This is the Perfect Cliffs of Moher Day Trip From Galway

I’ve been doing this Cliffs of Moher day trip from Galway since the early 2000s and, bar a few tweaks over the years (including a great new coffee stop in the Burren), the route has remained largely unchanged.

It’s a straightforward 165km/103-mile loop that involves around 3 hours and 45 minutes of driving, much of it along the coast through the Burren – a vast limestone landscape formed from rock laid down more than 300 million years ago.

Along the way, you’ll take in castles, ancient ruins, beaches, coastal viewpoints and one of Europe’s largest stalactites before reaching the Cliffs of Moher.

Don’t have a car? Don’t worry! There are several excellent Cliffs of Moher tours from Galway City that make the journey nice and easy and there’s also the new public bus service – I’ll explain both of these, first, and then give you the driving itinerary.

Cliffs of Moher tours from Galway

If you don’t fancy driving, you’re in luck. Tour companies have been running the Galway to Cliffs of Moher route for years, and the majority of them have racked up excellent reviews.

There are plenty of tours to choose from, but the three below are the ones I’d weigh-up if I didn’t have a car.

1. Cliffs of Moher and Burren tour: €50

This 8.5-hour tour takes in Dunguaire Castle, Poulnabrone Dolmen and Doolin before giving you 1.5 hours at the Cliffs. It has 4.8/5 from 1,987+ reviews, with the Cliffs entrance fee and transport included.

2. Inis Oírr and Cliffs of Moher tour: €80

The most comprehensive option is this 10.5-hour tour that combines time on Inis Oírr with a cruise beneath the Cliffs followed by an hour exploring them from above. It has 4.8/5 from 3,625+ reviews and includes the ferry, bus transport and Cliffs admission.

3. Inis Mór and Cliffs of Moher cruise: €60

This one is completely different: you sail directly from Galway City rather than taking a bus. You’ll get 4.5 hours to explore Inis Mór before seeing the Cliffs from the water on the return journey. The 8.5-hour trip has 4.6/5 from 1,914+ reviews.

The public bus from Galway to the Cliffs of Moher

There’s also a bus from Galway to the Cliffs of Moher. I’ve created the comparison for you in the illustration above, but here’s what you need to know:

• The 350 bus: €27 return (€18.90 with Leap). Around 2 hours each way. Most frequent/flexible but it’s a long journey and no guaranteed seat
• The 351 bus: €18 return. Around 2 hours each way. Cheapest and follows the scenic Burren coast but there’s only 4 full-route services each way
• The Express bus: €50 return. Pre-booked seat, direct journey, admission included and 2 hours at the Cliffs

Galway to Cliffs of Moher day trip itinerary

This is a full-day road trip that takes you from Galway, around the coast of the Burren and down to the Cliffs of Moher, with plenty to see along the way.

I’ve done this route more times than I can count, and the itinerary below follows the stops I’d make, in the order I’d tackle them.

1. Dunguaire Castle

The first stop is Dunguaire Castle, around a 40-minute drive from Galway City and just before you reach Kinvara.

Built by the O’Hynes clan in 1520, this 16th-century tower house sits right on Galway Bay and is one of the most photographed castles in this corner of Ireland.

It was later bought and restored by writer and surgeon Oliver St. John Gogarty in 1924, who hosted figures like W.B. Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and Lady Gregory here.

As you approach Kinvara, you’ll see the castle on your right. Don’t turn in when you first see it. Keep driving past the castle and you’ll reach the car park shortly after (see my illustration above).

For this itinerary, I’d allow around 20 minutes to park up, walk over and have a nose around outside.

2. Fuel up at Hazel Mountain Chocolate

Hazel Mountain Chocolate is around a 12-minute drive from Dunguaire Castle, tucked away near Bellharbour on the edge of the Burren.

The place itself isn’t new, but it was new to me when I stumbled across it while doing this Cliffs of Moher from Galway day trip a few years back.

It’s been making chocolate here since 2014 and, unusually, the entire bean-to-bar process is carried out on site. You can have a look into the open-plan factory without booking, but I’d mainly use this as a coffee and sweet-treat stop before getting stuck into the Burren.

There’s a café with indoor and outdoor seating, with coffee, hot chocolate, pastries and cakes on offer. One thing to note: it’s card only, and the café currently opens Wednesday to Sunday.

3. Corcomroe Abbey

Just 5 minutes from Hazel Mountain Chocolate, Corcomroe Abbey is one of the few places to visit in Clare that tends to fly under the radar.

The abbey dates to the early 13th century and was built from local limestone by the Cistercians. Keep an eye out for the stone carvings inside and the tomb of Conor O’Brien, King of Thomond, who was defeated in battle nearby in 1268.

It’s now a National Monument and, unlike many historic sites, it’s a good option for anyone with limited mobility, as you can drive right up close to the ruins. You don’t need long here. I’d allow 20 minutes for a wander before continuing towards Ballyvaughan and the coast.

4. Ballyvaughan

Ballyvaughan is a 10-minute drive from Corcomroe Abbey and sits right on Galway Bay, at the northern edge of the Burren. It’s a great little village to base yourself in when exploring the area, but there’s not a huge amount to see in the village itself.

You could pull in at the pier for a quick look (here on Maps), and there are some excellent places to eat, like Monk’s, if you’re after an early lunch.

I always tend to stop at the Centra just as you come into Ballyvaughan to grab a bottle of water. Right next door is Soda Parlour, a quirky little café where you can pick up coffee, smoothies, matcha and more before starting the coastal stretch of the drive.

5. The Pinnacle Well

Continue along the coast for around 5 minutes and you’ll come to one of the more unusual roadside sights in the Burren – the Pinnacle Well, one of the more unusual stops between Galway and the Cliffs of Moher.

It’ll be on your left and, thanks to its elaborate Gothic-style stone structure, it’s hard to miss. The well itself is a natural spring, while the structure around it dates to the 1860s and was most likely built as an ornamental folly.

There are a couple of small spaces to pull in, both just before and after the well – take your time and only stop when it’s safe to do so (here’s the location on Maps).

6. Black Head Lighthouse

I used to recommend stopping at Black Head Lighthouse, but after my latest attempt to pull in here this past summer, I’ve actively started telling people to give it a miss.

There are very few places to stop safely (see my illustration above). Some involve reversing into tight spaces, while others are rough enough that I’d be wary of damaging a tyre.

The lighthouse isn’t worth taking the risk for. You won’t miss out on the scenery, either. This stretch of the R477 is excellent. Keep an eye to your right for An Spidéal before the road bends around Black Head.

From here, Galway Bay opens up and, if you’ve landed a clear day, you’ll see the Aran Islands sitting out in the distance.

7. Fanore Beach

Fanore Beach is the next stop on this Cliffs of Moher from Galway day trip and you’ll find it around 8 minutes further along the coast. This is a great spot to get out of the car and stretch the legs.

There’s a large car park beside the beach and, outside of busy summer days, I’ve generally found it easy enough to get a space.

The beach itself is backed by the limestone hills of the Burren, so even a quick stroll here is worthwhile. On a fine summer’s day, you’ll often see surfers from Aloha Surf School out tackling the waves.

A little note of warning: I went for a swim here the summer before last and there were heaps of jellyfish in the water, so if you’re tempted to take a dip, keep an eye out before jumping in.

8. Fanore Lookout

Around 5 minutes after leaving Fanore Beach, take this turn left and follow the narrow road uphill to Fanore Viewpoint. A word of warning before you do.

The road is steep and narrow, with very few places to pull in if you meet another car, so I’d only tackle it if you’re comfortable driving on small Irish roads.

There’s space to stop when you reach the viewpoint at the top, where you’ll get a great eyeful of the Burren and the Clare coast below. Then, turn around and drive back down the same way.

For me, the descent is the best part. As the road drops towards the R477, the Atlantic opens up directly ahead of you and the views are outstanding.

9. Doolin Cave

Doolin Cave is one of the more memorable stops between Galway and the Cliffs of Moher. It’s around 15 minutes from the viewpoint and this is the first stop on the route that you’ll need to allow a decent chunk of time for. The big draw is the Great Stalactite.

At 7.3 metres long, it’s the largest free-hanging stalactite in Europe and you’ll see it during a guided tour that takes you more than 200 feet underground.

The tour involves descending around 125 steps, so keep that in mind if mobility is an issue. I’d also book ahead during summer, rather than arriving and hoping for a space. If you’re tight on time, this is one I’d skip. If you have the guts of an hour to spare, it’s well worth doing.

10. Lunch in Doolin

Doolin is only around 5 minutes from the cave and, by this stage of the drive, it’s a good place to stop for lunch. I tend to go to McDermott’s

It’s been run by the same family since 1876 and the menu covers the usual pub favourites, with Irish stew, fish and chips, soup and plenty more. The other reason I recommend it on this route is purely practical.

There’s a large car park right beside the pub, so you can pull in, get fed and get back on the road without any messing around.

Gus O’Connor’s on Fisher Street is another good option, particularly if you want to see Doolin’s most colourful little corner, but parking around here is much more limited.

11. The Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are around 10 minutes from Doolin. When you arrive, the main car park is across the road from the visitor centre, and admission starts at €8 per adult when booked online.

Your ticket includes parking along with access to O’Brien’s Tower, the exhibition, toilets and the 800 metres of paved paths and viewing areas.

Now, if you only want to see the Cliffs and don’t care about the visitor facilities, you could drop your passengers off (ONLY WHERE SAFE TO DO SO!!) before entering the car park and only the driver needs to buy admission.

The Cliffs themselves aren’t ticketed. They stretch for 13km and reach 214 metres near O’Brien’s Tower, which was built in 1835. Give yourself at least 1.5 hours here and stay well back from the unguarded edges.

12. Lisdoonvarna

Your Galway to the Cliffs of Moher itinerary starts to loop back at this point. Head for Lisdoonvarna – it’s around 15 minutes from the Cliffs and, unless you’re ready for another food stop, I wouldn’t spend much time here on this itinerary.

The village is famous for the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival, which has been running for more than 160 years. Every September, thousands descend on the otherwise quiet village for several weeks of music, dancing and, as the name suggests, matchmaking.

If you’re hungry, The Roadside Tavern is the place I’d stop. It’s a long-running pub with its own microbrewery, live music and a good food offering. Realistically, though, you’ll probably still be full from lunch in Doolin, so I’d keep moving.

13. Corkscrew Hill

Around 15 minutes from Lisdoonvarna, you’ll reach Corkscrew Hill, a steep section of the N67 that twists its way through the Burren via four tight hairpin bends. The road was built as part of a Famine Relief Scheme during the Great Famine, between 1845 and 1851.

Although it’s nowhere near as tough a drive as Conor Pass on the Dingle Peninsula, take your time here, particularly on the bends, as you’ll regularly meet buses coming in the opposite direction.

There’s a pull-in viewpoint near the top of the hill that’s worth stopping at. From here, you’re looking across a glacial valley surrounded by the Burren’s limestone hills, with Galway Bay visible in the distance on a clear day.

After that, it’s back towards Galway. From Corkscrew Hill, you’ve roughly 50 minutes of driving left to the city.

14. Back to Galway City

Your Cliffs of Moher day trip from Galway comes to an end, but there’s plenty to look forward to this evening.

If you’ve yet to decide on accommodation, my map above will give you the lay of the land. It’s taken from my guide on where to stay in Galway which is well worth a read.

Food in Galway

Food-wise, Dela is my go-to for brunch, Kirwan’s for seafood and Cava Bodega for tapas. For something quick and casual, The Dough Bros does excellent pizza, while Handsome Burger is one of the best places to eat in Galway if you’re after, you guessed it, a burger!

Pubs in Galway

There are some mighty pubs in Galway. My two favourites are The Crane, especially for live music, and Tig Chóilí. I’d also make time for Tigh Neachtain, particularly if you can nab one of the outdoor seats facing the Latin Quarter.

Different day trips

There’s a clatter of day trips from Galway that you can tackle, from short spins to the likes of Cong (45 minutes each way), to much longer day trips to the likes of Achill Island. It all depends on how long you want to spend in the car.