Our group of four is going to be spending 3 nights in Galway this summer (mid-July) and we were interested in doing a day trip to either the Cliffs OR the Aran Islands... or both?
We're not huge on super rigid group tours, but would be open to something along those lines if it's the best/easiest way to see these sites!
Is there enough at the Aran Islands to make it worth a day trip? Should we try to hit both or just one?
Thank you so much!
Galway isn't that far from the cliffs. I don't know if you will have vehicle, because if you do, I would recommend you just drive to the cliffs. The cliffs are a MUST SEE in my book. I loved them. I went with a tour from Dublin and was sorry that I only had 2 hours to roam around and explore them. I would have loved to have had the luxury of spending a whole day there. I didn't go to the Aran Islands, but have heard so many good things about them. I've also heard good things about taking a boat trip under the cliffs to see them from the water. Maybe look at viator.com and look at the day trips and see if you can find one that will work for your group for the cliffs.
We enjoyed the boat tour of the Cliffs. I think we drove there from Ballyvaughn.
The Aran Islands are well worth the trip. You can book a shuttle bus that takes you to the ferry from Galway. Once you arrive on the islands, there are lots of local tour guides with vans; just walk up and if they have room, you're in. Each van is a small group, and the guides are interesting. I was with a local whose van read "From Boats to Goats." The guide had fished as a young man, but switched to raising goats and making cheese as well as tour guiding. He stopped several times to chat with neighbors who were congratulating him on having just won a prize for his cheese in an all-Ireland competition. It was fun talking with him about growing up on the island.
I enjoyed the Cliffs as well, but I had a car and spent a day visiting there and other spots before driving to Galway for the evening, so I can't say what a tour would be like.
A few years back we took a bus to the Cliffs, recommended to us by our B&B hostess. Our driver was excellent - he made several stops for us to wander around a castle and we had lunch in Doolin. This wasn't a tour - it was transportation to and from the Cliffs. I think we had plenty of time for meandering and exploring and the bus was large and comfortable (onboard restroom!) This was pretty much an all day excursion.
As for the Aran Islands, if you can, by all means go! A local guide can show you the hidden gems. This is also pretty much an all day trip too.
Second & third the Aran Islands. The Cliffs - spectacular, but you get to a massive tourist park, you go thru the massive visitor center, you walk to the views with masses of people, you take pictures, you're done. Versus taking a ferry to an island - by definition a place apart, by implication a place special - & instantly meeting locals to rent a bike or driver, traveling thru countryside & vistas & evocative evidence of life & history. And Dun Aengus, one of Europe's most stupendous prehistoric sites. Go!
Edit - should read "you get to a massive parking lot." No theme park!
Last July, I visited the Cliffs and, separately, one of the Aran Islands, without organized tours, and without any crowds except for immediately around the Cliffs' visitor center. Both places are beautiful. There are some tours that cover both in one day but that might be rushed.
The main point I'd like to share is that the Cliffs of Moher is more than the visitor center. The cliffwalk offers miles of wonderful views of the water below on one side of the path and farmland and/or Burren landscape on the the other, for about 5 miles north of the visitor center to Doolin and about 3 miles south to Hagshead. Bus Eireann stops near where the trail starts in Doolin and again at the visitor center. A local shuttle bus also stops near the Doolin point, at the visitor center, and at the Hagshead parking lot on the other end. You can walk one segment and then catch a bus, or just walk a while and head back. The only part I saw crowds was for about maybe 1/4 mile closest to the visitor center.
I took a day trip that included the Cliffs from above and then the ferry. I felt it gave us enough time to see a bit while we were there. There was also a horse cart ride once on the island. Our bus driver was so funny and a good driver. What more could you ask for. If you would like the name of the tour, please let me know. He also stopped at beautiful spots along the way.
