Cliffs of Moher: Best Way to see Them, Map, Walks + Parking

The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare loom above the Atlantic Ocean, reaching a height of 702 feet and stretching for 13 kilometers from Doolin to near Liscannor.

With over 1.5 million visitors a year, they are the most popular tourist attraction in Ireland.

Located in the beautiful Burren region, the best way to see the Cliffs of Moher is, in my opinion, via one of the ferry tours from Doolin.

Below, you’ll find a map showing how to save a lot of money on parking along with the different walks.

Safety Note: Please, at all times, stay well clear of the cliff edge. It’s unguarded in many areas and there have been several recent tragedies.

Visiting the Cliffs of Moher

Although a visit to the Cliffs of Moher is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

The Cliffs of Moher are located on the west coast of Ireland in County Clare. The closest towns and villages are Liscannor and Doolin. You can get there:

• By car: The Cliffs of Moher parking area is across from the visitor centre (you can reduce your entry fee massively by following the tips further down)
• By bus: The bus to the Cliffs of Moher from Galway, Kinvara, Ballyvaughan and Doolin is the 350 Bus Eireann route

2. Fast facts

• Age: 300+ million years old
• Size: 702 ft high and 13km long
• Stats: 1.5 million+ visit each year
• Landmark: O’Brien’s Tower dates to 1835
• Wildlife: 30,000+ birds, including puffins, call the cliffs home

3. Ticket prices

Cliffs of Moher tickets cost you €12 p/p if you don’t book online. If you do book online, they cost:

• Morning: €7
• Afternoon: €10
• Evening: €8

4. Opening hours

The opening hours for the Cliffs of Moher are:

• Jan, Feb, Nov and Dec: 09:00 – 17:00
• Mar, Apr, Sept and Oct: 08:00 – 19:00
• May to Aug: 08:00 – 21:00

5. The best time to visit

The best time to visit the cliffs is either early in the morning, before the tours start to arrive, or late in the evening, after all the tour groups have left.

The best way to see the Cliffs of Moher

Although there are plenty of things to do in Clare, a visit to Moher reins supreme.

The best way to see the Cliffs of Moher will be dependant on you and how you like to explore.

For example, if you don’t fancy much of a walk, just head to the visitor centre. If you do, there are several trails.

These are the best ways to see the Cliffs of Moher as of summer 2024.

1. Via the visitor centre

For the vast majority of people, the best way to visit the Cliffs of Moher is via the visitor centre.

This will suit those with low mobility as you can walk 250m from the centre to one of the viewing areas.

Personally, I wouldn’t bother going into the visitor centre (you can if you like) – I’d just head straight over to enjoy the view.

2. Arrive before the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre opens

I’ve heard that the best time to visit the Cliffs of Moher is early in the morning, before the visitor centre/parking opens.

According to a friend that’ll remain nameless, he recently made a trip to the Cliffs of Moher at 05:00 (the sun starts to rise from around 05:05 in Ireland in June).

The car park was closed, but he parked outside, not far from the barrier, in away from the road. He then walked to the Cliffs and had the whole place to himself as the sun rose.

Disclaimer: I’m not advising that you do this. If you did want to visit early in the morning, you’d have to ensure you get there very early to avoid blocking staff from entering the car park.

3. Take one of the boat tours

Arguably the best way to see the Cliffs of Moher is via the sea on a boat tour, like this one from Galway or this one from Doolin (affiliate links).

You can climb aboard a ferry and you’ll sail below the cliffs.

Out of all the ways that I’ve seen the cliffs over the years, this was the most unique, by far.

There’s another tour that you can do that takes you from Doolin to the Aran Islands. Then, on the return journey, you’ll sail below the cliffs.

4. Arrive at Sunset

I’d argue that the best time to visit the Cliffs of Moher is just before the sun sets. In and around sunset tends to be quiet.

Now, the last time that I was there at sunset it was Ireland’s off-season, so there was only a handful of people there.

However, I’ve spoken to many people over the years that have visited at sunset, and they said it was reasonably quiet for them, also.

Tour companies tend to visit the cliffs in the morning and afternoon, with few offering late evening trips.

Cliffs of Moher map with walking trails

MOST TRAILS CLOSED AS OF August 22ND 2024: Due to safety concerns, the ONLY Cliffs of Moher walk that remains open is the Doolin Cliff Walk, but note that you can only walk as far as the Surfer’s Path.

If you’re looking to visit the Cliffs of Moher for free, consider one of the cliff walks.

There are several trails to choose from:

• Walk 1: The Doolin Cliff Walk (6.6km/1.5 hours)
• Walk 2: The Hags Head to Cliffs of Moher Walk (5.3km/1.5 hour)
• Walk 3: The Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk (19.5km/4.5 hour)
• Walk 4: The Liscannor to Cliffs of Moher Trail (10.4km/2.5 hours)

How to avoid overpaying on Cliffs of Moher parking fees

When it comes to the Cliffs of Moher parking, there are two different scenarios that take place.

Here are two scenarios:

Scenario 1: The ‘official’ route

You and two friends pay €36 to park at the Cliffs of Moher, which includes access to the visitor centre, exhibition, and O’Brien’s Tower.

However, you only end up seeing the cliffs. A costly parking experience.

Scenario 2: You drop them off

You and two friends visit the Cliffs of Moher. While you are sat in the queue to pay, they get out of the car and walk to the entrance. You pay €12 for parking and join them.

Though you can’t access the tower, the views are similar from the ground. You spend €12 instead of €36 for tickets.

Getting to the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin, Galway, Cork and Limerick

One of the most common questions that we receive revolves around getting to the Cliffs of Moher from Galway, Dublin and Limerick.

As a visit to Moher is one of the most popular things to do in Ireland, there are a few different ways to do it from many major towns and cities:

From Galway

• Drive: 1 hour from the city
• Bus: The 350 bus from Galway is your best bet
• Tours from Galway: This tour takes you from Galway to Moher via the Burren 

From Dublin

• Drive: 2 hours and 50 minutes
• Bus: You take the route 300 M7 from Dublin City to Ennis, then the 350 bus to the cliffs – total time: 5 hours and 30 minutes
• Tours from Dublin: This tour leaves from Dublin and includes Dunguaire Castle, Moher and lots more

From Limerick

• Drive: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Bus: Take the 300 bus from Limerick to Ennis, then the 350 bus from Ennis to the cliffs – total time: 3 hours
• Tours from Limerick: This is a scenery-packed day trip from Limerick

From Cork

• Drive: 2.5 hours
• Bus: You need to get a bus and train. It’d be handier to take an organised tour 
• Tours from Cork: This is a full day tour from Cork with great reviews

Things to do near the Cliffs of Moher

One of the beauties of Moher is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best things to do in Doolin and the wider County Clare:

Here are some of the closest things to do near the Cliffs of Moher:

1. Doolin (10-minute drive): Famous for colourful Fisher Street, there are pubs in Doolin, restaurants, Doonagore Castle and Doolin Cave.
2. The Aran Islands (short ferry ride): Inis Mor, Inis Oirr and Inis Meain are all easily reached from Doolin Pier
3. The Burren (20-minutes+): The Burren is home to the Burren walks, Father Ted’s House, Poulnabrone Dolmen, Fanore Beach and the Aillwee Caves

The Cliffs of Moher Harry Potter connection

The Cliffs of Moher Harry Potter link isn’t as it may seem. An island next to the Skelligs, known as Lemon Rock, was used for the filming.

The makers of the Half Blood Price used CGI wizardry to combine Lemon Rock with the Cliffs of Moher.