Aran Islands pub tour from Galway: scenic flight & three pubs

The pubs on Inisheer outnumber the cars.

A 10-hour guided pub tour from Galway combines a scenic flight across Galway Bay to Inisheer, the smallest Aran Island, with visits to three island hostelries serving local seafood and craft ales, plus a final pub stop on the return to Galway. The tour runs March to October with a maximum of five travelers; pickup from Galway and return shuttle are included, and ferry transport replaces the flight if weather prevents flying.

Step-by-step itinerary

Scenic flight and pub tour on Aran Islands

• Travel from Galway to Connemara Airport
• Take scenic flight over Galway Bay
• Arrive on Inisheer Island
• Visit three local hostelries
• Meet locals and enjoy island atmosphere
• Fly back to Connemara Airport
• Return to Galway with pub stop at Tigh Chualain

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your Galway hotel and a shuttle to Connemara International Airport, where you meet your private guide for the short scenic flight across Galway Bay. The route passes over the Connemara coastline, the Cliffs of Moher, and the limestone landscape of all three Aran Islands before landing on Inisheer, the smallest of the three. The flight itself is the first part of the experience — commanding views of the bay and the islands' distinctive terrain frame what comes next.

Once on Inisheer, you visit three pubs on the island, each one a stop to eat, drink and meet locals. Fresh seafood and craft ales are the standard; tea and coffee with fresh scones arrive at one point during the day. You'll have ample time at each hostelry to settle in, talk to the people who live there, and soak in the atmosphere the island is known for — the same one that made it famous as the setting for the TV series Father Ted. The island itself gets a guided tour so you see more than just the pub interiors.

The return flight leaves Inisheer in the afternoon and lands back at Connemara. From there, the shuttle takes you toward Galway with one more stop: Tigh Chualain, a pub west of Spiddal, where the tour ends. If weather grounds the flights, the operator provides ferry transport instead or holds a later flight slot so the day still happens. The whole outing runs about 10 hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Return flight from Connemara International Airport.
• private guide on the island.
• island tour and three pub visits with vouchers.
• fresh seafood lunch and craft ales.
• tea and coffee with fresh scones.
• shuttle bus from Galway to the airport and back.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Ireland Wild Escapes

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private guide on the islands rather than a group tour, and you have a full day to combine a scenic flight, island walks, and unhurried pub stops without set timings at each location.

Top questions

What's the flight like from Galway to Inisheer?

The scenic flight crosses Galway Bay with views of the Connemara coastline, the Cliffs of Moher, and the limestone landscape of the three Aran Islands. It's a short hop from Connemara International Airport to Inisheer, and the same route back happens in the afternoon.

How many pubs do you visit on Inisheer?

You visit three pubs on the island itself, each one serving local seafood and craft ales. A fourth pub, Tigh Chualain west of Spiddal, is the final stop on the return shuttle to Galway.

What food and drink are included?

Fresh seafood lunch and craft ales are served at the island pubs; tea and coffee with fresh scones are also part of the day. The pubs are local establishments, so the menu reflects what's caught and made nearby.

What happens if the weather is too bad to fly?

If adverse weather grounds the flights, ferry transport replaces the flight, or you can wait for a later flight slot. Either way, the tour still runs and you still reach Inisheer.

Is this tour private, or will I be with other travelers?

The tour is privately guided with a maximum of five travelers, so the group stays small and your guide is dedicated to your party for the full day.

What's included in the price?

The return flight from Connemara, the private guide on Inisheer, the island tour, tea and coffee with scones, seafood lunch, craft beverages at the pubs, vouchers for the pubs, and the shuttle bus from Galway to the airport and back are all included.