Day trip from Dublin Cliffs of Moher
Sea cliffs on the Clare coast, on the far side of Ireland from Dublin, about 4 hours away by road each way.
Is Cliffs of Moher worth a day trip from Dublin?
Only with a tour. Long day.
Only with a coach tour. No train or direct bus runs from Dublin to the cliffs, and the official site puts the drive at about 4 hours each way. The standard tour leaves the Molly Malone statue at 06:50 and drops you on Dame Street around 19:30. That is close to 13 hours out, most of it on the coach, for one stop at the cliffs and one in Galway. Entry is included in the € 75. The catch is the weather: Atlantic fog can hide the cliffs completely and nobody refunds you for it. Check the forecast before you book.
The decision sheet
- Travel time
- 4 hby road, each way; no direct public transport · one way · Cliffs of Moher Experience
- Transport
- Tour coach only
- Self-guided cost
- Not verified yet
- Tour price
- From € 75Civitatis catalogue
- Time needed
- 12–13 hDaytripo editorial
- Closed days
- None
- Best time
- May-Sep for light and visibility; cliffs open 08:00-19:00 in Oct, 09:00-17:00 Nov-FebDaytripo editorial
- Verdict
- Only with a tourDaytripo editorial
What to see and do in Cliffs of Moher
- 01
O'Brien's Tower
A stone viewing tower built in 1835 near the highest point of the cliffs. It is a 10-minute walk on the paved path from the visitor centre, with the widest view north.
- 02
South platform
The paved path south of the visitor centre looks along the cliff line towards Hag's Head. Allow 20 minutes there and back. From April to July, look down for puffins on Goat Island.
- 03
Visitor centre exhibition
The building is set into the hillside so it does not break the skyline. The displays on geology and seabirds take 30 minutes and give you somewhere to wait out a shower.
- 04
The Burren
The coach stops for a short walk on bare limestone pavement, cracked into slabs, with the Atlantic beside the road. It needs shoes with grip, above all after rain.
- 05
Galway stop
Free time in the city centre on the way back. It is enough for Shop Street, Quay Street and the Spanish Arch on foot, but too short for a sit-down dinner.
How to spend the day
Be at the Molly Malone statue on Suffolk Street by 06:40 for the 06:50 departure. The coach crosses the country and reaches the cliffs late morning. Walk the paved path to O'Brien's Tower first, then the visitor centre. Lunch is a pub stop in Fanore, followed by a short walk in the Burren and free time in Galway. Expect to be back on Dame Street at about 19:30. Do not book dinner before 20:30.
Cliffs of Moher in summer and in winter
Summer
June to AugustFrom May to August the site stays open until 21:00, but your coach arrives late morning, inside the 11:00-16:00 peak. Expect a full path and a wait at O'Brien's Tower. Days are long, so the Galway stop and the drive home are in daylight. Fog and sea mist still happen in July. Bring a windproof layer even if Dublin is warm.
Winter
December to FebruaryFrom November to February the cliffs open 09:00-17:00 and the sun sets soon after 16:00 in December. The tour still runs daily, with the Galway stop and the drive back in the dark. Wind is stronger and cloud sits lower, so the chance of seeing nothing is higher. Go only with a clear forecast for County Clare.
How crowded it gets
Very busy- Busiest
- May-Sep, 11:00-16:00, when the coaches are in
- Quietest
- Nov-Mar; before 11:00 or after 16:00 if you drive
On the tour you cannot choose your hour, so use your feet. Most people stop at the first platform. Walk 10 minutes further along the paved path in either direction and the crowd thins quickly.
How do you get to Cliffs of Moher from Dublin?
Organized tour
- Travel time
- About 13 hours door to door
- Frequency
- Daily
- Cost
- From € 75
- Departs from
- Molly Malone statue, Suffolk Street
Coach leaves at 06:50 and returns to Dame Street around 19:30. Entry to the visitor centre is included, food is not. The day also covers Fanore, the Burren and Galway, so the cliffs are one stop among four.
Car
- Travel time
- About 4 hours each way
- Cost
- € 15 per adult at the gate
- Departs from
- Dublin city centre
The official site quotes about 4 hours from Dublin via Limerick. That is 8 hours of driving for one stop, so only do it as part of a longer west coast trip. Online tickets booked ahead cost less than the € 15 gate rate.
Practical: clothes, food and money
What to wear
Windproof and waterproof jacket in every month, with a warm layer under it. Flat shoes with grip for wet flagstones and the Burren limestone. Umbrellas are useless in the wind, so bring a hood.
What to eat
Lunch is a pub stop in Fanore at your own cost, typically soup, seafood chowder, sandwiches or fish and chips. The visitor centre has cafes for a hot drink. Pack breakfast and snacks for the coach: you leave at 06:50 and eat late.
What you will spend
The € 75 tour covers the coach and entry to the visitor centre, so food is the only extra. If you drive, the gate rate is € 15 per adult and online tickets booked ahead cost less. The paths, O'Brien's Tower and parking come with admission.
How to get the most out of the day
- Check the Met Éireann forecast for County Clare the evening before, not the Dublin one. The two coasts often have opposite weather.
- Stay on the paved official path. The cliff edge beyond the site boundary is unfenced and sections of the coastal trail have been closed for safety.
- Charge your phone and bring a battery pack. Thirteen hours of photos and maps will drain it before the Galway stop.
- The visitor centre lends binoculars free of charge, which helps for spotting puffins and the Aran Islands on a clear day.
How long do you need in Cliffs of Moher?
Plan 12–13 h on site, plus 4 h of travel each way from Dublin.
When is Cliffs of Moher closed?
None. Best time: May-Sep for light and visibility; cliffs open 08:00-19:00 in Oct, 09:00-17:00 Nov-Feb.