directions.

Within a few feet of the port, we saw lots of pubs, food and craft stands, and little shops. Next to the port, we could see a beautiful beach and a large campground. Beyond the port, we could see lots of cute homes, a castle and fort high atop a hill, a huge modern playground, and a few more shops and pubs.

I couldn’t persuade my 3 kids (22, 16 and 14 years old) to ride bikes even though Inis Oirr was largely flat with small and gentle undulating hills. After looking around for 10 minutes, we ultimately decided to take a guided tour by a horse and carriage.

Guided Tour of Inis Oirr

This was a great decision. We hired our horse and carriage at the port. They charge on a per person basis for an hour. We had a lovely older gentleman, born and raised on Inis Oirr, as our guide with a thick Irish brogue to boot.

The scenery was rugged and dramatic. Except for homes scattered about, a couple of cars here and there, and a building or two, I felt like time had stopped around 200 years ago. Our guide told us that properties are never listed on the open market. Rather, they are either sub-divided within the family or are purchased by locals who wish to settle down in their own place.

We did a large circle and saw a lot of Inis Oirr. We all loved this tour. I think it showed us the beauty and the essence of the Aran Islands very well. 

For example, I was struck by how harsh the Atlantic Ocean pounded the rocky shores . Yet, it seemed like every day island life was oblivious to it, living and working mere steps away. The shores were harsh and dramatic, and yet within feet of the beach, beautiful green fields were everywhere.

Overall, in the unlikeliest of circumstances, it seemed like the people of Inis Oirr and nature had found a balance with each other and it was amazing to see.

At the end, our guide dropped us off near the port and we climbed up to explore the fort. I loved the views from there. We were able to see the whole island.

Lunch on Inis Oirr

After the fort, we walked back into town and had a wonderful relaxing lunch at the port. We browsed through some of the craft shops and stands, and waited for our 1:45 pm ferry to the Cliffs of Moher. By the time we left, we felt like we saw Inis Oirr and experienced a lot of what it had to offer.

Aran Islands To The Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher provide a stunning view across the Atlantic Ocean. They form a continuous rocky wall for 8km, varying in height from 407 to 700 feet (124m to 214m), broken into fantastic forms. At the waters edge, they tunnel into countless caves, carved over millions of years by the harsh pounding of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Cliffs of Moher are a protected area for seabirds with over 20 species represented. It welcomes over 30,000 breeding pairs annually and includes guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, peregrine falcons and the ever popular cute puffins.

The Cruise Under the Cliffs of Moher

We loaded our ferry and headed back to the mainland towards the Cliffs of Moher, a 20 minute ride. After that, we cruised for around 30 minutes underneath the Cliffs while the captain and crew explained the sights.

Unfortunately, the weather turned quite nasty. We found ourselves in a torrential downpour for the whole cruise. The Cliffs of Moher were certainly beautiful, and I loved seeing them from below. However, the weather prevented us from spotting any puffins or being able to see some of the dramatic rock formations.

Exploring The Cliffs of Moher On Foot

After the cruise, we drove 10 minutes to the Cliffs of Moher. We had hoped to spend a couple of hours walking along the Cliffs and spending time in the Visitors Centre. However, the weather was particularly horrible.

We spent a little bit of time there, but ultimately chose to head to our hotel in Limerick for our night’s stay a lot sooner than we had planned. Hopefully, you will have better weather and will be able to enjoy what looked like spectacularly beautiful views.

Accommodation in Limerick 

No. 1 Pery Square hotel was a lovely hotel in the centre of Limerick. It had the feel of a bed and breakfast but with the advantages of a hotel a few stories tall. 

It had large cosy rooms, a beautiful bar and a pretty breakfast room. Like most of Ireland, breakfast was included in our stay and it was the best breakfast that we had during our whole 10 stay in Ireland.

Everything was homemade, from jams to honey, baked goods and sausage. It was mouthwatering and to die for! I’d stay again and recommend it to anyone looking for an upscale accommodation a reasonable drive from the Cliffs of Moher.

Tips Before Arriving

• Purchase your tickets for the tour before arriving in Ireland. There are limited ferries and crossings. It would be unfortunate for you to miss this beautiful part of the world because tickets have sold out.
• There is lots of parking at the harbour if you choose to go to Doolin to start your cruise.
• Wear layers and bring rain gear. We experienced every kind of weather during our Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher tours and nothing was predictable.

Tips For The Cruise To Inis Oirr

• The boats are pretty large and spacious but they fill them to capacity.
• The upper part of the boat is uncovered. It is a beautiful way to cross the Atlantic to Inis Oirr and see the Cliffs of Moher. The lower part of the boat is largely covered with bench seating and large windows. There is a small space at the rear of the boat to stand outside, but with hardly any seats.
• The boat does not work well with extreme weather. On our way to Inis Oirr from Doolin, it was beautifully sunny. Luckily, we were one of the first ones on the boat and managed to snag seats on top out in the open. However, most people were not as lucky and ended up having to sit inside and down below. On the flip side, on the way from Inis Oirr to cruise under the Cliffs of Moher, the weather turned ugly. It began to rain hard and everyone flocked to the lower cabin. However, there wasn’t enough seats and the windows fogged up. It wasn’t the best way to see the Cliffs of Moher.
• Lining up and loading onto the ferries was chaotic. There wasn’t a clear place to line up in Doolin or Inis Oirr. When the ferry from Doolin arrived in Inis Oirr, a huge crowd surged towards the gangplank to be first and secure the seats they wanted. It was disorganized and frustrating.

Tips for Inis Oirr

• Inis Oirr is tiny. You do not need a lot of time to explore and also, have a lovely meal there.
• Do not feel rushed to make a decision about how you wish to explore the island if you are traveling with moody companions (aka teenagers). We did not have a plan before we arrived and took our time deciding what we should do even after arriving.
• Bring cash for the horse and carriage tour. We used a credit card for lunch, but only cash was accepted for the tour.

Last Word

On our Ireland road trip, I wanted to see the Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher. I was thrilled to find a way to see both of them in one day in a way that didn’t feel rushed or incomplete.

We accomplished that with our time spent in Inis Oirr, the cruise under the Cliffs of Moher, and finally, walking along the Cliffs. If you want to see it all in a relaxing and authentic way, I’d highly recommend duplicating our day.

If you wish to avoid driving, then start and finish your tour in Galway or even in Dublin.

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