If you have not read my Dublin guide, I advise you to check that out here first because it has all the details about visas; arrival, transport, and how many days you should plan your trip. I also have my guide to Dublin, a great base/starting point for a road trip in Ireland. Ideally, I would have wanted to rent a car and have two weeks to explore at my pace. Unfortunately, I did not have the time or the funds, so I chose the next best alternative, using a tour company to see a few of what makes Ireland such a special place and why I recommend it for your bucket list.

I chose Wild Rover tour company - I am not sure why exactly, I must have been cost-related and perhaps their line up; but it ended being the best decision because their tour was so excellent, I booked another (unplanned) day trip with them. The arrival time for the Cliffs of Moher tour was 6:55 am, which was very challenging for me since I stayed in a suburb of Dublin. Thankfully, you can get an Uber just about any time of day, so I could make it with enough time to grab a coffee and a snack before the trip started. I occasionally get car sick, so they graciously saved me a seat up front after emailing them.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: This is a full-day tour. The Cliffs of Moher is in the West of Ireland - the drive from Dublin was just over three hours, and there were some narrow, windy roads along the way. Now, because it is a tour, not everything will be to your satisfaction, so here are few things I recommend bringing along: wipes; drinks (something in a bottle); any hot drinks are prohibited just in case it spills and burns someone; appropriate snacks i.e., nothing smelly that would make the ride uncomfortable for other passengers; books and a neck pillow. Wear appropriate clothing and shoes; have an umbrella or a raincoat. I was traveling in June, and while Dublin had nice weather once we arrived at the cliffs, it started to drizzle; it was very windy and cold and due to ran earlier in the week, parts of the path were muddy. The right shoes came in very handy. Finally, listen to the tour guide; there are so much history and beauty in Ireland that I would have missed if I did not. That said, also pack (noise-canceling) headphones for when the drive is quiet; there was a very loud couple on my bus who would not shut up; they were so bad they were talking over the tour guide and had to be told to keep quiet a few times.

STOP 1 - We had a bathroom stop in a small town that happens to be where former President Obama’s family trace their origin; they are so beloved, there is a statue of he and his wife at the main stop in the town. This stir was just long enough to stretch; use the bathroom, and grab a picture of the Obama’s if you want.

STOP 2 - The Cliffs. We arrived at the Cliffs at about 11 am. The tour tickets also include tickets to the Cliffs of Moher and the photographic exhibition; Once we got tickets, we were on our own to explore. This stop was for two hours, and there is so much beauty here and a few trails you can explore, including O’Brien’s tower, views of Galway Bay and Aran Islands. There are bathrooms in the welcome center and a cafe to grab sandwiches or a drink.

STOP 3 - After our time at the Cliffs, we drove along the Wild Atlantic way to Burren National Park. This stop is one of those you have got to see for yourself spots; never seen anything like it, including megalithic tombs older than the pyramids. Our stop here was short; wish we had more time, but that is one of the downsides of a tour - you cannot always go at your pace.

STOP 4. Our finals top was in Galway. We arrived in Galway just after 3 pm, so I recommend that you grab a bite to eat while at the Cliffs; if you have lunch earlier. The ticket includes a 1/2 guided tour of the city, lovely, but I was starving and could have done without it. We got two hours here so you can opt to explore on your own if you prefer. As I said, I was starving, so after the tour, I found a spot for some fish and ships and then sort out a highly recommended ice cream spot (Murphy’s) and a pie spot, which did not disappoint. I spent the rest of the time strolling along the main street watching street performers.

The day/time in Galway ended at about 5:30 pm. then it was time to start the 2.30-hour journey back to Dublin. It was a long day on the road, but there was no other option to see these spots on my own without a car. The trade-off of a long day was worth it.