Booking choice: The Cliffs of Moher rail tour, from $185 per person. Check dates Tour details
The rail tour is run by Railtours Ireland First Class and sold on Viator as the Limerick, Cliffs of Moher, Burren and Galway Bay Rail Tour. The train does the long hauls across the country; in County Clare you travel by coach with a driver-guide.
It rates 4.6 from 1,227 reviews. Guests praise the guides and the organisation, and many of them mention the same thing: it is a very long day.
The quick answer
The rail tour costs from $185 per adult (16 and over), with a child rate for ages 5 to 15. It includes reserved train seats both ways, a host on the trains, a coach with a driver-guide, and admission to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park and to the Cliffs of Moher. Meals, drinks, hotel transfers and tips are extra. Check-in is 6:40 AM at Heuston and the day runs about 15 hours.
How much is the Cliffs of Moher rail tour?
From $185 per person for adults aged 16 and over on Viator in 2026, with a reduced child rate for ages 5 to 15.
Children under 16 cannot book on their own and must travel with a parent or guardian. Infants aged 0 to 4 have their own age band at checkout. The price moves with the season, so the checkout figure for your date is the one that counts.
Budget on top for three meals, drinks, a tip for the guide and getting to and from Heuston. Coach day trips from Dublin cost from about $80 to $89 per person; see train or bus to the Cliffs of Moher for what the extra buys.
Have a date in mind? Both admissions are in the price, and it cancels free up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the Cliffs of Moher rail tourWhat is included, and what is not?
Included: reserved train seats both ways, a host on the trains, a coach with a qualified driver-guide, an information pack, and admission to Bunratty and the Cliffs of Moher. Not included: food and drinks, hotel pickup and gratuities.
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| Reserved seats, Dublin Heuston to Limerick and Galway to Dublin | Breakfast and dinner on the trains |
| A host on the trains and an information pack | Pub lunch in Doolin |
| Coach with a qualified driver-guide in Clare and Galway | Hotel pickup and drop-off |
| Bunratty Castle and Folk Park admission | Gratuities |
| Cliffs of Moher admission | Drinks and snacks |
Is "First Class" a first-class train seat?
No. "First Class" is part of the operator's name, Railtours Ireland First Class; the listing promises reserved seats on the trains, not a seat class.
Railtours Ireland answers this in its own FAQ: it does not use first class, because first-class space is "extremely limited and available only on certain trains on three routes in Ireland". All its customers sit together with their host in a specially reserved car or part of a car.
What does the day look like, stop by stop?
Train to Limerick, a short city tour, Bunratty Castle, lunch in Doolin, two hours at the cliffs, a drive past the Burren and along Galway Bay, time in Galway, then the evening train back to Heuston.
The listing says itineraries may be altered for operational reasons, and the time in Galway depends on how the day runs.
| Stop | Time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin Heuston | 6:40 AM check-in | Yellow check-in stand near the Customer Service Desk; the 7:00 AM train does not wait |
| Train to Limerick | Morning | Change at Limerick Junction; breakfast on board at your own expense |
| Limerick | Short | A short city tour, then the coach north |
| Bunratty Castle and Folk Park | 1 h 30 min | Admission included |
| Doolin | Lunch stop | Pub lunch at Gus O'Connor's, at your own expense |
| Cliffs of Moher | 2 hours | Admission included |
| The Burren and Galway Bay | Drive | Pass-by from the coach, no stop |
| Eyre Square, Galway | About 1 hour | Free time if the day allows |
| Train to Dublin | Evening | Due into Heuston at 22:10; dinner on board at your own expense |
Like the look of the day? Check your date: the train seats are reserved for you.
Check dates for the Cliffs of Moher rail tourHow long do you get at Bunratty Castle?
About an hour and a half at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, with admission included.
The listing describes the medieval castle with 15th and 16th century furnishings and tapestries, and a Folk Park recreating Irish village life at the turn of the 20th century, with a schoolhouse, post office and doctor's office. One guest wrote that the castle involves a lot of steps if you want to see everything.
Is lunch included?
No. Lunch is a stop at Gus O'Connor's Pub in Doolin at your own expense, and breakfast and dinner on the trains are also paid for yourself.
The listing suggests seafood chowder or fish and chips at the pub. Bring a card or euros, and snacks for the train if you would rather not depend on what is on board.
Prefer the train to a full day on the road? Two train legs, Bunratty and the cliffs, with both admissions included.
Explore the Cliffs of Moher rail tour Tour detailsHow long are you at the Cliffs of Moher?
About two hours, which matches the official site's advice to give yourself a minimum of two hours.
That is enough for the visitor centre and a walk along the paved paths in both directions. Cliffs admission is in the price; see Cliffs of Moher tickets for what it covers. In fog or high wind the visit can look very different: read Cliffs of Moher weather.
Do you stop in the Burren and Galway?
The Burren is a pass-by seen from the coach, not a stop. Galway gets about an hour at Eyre Square, if the day runs to time.
The listing says that depending on when you reach Galway you may have time for a quick walk through the streets before the evening train. If the Burren itself matters to you, the Doolin and Burren day trip by coach has a 20-minute Burren stop.
Who is the rail tour for, and who should skip it?
It suits travellers who would rather sit on a train than on a coach for the long legs, and who want a real visit to Bunratty; it does not suit anyone who cannot manage a 15-hour day or who uses a wheelchair or walker.
- Good fit: first-time visitors without a car who want the logistics handled, and anyone keen on Bunratty Castle.
- Think twice: very young children, light sleepers who dread a 6:40 AM check-in, and anyone on a tight budget.
- Not possible: the operator cannot take wheelchairs, walkers or mobility scooters.
- Want it slower: the same operator runs a 3-day rail tour with two B&B nights.
Want the cliffs for less? The coach day gives two hours at the cliffs and two in Galway, from $86 per person.
Explore the Wild Rover coach tour Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
Does the rail tour include hotel pickup?
No. It starts and ends at Dublin Heuston Station. Check in at the yellow stand near the Customer Service Desk by 6:40 AM.
What time does the rail tour get back to Dublin?
The operator's timetable has the train arriving into Dublin Heuston at 22:10, after a day of about 15 hours. One guest found no taxis waiting and booked a ride app instead.
Can I cancel the rail tour?
Yes, for a full refund up to 24 hours before. The operator can also cancel for bad weather or if too few people book.
Is the rail tour wheelchair accessible?
No. The operator says its coaches are not wheelchair friendly, and walkers, wheelchairs and mobility scooters cannot be accommodated.
Ready to book
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
3-Day Blarney, Ring of Kerry & Cliffs of Moher Rail Tour
The same operator, without the 15-hour day
