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Major city · Ireland

Inishbofin IslandInis Bó Finne

Go for one night, two at most: the ferry gives you about five hours ashore, so a day trip works but misses the dark skies and empty evening walks.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (storms and ferry cancellations)
Airports
NOC · SNN · DUB
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • Ireland ↗Ireland is in the EU but not in the Schengen area; it sets its own entry rules and a Schengen visa is not valid for Ireland. Check Irish immigration for your passport.
  • Ireland ↗Ireland and the UK form the Common Travel Area, with no routine checks on the land border. Visitors who are not Irish or British must still meet UK rules (including the UK ETA where it applies) to enter Northern Ireland.
  • Ireland ↗Driving is on the left; rural roads are narrow with hedges and few passing places.

Inishbofin is a low, treeless island 8 km off Connemara, 5.5 km by 3 km, with 184 residents and no cars allowed over. The ferry from Cleggan takes 30 min. Walk or cycle everywhere, sleep one night, and treat it as a slow stop between Clifden and Galway rather than a sightseeing checklist.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Inishbofin Island, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or tea in a café€3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Street or quick mealSoup and sandwich€9–14 (≈ US$11–17)
  • BeerPint of stout in a hotel bar€5.50–7 (≈ US$7–9)
  • Metro or bus rideIndian meal from the bus near Murray'sMay–Sep, 12:30–17:00€12–18 (≈ US$14–25)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–20 (≈ US$12–25)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person€25 (≈ US$30)
  • Mid-range bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room€140 (≈ US$170)
  • High-end bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room€170 (≈ US$200)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €60 (≈ US$70) · Mid €100 (≈ US$120) · High €160 (≈ US$190)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Cromwell's Barracks star fortSt Colmán's monastic siteDark skies and seal coloniesQuiet beaches and walking
Airports
NOC Ireland West Airport Knock (About 2 h by road to Cleggan; check car hire before booking.) · SNN Shannon (About 2 h 30 min by road to Cleggan.) · DUB Dublin (About 4 h by road to Cleggan; bus and rail via Galway take longer.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Inishbofin Island: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

8°C

3°C

20 rd

Feb

8°C

3°C

17 rd

Mar

9°C

4°C

18 rd

Apr

11°C

5°C

15 rd

May

14°C

7°C

14 rd

Jun

16°C

10°C

13 rd

Jul

17°C

12°C

15 rd

Aug

17°C

12°C

16 rd

Sep

16°C

11°C

16 rd

Oct

13°C

8°C

19 rd

Nov

10°C

6°C

20 rd

Dec

9°C

4°C

20 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Walk or cycle. No cars come over on the ferry; park at Cleggan. Bike hire sits by the pier. Hotels and B&Bs usually meet arrivals at the pier. The island is small enough to cross on foot in a couple of hours.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Inishark

caution

Door to door: Half a day

No ferry; occasional boat trips from the island

Uninhabited since 1960, no harbour; only go with a local boat operator.

Inishlyon

go

Door to door: 1–2 h

Walk across the tidal strand from the east coast

Tidal: check the strand before crossing; the connecting beach is eroding.

Inishturk

skip

Door to door: Separate trip

Ferry from Roonagh on the Mayo mainland, not from Inishbofin

Visible 10 km northeast but not linked by boat from here.

Clifden

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Ferry to Cleggan, then road

The natural next stop on the way to Galway.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Pier and village

Steps from the ferry, grocery and most eating; best for one night with bags.

North beach (Bay Cottage side)

Quieter, a 15–20 min walk from the pier.

South end near the airstrip

Peaceful B&Bs; 20–25 min walk to the village.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€60–90 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
Mid
€90–140 (≈ US$110–170) excl. bed
High
€140 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
B&B or hotel double room1 × 1 night × €140€140
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €100€200
Ferry Cleggan ↔ Inishbofin, return2 × €30 · check€60
Bike hire, one day2 × €20 · check€40
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15 · The island has no mobile signal; wifi at your accommodation.€30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€47
Trip total≈ €259 per person per day, bed included€517≈ US$650

2026 estimate in euro; ferry and travel to Cleggan excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or tea in a café€3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Soup and sandwich€9–14 (≈ US$11–17)
Pint of stout in a hotel bar€5.50–7 (≈ US$7–9)
Indian meal from the bus near Murray'sMay–Sep, 12:30–17:00€12–18 (≈ US$14–25)
Bofin Grocery basicsOpen daily noon–17:00€2–8 (≈ US$3–10)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–20 (≈ US$12–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe for tourists: the real risks are weather, tide races in the channel and the lack of mobile signal. Tell someone your walking plan and carry a waterproof.
  • No mobile signal from any carrier as of May 2025; rely on accommodation wifi.
  • The ferry is foot-passenger only and can be cancelled by Atlantic weather: build a spare day into your plan.
  • The island airstrip is closed and marked with X marks; no private aircraft may use it.
  • The graveyard at St Colmán's is deep in nettles: wear long trousers.
  • Bofin Grocery closes mid-afternoon; buy what you need before it shuts.

Emergency numbers

Emergency (police, fire, ambulance, coast guard)
112
Emergency (alternative)
999
Irish Coast Guard
112 or 999 and ask for the coast guard

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Inishbofin IslandInis Bó Finne

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Chuig an seoladh seo, le do thoilTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Emergency (police, fire, ambulance, coast guard)112
  • Emergency (alternative)999
  • Irish Coast Guard112 or 999 and ask for the coast guard

Embassy

No embassies on the island; the US Embassy is in Dublin and most countries' embassies are in Dublin.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Ferry Cleggan → Inishbofin: about €15 (≈ US$18) each way, 30 min (check)
  • Bike hire by the pier: about €20 (≈ US$25) a day (check)
  • Taxi Cleggan → Clifden: about €25–35 (≈ US$30–45) (check)

Say or show

  • Dia duit — Hello (jeea gwit)
  • Go raibh maith agat — Thank you (guh rev mah agut)
  • Le do thoil — Please (leh duh hull)
  • Cá bhfuil an ché? — Where is the pier? (kaw will an khay)
  • Cé mhéad é? — How much is it? (kay vade ay)
  • Sláinte — Cheers (slawn-cha)

No mobile signal on the island as of May 2025: save this card offline.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Inishbofin Island. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (storms and ferry cancellations) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry-to-bed contract for Cleggan: last sailing field-checked, parking fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: pier and village, Port Island and Cromwell's Barracks, St Colmán's, Dún Gráinne and Dún Mór.
  3. Place pages with verified access notes (Cromwell's Barracks, St Colmán's, Dún Gráinne, Dún Mór) and eat pages with seasonal opening months.
  4. Storm and cancellation fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Ireland

Sources