paddywagon tours limerick to cliffs of moher

Visiting the Cliffs of Moher with Paddywagon Tours

The Cliffs of Moher are really pretty. I just thought I’d start out with this fact. After countless pictures I’ve seen, the majestic movie scenes featuring the Cliffs of Moher, and seeing my friends and other people on social media post their iconic pictures of themselves at the cliffs, I finally got to go and here’s what I thought about my experience with Paddywagon Tours.

What's Inside This Post:

Paddywagon tour quick facts ~ based on experience from myself and others

• It’s a ~12-hour tour – wear your comfy shoes!
• You will be making stops along the way (we did 4 stops, not including the Cliffs of Moher).
• Be punctual , I have been told that the tour will leave without you, whether you’re running late to catch the bus at your pickup point, or you’re in the bathroom a minute too long at one of the stops, they will leave without you. Don’t risk it!
• The tour guide that we had was funny, talkative, and shared information about the different stops.
• Wear layers – Ireland likes to surprise you with rain even on sunny days.
• The tour starts at the time of your pickup, and that is dependent on which pickup stop you choose. It can vary between 7:30am-8:00am.

Purchasing the tickets

I was in Ireland last summer visiting one of my closest friends , and as we planned the itinerary for my week-long stay, one place I undoubtedly wanted to visit was the Cliffs of Moher. We purchased the tickets a couple of days before the trip day, and the site was relatively easy to use.

We selected our date, selected our fee, and chose our pick up point. Paddywagon Tours have various pickup points throughout Dublin. We decided to choose the O’Connell Street – “Discover Ireland” Office simply because it was super central and easy to get to. O’Connell Street is the main street in Dublin city center with all the shops and the monumental spire that a lot of Dubliners like to make fun of (seriously Google some of the nicknames they have for this spire ? ).

If you’re a student, definitely take advantage of the student fare (obviously) but just make sure to pack your student ID or some form of identification to prove your student status in case they check. For the price of 45 euros (~$50 USD), we got to take this tour which I think was worth it for the convenience of having a hop-on tour bus that literally takes you across the country, and makes a few pit stops in cute little towns and interesting points (more on this later!).

The bus ride and the journey

The tour starts reaaaalll early because there’s a lot to cover (it’s a ~12 hour day trip). If you get to your stop a couple of minutes before your pickup time, try to grab a coffee or black tea to wake up as much as you can so you can enjoy the views as you leave Dublin city center and go into the countryside. Remember though, try not to miss the bus! When your bus gets there, you won’t miss it. It literally says “Paddywagon” tours on the side and it has a leprechaun.

In the email confirmation, they tell you to keep that email handy as that is your ticket that will be checked. In the email, they share a couple of other important pieces of information, should traffic or road closures affect your pickup point.

Like I said, it’s a 12-hour trip, but that’s because it’s 5 total stops that you make. The Cliffs of Moher are on the other side of the country from Dublin.

After a couple of hours on the road, we made our first stop. We had arrived at the iconic gas station honoring former President Barack Obama. You may be asking yourself all the questions right now. Let me give you a brief rundown.

Obama has Irish heritage roots, but that’s not all. Obama is the only U.S president with roots tracing back to the small town of Moneygall. Moneygall is the location of this gas station.

“My name is Barack Obama, of the Moneygall O’bamas…I’ve come home to find the apostrophe that we lost somewhere along the way.”- Barack Obama when he visited his ancestor’s home during his presidential run. If you’re interested in learning more about this, click here to read a full article on it (after you read the rest of this post, of course ?)

After that fun, we got to stop at Bunratty Castle. It was a cute place with shops, and obviously, the castle, but nothing else really. It was also a super quick bathroom stop.

Bunratty Castle

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And then…

The Cliffs of Moher ?

After those 2 stops, we finally made it to the Cliffs of Moher and guys I mean…

The Cliffs of Moher

Click to see the seconds long video before you go on.

The Cliffs of Moher. The music. The sight. The feeling!! Guys, it was the most perfect setting, despite the cloudy weather, it was the freakin’ Cliffs of Moher!

I wish I could say that I was able to both see every angle of the Cliffs of Moher and have a moment of pure appreciation of the Cliffs, but we only had 2 hours. Now, you may think 2 hours are enough, but the Cliffs of Moher do stretch out quite a bit.

When you get there, it’s a bit of a walk to actually get to the beautiful scenery. You’ll see a bunch of other buses and people getting picked up and dropped off. You’re going to have to make your way through the parking lot, the gift shops and crowds of people. Then going up the steps, you’ll be met with a kid playing an accordion-type of instrument. No, but really, this kid was playing the tunes and was providing the perfect music as our eyes finally started to see the scene come together.

So rather than trying to see and walk as much as you can, I would recommend something else. Find a spot and stay there to take it in a bit. It’s an absolutely beautiful site that deserves a moment to look at and contemplate. That’s what I remember the most; the feeling of the chilly wind swirling around me from the Atlantic Ocean and breathing in the moment. The Cliffs of Moher are really all that they say it is; stunning, natural beauty, and it has quite a serene aspect to it. The way the waves crashed into the cliffs and the way the sky looked as you saw out into the distance was simply stunning.

And now, a small photographic recap of the first impressions at the Cliffs of Moher….

Waves crashing into the Cliffs of Moher

and then we had to go back, ugh ? . But nevertheless, I was extremely grateful for the experience (and photos lol). The Cliffs of Moher…so grateful to have seen them in person and have a moment here.

A couple more stops

After the majestic scene of the Cliffs of Moher and untangling my hair we were off to the next stop. We were in Galway, and we were taken through one of the most scenic coastal drives in Ireland according to the driver. The scenery was just ❤️. So much greenery – the contrast of the green countryside and the blue of the ocean and the quietness and stillness was so encapsulating. I could have stayed there for hours…

A bit of the scenic coastal drive

We stopped by what the tour guide called the baby Cliffs of Moher.

The Baby Cliffs of Moher

and then we went to lunch, which I didn’t take any photos of I realize because I was too hungry to take any photos or videos –sorry! I also didn’t document our last stop.

We returned to Dublin around 8pm, the time they said we would be back. We got off near the stop where we got picked up, and that was it. That was our trip to the Cliffs of Moher, which I recommend more than anything in Dublin or Ireland really, in general, to go see. It’s worth the time and money to go experience such natural beauty.

Overall takeaways from the Paddywagon tour itself

• Driver was funny
• Comfortable bus ride
• Decent price
• The multiple stops along the coast
• Not really a con, but I would have been ok with skipping Bunratty Castle, and adding that time to spend at the Cliffs of Moher.

Honestly, I can’t really complain, I don’t have any other Cliffs of Moher tours to compare this one too. Nevertheless, here was my experience with this one. Maybe some others are better, or not. My biggest thing was wanting to spend more time at the Cliffs, but that’s pretty much it. Our driver was funny, but in the end, he started talking about politics and religion. At this point no one engaged in his conversation because everyone was so tired. It wasn’t offensive really, but it was kind of strange.

If you’ve gone to see the Cliffs of Moher, I would love to get your insight on what your experience was like! If you used Paddywagon tours or maybe another tour and if you liked the tour you went with. If you liked the videos and images that I featured on this post, check out my Instagram where I created a highlights folder called “Ireland ??” where you can see more of the beautiful sights.

Like I said, the Cliffs of Moher is a place that I humbly think you should go see. I think that Dublin is great and everything, but honestly, the natural scenery and greenery is where it’s at. It’s why they call Ireland the Emerald Isle, so go see it for yourself because you won’t regret it.

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Visiting Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher with Paddywagon Tours

Back in February I took my first trip of 2022 to Cork for a long weekend. This was actually my first time every in Ireland and one thing that was definitely on my bucket list was the Wild Atlantic Way and Cliffs of Moher. As we were carless, the best way to do this visit was to take a day trip and we opted for this fantastic one with Paddywagon!

Which Cliffs of Moher tour is best?

There are a number of different tours that go to the Cliffs of Moher from Cork. We chose Paddywagon due to its reputation and the excellent online reviews. I would say there were a younger demographic of people on our tour (mostly couples in their 20s-40s and not really any families), but whether this is the case across the board I’m not sure.

Be prepared that this tour is a long day out, we left from Cork just before 8am and arrived back in the city at around 6pm. Naturally, there was a lot of time spent sitting on the bus, but that’s just down to the distance to reach the cliffs and it’s more than worth it. There are plenty of things to see along the way as you travel through beautiful green countryside and quaint little villages with interesting histories. Your driver will most likely have lots of interesting tales to keep you entertained along the way too – ours certainly did!

Cliffs of Moher

After leaving Cork, and stopping to pick up some additional passengers at Limerick, we drove straight to Cliffs of Moher. We were given 90 minutes here to walk along the cliffs and explore the tourist centre. The entry cost to the cliffs is included in the tour price so you’ll be given a ticket when you leave the bus – although nobody ever checked ours!

The Burren Region

After a lunch stop in Doolin, we travelled towards the Burren region. We were dropped off and given enough time to fully explore and experience this unique landscape, which dates back more than 300 million years. The area is protected and conserved as some of its flora and fauna cannot be found anywhere else on Earth!

The rocks that cover this area are often compared to the surface of the moon – and it’s not hard to see why! We were pre-warned by our guide about holding on to our belongings for dear life as it’s pretty easy to drop something down one of the cracks between the rocks, which would then be near impossible to retrieve. You also really have to watch where you’re walking as the opportunities to slip and fall are endless.

Despite all the treachery it’s definitely worth it. I would even go as far as to suggest the visit to this area was my favourite part of the tour. While the Cliffs of Moher are stunning and imposing, the Burren region and mini cliffs were an added bonus that I came to with no expectations, and was left really impressed by!

Bunratty Castle

The final stop on the tour is only brief and designed more for shopping, a toilet or coffee break, than seeing the castle. Ever the optimists, we made it to the castle entrance but decided that with the amount of time we had it wasn’t worth paying the entrance fee (which as of April 2022 is €15.25 for one adult). It’s still a nice pit-stop though and great to see this iconic 15th century building up close.

Tour details

Paddywagon Tours – Cliffs of Moher from Cork

Cost: Adults €60

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Cliffs of Moher by Paddywagon Tours

With tours going to all of Ireland's major attractions, Paddywagon Tours is a great way to see the Emerald Isle. Paddywagon has tours going to the Cliffs of Moher, the Giants Causeway, Kerry, the Blarney Castle, Connemara, Galway, Cork and many more destinations! Paddywagon offers day tours and multiday tours led by 100% Irish guides who will explain the history and myths of the region.

Paddywagon offers tours from Dublin, Cork, Belfast, and Limerick and with the all-Ireland network of hostels, Paddywagon also offers places to stay while you travel! There is also an option to upgrade to a private B&B on the tours. Paddywagon is one of the only companies that operates all year around, so whenever you’re in Ireland Paddywagon has a tour for you! Paddywagon offers a free airport shuttle service and free daily walking tours available to all their guests. Paddywagon Tours is an exciting way to see Ireland, with songs and stories, laughter and folklore and a great journey to remember forever! They are perfect for the young and the young at heart! Everybody is welcome on Paddywagon Tours!

Paddywagon Tours

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Cliffs of Moher Day Tour from Limerick: Including The Wild Altanic Way

Dingle Peninsula Day Tour from Limerick: Including The Wild Altanic Way

Ring of Kerry Day Tour from Limerick: Including Killarney National Park

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

PADDYWAGON TOURS (Limerick) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

The Ultimate One Week Road Trip Itinerary for Ireland

T he island of Ireland is split into two with the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. Even with Brexit there is no passport control or immigration when traveling between the two regions of the island.

In this 7 or 8 days itinerary we drove a total of 1,100 miles (1,800km) and gas cost a total of 160 euros. With only one week in Ireland it is impossible to see everything, but gives you enough time to see the main attractions and highlights across the island. Several of the days were more driving focused than others to squeeze all of Ireland in one week.

While it took us 8 days in Ireland to drive around the island and enjoy the entire itinerary below it is possible to do it as a 7 day itinerary to Ireland, you just have to wake up and get ready first thing each morning, as there is no time to sleep in.

Renting a car in Dublin

How much does it cost to rent a car in ireland, do i need extra car insurance in ireland, what type of car should i rent in ireland, day 1: streets of dublin, day 2: cobh – cork – killarney, day 3: killarney – the dingle peninsula – limerick, day 4: limerick & cliffs of moher – galway, day 5: erris head – downpatrick head – sligo, day 6: castle classiebawn – sliabh liag – glenveagh castle, day 7: northern ireland: dunluce castle, giant’s causeway & belfast, day 8: last day dublin.

Before renting a car in Ireland it is important to know that in Ireland and Northern Ireland you drive on the left side of the road. Our rental car even had a reminder sticker right above the windshield, but it was not our first time driving on the left, so we had no issues. It does take an extra second to remember especially when making turns and driving on an empty road.

We recommend renting a car only for your time outside of Dublin, as within Dublin parking is limited and expensive. Honestly walking between attractions is often quicker. Overnight parking costs upwards of 15 euro near the city center and that is with a discounted rate through the hotel. It is simply not worth the hassle of having a rental car in Dublin, only rent it for when you are leaving the city.

Because we spent the first two nights in Dublin we rented a car from Europcar picking up and dropping off at the Dublin City Centre, Spencer Dock location.

Rental cars in Ireland are relatively cheap compared to other countries that we have rented cars. For a 6 day rental it cost about 180 euro for a Hybrid Toyota Corolla. Had we opted for a smaller vehicle it would have only cost 100 for the 6 day car rental.

The one note of caution for renting a car in Ireland is the required special insurance coverage information to use our credit card rental car insurance that specifically states there is coverage in the Republic of Ireland. It is a simple phone call to the credit card but you might need to explain specifically what you need to the customer support as it goes beyond the normal coverage documentation.

To drive to Northern Ireland is well there is an additional 30 euro fee as it is part of the United Kingdom, with no real explication for the fee other than the rental company would like more money. We only added the Northern Ireland fee in the middle of our road trip via because we did know if the weather would be good enough to warrant the additional driving.

Additional car insurance is required in Ireland and is expensive. We read that If booking through a third party online, the additional insurance they offer is not actually accepted in Ireland and you will need to get insurance coverage directly with the rental car company, which can cost 20-30 euros per day.

Even with full CDW coverage through our credit card we were required to put a 5,000 euro hold on the card in case of any damage. Make sure you have enough credit available on your credit card for the duration of the car rental until the hold is released after retiring the car.

There are several questions to think about when renting a car in Ireland. The first is what size car should you need to rent in Ireland. With narrow roads, tight historic city centers, and limited parking spots, it is best to opt for the smallest car that your group comfortably fits in.

With three people, one checked bag and two carry on bags we chose a Toyota Corolla and the trunk was absolutely full. If you are traveling with two people and less luggage an even smaller car, like the Volkswagen Polo is enough.

7 or 8 Day (one week) road trip itinerary to Ireland and Northern Ireland

Since we have two full days in Dublin split between the start and end of our Ireland road trip, our first day in Dublin was spent mostly strolling along the streets of Dublin along the River Liffey. After dropping our luggage of at our hotel we began exploring Dublin on foot.

We started out walking through the relaxing Saint Stephen’s green park to enjoy some of the bright orange and yellow autumn foliage that was at its peak during our visit. There is also a small memorial in the park dedicated to the peaceful defenders of human rights around the world which is interesting to experience and read.

Heading towards the center of town we passed The Umbrellas Dublin which are colorful umbrellas hanging across the road, effectively in an ally between a few bars and casinos. While it does make for a cute photo spot, it is not really worth visiting if you have to go too far out of the way.

We then made our way to the campus of Ireland’s oldest university, Trinity College Dublin . While it is probably most famous for the Trinity College Library and see the Book of Kells, we opted to just walk through the grounds as it was several hours before the next available tour.

After that we walked into the Temple Bar neighborhood which is probably most famous for The Temple Bar Pub . We had stop inside to experience the bustling atmosphere, live Irish music, and of course get our first, and maybe most expensive, pint of Guinness in Ireland.

Tired from our overnight flight to Ireland we wandered back to our hotel trying to pass through as many beautiful and peaceful neighborhood streets as we could. We stayed at the historic Harcourt Hotel , which is situated an approximately 20 minute walk south of most of the top attractions in Dublin. We read complaints online of the adjacent nightclub being loud, but staying in the middle of the week we encountered no issues ourselves.

Waking up early in the morning I picked up our rental car from the Europcar Dublin City Centre, Spencer Dock location as soon as it opened at 7:30AM to get as much out our day as possible.

After packing up our luggage we began the 4 hour, 170 mile (270km) drive to Cobh . Traffic was relatively light during this drive, but being the first day driving in a new country, the drive did take a little longer as I was getting a feel for the flow of traffic.

Arriving in Cobh, we parked along Spy Hill road for the iconic view of the colorful “Deck of Cards” Houses with St. Colman’s Cathedral in the background. From this viewpoint it is mostly holding your camera above a stone wall to get a beautiful photograph. We then walked around the block to the small West View Park where you can get a similar view, but we do recommend both viewpoints as the park is at the same level as the Deck of Cards houses, so you can’t see the full cathedral.

We then made our way over to St. Colman’s Cathedral where we took a look inside this iconic church and enjoyed panoramic views across downtown Cobh and the entire port. On our way out of Cobh we drove down the main street and stopped for a few minutes to explore some shops before driving on to Cork.

On the way to Cork we stopped at the Blackrock Castle Observatory , which was unfortunately closed when we visited, but it still makes for a beautiful photo, from the edge of the parking lot and right along the water.

We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Downtown Cork on foot walking along Paul St, Drawbridge St, and along both sides of the River Lee on Merchant’s Quay and St Patrick’s Quay. We stopped for an early dinner at Gallagher’s Cork on MacCurtain Street where you will find a wide range of restaurant options.

Since it was already dark by this point and we still have much of Ireland to explore, we continued driving the 90 minutes west to Killarney, where we checked into The Heights Hotel Killarney to get some rest after a long day of driving.

We started off with an early morning hike in Killarney National Park to the Torc Waterfall . It is only a 200 meter walk along a paved path to the waterfall which makes it perfect for every type of visitor. There are additional walking paths through the wooded areas and along Muckross Lake, but did not look as interesting to us.

We made a quick stop at the Ross Castle to enjoy the grounds of this 15th-century. The interior is closed during the winter, when we visited, so could only enjoy the amazing exterior of the Ross Castle.

We then drove 40 miles (60km) out along the scenic Dingle Peninsula stopping at several viewpoints with breathtaking views of the water and Inch Beach. We stopped in the city of Dingle to walk through the colorful fishing village. Make sure to stop by the famous Murphy’s Ice Cream shop and try our favorite homemade ice cream flavor, Dingle Sea Salt flavor.

Making our way out to the end of the peninsula our next stop was Coumeenoole Beach , with its pristine golden sand surrounded by jagged cliffs. It makes for beautiful photos from every angle. Just be careful if you walk around on the beach as it is narrow and relatively flat, which means the turbulent waves can come in quickly, trapping you out there.

From here you can also hike up to Dunmore Head , which is described as the most westerly point In Europe, nearest point to the Blasket Islands. It is also now famously known for being featured in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Based on our limited time and reviews from other visitors, Dunmore Head should be visited if you have the time, but is only really worth it if you are a big Star Wars fan, as there are more beautiful spots to focus on in the region.

Our last stop on Dingle is the iconic Dunquin Pier with its two picturesque pyramid shaped rocks jutting out of the water right beyond the pier. While our favorite photos were actually from atop the cliffs, it is definitely worth walking down to the pier, which serves as which serves as the departure point for the Blasket Island ferry during the summer season.

We then had a 3 hour drive back into the mainland of Ireland, heading north to Limerick. We made a last minute decision to drive the same road out of the Dingle Peninsula to avoid driving through the mountainous Conor Pass to the other side of the peninsula, as we could see heavy rain storms forming.

Checking into the luxurious George Hotel Limerick City , we called it a night as it continued to rain all evening.

We spent the morning walking through Downtown Limerick, primarily walking along the calm River Shannon. The two main highlights you must visit in Limerick are King John’s Castle and Saint Mary’s Cathedral . We spent most of our time just strolling down the streets enjoying our only relaxed morning during the whole Ireland road trip itinerary.

A two hour drive northwest of Limerick is one of Ireland’s most famous attractions, the Cliffs of Moher . When you arrive make sure to head to the main car park on the opposite side of the road from the cliffs. Entrance tickets are €12 per adult, paid for when you park. From there make your way across the street and walk your way up to the top of the cliffs on the right hand side. After enjoying the panoramic views from this angle walk back down, sticking to the cliff edge to the southern end to get multiple perspectives of this breathtaking scenery.

Since the entrance tickets is technically for the parking, you can park a bit south of the Cliffs of Moher Experience at the Cliffs of Moher Liscannor Walk parking lot near Hag’s Head for only €5. The walking path along the cliffs connects between the two, and is open for anyone to walk through. However, this does make you walk a 7km more round trip along the cliffs as the best views are from the northern side.

After 3 hours exploring the Cliffs of Moher, we drove to the nearby village of Doolin which is home to the now Instagram famous pink cottage. Inside is a sweater shop with a great range of high quality merino wool products at the lowest prices we saw around Ireland.

With some new merino wool items in hand, it was a 90 minute drive north to Downtown Galway . After checking in to the chic Western Hotel in Galway we spent the evening walking around Galway and into many of the cute shops lining the streets.

We started in Eyre Square where the Christmas Markets were in full swing by mid-November. We walked down the pedestrian roads through the heart of the Latin Quarter . The route is relatively straight but the road changes names four times during the 10 minute walk from William St, Shop St, High St, to Quay St.

The next morning started off with a 3 hour drive north to County Mayo until we reached Erris Head Loop Walk . It is a 5km walking loop that starts off walking through sheep pasture and then takes you along the rugged west Irish coastline. The route passes near the small ragged Llandavuck Island, which is the perfect place for a photoshoot.

We encountered many wet and muddy patches along the route, so highly recommend wearing waterproof boots. It is also important to remember that the trail starts off cutting through private pasture, respect the owners land and sheep. The walk took us 2 hours in total including stopping for photos.

Back at the car we drove an hour east to Downpatrick Head where you can see the picturesque Dún Briste Sea Stack . We recommend visiting close to sunset as the golden hour glow is out of this world. Standing on the top of the cliffs can be windy, so a jacket is a must. There are no fences, but don’t go too close to the edge, as you cannot see the erosion happening under your feet.

Unsure of how far we would be able to drive at the end of the day, we made a last minute reservation at Castle Dargan Hotel in Sligo, which was still an hour and a half drive from Downpatrick Head. This luxury hotel is nestled on 170 acres estate in a modern renovation of a 18th century Castle. Honestly we wish we had heard about this hotel in advance so we could spend more time at this luxurious countryside oasis.

Remember, with only 8 days in Ireland driving between destinations in the evening can be a good way to maximize the time. Just be careful as roadways in some areas of Ireland are narrow and winding with limited visibility if it starts raining.

Day six is a driving heavy day with over 6 hours in total driving time throughout the day, as we had to make it halfway across Northern Ireland, to make sure we had enough time to see the top attractions in Northern Ireland in just one day.

A one hour drive north of Siglo is the fairytale looking Castle Classiebawn. Although you can’t visit the castle, we stopped at the Castle Classiebawn Viewpoint located across the cliffs, where it is safe to pull off and snap some photos. If you have a telephoto lens or zoom on your phone, now is the time to bring it out.

We then continued driving 2 hours north along the rugged coastline to Sliabh Liag , the second highest sea cliffs in Ireland and some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe. Parking costs €5 for 2hrs and you can drive all the way to the main viewpoint during the off season. Otherwise you have to pay for the shuttle or walk several kilometers.

The cliffs are significantly higher than the Cliffs of Moher, but each offer its own set of beauty. From the viewpoint parking lot at Sliabh Liag are some of the best views. While you can hike up well into the mountains from here, we recommend only about 20-30 minutes uphill to get a nice range of angles to enjoy the view.

After about an hour at Sliabh Liag we continued driving east for two hours until we reached Glenveagh Castle , a late-19th century castle built along the idyllic Lough Beagh, now within the Glenveagh National Park. From the Visitor Center you can take a shuttle bus to the castle for €3 round trip per adult. We arrived just in time for the last shuttle heading out.

Arriving to the castle with only about 20 minutes we quickly paid the €7 entrance fee per person to start our self guided tour. Since the staff had to wait for the last shuttle as well, they let us stay and take our time walking through the castle as they were closing up. We spent about 45 minutes in total walking through the castle, but could have easily spent twice the time if we had it. Just as we finished up the last return shuttle was arriving and it was back to the car to keep driving.

We drove for another 2 hours east in the dark, entering into Northern Ireland until we reached our hotel for the night, ibis Coleraine Riverside . The hotel was comfortable, but only recommended for a short stay as it was showing signs of its age.

Now entering into Northern Ireland from Ireland means we had entered the United Kingdom and while there is no border or passport control, it does mean prices are in British Pounds, not Euros like Ireland uses.

Just a 20 minute drive north of Coleraine is Magheracross View Point with panoramic views of the Causeway Coast’s stunning landscape. If you walk back along the road a little bit you can see Elephant Rock which looks like an elephant jutting out of the cliffs and into the water.

Right next door is the medieval Dunluce Castle which now sits in partial ruin. Tickets are £6 per adult. Walking through this romantic Irish Castle offered many unique photoshoot spots both of the castle itself and the surrounding cliffs. Try to arrive early as when tour buses start to arrive, the complex quickly fills with people.

Then it was on to the most popular attraction in Northern Ireland and one of the most iconic spots in the entire island, Giant’s Causeway , just a 20 minute drive further east. The unique landscape of Giant’s Causeway consists of tens of thousands basalt columns in hexagonal shapes, as tall as 40ft.

Using the main parking lot at the visitor center requires purchasing the visitor center experience in advance, which is not required to visit the Giant’s Causeway. This experience costs £15.50 per adult and includes closer parking, a guided tour, and access to the exhibits.

Otherwise add the Causeway Coast Way Car Park to your GPS at 60 Causeway Road where it costs £10 to park. It is just an extra 5 minute walk to the start of the Giant’s Causeway trail. From here it is 1km walk, about 20 minutes down a paved road to the Giant’s Causeway. There is an option of a shuttle bus which costs £1 per person each direction.

The main spots to visit are the Grand Causeway , Wishing Chair , and Giant’s Boot . There is also a small rock mound that juts out into the water as the most instagrammable spot, just be polite with your time as everyone wants to get a photo here. There are plenty of other spots if you just want to sit and enjoy the view.

You can walk around on the basalt columns, but be careful as they can be slippery, especially when wet or near the water. There are also staff there for your safety so please respect them if they ever make any requests.

We then continued on to Downtown Belfast which is a two hour drive from Giant’s Causeway, making it the perfect day trip from Belfast if you are staying there. We just spent an hour walking around the streets of Belfast, making sure to visit the beautiful Belfast City Hall and many of the surrounding buildings with its impressive facades. After exploring for a bit it was a two hour drive back south from Belfast to Dublin.

Arriving back to Dublin in the early evening we wanted to experience a bit Irish culture and music before the end of our road trip. We attended the Celtic Nights Dinner & Show , which included a three-course meal off a set menu, for €49 per adult. It was a good way to squeeze the experience traditional Irish dance, Irish music, and Irish food into one evening, but felt like we could have experienced a better version of each one outside of this tourist attraction.

For our last night in Dublin we decided to stay on the other side of the historic center at Staycity Aparthotels, Dublin, City Centre located a few blocks north of the River Liffey. Since we arrived to late in the evening to return the car, we had to park it at a garage several blocks from the hotel, at a discounted rate.

For our last day in Ireland we still had to check off some of the best attractions in Dublin off our list. But first, I dropped of the rental car back at the Europcar Dublin City Centre, Spencer Dock location. Two important notes about this rental location are that there is no after hours drop off offered, and they have limited weekend hours, only opening Saturday from 8 AM–1 PM and Sunday 10 AM–1 PM.

We started off at the Dublin Castle , which from 1204 until 1922 it served as the seat of British rule in Ireland. Since Ireland’s independence it has still been used for state ceremonies, with Ireland’s presidents inaugurated in St Patrick’s Hall. Our favorite rooms in the castle are The throne room, The Battleaxe Staircase, the State Drawing Room, The Chapel Royal, and of course St. Patrick’s Hall. Self guided tickets are €8 per adult.

Our next stop is the iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral , Ireland’s largest Cathedral dating back over 800 years. This massive ornate church is well worth the visit and €10 entrance fee per adult.

Dublin once had a vibrant distilling industry district called the Golden Triangle, with business declining dramatically in the early 20th century. Teeling Whiskey Distillery was the first new distillery in Dublin for over 125 years, with an old family distilling knowledge dating back to 1782. Here you can take a guided tasting tour, learning the history, distilling process, and of course how to taste whiskey starting at €20 per person. You can also upgrade your experience with additional small batch and single malt tastings.

No visit to Dublin or Ireland in general would be complete without the Guinness Storehouse Experience . With tickets starting from €20 per adult, experience the multi-story self guided tour to learn about the brewing process and history of Guinness, entry to Guinness Tasting Rooms, ending at the crowded Gravity Bar overlooking Dublin, with an included pint of Guinness.

In my personal opinion, as someone who has been on brewery tours before and has brewed my own beer, most of the experience was built around an amusement park vibe. It is definitely something worth doing once, but will probably not be going back when I am in Ireland again.

That brings us to the end of the ultimate one week road trip itinerary to Ireland, while we stayed one more night in Dublin and left first thing the next morning, you can also get a flight out the same afternoon or evening.

With just 8 days in Ireland it is impossible to see all the attractions, but we were able to visit many of the top things to do in Ireland. We look forward to visiting again soon to visit some more out of the way natural landscapes, and of course taste some more Guinness.

If you have any suggestions of things to do in Ireland or your favorite hidden gems that are missing from this road trip itinerary, please let us know in the comments below so we can check them out ourselves on our next visit to Ireland.

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compare Kilkee and Moher cliffs - Limerick Forum

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We could go to the cliffs of Moher with a tour or go with a local to Kilkee. How do the two cliffs compare. I have always wanted to see this wild coast and one always hears about Moher -- if Kilkee is as impressive we could do that.

Your recommendations and observations?

12 replies to this topic

Not sure that will sell it to my husband who is already afraid of heights LOL

Is the view comparable -- i.e. are the cliffs similarly tall ad scenic?

They're both beautiful, just depends on which fits best into your itinerary.

I agree with oma. If you do visit Kilkee there is a nice looped cliff walk starting at the coffee shop that you can do.

The Cliffs of Moher are more than twice as high and from that they are very impressive. But that does not necessarily mean you will like them more than Kilkee. Both places are special and very scenic.

If in Kilkee you should also drive out to Loop Head.

The Cliffs of Moher are taller, so more visually impressive — some might say, “Iconic”. We’ve visited them a couple of times.

Kilkee is less crowded and less well known. We’ve spent multiple nights there over the years and it will be our first stop on our upcoming trip in July. It’s a lovely sea-side village, that, historically, was mostly visited by Irish tourists.

I find it very relaxing, exceedingly beautiful and welcoming — so, Kilkee would get MY vote!

thanks. This is all helpful-- may try both -- I have learned over the years that when you have longed wanted to see a thing or have a thing, something 'almost as good' or 'different but good' never quite hits the spot. So will do the bus trip on our own and live with the uglies of bus tours to see Moher -- and then explore off the beaten track with our friends who can drive us on the weekend.

This post has been removed at the author's request.

A tour to the Cliffs will likely include SOME of the Burren, as well — so that’s definitely a plus!

Still, spending time with a local whilst touring Kilkee will probably be the most memorable.

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Pick-up Points

• 06:45am - St. Stephen’s Green North - (opposite James Adam & Sons)
• 06:55am - 24- 27 College Green - (H&M / Dublin Bus Stop 1278)

Depart central Dublin

Galway city, burren coastal drive, the cliffs of moher (entrance included), return to dublin, alternative routes.

If this popular route is sold out you may wish to consider one of these...

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Cliffs of Moher Tour from Limerick

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