Cliffs Of Moher Day Trip (A Guide To Ireland’s Favourite Visitor Attraction)
Last Updated: November 1 2020
The famous Cliffs of Moher on the west coast of Ireland, truly are a sight to behold. They are a must-see for the best Ireland itinerary! If you are looking for an amazing experience then a Cliffs of Moher day trip is definitely for you!
In this blog post, we will go through the different options you have for your Cliffs of Moher day trip, saving you the time and effort! We will also include important information such as entrance fees, accommodation options located nearby and important things to take note of.
These beautiful cliffs had been on our bucket list for so long and it was such an incredible experience to finally tick them off! They are a must for any Ireland road trip itinerary so make sure you don’t miss out if you are travelling along the Wild Atlantic Way.
The perfect Cliffs of Moher day trip
In regards to the cliffs being a very popular tourist attraction, there is evidence to show that people travelled to see this beautiful sight even in the 16th century. 16th-century noblemen would travel around Europe, and then make a stop at the cliffs of Moher to take in its beauty.
These cliffs started forming over 300 million years ago, as a result of sand, silt and mud falling and compacting together. Due to this, the cliffs have different layers, which shows a different period of time.
We had the perfect Cliffs of Moher day trip, and we hope you will too! Without further ado, let’s get into all the information you will need to know!
Where Are The Cliffs Of Moher?
The Cliffs Of Moher are located in southwestern Ireland in County Clare. The cliffs are located on the Wild Atlantic Way which is Ireland’s spectacular coastal route that spans for 2,500km. Perfect for a road trip around Ireland!
The cliffs themselves run for 14km but the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre can be found near the small village of Liscannor. The visitor centre is worth a visit as you can learn about the history of the cliffs and get an insight into the effects of global warming on the area.
This area of the cliffs also has some coastal walkways where you can get amazing views of the cliffs and see plenty of wildlife! Definitely, a place where you can relax and spend a full day!
How to get to the Cliffs of Moher
There are many different ways you can get to the Cliffs of Moher, so here are your different options.
Driving to the Cliffs of Moher
Getting to the cliffs will depend on where you are staying in Ireland. We stayed in the wonderful town of Lettermullan which was a two and a half-hour drive away from the cliffs.
If you are travelling to the Cliffs of Moher from Galway, it is about a one and a half-hour drive. Heading from Galway gives you the chance to stop off at the beautiful Dunguaire Castle and see some incredible views of the Burren national park.
If you are planning to travel to the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin, you are in for quite a drive. It takes roughly 3 and a half hours to get to the cliffs from Ireland’s capital.
Cliffs of Moher boat tour
If you are looking to visit the Cliffs of Moher by boat, there are different options you can choose. Boat trips run from both Doolin and Liscannor which are located closeby.
These boat trips will give you a different perspective of these incredible cliffs. A one hour boat tour from Doolin costs around 15 euros for adults and 10 for children. You can check the tours and book them here.
It is also possible to do an Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher day trip. This means you can see two of Ireland’s popular sights on the same day.
Cliffs of Moher day tourÂ
If you are looking to do a Cliffs of Moher tour, there are plenty of destinations you can visit from. There are plenty of Cliffs of Moher day trips to choose from but we have included a few options for you here.
*(Some of these options are day trips to the Cliffs and some are 3-day tours as we know people have different preferences)*
If you are looking to do a Cliffs of Moher day trip from Galway, you can find some options here.
If you are looking to do a Cliffs of Moher day trip from Dublin, you can find options here.
If you are looking to do a Cliffs of Moher day trip from Killarney, you can find options here.
These are just some of the options available to you!
Important information for your Cliffs of Moher day trip
These cliffs are incredible and should be on any Ireland itinerary. However, there are some things to know when visiting the Cliffs of Moher.
- The coastal trail located on the cliffs has several high-risk areas. The local authorities advise to only walk on the main walkway of the cliffs. This is because some areas of the trail are unstable in areas which increases the chances of rockslides and landslides.
- Unfortunately, the cliffs are also known as a place where people come to jump. Due to this, the Samaritans have erected signs at this tourist destination for anybody who needs to talk.
- Some parts of the trails are unsuitable for children and dogs as there can be quite steep drops.
- Some areas are incredibly windy, so make sure you are sensible when walking along the cliff paths.
- When we visited the weather was beautiful, however, on a cold day, it is known to be bitter so make sure you bring some layers!
Cliffs of Moher entrance fee and when to visitÂ
The prices vary depending on what time you go and whether you book the tickets online. If you book your tickets online for between 8-10:59 am or 4 pm-close it costs 4 euro’s for adults and students. The peak time of 11-4 pm is generally more expensive.
If you decide to pay for your tickets at the gate, the price will be 6 euro for adults and 4 euro for students. Children under the age of 12 always go free which is always a bonus.
During the peak times of July and August, the cliffs can get pretty busy! If you are travelling during the busy periods give yourself plenty of time to get there. The roads are small and can get pretty busy too. Going early in the morning when the Cliffs open is also a good option.
Things to see on your Cliffs of Moher day trip
The Cliffs of Moher are a geological wonder and a destination that should be on any Ireland road trip. The first thing you will want to do is take a walk along the coastal path to see those amazing views! On a clear day, you can see Galway Bay, the Arran Islands and the Twelve Pins.
As a result of erosion, you can also get a look at all of the amazing stacks and some of the caves. One of the caves was actually in one of the Harry Potter films which is really cool.
The wildlife
These Cliffs are home to a wide range of wildlife. It is one of the best spots in Ireland for bird watching, with there being about 20 species found here. These include razorbills, guillemots and puffins. There is also a family of peregrine falcons that nest on the cliffs.
If you are really lucky during certain times of the year, you can even catch a glimpse of sunfish, whale sharks, seals and dolphins. As you can imagine seeing sunfish and whale sharks are rare, but if you are on a boat trip you have a good chance of seeing dolphins.
O’Brien’s Tower
O’Brien’s Tower was built in 1835 by Cornelius O’Brien who was descendent of the first King of Ireland.
It was built as an observation platform for visitors to the cliffs and has been restored many times over the years. From the main entrance to the cliffs, you will see it straight away to your right. Have a walk up to the tower as the views are insane.
The Cliffs of Moher visitor centre
The visitor centre is a must-visit for your Cliffs of Moher day trip! It is located to the right within the grass bunk itself. It is where you will find all the information about the history of these amazing cliffs.
There are sections about all the different types of wildlife you can find here, as well as the effects of global warming. It is important to see as the centre goes into detail about how global warming is increasing the rates at which the cliffs erode and how the wildlife are suffering at the hands of plastic.
You can also find restaurants and cafe’s here too, as well as some tourist shops. You can buy items such as traditional Irish clothing and novelty items.
Accommodation options near the Cliffs of Moher
There are plenty of places to stay that will give you easy access to the cliffs.
We stayed in a little cottage in Lettermullan, Connemara. It is further away than the likes of Galway but is incredibly peaceful and is a beautiful area of Ireland. If you want to check out where we stayed then you can have a look here.
Other places you can stay that are handy to visit the Cliffs of Moher are Galway and Doolin. Here are a few other accommodation options for you.
Galway
Jurys Inn Galway- £63 a night for a standard twin room in the heart of Galway City.
The Victoria Hotel- £61 a night for a double room in Galway city centre.
7 Cross St Boutique Townhouse- £71 a night for a double room and breakfast.
Doolin
Harvest Moon B&B- £64 a night for a family room with a garden view and breakfast.
Doolin Village Accommodation- £59 a night for a king room.
Cahermaclanchy House B&B- £50 a night for a deluxe double room and a ‘wonderful breakfast’.
Booking.com
Hopefully, our guide gives you all you need to plan a successful and enjoyable trip to The Cliffs of Moher. If there is anything you think we haven’t included then let us know and we can add it in to make the guide better.
Thanks for reading,
Happy Travelling,
Jack & Abbie
P.S. If you want to follow our journey, you can find our Instagram here.
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I’m one half of Acouplescalling. I'm passionate about all things travel and photography and I love sharing my experiences with others. I've seen a lot of the world already and I want to help as many people as I can do the same thing!
