Cliffs of Moher from Dublin, a Private Day Trip

There are views you’ve seen in photographs a hundred times, and then there’s standing on the Cliffs of Moher as the Atlantic booms against the rocks 214 metres below. Nothing quite prepares you for it. It’s no surprise this is the day trip from Dublin our guests ask about most.

Here’s what you need to know to plan it well.

How far are the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin?

The cliffs are on the west coast in County Clare, about three to three and a half hours’ drive from Dublin each way. That makes it a long day, around thirteen to fourteen hours door to door, but a very doable one, especially when you’re not the one driving.

Coach tour or private tour?

Both will get you there, and both have their place.

Coach tours are the budget option. They’re sociable and well organised, but they leave early from a central meeting point, run to a fixed timetable and stop where the schedule says. When fifty people arrive at the cliffs at the same moment, so do the crowds.

A private tour starts at your hotel door and runs on your clock. Linger at the cliffs while the light changes, take the long lunch, skip the souvenir shop or add a detour you’ve spotted on the map. For families and small groups, sharing one car with your own chauffeur is often far more relaxing, and every seat is a window seat.

Our day, hour by hour

This is the shape of our private Cliffs of Moher tour from Dublin. Every part of it can change to suit you.

• 07:00. Collection from your hotel and the drive west through the middle of Ireland.
• 10:30. The Cliffs of Moher. Walk to O’Brien’s Tower for the classic view and explore the visitor experience.
• 12:30. Lunch in Doolin or Liscannor. Gus O’Connor’s and Vaughan’s Anchor Inn are both local favourites.
• 13:30. Dunguaire Castle, a 16th-century tower house on the edge of Galway Bay.
• 14:30. Galway. The Spanish Arch, Quay Street, the cathedral and Eyre Square, with about an hour and a half to explore.
• 16:30. The scenic drive back to Dublin.

Entrance fees for this day are included, along with your private car and chauffeur.

Tips for the perfect day at the cliffs

• Dress for every season. The weather on the Atlantic coast changes fast. Bring layers and a waterproof, even in summer.
• Stay on the paths. The cliff edges are unfenced in places and the wind can be strong. The views are just as good from behind the barriers.
• Go early or late. Late morning and early afternoon are busiest. Arriving earlier, or staying on into the afternoon, means more space and softer light.
• Leave room for Galway. The city is at its liveliest in the afternoon, with street musicians on Shop Street and Quay Street.

Want more than a day?

If you have the time, the cliffs are the perfect start to a longer journey along the Wild Atlantic Way. Stay a night in Clare or Galway and carry on to Connemara, or head south towards Kerry, with the same chauffeur the whole way.

Plan your day at the cliffs and we’ll come back with a personal quote.