The second most visited attraction in Ireland is not to be missed! Public transport is lacking to get to the Cliffs (or anywhere in Ireland in general). Your best options are to rent a car, or go on a bus tour. I opted for Paddywagon’s Day Trip from Dublin for €45 and wasn’t disappointed! Yes I’ve turned into a typical tourist on a giant green bus with a leprechaun on the side, but hey, I’m here to see this beautiful country and this was my best option – plus our driver Val kept us laughing and entertained the entire day! Here’s an itinerary and some tips for doing a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin.
Morning
Our tour started at Paddy’s Palace at 7:30am, right across the street from Connolly Station. After a couple hours of driving, the driver stopped for a 15min bathroom and snack/coffee break. Our next stop was in the town of Kinvara, at Dunguaire Castle. This was a 20min stop, with enough time to walk through the courtyard and around the castle for some pictures. It was first built in 1520 and is actually the most photographed castle on the west of Ireland.
The tour continued along the Wild Atlantic Way, an incredibly beautiful stretch of road along the west coast of Ireland. This road takes you through the Burren, a landscape filled with limestone formations, caves and fossils. The views along this road were some of the highlights of the day. Within the Burren we stopped for a bit at the “Mini Cliffs.” The road is narrow and winding with not many places for you to pull over for a photo. The inspiration for Middle Earth by Tolkien actually came from the Burren! If you rent a car, take the extra time to hike a bit in the Burren National Park, the landscape is unreal. You should also definitely continue further on the Wild Atlantic Way, we only did a short portion of it!
Afternoon
Our next stop was in the village Doolin for lunch. Lunch is not included in the price of the tour, and everyone is dropped off at the same restaurant with cafeteria type service. The food was reasonably priced and delicious, we were all impressed.
Finally! The time has arrived, 10min from Doolin are the Cliffs of Moher. We were given an hour and a half at the cliffs and the views did not disappoint. It was a rare sunny day in February, with hardly any people at the cliffs. The Cliffs are over 700ft tall, and 8km long! There is a beautiful coastal walk along the edge of the Cliffs if you have the time and rented a car.
Tips for seeing the Cliffs:
As per our driver’s instructions, when we reached the view point of the cliffs, we took the left turn and started our walk there. Eventually a sea stack will come into view, and O’Brien’s Tower. The left side boasts some beautiful views, but our driver recommended to spend more time on the trail on the right side of the view point; so we headed back.
We didn’t bother with the Visitor’s Centre, and spent all our time outside enjoying the breathtaking views. To visit the Cliffs and Visitor Centre (plus parking), an adult costs €8 during peak times of the day (11am-4pm), or only €4 in early morning or late afternoon (These prices were included in our tour). If you want to go to the top of O’Brien’s Tower, it is another €2 for adults. Unfortunately O’Brien’s Tower was undergoing restoration when we went.
Before going, I wasn’t sure if the Cliffs were a bit of a tourist trap and worth visiting or not, but I can confirm that the views are spectacular. There’s something about it that takes your breath away. A scene from Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was also filmed here! You can see the sea stack Harry and Dumbledore stood on in their hunt for the horcrux locket.
Evening
On the 3.5 hour drive back to Dublin, we stopped at Bunratty Castle for photos, bathroom break, snacks, and souvenir shopping. It’s a large tower, and while it was a neat stop, I wouldn’t say it’s worth doing if you’re in your own car. We arrived back in Dublin at around 7:30-8pm, just in time to grab some dinner.
When to see the Cliffs:
I’d highly recommend this tour, ESPECIALLY in the off season. In February there were less than 30 of us on the bus (compared to 60+) and hardly any other tour buses at the Cliffs creating a way more enjoyable experience. The downside of going in the off season though, is the weather. Don’t be fooled, weather like the day I went doesn’t happen too often. Even in summer, the cliffs can be shrouded in fog. Be prepared for rain and windy weather on any day, the weather can change dramatically here. If you are able to go with a car, make sure to go in the morning before all the tour buses visit!
Looking for a more unique experience for a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher? Consider going on a boat cruise! A friend of mine did, and her pictures of the cliffs at a different angle were stunning. The water can get rough out there though, so consider taking motion sickness medicine if you get sea sick at all!
Fun fact: The Cliffs of Moher are actually the SECOND highest sea cliffs in Ireland. The tallest are called Slieve League in County Donegal and still off the tourist map. If you have a car to get out there, I’ve heard it’s worth the trip!
Interested in more day trips in Ireland? Check out my post for my day trip to Blarney Castle or Northern Ireland from Dublin!
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