Cliffs of Moher Guide

The Cliffs of Moher are Ireland's most-visited natural attraction, and the reason is straightforward once you're standing at the top: a near-vertical wall of rock running for about 14km along the County Clare coast, with the Atlantic hitting the base of it. They're part of the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's signature west-coast touring route.

How high are they, really

The highest point, just north of O'Brien's Tower, reaches roughly 214 metres (702 feet). At the southern end, Hag's Head, they drop to around 120 metres — still substantial, but noticeably lower than the main viewing area most visitors head for.

O'Brien's Tower

A round stone tower near the midpoint of the cliffs, built in 1835 by local landlord Cornelius O'Brien as a viewing point for the visitors who were already coming to see the cliffs even then. On a clear day, the views from the top stretch out to the Aran Islands and Galway Bay.

The visitor centre and admission

The Cliffs of Moher Experience is run by Clare County Council, with an admission fee that includes parking and access to the cliff-top paths from the visitor centre. Fees and opening hours vary and are worth checking directly at cliffsofmoher.ie before you go, since we'd rather send you to the current official price than print a figure here that goes out of date.

The coastal walk

A longer waymarked route, the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk, connects Liscannor and Doolin via the visitor centre and takes roughly 5 hours end to end if you're walking the whole thing — exposed, cliff-edge terrain in places, so it's a fair-weather walk, not a casual stroll. Sections of this route have had safety closures in the past; check current trail status on the official site rather than assuming the full route is open.

Getting there without a car

• From Galway: Bus Éireann route 350 runs between Galway and the Cliffs of Moher via Ennis, with extra daily services in summer — this is the straightforward public transport option.
• From Dublin: there's no direct train or bus; the practical options are a day tour (usually bundled with the Burren and often Galway city) or the public bus via Galway/Ennis, which takes most of a day each way.
• Driving: the cliffs have their own signposted car park at the visitor centre, included in the admission fee.

Planning tips

• Wind and rain move in fast on this stretch of coast — bring a windproof layer even if it's clear when you set off.
• Stick to the marked paths. The cliff edges are unprotected in long stretches and the drop is real.
• Visiting early or late in the day means fewer coach tours at the main viewing platform near the visitor centre.

Related reading

• Best Day Trips from Dublin