Cliffs of Moher & Burren Day Trip from Galway

Stone circles and sea cliffs: a day through 5,800 years of Ireland

You depart Galway at 10am and spend the day moving through the Burren's stone sites (a 5,800-year-old dolmen, a 16th-century castle, and the fishing village of Doolin) before reaching the Cliffs of Moher for two hours of free time to walk the edge and absorb the scale. Lunch is your own cost in Doolin. The coach returns you to Galway city centre at 6:15pm with the guide's commentary filling the drive.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. The Burrenpass by
2. Poulnabrone Dolmen20m
3. Dunguaire Castle15m
4. Doolin40m
5. Cliffs of Moher1h 30m · entry included

Explore Burren and Cliffs of Moher

• Depart Galway at 10:00
• View Dunguaire Castle exterior
• Visit Poulnabrone Dolmen
• Lunch stop in Doolin village
• Free time at Cliffs of Moher
• Return to Galway via Coast Road

The experience

The coach leaves Galway at 10:00 and heads south into the Burren, a 320-square-kilometre landscape of limestone and sparse grass that looks like nothing else in Ireland. Your guide points out the rare flora as you drive: plants that shouldn't survive this far north, thriving in the cracks between stone. The first stop is Dunguaire Castle near Kinvara, a 16th-century tower house rising 75 feet above Galway Bay. You get about 15 minutes to walk around the outside, photograph it against the water, and feel how small you are next to it.

From there it's a short drive to Poulnabrone Dolmen, a megalithic tomb that's been standing for 5,800 years. The guide explains what you're looking at: a portal tomb, built by people whose names are gone but whose stones remain. Ten or fifteen minutes here, long enough to stand inside the chamber and think about that span of time. Then down to Doolin, a fishing village where you stop for lunch (not included, so you'll need to budget for a pub meal or sandwich). The village is small enough that you can walk the whole thing in the time you're there, and the seafood is fresh.

The Cliffs of Moher are the reason you came, and you get two full hours to walk them. They rise 700 feet straight up from the Atlantic, and on a clear day you can see the Aran Islands across the water. On a grey day (which is often) the mist rolls in and out and the cliffs disappear and reappear. Either way, the edge is there to walk, and the path is solid. Most people spend an hour on the cliff itself and an hour in the visitor centre or just sitting. The drive back to Galway follows the coast road, with views over Galway Bay the whole way, and you're back in the city centre by 6:15pm.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel or city-centre pickup (arrange with the operator), professional local guide and air-conditioned coach, entrance fee to the Cliffs of Moher, and live commentary throughout the drive.
• You stop at Dunguaire Castle, Poulnabrone Dolmen, and Doolin village (lunch is not included and you buy your own).
• Two hours of free time at the Cliffs of Moher is built into the itinerary, and the return journey follows the coast road back to Galway.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (15 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 14 years) · Infant (under 3)

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Please check in at our office by 9:40–9:45 AM at the latest. Allow extra travel time, as traffic in Galway City can be heavy, especially during peak hours. Public paid parking is available on Merchants Road.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Galway Tour Company

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the Burren and Cliffs of Moher in one day without renting a car or planning the route yourself: the fixed schedule and included entrance fee mean you show up, get driven to each stop in order, and return to Galway by early evening.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (15 to 17 years); Child (3 to 14 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What time does the tour leave Galway?

The coach departs at 10:00am from Galway city centre and returns at 6:15pm.

Is lunch included?

No. You stop in Doolin for 45–50 minutes to buy lunch at local restaurants or cafes. The cost is your own.

How long do you spend at the Cliffs of Moher?

Two hours of free time to walk the cliff edge, visit the visitor centre, or rest.

What is Poulnabrone Dolmen?

A 5,800-year-old megalithic tomb in the Burren, one of Ireland's most ancient religious sites. You stop for 10–15 minutes.

Is the entrance fee to the Cliffs of Moher included?

Yes, the Cliffs of Moher entrance fee is included in your ticket.

How long is the tour?

Approximately 8 hours from departure in Galway to return, including all stops and travel time.

Can you see the Aran Islands from the Cliffs?

Yes, on clear days you can see the Aran Islands across Galway Bay from the cliff edge.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The tour operates in all weather. Dress warmly and bring waterproof clothing. Mist and rain are common on the Irish coast.