A Guide to the Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are located on the west coast of Ireland, alongside the tourist route the Wild Atlantic Way, in the Burren region of County Clare. Nearby towns and villages include Doolin, Lahinch, Lisdoonvarna and Ennis. 

As can be seen via the image below, the Cliffs of Moher are on the west coast of Ireland, specifically in a region of the country that’s placed below Galway and above Limerick. It is also one of the closest points of the island of Ireland to the Aran Islands. 

For many tourists and visitors the journey towards the Cliffs of Moher will start at various points of Ireland. Below we have listed the average times and distances, via car, from four key locations.

Dublin?

The journey from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher is approximately 260km and usually takes just over 3 hours.

Galway?

The journey from Galway to the Cliffs of Moher is approximately 75km and usually takes just over 1.5 hours.

Dingle?

The journey from Dingle to the Cliffs of Moher is approximately 225km and usually takes just over 3.15 hours.

Belfast?

The journey from Belfast to the Cliffs of Moher is approximately 420km and usually takes just over 4.5 hours.

The Cliffs of Moher are a natural, iconic landmark and one of the most visited tourist attractions in all of Ireland. Approximately 1.5 million visitors, from around the world, come to see and walk the cliffs on an annual basis. 

The cliffs are named after an old promontory fort called Mothar and have been subject to visitor interest for over two centuries now.

On site visitors will be able to enjoy stunning views throughout the 18km cliff walk where the cliffs rise to as high as 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean below. Visitors will also be able to see the famous O’Brien’s Tower and enjoy the visitor centre, opened in 2007, which houses multimedia displays, shops and cafes. 

The height of the Cliffs of Moher, from sea level to cliff face, varies at different points but generally ranges from 390 feet to 702 feet high. 

Weather permitting, stunning views can be enjoyed throughout the 18km cliff walk.

• The Cliffs of Moher are known as “Aillte an Mhothair” in Irish
• The cliffs are home to over 20 species of bird
• The cliffs welcome approximately 1.5 million guests per year
• O’Brien’s Tower has stood as a viewing post for hundreds of years
• Moher Tower has stood since the Napoleonic Wars (1803 – 1815)
• The cliffs were formed approximately 320 million years ago and are primarily made of sedimentary rock

The Cliffs of Moher are a natural landmark exposed to the elements on the west coast of Ireland.

As a result, we would highly recommend that you wear sensible walking or hiking shoes (no matter how much of the 18km cliff path you plan to walk) and pack some sort of coat for wet, windy or cold weather.

Bringing a backpack with snacks and water is also recommended and will give you ample space to store your coat should the weather be particularly warm or dry. 

Opening hours for the Cliffs of Moher vary depending on the time of year primarily due to natural light and weather conditions. The Cliffs of Moher are only closed for three days per year which are the 24th, 25th and 26th of December respectively.

Opening hours are as follows:

• November – February: 9am – 5pm
• March & April: 8am – 7pm
• May – August: 8am – 9pm
• September & October: 8am – 7pm

For more information, and up-to-date opening hours, visit the main Cliffs of Moher website here.

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And with that, you’re ready to go!

If you do visit be sure to send us your Cliffs of Moher snaps and selfies on your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages. 

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