Clare · Ireland

Clare and the Falésias de Moher

The Falésias de Moher, rising up to 214 metres above the Atlantic, the limestone landscape of the Burren, the village of Doolin with music in its pubs, and the town of Ennis, with the 13th‑century Franciscan friary.

Munster

In the photo: Falésias de Moher, Clare

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Send your photos

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The county of Clare lies on Ireland's west coast, between Galway Bay to the north and the estuary of the River Shannon to the south. It is home to the Falésias de Moher, sandstone and shale cliffs that stretch for about 14 km above the Atlantic and reach 214 metres in height, and the Burren, a region of bare limestone cracked into slabs where alpine and Mediterranean flowers grow side by side. The two form the Burren and Falésias de Moher UNESCO Global Geopark.

Doolin, the village closest to the falésias, is the coastal base: a handful of houses scattered along the road down to the pier, with pubs known for traditional music and the harbour from which boats depart for the Ilhas Aran and to view the falésias from the sea in season. Nearby are Doolin Cave, with a 7.3‑metre stalactite, and the Burren roads, with the Poulnabrone dolmen, a tomb more than 5,000 years old.

Inland, Ennis is the county town, a place of narrow streets and shops, with Ennis Friary, a Franciscan friary founded in the 13th century by the O'Brien, kings of Thomond, and O'Connell Square at the centre. Twenty kilometres away, near Shannon Airport, stands the Castelo de Bunratty, from the 15th century, with a park that recreates a 19th‑century Irish village.

Shannon Airport, in the south of the county, receives flights from Europe. It can rain at any time of year, and the wind on the falésias is strong.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Doolin, Ennis.

Share: WhatsApp

Traveler, share your experiences through photos Up to 5 photos of each place you visited.

One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Clare and the Falésias de Moher is

Contornos: © Tailte Éireann, National Statutory Boundaries 2026, CC BY 4.0. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Clare and the Falésias de Moher

✈ Aeroporto de Shannon (Shannon Airport) (SNN), in Shannon · 65 km to Doolin

Check before booking. Shannon Airport (SNN), in the south of Clare, is 25 km from Ennis and about 65 km from Doolin. From Galway, Doolin is about 75 km via the Burren coast, and Ennis about 70 km via the motorway. Ennis has a train station on the Limerick–Galway line; Doolin is served by buses.

Suggested arrival point: Doolin

Clare · Clare and the Falésias de Moher Suggested arrival point

Doolin

Doolin is a village spread along the Aille River, between the Burren and the Atlantic, 7 km from the Falésias de Moher. The pubs are known for traditional music, and in season boats leave from the pier for the Ilhas Aran and to view the falésias from the sea. It is the base for the falésias, Doolin Cave, the Poulnabrone dolmen and the Burren.

Clare · Clare and the Falésias de Moher Capital

Ennis

Ennis is the county town of Clare, on the banks of the Rio Fergus, with narrow shopping streets, music pubs and O'Connell Square at its centre. The town is home to the Ennis Friary, a Franciscan convent founded in the 13th century by the O'Brien. 20 km away, near Shannon Airport, is the Castelo de Bunratty, with its 19th-century village park.

The local experience

Things to do in Clare and the Falésias de Moher

Doolin · Clare · Viewpoint

Cliffs of Moher

Cliffs of sandstone and shale stretching about 14 km over the Atlantic and reaching 214 metres in height, with the Torre de O'Brien from 1835 and a visitor centre carved into the hillside.

Ennis · Clare · Monastery

Ennis Friary

Ruins of the Franciscan convent founded in the 13th century by the O'Brien, kings of Thomond, with the Gothic chancel window, cloister and stone sculptures from the 15th and 16th centuries.

Doolin · Clare · Park

Burren National Park

The national park in the heart of the Burren, a region of bare limestone cracked into slabs, with lakes that appear and vanish, stepped hills and alpine and Mediterranean flowers growing side by side.

Ennis · Clare · Neighborhood

Centro histórico de Ennis

The narrow streets of Ennis's centre, around O'Connell Square and the statue of Daniel O'Connell, with family shops, traditional-music pubs and alleys leading down to the Rio Fergus.

See 3 more places in Clare and the Falésias de Moher

Ennis · Clare · Castle

Bunratty Castle & Folk Park

Stone castle dating from 1425, restored and furnished with 15th- and 16th-century pieces, and next to it a park that recreates a 19th-century Irish village, with farmhouses, shops and the main street.

Doolin · Clare · Archaeological site

Poulnabrone Dolmen

Neolithic stone tomb, about 5,500 years old, on the top of the Burren limestone: a capstone supported on vertical stones, where remains of more than 30 people were found.

Doolin · Clare · Cave

Doolin Cave

Limestone cave 5 km from Doolin with one of the largest suspended stalactites in Europe, 7.3 metres long, seen on a guided tour that descends 80 steps, and a nature trail across the farm.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From April to September, with long days and the Doolin boats operating. From April to July puffins are usually seen on the falésias during the breeding season, and from May to June the Burren is in bloom. July and August are the busiest months at the falésias. In winter, wind and rain can close sections of the trail and boats stop. Rain can fall at any time of year.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

A full day covers the Falésias de Moher and a tour of the Burren as a day trip from Galway. With two nights in Doolin you can walk the cliff trail, take the boat to the Ilhas Aran or to see the falésias from the sea, and spend the evenings in the pubs. Ennis and Bunratty require an extra half day on the way to Kerry or the airport.

Which city to stay in

Doolin is the base for the falésias and the music: guesthouses, hostels and houses spread between Fisherstreet and the pier. Lisdoonvarna, 8 km away, has old spa‑season hotels. Ballyvaughan, in the north of the Burren, is quiet and close to Poulnabrone. Ennis, the county town, has hotels in the centre and serves those travelling by train or heading for Shannon Airport.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Clare and the Falésias de Moher

Can you visit the Falésias de Moher as a day trip?

Yes. From Galway, day tours visit the falésias and the Burren, and by car it takes about 1h30. From Dublin there are also tours, but it makes for a long day: roughly 3h30 on the road each way.

How many days to stay in Clare?

One day for the falésias and the Burren; two or three to stay in Doolin, walk the trail, take the boat and see Ennis and Bunratty.

Do I need a car in Clare?

It helps a lot. There are buses from Galway and Ennis to Doolin and the falésias and daily tours, but the Burren is best explored by car. In Ireland you drive on the left, and the Burren roads are narrow, between stone walls.

When are puffins seen on the falésias?

They usually appear from April until the end of July, during the breeding season, on the slopes near the Torre de O'Brien. Outside that period the birds head out to the open sea.

Explore other destinations Search by state and city