Heading to Ireland and want to visit the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin?
Excellent choice!
Leave the city behind to appreciate a day in the beautiful Irish landscape and absorb the remarkable views it has to offer.
It’s no wonder that this world famous attraction was voted Ireland’s favorite visitor attraction of 2019.
It’s straightforward – you cannot take a vacation to Ireland without taking the time to visit the Cliffs of Moher.
JUMP TO:
- Where Are The Cliffs of Moher?
- Cliffs of Moher in Films
- How to Visit the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin
- Cliffs of Moher Day Trips
- Hotels Near the Cliffs of Moher
The cliffs stand at 702ft tall at their highest point and have stood for over 350 million years.
Everytime I visit, I’m always astounded at the sheer extent and breathtaking beauty of this place.
The cliffs are situated within a special protected area, which means there are over 20 different species of seabirds to spot.
The name for the cliffs comes from a ruined promontory fort called “Mothar”.
This fort was destroyed during the 1800s in the Napoleonic wars.
Where Are The Cliffs of Moher?
The Cliffs of Moher are situated on Ireland’s west coast on the Atlantic Ocean.
From Dublin, the cliffs are just over a 3 hour drive away.
Definitely achievable in one day!
Located in County Clare, the closest village is Liscannor and the nearest airport is Shannon International Airport.
The nearest cities are Limerick, Galway and Cork.
Cliffs of Moher in Films
With a dramatic landscape such as you’ll find at the Cliffs of Moher, it’s no surprise that it’s been used in some major films.
One of my all-time favorite films were shot here: “The Princess Bride”.
The infamous ‘Cliffs of Insanity’!
If you haven’t seen this film, I urge you to watch it.
Another film you can see the Cliffs of Moher play a starring role is in “Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince”.
You can envision why the filmmakers wanted to include these iconic cliffs in their films.
The magic of them radiates on and off screen.
How to Visit the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin
The Cliffs of Moher are easily accessible by many means of transport.
When visiting, allow at least 2 hours to fully immerse yourself and experience the natural attractions this area has to offer.
If you plan to visit in the months of July and August, please note that this is peak season for the attraction.
Particularly during the hours of 11am – 4pm is the busiest time at the cliffs.
There are four main ways to visit this natural wonder:
By Car
The most popular option to visit this area is by car.
It gives you a lot more freedom and as I will mention below, it’s best to stay overnight in one of the local villages or towns to really experience the region.
The best way to do this is to hire a car in Dublin.
And it’s extremely affordable as well.
In the city centre, you can hire a car from:
To find the best deal from all of these suppliers and more, check out TravelSupermarket.
I’ve always found some great arrangements on here and it works just as well as going directly to the car rental companies themselves.
An obvious note to affix here is that most rental companies in Ireland (and Europe in general for that matter) tend to have mainly manual cars, not automatics.
You can hire automatics but typically at a premium price.
So make sure you are comfortable driving a stick shift!
When you arrive to the Cliffs of Moher, you can park in the main car park which is situated on the opposite side of the road from the visitors centre.
By Bus
All of the public transport options make doing this trip in one day a little complex.
It can take upwards of 5 hours to make this journey one-way.
Not optimal for one day, but this method can be used if you’re staying longer.
Public transport is an impressive way to take in the stunning views without the annoyance of driving.
The two preferred routes you can take are:
VIA CITY OF GALWAY
| BUS NUMBER | BUS COMPANY | FROM | TO | RETURN TICKET | JOURNEY TIME |
| 720 | GoBus | Dublin | Galway | €20/$22 | 2h 30m |
| 350 | Bus Éireann | Galway | Cliffs of Moher | €31/$34 | 2h 15m |
| TOTAL | €51/$56 | 4h 45m | |||
VIA ENNIS
| BUS NUMBER | BUS COMPANY | FROM | TO | RETURN TICKET | JOURNEY TIME |
| 300 | Dublin Coach | Dublin | Ennis | €30/$33 | 3h 30m |
| 350 | Bus Éireann | Ennis | Cliffs of Moher | €22/$24 | 0h 50m |
| TOTAL | €52/$57 | 4h 20m | |||
So you can see, it is possible to make this journey via public bus but it would be very difficult to do it in one day.
If you only have one day, I would recommend looking at tour operators that offer day trips from Dublin.
By Train
Again, it is viable to reach the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin by train but it’s a long journey and a hard one to do in one day.
But if you are organizing to stay longer than one day, this is an excellent way to travel!
The ideal route is to travel from Dublin to Ennis, but you will have to change trains once on this route in Limerick.
From Ennis, you can take the 350 bus detailed above.
| TRAIN/BUS | COMPANY | FROM | TO | RETURN TICKET | JOURNEY TIME |
| Train | Irish Rail | Dublin | Ennis | €28/$31 | 3h 15m |
| Bus #350 | Bus Éireann | Ennis | Cliffs of Moher | €22/$24 | 0h 50m |
| TOTAL | €50/$55 | 4h 05m | |||
By Tour
If you only want to spend a day visiting the wild Atlantic coast of Ireland, then your most accessible route is with a tour operator.
This doesn’t have to mean a large guided tour if that’s not your thing (I know it’s not mine).
But it will make the whole journey effortless with the bus journey dedicated to visiting the Cliffs, and other local landmarks.
Read on to see the best tour operators and the best day trips you can take from Dublin.
Cliffs of Moher Day Trips
1. Wild Rover Tours
Duration: 13 hours | Price from $61.92
This company are the proud winners of “Number 1 Tours in Ireland” and “6th Best Day Trip in the World” from TripAdvisor.
Very impressive accolades to have!
This is why these guys are my number one recommendation.
Not only will you get to visit the famous cliffs, you will also have the opportunity to frequent the Aran Islands and Galway Bay.
If you’re going to take any Cliffs of Moher tour, this is the one!
BOOK ON VIATOR2. Finn McCools Tours
Duration: 14 hours | Price from $61.92
Unlike other tours on offer, this tour provides a special stop at Kilmacduagh Abbey as well as a much needed stop at Burren National Park.
These tours are not only well organised but they’re amusing as well!
If you’re lucky, you may also be serenaded by a tour guide on your bus journey.
BOOK ON VIATOR3. Irish Day Tours
Duration: 13 hours | Price from $56.29
After exploring one of Ireland’s 7 wonders, you’ll be transported to the delightful village of Doolin.
Here you’ll get to experience a traditional pub meal with some of the finest food around on offer.
The day is well planned with enough stops to feel satisfied and not tired.
BOOK ON VIATORHotels Near the Cliffs of Moher
To make the most of your visit, I would highly recommend you spend the night in one of the nearby villages or towns.
This way, you can truly immerse yourself in Irish culture, heritage and of course – a cosy pub with traditional Irish music!
My top recommendations are:
1. Falls Hotel & Spa
Ennistymon | Prices from $102 per night
2. Doolin Inn
Doolin | Prices from $96 per night
3. Doolin View B&B
Doolin | Prices from $83 per night
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