The Cliffs of Moher are on the west coast of Ireland, in County Clare, on the opposite side of the country from Dublin. Without a car, the simplest way is a day tour by coach, which crosses the country in the morning and comes back in the evening via the Burren and Galway. Two tours listed on WizardTrip make this journey; both are rated 4.9 out of 5, with more than 24,000 and more than 15,000 reviews (checked on 17 October 2026).
The cliffs in a few figures
According to the listing for the 12-hour-30 tour, the cliffs reach up to 214 metres high and stretch for kilometres along the coast. They formed more than 300 million years ago. From the path, you can spot puffins, porpoises and, depending on the season, whales or basking sharks.
Both tours include entry to the visitor centre and give you two hours on site: enough to walk along the cliff edge, have a coffee and come back without rushing.
How the day unfolds
Here are the times of the 13-hour tour, as its listing announces them:
- 6:55 am: departure in front of the Riu Plaza The Gresham hotel, on O'Connell Street, or 7:00 am from the stop at 33 College Green. The grey coach bears the words "Wild Rover Tours".
- Heading west, passing Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, with a stop on the way.
- Shortly before 11 am: arrival at the Cliffs of Moher, with a pre-booked ticket for the visitor centre, and two hours on site.
- Wild Atlantic Way and the Burren: the coastal road to Galway, with a photo stop in the Burren if the weather allows.
- Around 2:30 pm: arrival in Galway, near Eyre Square. The guide offers a free 20-minute walking tour (the Spanish Arch, Lynch's Castle), or you go off on your own.
- Around 7:40 pm: back in Dublin, on D'Olier Street, near O'Connell Bridge and Trinity College.
The other tour: departure from Parnell Square
The second tour lasts 12 hours 30 and leaves at 6:45 am sharp in front of the Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, on Parnell Square. After a 15-minute breakfast break, the road goes through Ennistymon and Lahinch to the cliffs, where a free app and audio guide accompany you.
In the afternoon, the coach crosses the Burren, skirts Galway Bay, passes through the village of Kinvara and past the 16th-century Dunguaire Castle. You then have 1 hour 30 to 2 hours in Galway, before returning to the same spot between 7:30 and 8:30 pm. An option reserves you a seat in the first three rows of the coach.
The two tours compared
| 13-hour tour | 12-hour-30 tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Departure | 6:55 am O'Connell Street or 7:00 am College Green | 6:45 am Parnell Square |
| Time at the cliffs | 2 h, entry included | 2 h, entry included |
| Time in Galway | About 2 h, free walking tour | 1 h 30 to 2 h |
| Return to Dublin | Around 7:40 pm, D'Olier Street | Between 7:30 and 8:30 pm, Parnell Square |
| Toilets on the coach | No, stops about every 2 h | Yes, but their use during the journey is discouraged |
| Reserved seats | No | Optional, first three rows |
| Children | No children aged 2 and under | Not recommended for very young children |
The Burren and the Wild Atlantic Way
Between the cliffs and Galway, the road crosses the Burren, a limestone plateau with an almost lunar landscape. The listing for the 12-hour-30 tour describes a 1,500-hectare national park where Mediterranean, Arctic and Alpine plants grow side by side; the listing for the 13-hour tour specifies that the area is home to more than 70% of Ireland's flower species.
The Wild Atlantic Way is the coastal road that runs along the west of the country. If the coast roads are closed, the 13-hour tour takes another route to Galway, the "Corkscrew" road.
Staying in Galway?
Both tours let you end the day in Galway instead of going back: tell the guide in the morning, and bring your luggage, allowed at no extra charge on the 13-hour tour. With that one, you can also ask for a return seat to Dublin on another day, subject to availability.
Preparing for the day
Which one to choose?
Staying south of the Liffey or near Temple Bar? The College Green departure and the D'Olier Street return of the 13-hour tour make your day simpler, and the short guided walk in Galway is a nice bonus. Want to be sure of your seat, or worried about motion sickness? The first-three-rows option of the 12-hour-30 tour settles the question.
For the rest of your stay, find the Irish capital's tours on the page Things to do in Dublin.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin?
Without a car, on a day tour by coach: departure between 6:45 and 7:00 am from central Dublin, two hours at the cliffs, via the Burren and Galway, return between 7:30 and 8:30 pm depending on the tour.
How high are the Cliffs of Moher?
The Cliffs of Moher reach up to 214 metres high, according to the listing for the 12-hour-30 tour.
How long do you spend at the Cliffs of Moher?
Both tours from Dublin allow two hours on site, including entry to the visitor centre.
Do the Cliffs of Moher appear in Harry Potter?
Yes, the Cliffs of Moher appear in the film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, released in 2009.
Is entry to the Cliffs of Moher included in the tour?
Yes. Both tours compared include entry to the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre; the 12-hour-30 tour adds a free app and audio guide.
Activities mentioned in this guide
All activities in Dublin, with their prices and reviews: Things to do in Dublin
