Only one free day? · Day trip from Dublin
Cliffs of Moher or Giant's Causeway?
| Field | Cliffs of Moher | Giant's Causeway |
|---|---|---|
| Travel time | 4 h by road, each way; no direct public transport | – |
| Transport | Tour coach only | Tour coach, or 2 trains + bus |
| Self-guided | – | € 35 |
| Tour | € 75 | € 80 |
| Time needed | 12–13 h | 12.50–14 h |
| Closed | None | None (coastline open dawn to dusk; visitor centre 09:00-17:00) |
| Best time | May-Sep for light and visibility; cliffs open 08:00-19:00 in Oct, 09:00-17:00 Nov-Feb | Apr-Sep for long evenings; early or late in the day to avoid coach groups |
| Verdict | Only with a tour | Better to sleep there |
Our verdict
Cliffs of Moher, unless you want Belfast too.
Both are coach days of 12 hours or more and neither works on your own. Pick the Cliffs of Moher: € 75 against € 80, entry to the visitor centre is included, you are back by 19:30 and no border is involved. The Causeway tour runs 12.5 hours, returns as late as 20:30 and some passports need a UK ETA. Choose the Causeway if you care more about geology than height, or if 1 h 30 in Belfast matters to you. With two days, sleep in Belfast instead and see both the city and the stones.
Last checked: · Train times from Irish Rail timetables, bus times from St Kevin's Bus; opening days and prices from each attraction's official site.