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The Cliffs of Moher is a dream destination and a place you’ll likely find on nearly everyone’s Ireland bucket list. It was on mine for years! It’s a breathtaking natural wonder that you simply must see at least once in your life (especially if you’re a Harry Potter fan on the hunt for filming locations).
Our first trip to Ireland was a whirlwind as we only had one week to see as many things as we could. We chose not to hassle with a rental car since we based our stay in Dublin and I knew we could easily fit in a couple of day trips.
I booked our Cliffs of Moher day tour with Wild Rover (along with a day trip to Northern Ireland) and we had a fantastic time seeing Ireland’s West Coast!
For travelers staying in Dublin wanting to visit the Cliffs of Moher without renting a car, booking a day tour is definitely the way to go.
This tour from Wild Rover takes you from the center of Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher, up the Wild Atlantic Way, and ends in Galway City (before heading back to Dublin of course). It’s a great introduction to this part of the country!
If you’re contemplating a day tour to the Cliffs of Moher and have lots of questions (like I did) about what to expect, then this post is for you! I’ll be detailing everything about our itinerary and including some tips to help you prepare for your exciting day trip.
Cliffs of Moher Day Tour:
Tips to Know Before You Go
It always helps to be as prepared as possible for a long day away from your home base. Here are some essential know-before-you-go tips for the Cliffs of Moher day tour with Wild Rover.
Arrive Early to Your Pickup Spot
Plan to arrive at least 10 to 15 minutes early at your pickup spot. The tours run on a very tight schedule and you do not want to get left behind by arriving late.
With that said, also make sure you double check you are on the right bus! There are several different tours departing from the same pickup locations.
Food on the Tour
Food is not provided on this tour, but there will be a few opportunities to grab some meals and snacks. On the drive out to the cliffs, there will be a brief stop at Barak Obama Plaza (yes, it really is called that) where you can use the restroom and grab a quick snack. We stocked up on some essential Irish Tayto chips here (great breakfast huh?!).
I highly recommend stopping at a shop or bakery the day before for snacks and something easy to eat for breakfast in the morning (like a muffin or pastry).
The visitor’s center at the Cliffs of Moher also has a café serving soups, sandwiches, salads, and hearty mains. We didn’t eat there as we wanted to hold out for late lunch in Galway, although I do regret at least not picking up a snack here to hold us over.
Lastly, upon arriving in Galway City, the final stop on the tour, there will be a ton of restaurants to choose from to grab a meal. However, this part of the trip comes later in the day (like after 3:00 p.m.).
Keep in mind there are no hot foods allowed on the bus.
Be Prepared for Weather
The weather in Ireland can be unpredictable and when you’re on a bus tour, you just have to deal with it as it comes! It can be sunny and beautiful or rainy and windy (maybe even all in the same day). The key to navigating this (as with any day in Ireland) is to dress in layers.
You might also be tempted to pack an umbrella for the Cliffs of Moher in case of rain but it can get so windy there, you’ll never be able to actually use it. Instead, get yourself a nice rain jacket that has an adjustable hood.
If you’re wondering what else to pack for a visit to the Cliffs of Moher, read through to the end of this post.
Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher
The drive from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher is roughly three and a half to four hours, with a midway stop included at Barak Obama Plaza – a motorway service station with petrol, a convenience store, and restrooms. Apparently, Obama’s third great grandfather is from the town of Moneygall and this service station commemorates his visit to the town to trace his Irish roots.
Definitely take this opportunity for a restroom break and to pick up some snacks!
The drive from Dublin was incredibly scenic, even from the highway portion. But that’s Ireland for you! The morning sun was shining on the green fields and farms and it was our first glimpse of the scenery Ireland is so known for.
To make the drive on the bus more entertaining, our guide Sean was incredible with his storytelling of Irish folklore. One thing I noticed from taking two tours with Wild Rover is that each guide has their strong suits. Sean even performs Irish folklore storytelling at a pub in Dublin! It was so neat to hear about all the tales while taking in the views.
We were lucky to have the front row seat on the bus behind the driver. I think the views were the best that way. If you can, ask for the front row seats. These seats are especially good if you get carsick like me. Being able to look forward during the bus ride was prime!
Cliffs of Moher
The moment I had anticipated for years finally came! Upon arriving to the Cliffs of Moher, we decided to skip the Visitor’s Center and leave that for the end because I was just too excited to see the views.
But, the fog had its own agenda…
If you have the luxury of traveling outside of a group tour, definitely check the weather report before making the trek.
Even though we couldn’t see much, the fog actually gave the cliffs some uniquely moody autumn feels. Truthfully, the Cliffs of Moher will be impressive no matter the weather – rain, fog, sunshine (although, I can imagine a windy day combined with rain could be one of the most challenging weather combinations here).
I took every opportunity to snap photos when the fog broke even for just a few seconds!
We only had about two hours at the cliffs, so we wandered around the main portion of the trail, stopping off at O’Brien’s Tower (pictured below) and admiring the cows grazing in the nearby fields (how lucky are they to get to live in such a place?).
I will admit that seeing the cliffs shrouded in fog was a disappointment initially, but we held out as long as we could and the fog eventually cleared enough for us to be able to see the cliffs a bit. I’ll definitely be coming back again for some clearer views!
If you’re a big Harry Potter fan like I am and chasing film location sites, the Cliffs of Moher was used in the Half Blood Prince as the location of the horcrux cave that Harry accompanies Dumbledore to. Checking that one off the list!
Safety Barriers
I do want to mention that there are safety barriers on the main path. These can be a bit of a bummer when it comes to photos, but you just have to get a little creative to get pictures without barriers in them. It beats the alternative of falling to certain death if a gust of wind pops up out of nowhere when you aren’t paying attention!
Visitors Center
We did not get to spend much time in the Visitors Center, unfortunately, since we were waiting for the perfect moment for the Cliffs to emerge from the fog.
However, there is a café onsite serving delicious hearty foods like seafood chowder and Guinness stew (as well as a plethora of different hot meals and sandwiches). I wish we had made enough time to grab a cup of chowder to hold us over until our late lunch in Galway!
If you’re interested in learning more about the Cliffs of Moher, the Visitors Center also has some interactive exhibits with facts and history.
And of course, there are restrooms here. Hit these up before getting back on the bus for the drive up to Galway.
Shopping
Also located outside are tiny shops built into the hillside. Here, you’ll find items like jewelry, clothing, a musical-themed shop, and Irish souvenirs (including magnets and postcards).
Refillable Water Station
Lastly, one awesome feature at the Cliffs of Moher is the refillable water station! This is a great money saver, so I recommend bringing a reusable water bottle with you to fill up. The water tasted cool and refreshing!
Hydrating is super important, but on a bus tour with minimal restroom breaks, I understand the hesitation of finding the right balance of water intake. Bring some hydration packets with electrolytes to help.
Wild Atlantic Way Drive
Stopping at the Cliffs of Moher was cool, but the drive along the Wild Atlantic Way and through The Burren blew me away – so much so, that I want to come back and explore the West Coast of Ireland for a longer period of time.
The landscape by the sea is a bit more rugged – green, rocky and simply stunning.
Along the drive, we spotted many lovely little white vacation homes and cottages. I can only imagine waking up to the views some of these have every day! Every once in a while I have one of those “could I live here?” moments, and the West Coast of Ireland gave me all those feels.
On our drive, we also spotted a “leprechaun castle,” as our guide so put it. Cute, but it’s actually called The Pinnacle Well and you can get drinking water from it. Be on the lookout to the right side of the bus! Our driver slowed down for us to snap a pic.
And of course, we saw many more small ruins on our drive up to Galway. I could watch the scenery go by for hours on a drive here.
Galway City
After the beautiful drive along Ireland’s West Coast, we arrived in Galway City shortly after 3:00 p.m. This Wild Rover tour does include a 30-minute walking tour of the city with your guide; however, we were starving when we arrived in Galway, so we opted to skip it and go straight to lunch.
If you skip the walking tour, you’ll still have plenty of time to spend wandering the old town on your own.
There are tons of cute shops all around the city selling Irish goods and souvenirs, including items like wool clothing and accessories and Claddagh jewelry.
I would love to come back to Galway and stay a few nights to get a better feel for the city itself and eat more fresh seafood. Galway is especially known for having great oysters, which we did not get to try on our visit!
McDonagh’s comes highly recommended for oysters if you get a chance to pop in while in Galway.
Lunch in Galway
Being the foodie that I am, I knew exactly where I wanted to have lunch in Galway far in advance. I chose a quaint little restaurant called the Quay Street Kitchen, making sure we could get our chowder and seafood fix.
To start, we ordered a big pile of mussels steamed with a broth of cream, garlic, onion, and dill. They were fantastic!
And of course, when in Ireland, you must eat as much seafood chowder as humanly possible. The chowder at Quay Street was full of chunks of seafood and potatoes and had great flavor (it was actually our second favorite chowder from our first visit to Ireland). So tasty!
Having seen some food pictures beforehand, I was also drawn to the lamb shank. Aside from fresh seafood, Ireland also farms a lot of sheep (and not just for wool). This was tender, fall-off-the bone lamb in a rich gravy with mashed potatoes and steamed veggies. You will want to nap on the bus ride home after this plate of food!
After our lunch, we took some time to walk off the calories and check out the city a bit before heading back to the bus for our return trip to Dublin. It was such a fabulous way to end the day!
Pro tip: even though you might be tempted, do not have too many drinks in Galway. You’ve got a long bus ride back to Dublin with only one restroom break on the way!
What to Wear to the Cliffs of Moher
What you wear for this Cliffs of Moher tour depends entirely upon how you want to spend your time there. Are you wanting to hike around or are you cool with sticking to the main pathways? Keep in mind that on a tour like this, time is limited at the cliffs to approximately two hours. Time for hiking will be a very small window.
I might sound like a broken record when it comes to what to wear in Ireland, but I’ll say it again: dress in layers! Your odds of having nicer weather run higher in the late spring and summer, but I recommend being prepared for any kind of weather at all times.
One of the main things I was worried about with a trip to the Cliffs of Moher was the type of footwear I should have. Would it be muddy? Are there paved areas? The answer is both; however, if you just plan on sticking to the main paths and Visitors Center, a sneaker type of shoe works just fine.
I wore my waterproof Vessi shoes when we visited in autumn with foggy, windy, and cold weather. A good pair of boots would also work great.
Again, I wouldn’t bother with an umbrella at the Cliffs of Moher. It’s simply too windy there and not worth the hassle. If you do encounter rainy weather, just make sure you have a good waterproof jacket with an adjustable hood to tighten around your face. I found having my jacket also helped shield my ears from the cold wind!
Here’s a list of everything I wore to the Cliffs of Moher when visiting in the autumn season:
- Rain Jacket (Women’s) & Men’s version
- Fleece Jacket
- Long-Sleeved Shirt
- Vest
- Undershirt
- Fleece-Lined Leggings
- Vessi Shoes
- Wool Socks
- Beanie
- Brown Faux Leather waterproof backpack
- Umbrella (for Galway City only – don’t bring this out at the Cliffs)
Read my entire Ireland Packing Guide for more outfit tips and inspiration!
Pros & Cons of a Bus Tour
If you’re on the fence about taking a bus tour from Dublin to Western Ireland and the Cliffs of Moher, here are some pros and cons to help make your decision.
Pros
- You don’t have to worry about transportation. Everything is all taken care of with Wild Rover (or whatever tour company you choose)! This really is the biggest pro of an organized tour in my opinion.
- A guide and separate driver are included with the Wild Rover tours. Having a guide separate from the driver means a better focus on Irish history and folklore storytelling while you’re on the bus.
- Your itinerary is made for you. Even though I’m a master researcher and like to do my own thing, it’s nice not to have to think about compiling a detailed itinerary for a whole day trip.
Cons
- You will spend a lot of time on the bus. Not going to lie, this bus tour makes for a very long day (like 12 – 13 hours) with a lot of time spent on the bus. At times, it can be a little uncomfortable but I think the pros outweigh this con!
- Food is not included. This is a minor inconvenience since there will be plenty of opportunities to grab snacks and a full lunch.
- Bus crowds. Being on a tour bus means sharing the experience with a lot of other travelers, including other bus tours that tend to arrive to sites like the Cliffs of Moher around the same time.
Booking This Tour
Book the Cliffs of Moher day tour direct with Wild Rover and get 10% off if you book two tours. Alternatively, this tour can be booked via Viator.
Fog aside, we loved our tour with Wild Rover so much. It was nice not to have to think about getting from Point A to Point B throughout the day and we got to experience some incredible scenery. I’m already plotting a return trip to focus more time on Ireland’s West Coast. The views are unmatched! Maybe next time we’ll even rent a car?
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