Cliffs of Moher Travel Guide

The Cliffs of Moher during a dramatic winter storm.

Travelling By Car

The best way to visit the Cliffs of Moher and travel around rural and coastal Ireland is by car. Having access to your own vehicle gives you the freedom to travel when and where you want, make last-minute changes, and shift your travel plans to match the weather. The most convenient and popular place to park your car is the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre car park, located roughly in the middle of the cliffs, though there are car parks at either end of the cliffs in Liscannor and Doolin.

For those keen to avoid the crowds and appreciate the clifftop coastline, a great option is to start from Doolin village on the north side of the cliffs – and then hike along the cliffs from Doolin to the Cliffs of Moher, or alternatively, from Liscannor in the south.

By Public Transport

Want to be environmentally friendly? The closest rail station to the Cliffs of Moher is Ennis, with Bus Eirean Bus 350 running from both Ennis and Doolin to the cliffs. Ennis can be reached by train from Galway or Limerick, with both journeys roughly taking 1h30. We do not recommend relying too heavily on public transport in rural Ireland as services are few and unreliable. If you do not want to drive, it’s recommended to book a tour with a driver/guide.

From Dublin

The Cliffs of Moher are located about 3.5 hours from Dublin. Though on the opposite side of the country, it is easy to reach the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin. Follow the motorways: M50 to the M4 to M6 to Athenry, just outside of Galway. From there, hop on Ireland’s new motorway, the M18 southbound to Gort, where you’ll turn off to small regional road, R460. Please keep in mind that the M50 (as you exit Dublin) has an “invisible” electronic toll (pay within 48 hours of passing).

From Galway

The Cliffs of Moher are located about 1.5 hours from Galway (bearing in mind Galway city often has traffic). Head south on the N67 to Lisdoonvarna before turning off to the coastal road, R478. You’ll wrap around Galway Bay passing villages and ruined churches, abbeys and more scenic sites along the way. Local sites of interest include Dunguaire Castle and the Flaggy Shore. The Burren National Park is also nearby.

From Limerick & Shannon Airport

The Cliffs of Moher are located about one hour from Limerick city and Shannon International Airport. Drive north on the N85 to the surf town of Lahinch, where you’ll turn off to the coastal route (R478). From Limerick, keep your eyes out for – or even stop to visit – the spectacular medieval fortress, Bunratty Castle & Folk Park.

Moher Tower at Hag’s Head

Located on the Cliffs of Moher’s southern side near the village of Liscannor, the Moher Tower is a Napoleanic-era watchtower.

It was built in 1808 on top of an older fortification, with the intention to protect Ireland (at that time, still under British rule) from a potential French invasion. Hag’s Head is named for the cailleach or hag who is associated with the weather and winter.

Learn more about the Hag of Beara who inspired the tower’s name in our folklore blog here.

O’Brien’s Tower

This iconic tower was built in 1835 by a local landlord Cornellius O’Brien. The tower was designed to work as an observation tower and tea house for the civilised Victorian English visitors who flocked to this “wild” site.

From this site, you can see from south Clare all the way to Connemara and out to the Aran Islands. O’Brien’s Tower is located close to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre and is generally a very popular place to visit.

Doonagore Castle – Doolin

This spectacular building is a 16th-century fortified tower house. Not sitting on the Cliffs of Moher, Doonagore Castle is a short distance outside of Doolin village.

Built atop older fortifications, Doonagore Castle changed hands several times from the O’Connors to the O’Briens to the MacClancys, later to a Cromwellian soldier, and finally to the powerful Gore family, and finally to an Irish-American named Gorman. It has a dark history. Doonagore is reputed to be the site where all 170 shipwreck survivors of a sunken Spanish Armada ship were executed.

There is no public access to the castle’s interior, and it sits on private land. There is also no on-site parking, and instead, it is recommended to use the small laybys and walk along the road to view the castle.

The Cliffs of Moher are wildly beautiful but there is more to County Clare than just the cliffs. In fact, there are many absolutely stunning places to visit near the Cliffs of Moher. See below for a list of some of our recommendations, as compiled by locals.

Kilkee and the Pollock Holes

The little-visited Kilkee is a lovely town visited mostly by domestic visitors. A unique feature of the town is the nearby Pollock holes, visible at low tide on the foreshore. These are clear tidal pools protected from the crashing Atlantic waves and are the perfect place for a swim or snorkel.

Ennis

This adorable bustling market town is full of colourful shop fronts, restaurants and cheery pubs. Ennis is just right for enjoying a relaxing afternoon shopping or chatting with the locals at one of its pubs after exploring the Cliffs of Moher!

Scattery Island

Off the south coast of Clare is the small Scattery Island, home to a 6th century monastic settlement, including the ruins of 6 churches, one of Ireland’s tallest and best preserved round towers and a holy well. It was once raided by Vikings – in fact, the name may come from the Norse word ‘scatty’ meaning ‘treasure.’ Ferries depart Kilrush most days May-September (check the schedule for up-to-date times).

Poulnabrone Dolman

At the heart of the Burren National Park lies the magnificent beautiful monument, the Poulnabrone Dolman. These standing portal stones date back to 4200-2900 BC to the Neolithic era, and is the most photographed of Ireland’s 172 dolmans. It was likely built as a tomb, or perhaps marking a boundary.