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Dublin to Cliffs of Moher Private Luxury Day Tour
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From €1170 per person
This is a fully private day out from Dublin, taking you all the way to the Cliffs of Moher on Ireland’s west coast - and back - with a handful of genuinely worthwhile stops along the way. You travel in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, so the journey itself is comfortable, and your guide keeps things personal throughout.
The route takes you across Ireland from east to west, through the limestone landscape of the Burren, past Galway Bay, and along stretches of the Wild Atlantic Way. It’s ideal if you want to see the west coast without the logistics of driving yourself or sharing a coach with strangers.
Dunguaire Castle, Kinvara - Your first stop, about 2.5 hours from Dublin, is Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara, County Galway. This 16th-century tower house sits on a rocky outcrop overlooking the bay and was once the seat of King Guaire of Connaught, a figure celebrated in Irish tradition for his hospitality. (15 min)
Hazel Mountain Chocolate Factory, the Burren - A family-run chocolate maker housed in a stone building in the heart of the Burren. A good place to stretch your legs and pick up something local. (15 min)
The Wild Atlantic Way - Ballyvaughan to Doolin - From here, the route follows the Wild Atlantic Way through the villages of Ballyvaughan, Fanore, and Doolin, with Galway Bay and the Atlantic to your right and the limestone Burren mountains rising to your left. This stretch leads you directly to the Cliffs of Moher. (pass by)
Cliffs of Moher - The main event. These sea cliffs rise up to 214 metres above the Atlantic and stretch for roughly 8 kilometres. On a clear day you can see the Aran Islands from the clifftop. Seabirds nesting here include guillemots, razorbills, and Atlantic puffins. Your Cliffs of Moher entrance tickets are included. (120 min)
Lunch in Liscannor - A break in the nearby village of Liscannor at a traditional Irish gastropub. This is your main meal stop for the day. (60 min)
Bunratty Castle, photo stop - On the way back, you stop at Bunratty for a look at the 15th-century castle before the final drive back to Dublin, which takes approximately 2.5 hours. (15 min)
Kinvara: get out and walk the pier. The 15-minute stop at Dunguaire Castle is short, but if you step down to the harbour wall you get the full picture - the red stone tower catching the light, Galway Bay opening up to the north, the Burren limestone climbing away to the south. It’s one of the most photographed spots in Connacht for good reason. Spend a couple of minutes at Kinvara harbour itself as well as the castle.
The Ballyvaughan to Doolin stretch is the tour’s real gift. The Wild Atlantic Way coastal road from Ballyvaughan north through Fanore and down to Doolin runs with Galway Bay on one side and the exposed limestone Burren on the other. Fanore has a long sandy beach backed by grey karst pavement - an anomaly in limestone country that looks deliberate. Keep an eye out as you pass through: the beach sits right where the Burren meets the sea.
Lunch at Liscannor: Vaughan’s Anchor Inn is the one. The Vaughan family have run it since 1979 and it’s Michelin-recommended for seafood. If you’re stopping in Liscannor village, the chowder and fish dishes are the thing to order. Bar food is a tier down from the restaurant and still very good - and faster if time is tight. Walk down to the pier afterwards while the car is waiting.
Bunratty: come at a thoughtful hour. The late-afternoon stop at Bunratty Castle is a photo opportunity, and that’s what this short stop is designed to be. The castle is 15th century and genuinely worth a look. If you have even twenty minutes to spare before the Dublin drive, Bunratty village has Durty Nelly’s pub directly at the foot of the castle - one of the oldest pubs in Ireland, and a proper one before the evening banquet crowd arrives.