http://www.visitaranislands.com/

http://homepage.eircom.net/~domainnames/home.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aran_Islands

http://www.galway.net/galwayguide/visit/aran/

Ferries:

http://www.aranislandferries.com/

www.arandirect.com/index.php?ref=Adwords

Fly :

http://www.aerarannislands.ie/

The bus ride from Galway takes an hour, and the crossing about 45 minutes. You may buy a combined ticket (ferry + bus) at many locations in Galway: you can hardly walk 200 feet without hitting a publicity advertising one of the tour companies!

My suggestion, if you can afford the time: give Inis Mor (Inishmore), the biggest one, and the closest to mainland Ireland, at least an overnight stay, if possible during the week. Being there at night, when all the busy daytrippers are gone, is a special experience. 4 youth hostels, and plenty of B&Bs in Kilronan, where you arrive. Upon arrival, you may rent a bike (EUR 10 per day), take a tour in a small horse-driven carriage, get on one of the many mini-buses there will be by the pier, or simply walk. I have walked 7 hours straight when I went there, and did not even see everything!

If you cannot possibly stay for the night, you are going to be rushed, since the tours typically will let you arrive around noon, and the last ferry departure is at 5PM (so you are back in Galway at 6:30 or so), it means little time left to truly enjoy the island, and no other choice than taking a mini-bus tour, and rush rush rush. A sin, to rush on such a beautiful island, such a great place to just wander around.

It is totally worth it - JUST GO!!!

We were there in June and flew there via Aran Airlines. It was a 10 minute flight and worked out well for us,(not that expensive) as we had just missed the ferry and the next one was hours later. We live on an island and utilize ferries all the time so the ferry experience was not essential for us. If we hadn't flown, we wouldn't have been able to make the trip at all.

I also agree with the last poster, I would have loved to have spend more time there, but even if you can't spend the night, do visit. It was enchanting.

Thanks for the replies. Do you think it is better to take a bus tour of the island or can you walk??? We won't be able to spend the night there so it sounds like it is going to be really rushed if the ferry leaves at 5:00. Do you know if any of the ferries leave any later than 5:00? Thanks for all of your suggestions. I always wanted to go there.

They really have it down to a science there, catering to the folks coming off the ferries. If you take the first boat you'll have plenty of time to hit the highlights of the island before your departure. Not sure if there's a boat back after 5:00, but I'm sure a google will take care of that for you.

Once there, you have options of a mini-van tour, riding in a juanting (pony) cart, renting a bicycle, or of course walking. But walking isn't going to get you too far in the somewhat limited time that you have. As soon as you get off the boat you'll be surrounded by folks offering their services for the vaious options.

I've done bicycle rentals, it's about 4 miles out to the Dun Aengus Fort which is one of the highlights of any visit. I also did the pony cart thing but I got a biz queasy on it to tell the truth.

eklamerus, we took the ferry from doolin...it leaves at 9:30 and you can spend the entire day, or the night as others said....

we did inisheer this time, and it is my favorite....but....if you are a shop-aholic it wouldn't be for you...

there are no shops, no atm machines, no cars....3 pubs, i small store and tons of beauty....

we hired the "pope-mobile" from stephen for like 10 euros and he took us around the entire island...then we just walked around, visited with some of the locals, saw the ruins, (now that's a good tough walk) sat in a pub (imagine that), had a great meal, then went back on the 5:00...it was wonderful....

i want to go back and stay overnight.....

eklaremus: as mentioned in one of the ferry websites I gave you:

http://www.arandirect.com/times.php

last departure from Inis Mor at 5PM.

So if there is no way you could spend the night there (too bad!!) and you really want to see something, you have 2 options: a mini-bus tour, OR : you fly rather than use the ferry, so you would have more time to yourself on this beautiful island.

Walking is the luxury only overnight stayers can afford ...

Just a few more comments on our experience flying to the island:

Cost was Euro 45 round trip per adult, at the airport there was a shuttle to town :Euro 5 per person. Then you had the option of a small van tour for Euro 10, which was great. Took you to the main sites and thedriver/guide was very entertaining. No need to pre book for shuttle or tour. You can't miss them.

Thanks everyone for all of your replies. I really appreciate your help. Any good ideas for restaurants to eat at on the bigger island.? Also, how long would the bus ride take to get to the fort on the island? How much do you tip the tour drivers? There are 4 of us. Thanks.

hmmm I hope lislandlady will better help you for these. I ate at B&B when I was there. From what I remember, there aren't that many restaurants on the island. I know you may eat at the hotel in Kilronan (the only real village on the island, where you arrive. Elsewhere: only hamlets), and at the pub, but apart from that ... I do not know.

There really isn't much in the way of memorable food on Inishmor, kind of a captive audience thing ya know? Basic pub grub, couple of restaurants, "nothing to write home about but you won't starve" is about the most I can rate it. I can't recall the names of the places, but trust me, Kilronan is not a big place, you can't miss 'em!

The minibus tour takes you out the fort (Dun Aengus) and leaves you there with time to climb up to see it and wander around the craft shops and tea room at the bottom of the hill. Then you meet back up with them at a prearranged time.

Like any other tour, you can tip a couple of euro at the end.