Ireland’s west coast is one of those places that photographs simply cannot do justice. This full-day tour from Dublin takes you across the country to the Cliffs of Moher and Galway, with an Italian or Spanish speaking guide making the journey accessible and entertaining for non-English speakers. It is a long day at 12 hours, but every stretch of road brings something worth seeing.
Galway is your first major stop, and the city delivers exactly what you hope for from an Irish town. Cobbled side streets full of buskers and craft shops, brightly painted pubs spilling live music onto the pavement, and a riverside walk that leads to a striking cathedral. You get 1.5 hours of free time here, which is enough to wander, grab lunch, and soak up the atmosphere before heading south towards the coast.
The Burren is unlike anywhere else in Ireland - a vast expanse of cracked limestone that looks almost lunar, yet hides wildflowers in its crevices and ancient dolmens among its rocks. Your guide provides commentary as the coach crosses this strange terrain on the way to the Cliffs of Moher. Standing 220 metres above the Atlantic, the cliffs are genuinely awe-inspiring. You have two full hours to walk the path along the cliff edge, watch puffins and other seabirds wheeling below, and visit the exhibition at the visitor centre.