Booking choice: The Cliffs of Moher rail tour, from $185 per person. Check dates Tour details
The cliffs are on the far side of the country from Dublin, so a day trip is always a long day. The tours differ in four ways that matter: how long you get at the cliffs, whether Bunratty Castle is a visit or a view from the window, where and when you start, and whether your children can come and at what price.
All prices are Viator from-prices per person in 2026, and cliffs admission is included on every tour below.
The quick answer
For the train and a real Bunratty visit, the rail tour ($185, 15 hours). For the most reviewed coach day, Wild Rover ($86, 2 hours at the cliffs and 2 in Galway). For a Burren stop and a child rate, the Doolin and Burren day ($86). The small-group van ($148) and the boat day ($149) rate lower and have recent cancellation complaints.
How do the Dublin day trips compare?
The rail tour and the castle van are the two that go inside Bunratty; the coach tours cost about half as much; the boat day trades time on top for a cruise below.
| Tour | Start | At the cliffs | Bunratty | Children | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rail tour | Heuston, 6:40 AM check-in | 2 h | Visit, 1 h 30 | Child rate 5 to 15 | $185 |
| Wild Rover coach | Two Dublin points, 6:55 AM | 2 h | Pass-by | No under-3s; same price 3 to 25 | $86 |
| Burren and Galway coach | Parnell Square, 6:45 AM | At least 2 h | Not listed | Not recommended for small children | $89 |
| Ennis and Limerick coach | Crampton Quay, 7:00 AM | 1 h 45 | Not listed | No under-3s; same price 3 to 25 | $80 |
| Doolin and Burren day | Molly Malone Statue, 6:50 AM | 1 h 30 | Not listed | Child rate 5 to 12 | $86 |
| Small-group Bunratty day | The Merrion Hotel, 8:30 AM | 1 h 30 | Visit, 2 h | Minimum age 6, no reduction | $148 |
| Boat cruise and caves | Molly Malone Statue, 6:50 AM | 45 min on top + 1 h boat | Not listed | Child rate 5 to 12 | $149 |
How long is a day trip from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher?
Between 12 and 15 hours: the coach tours run 12 to 13 hours, and the rail tour about 15.
Starts are early everywhere, between 6:40 and 8:30 AM. Wild Rover returns to D'Olier Street at about 7:40 PM and the Burren and Galway coach between 7:30 and 8:30 PM; the rail tour gets back to Heuston later in the evening. Rest the day before.
Want the long day on a train instead of a coach? Check your date for the rail tour.
Check dates for the Cliffs of Moher rail tourWhich tour gives you the longest at the cliffs?
The rail tour, Wild Rover and the Burren and Galway coach, with two hours or more; the official site recommends a minimum of two.
The Ennis and Limerick coach gives 1 hour 45 minutes, the small-group van and the Doolin day 90 minutes. The boat day gives 45 minutes on top plus an hour on the water.
Do you go inside Bunratty Castle or just drive past?
You go inside on two tours: the rail tour (1 hour 30 minutes) and the small-group van (2 hours), both with admission included. Wild Rover drives past it.
The other coach days do not list Bunratty as a stop. If the castle and Folk Park matter to you, that narrows the choice quickly; read the Cliffs of Moher rail tour for how the rail day fits it in.
Want Bunratty inside, not through the window? The rail tour includes 90 minutes at the castle and Folk Park.
Explore the Cliffs of Moher rail tour Tour detailsIs the small-group Bunratty day a good choice?
It can be, but go in with open eyes: it rates 4.4 from 329 reviews, and several recent reviews complain of last-minute cancellations.
The day runs in a van for up to 25 people from The Merrion Hotel at 8:30 AM (or hotels listed on the booking page), with two hours at Bunratty, a Liscannor stop and 90 minutes at the cliffs. The operator can cancel if too few book. The minimum age is 6 and the price is per seat, with no child, student or senior reductions. Lunch is not included.
What about the boat cruise and caves day?
It shows the cliffs from below, but it rates 4.1 from just 39 reviews, and the boat depends on the sea.
The day visits the Aillwee Caves in the Burren, stops at Fanore for lunch at your own expense, then gives 45 minutes on top of the cliffs and about an hour on the boat. One guest reports the boat leg was cancelled for low bookings, and the operator can cancel the tour if too few book.
Which tour is the safe all-rounder?
Wild Rover: the most reviewed tour listed here (24,964 reviews, 4.9 stars), with two hours at the cliffs and two in Galway.
Bunratty, Dunguaire Castle and the Burren are pass-bys. It has on-board WiFi and allows luggage, but no toilet on board, and children 2 and under cannot travel. The Burren and Galway coach and the Ennis and Limerick coach also rate 4.9.
Leaning towards the coach? Two hours at the cliffs and two in Galway, admission included.
Check dates for the Wild Rover coach tourShould you go from Galway instead?
If you can spend a night in the west, yes: a Galway day is shorter and avoids the cross-country drive.
The Galway day leaves Merchants Road at 9 AM and is back by 7 PM: two hours on Inisheer, an hour on top of the cliffs and a cruise below them when the sea allows, from $96 per person. One rail tour guest wished they had stayed the night in Galway. Weather can still change the plan; see Cliffs of Moher weather.
Staying a night in Galway? Inisheer plus the cliffs in a 10-hour day.
Explore the Aran Islands day from Galway Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
Which Cliffs of Moher tour from Dublin should I book?
The rail tour for the train and Bunratty; Wild Rover for the most reviewed coach day with two hours at the cliffs; the Doolin and Burren day for a Burren stop and a child rate.
Do Dublin day trips include Cliffs of Moher entry?
Yes, every tour listed here includes cliffs admission in the price.
Do any Dublin tours offer hotel pickup?
The small-group van picks up from the hotels listed on its booking page; the others start from fixed meeting points, and the rail tour from Heuston Station.
Can I leave the tour in Galway?
The Burren and Galway coach says you can bring luggage and stay in Galway if you tell your guide in the morning.
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Choose your day
Prices are from-prices in USD per person and move with the season; each listing shows its own cancellation terms.
Limerick, Cliffs of Moher, Burren & Galway Rail Tour
- Reserved train seats Dublin Heuston to Limerick and Galway to Dublin, with a host on the trains
- Driver-guide on the coach between Limerick and Galway
- Admission to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park and to the Cliffs of Moher
Cliffs of Moher, Wild Atlantic Way & Galway by Coach
- Coach from two Dublin pickup points, about 6:55 AM
- Professional guide and a guided walk in Galway
- Cliffs of Moher admission; on-board WiFi
Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, Burren & Galway Day Trip
A real Burren stop and a child rate for 5 to 12
