Star of a million tourist brochures, the Cliffs of Moher is the most popular sight in Ireland outside of Dublin – at peak times the site can pull in more than 10,000 visitors per day. The views are certainly spectacular – the vertical cliffs rise to a height of 203m in a series of receding headlands – but the crowds can be overwhelming.
Visitor Centre
Covered in turf and cut into the hillside, the state-of-the-art Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre has engaging exhibitions that span two floors and cover the fauna, flora, geology and climate of the cliffs. Hear stories from the guides about the formation of the cliffs, the traditions of busking and local characters. At the back of the circular exhibition area is the "Ledge Experience," a virtual-reality film that takes you flying over the cliffs and diving into the ocean below before returning to the clifftop for a bird’s-eye view.
O’Brien’s Tower
A 10-minute walk leads from the visitor center to O’Brien’s Tower at the highest point of the cliffs. It was built by the local landowner in 1835 as an observation point for visitors – you can clatter up the spiral iron staircase to the rooftop viewing platform for the best photo op. On a clear day, you can see the Aran Islands just off the coast, and in the distance, you can often spot the Twelve Pins in Connemara on the far side of Galway Bay.
Spotting Wildlife
The Cliffs of Moher are one of the most important seabird-nesting sites in Ireland and a huge draw for birdwatchers. More than 35 species of birds call the cliffs home, including razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes, guillemots, choughs and peregrine falcons. The largest colony of puffins in mainland Ireland is on Goat Island, the long, narrow, grass-topped promontory below O’Brien’s Tower. Early May to late August is the best time to see nesting birds here.
Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk
An 11km hiking trail (part of the Burren Way) runs along the top of the Cliffs of Moher, linking Liscannor in the south to Doolin in the north via the visitor center. However, erosion of the cliff edge has created a serious safety hazard – two people died after falling from the clifftop in separate incidents in 2024 – and the trail is currently closed except for a 2km section either side of the visitor center where a wall separates walkers from the cliff edge.
Although you can follow the trail for 5km south from Doolin to a point on the road 1km north of the visitor center, there is currently no pedestrian access all the way to the center. At the south end, you can walk five minutes to Hag’s Head from a privately run car park (€5 per car) for a view of the cliffs, but no further. There are plans to rebuild the path further inland with new viewing platforms, but as yet no timescale for reopening.
Cliffs of Moher Cruises
A great alternative to battling the crowds on the clifftop is to experience the cliffs from the sea. Boat trips with Doolin Ferry (doolinferry.com) depart from Doolin Pier up to four times daily and last 45 minutes – the last trip of the day is the best for photography. Boats get up close to the rocks, and you can peer into the sea cave used as a location in the movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.