Dublin: 4-Day Southwest Ireland Tour Cliffs & Dingle

Four Days, Five Counties, One Coach Full of Stories

You travel by air-conditioned coach from Dublin through Connemara and Galway, stand at the Cliffs of Moher, explore the Dingle Peninsula and its ancient sites, and spend a night in Killarney before returning. Three nights accommodation, all transport, and a professional guide are included. The itinerary covers five counties in four days, which is why you need to book early: small groups fill fast.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Dublin to Connemara and Galway

• Depart Dublin for Connemara
• Comfort stop at Cong
• Visit Glengowla Farm or Cong Village
• Explore Galway city and Spanish Arch
• Enjoy Galway's street performers and pubs

Day 2: Galway to Dingle via Cliffs of Moher

• Travel along Wild Atlantic coast
• Explore the Burren landscape
• Lunch stop in Doolin village
• Visit Cliffs of Moher
• Cross River Shannon at Limerick
• Stop at heritage town of Adare
• Overnight stay on Dingle Peninsula

Day 3: Dingle Peninsula and Killarney

• Visit Inch beach on Dingle Peninsula
• Tour Dingle town and meet Fungi the Dolphin
• Drive around Slea Head with scenic views
• Shop and relax in Dingle pubs
• Overnight stay in Killarney town

Day 4: Killarney to Dublin via Blarney

• Optional horse or cart ride in Killarney Park
• Visit Blarney Castle and kiss Blarney Stone
• Explore Blarney Woolen Mills shop
• Drive through Golden Vale region
• Photo stop at Rock of Dunamase
• Return to Dublin late afternoon

The experience

The coach pulls out of Dublin before most of the city wakes up, and by mid-morning you're standing in Connemara watching the light change across mountains that look like they've been left alone on purpose. Day one moves fast: Cong village or Glengowla Mines depending on the season, then Galway by afternoon, where the Spanish Arch sits quiet until the pubs fill and the musicians start. You'll have time to walk the colored shop streets and find a real Irish bar, the kind where people actually know each other.

Day two is the one people remember. The coach hugs the west coast and the Atlantic sits there the whole time, and then you're standing at the Cliffs of Moher: 214 meters of stone and wind and puffins wheeling below. The Burren comes before that, a limestone landscape so strange it looks like another planet, and your guide will tell you about the Famine while you're walking it, which changes how you see the place. Lunch is in Doolin, a village that exists mostly for its pubs and its music, and then you drive south toward Dingle, staying overnight in Annascaul, a small village on the peninsula itself.

Day three is all Dingle Peninsula: Inch Beach, which is Ireland's longest, then the town of Dingle with its 52 pubs for 2,000 people and Fungi the Dolphin if you want to see him. Slea Head is the real draw, a drive that loops around cliffs and islands and ancient beehive huts, and the guide will point out Sleeping Giant Island and the Blaskets. You'll hear Gaelic spoken if you listen, and the light here is the kind that makes photographers come back. By evening you're in Killarney, a proper Irish county town where you can sit by a fire or walk the National Park if you're not tired.

The last day starts with an optional horse and cart ride through Killarney National Park (or skip it and sleep in), then it's two hours to Blarney Castle, where you can kiss the stone if you want the gift of eloquent speech, or just walk the gardens. The drive back to Dublin takes you through the Golden Vale, Ireland's best farmland, and stops at the Rock of Dunamase, a ruined castle on a hill with views across Leinster. You're back in Dublin by late afternoon, which gives you time for dinner and a proper night out.

The coach has WiFi and USB ports at every seat, and the guide is the kind of person who makes the long drives feel short. Three nights are included (Galway, the Dingle Peninsula, and Killarney), so you're not moving hotels every night. It's the kind of pace that lets you actually see the place instead of just passing through it.

What’s included

• Your four days include transport by air-conditioned coach with WiFi and USB ports at every seat, a professional guide providing live commentary, and three nights accommodation in Galway, Annascaul (Dingle Peninsula), and Killarney.
• The itinerary covers Connemara, Galway's Spanish Arch and pubs, the Burren, Cliffs of Moher, Dingle Peninsula including Slea Head and Inch Beach, Killarney National Park, and Blarney Castle on the return to Dublin.
• Optional activities like the horse and cart ride in Killarney and kissing the Blarney Stone are available but not required.

Options for this experience

3 options

BackpackerGuide in English · 08:00Backpacker option: Lodging in hostels, in shared dormitory-style rooms with other tour members. A basic breakfast is included.

EconomyGuide in English · 08:00Economy option: Accommodation in B&Bs, apartments and budget hotels. Guests are served breakfast each morning, offering a choice of Continental or full Irish breakfasts. All private rooms come with an en-suite bathroom.

Economy - SingleGuide in English · 08:00Economy single option: Accommodation in B&Bs, apartments and budget hotels. Guests are served breakfast each morning, offering a choice of Continental or full Irish breakfasts. Single en-suite room.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesWednesdayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to1d before

GroupUp to 56

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Paddywagon Tours

Is this one for you?Right for travelers leaving Dublin with four days and no car, since the coach handles all the driving and the itinerary packs five counties into one loop. Expect a full day each day (early departures, multiple stops, and arrival back in Dublin by late afternoon on day four), which is what lets you see this much of the southwest without rushing through any single place.

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Top questions

Is the Cliffs of Moher entry fee included?

The inclusions list transport, accommodation, and guide services. Entry fees to attractions are not explicitly mentioned, so confirm with the operator before booking.

Can I skip the horse and cart ride in Killarney?

Yes, it's listed as optional. You can choose the horseback ride, the cart ride, or neither.

What's included in the accommodation?

Three nights are included: one in Galway, one on the Dingle Peninsula (Annascaul), and one in Killarney. Meals are not mentioned in the inclusions.

Is there WiFi on the coach?

Yes, WiFi is available on board, along with USB ports at every seat.

What happens if I want to change my pickup location?

Contact the operator by phone or email no later than 5pm the evening before your tour. Changes are only guaranteed once confirmed in writing.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes. Infants can use a pram or stroller, specialized infant seats are available, and children must be accompanied by an adult. The tour operates in all weather.