Cliffs of Moher and the Burren day trip from Galway or Limerick or Ennis
A day trip to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren from Galway, Limerick or Ennis: the cliff-top paths and O'Brien's Tower above the Atlantic, lunch and music in the village of Doolin, the Poulnabrone dolmen on the bare limestone of the Burren, then Dunguaire Castle on the bay at Kinvara. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Cliffs of Moher and the Burren in 1 day
Day 1
Cliffs of Moher (Visitor Centre and O'Brien's Tower)
Sea cliffs rising over 200 metres above the Atlantic for about 14 kilometres, with paths along the top and the 1835 O'Brien's Tower.
Doolin (Fisherstreet and its music pubs)
Village near the cliffs known for traditional Irish music, with pubs on Fisherstreet for lunch, a pint and a session.
Poulnabrone dolmen
Neolithic portal tomb of great stone slabs, over five thousand years old, standing on the bare limestone pavement of the Burren.
Dunguaire Castle
Sixteenth-century tower house on a rocky spit in the bay at Kinvara, lovely from the shore; the interior opens in summer.
Getting there
From Galway the drive is about 1.5 hours, through Kinvara and Ballyvaughan, over Corkscrew Hill or round the coast road; from Ennis about 45 minutes and from Limerick about 1.5 hours. Day coach tours from Galway cover the same route, and local buses link Galway and Ennis with Doolin and the cliffs.
Staying in Galway or Limerick or Ennis? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Cliffs of Moher and the Burren
May to September brings the longest days and the most boats and tours; May and June are also when the Burren's wild flowers are in bloom. Summer is busy at the cliffs, so arrive early or late in the day. Rain and wind are possible in any month, and winter storms can close the cliff paths.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Cliffs of Moher and the Burren on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Cliffs of Moher and the Burren on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Cliffs of Moher and the Burren on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Ireland from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Cliffs of Moher and the Burren
- Book Cliffs of Moher tickets online ahead; the ticket covers parking and the visitor centre, and arriving early avoids the coach crowds.
- Keep to the marked paths and well back from the edge: the cliffs are unfenced in places and the wind is strong.
- Bring a rain jacket and layers whatever the forecast; the weather on the Atlantic coast changes quickly.
- From Doolin pier, boats sail under the cliffs and to Inisheer in the Aran Islands from about spring to autumn, weather permitting.
- Roads in the Burren are narrow and winding; drive on the left, slowly, and allow more time than the map suggests.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Cliffs of Moher (Visitor Centre and O'Brien's Tower): Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Doolin (Fisherstreet and its music pubs): Ekki3, CC BY 4.0
- Dunguaire Castle: Boomur, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Poulnabrone dolmen: User Kglavin on en.wikipedia, Public domain
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
