Cliffs of Moher and O'Brien's Tower
2 hAll ages; fenced areas, accessible with a pushchairAll year
Viewpoint · 2 h · adult from €15 at the ticket desk, less online · 214 m above the Atlantic and 3.5 km of safe paths
From €15
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From Dublin2 h 10–2 h 30 by train
MoherFrom €15 at the ticket desk
Tour from Dublin12–13 h, from €75
Aran Islands40 min by ferry from Rossaveel
Best timeMay · Jun · Sep
Overall difficultyEasy
What to do
What to do in Galway and the Cliffs of Moher
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Day trip from Dublin to Moher, the Burren and Galway
12 h 40Adults and teenagers; a very long day for small childrenAll year, daily departures
Day trip · 12–13 h · adult from €75 · two hours at the cliffs with entry included and two in Galway
From €75
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A day on Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands
8 hAll agesAll year from Rossaveel; depending on sea conditions
Ferry · full day · return €34 + €10 bus from Galway · 40 minutes by boat from Rossaveel
From €34
Book
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Plan the trip
Galway and the Cliffs of Moher, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Galway and the Cliffs of Moher
From April to June and in September, with long days and calmer seas for the islands. In July and August there are festivals and lots of people at Moher between 11:00 and 16:00. In winter it gets dark early, storms cancel ferries and the day trip from Dublin ends almost in the dark.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Galway and the Cliffs of Moher your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
Fly to Dublin and take the train to the west coast
For Galway and Moher, the usual way from Spain is to fly to Dublin, with direct flights from many cities, and cross the country by train (a little over two hours from Heuston) or by hire car (about two and a half hours on the M6 motorway). If you only have one day, the coach tour from Dublin does Moher and Galway and returns in the evening.
- Getting thereDublin Airport (DUB): Dublin Express…
- Getting aroundOn foot in Galway
- Where to sleepThe House Hotel, for the…
- ServicesGalway Ceannt station
Getting there
- Dublin Airport (DUB): Dublin Express to Heuston station
- Irish Rail Intercity from Heuston to Galway Ceannt
Getting around
- On foot in Galway
- Hire car for Moher and the Burren at your own pace
- Ferry to the Aran Islands from Rossaveel
Where to sleep
- The House Hotel, for the first night in the centre
- The G Hotel, if you arrive by car
Services
- Galway Ceannt station
Train to Galway and day trips from there
Galway can be done without a car: train from Dublin Heuston in a little over two hours, the centre on foot, and from there a ferry to the Aran Islands and tours or a bus to the Cliffs of Moher. If you only have one day, the coach tour from Dublin takes you to Moher and Galway and brings you back in the evening.
100–180 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepThe House Hotel, in the…
- Getting aroundIntercity Dublin Heuston–Galway Ceannt
- Where to eatMcDonagh's, fish and chips since…
- ServicesGalway Ceannt station
Where to sleep
- The House Hotel, in the Latin Quarter
- Kinlay Hostel, next to Eyre Square and the station
Getting around
- Intercity Dublin Heuston–Galway Ceannt
- Ferry to Inis Mór with a bus from Victoria Place
- Day trip from Dublin to Moher and Galway, from €75
Where to eat
- McDonagh's, fish and chips since 1902
- Tigh Neachtain, at lunchtime
Services
- Galway Ceannt station
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Galway and the Cliffs of Moher for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Cliffs with a low wall, a boat and fish and chips
Galway and Moher work for families if you sleep there rather than doing it as a day trip from Dublin. The cliffs have fenced paths suitable for pushchairs, the boat to the Aran Islands is a 40-minute adventure, and everything in the centre is pedestrianised.
- What works bestCliffs of Moher, free for…
- Where to sleepThe House Hotel, in the…
- Where to eatMcDonagh's, fish and chips for…
- Worth knowingThe day trip from Dublin…
What works best
- Cliffs of Moher, free for under-12s with their parents
- Inis Mór, by bike or minibus up to the fort
- Latin Quarter, with musicians in the street
- City museum, free
Where to sleep
- The House Hotel, in the centre
- The G Hotel, if you are travelling by car
Where to eat
- McDonagh's, fish and chips for everyone
Worth knowing
- The day trip from Dublin is 12 or 13 hours
- At Moher, children should always stay inside the fenced area
- The ferry depends on the sea: have a plan B
What to do as a family
The edge of Europe and a city with music in the street
Galway is Ireland's young city, with a university, musicians on every corner and pubs with music sessions. The Cliffs of Moher and the fort of Dún Aonghasa, at the edge of the abyss on Inis Mór, are the kind of places you remember.
- What works bestCliffs of Moher, best at…
- Where to sleepKinlay Hostel, next to the…
- Where to eatMcDonagh's
- Worth knowingIn pubs, in the evening…
What works best
- Cliffs of Moher, best at sunset
- Inis Mór by bike
- Latin Quarter and Quay Street
- Day trip from Dublin, if time is tight
Where to sleep
- Kinlay Hostel, next to the station
- The House Hotel
Where to eat
- McDonagh's
- Tigh Neachtain at lunchtime
Worth knowing
- In pubs, in the evening, under-18s must be with an adult
- Wind and rain change fast on the coast
What to do with teenagers
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're flyingwithout a car
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
The House Hotel
Why we like it: Four-star boutique hotel on Spanish Parade, in the Latin Quarter, with 48 rooms, a café-bar and the Spanish Arch at the door.
Kinlay Hostel Galway
Why we like it: Hostel on Merchants Road, next to Eyre Square and two minutes from the train and bus station, with free breakfast.
The G Hotel & Spa
Why we like it: Design hotel with a thermal spa in Wellpark, on the edge of the centre, with the GEO restaurant and the Grand Salon for afternoon tea.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Galway and the Cliffs of Moher
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
McDonagh's
What to order: the fish and chips from the counter, or the seafood of the day in the restaurant.
Closed 24 to 26 December
Tigh Neachtain
What to order: the lunch of the day, from 12:00 to 16:00, and a pint in the afternoon.
Food at lunchtime only, from 12:00 to 16:00
Map
Everything on the map
The places to stay and services on the map are the ones for the way you travel. Turn on the layers you want and tap a point to see its details.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Nearby
Near Galway and the Cliffs of Moher
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Visit Moher off-peak
Before 11:00 or after 16:00: cheaper online and fewer people.
- 2Check the sea before going to Aran
Ferries are cancelled in stormy weather.
- 3Stay in Galway
The day trip from Dublin spends more hours on the coach than at the cliffs.
- 4Bring a windproof jacket
It is always windy at Moher and on the islands, even in summer.
Galway is the city of Ireland's west coast: small, full of students, with a pedestrian centre of colourful streets, street musicians and pubs with music sessions. From here you go to what many people travel to Ireland to see: the Cliffs of Moher, on the Clare coast, and the Aran Islands, with stone forts at the edge of the sea.
Can you do it in a day from Dublin?
Yes, but it is a long day. Coach tours leave Dublin before 7:00 and return after 19:30: two hours at Moher, two in Galway and the rest on the road. Wild Rover Tours charges €75 with entry to the cliffs included, and Paddywagon Tours has another from €75 (see the tour).
If you have time, stay two nights in Galway: one day for Moher and the Burren, another for Inis Mór, and the evenings for the Latin Quarter.
How do you get there?
- By train. Irish Rail Intercity from Dublin Heuston to Ceannt station, next to Eyre Square, in a little over two hours, with departures from 5:45.
- By car. About two and a half hours on the M6 motorway, from Dublin airport or from the city. Remember that you drive on the left.
How do you see the Cliffs of Moher?
The official site has a visitor centre and 3.5 km of safe paths; the ticket is valid for two hours from the booked time. Book online: it is cheaper, especially before 11:00 and after 16:00; at the ticket desk you pay €15 per adult. Under-12s go free with their parents. From Galway it takes around an hour and a half by car along the Burren coast. All the practical details are on the page for the Cliffs of Moher.
And the Aran Islands?
Inis Mór, the largest, is 40 minutes by ferry from Rossaveel, in Connemara; a bus takes you to the port from the centre of Galway. Return, €34 for the boat and €10 for the bus. On the island, take a bike or a minibus to the fort of Dún Aonghasa.
What to see in Galway
Walk down from Eyre Square along Shop Street and Quay Street to the Spanish Arch and the River Corrib, step into the city museum, which is free, and have fish and chips at McDonagh's, on Quay Street since 1902.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter the Cliffs of Moher?
At the ticket desk, €15 per adult, €12 students and seniors, €30 for a family. Online is cheaper, especially at off-peak times. Under-12s go free with their parents.
How long does it take to get from Dublin to Galway?
A little over two hours on the Intercity train from Heuston, and about two and a half hours by car.
Can you see the Cliffs of Moher in a day from Dublin?
Yes, on a coach tour of 12 or 13 hours, from €75.
How do I get to the Aran Islands?
By ferry from Rossaveel, about 40 minutes to Inis Mór, with a bus from the centre of Galway.
How many days do I need?
Two nights in Galway: one day for Moher and another for Inis Mór.