Are the Cliffs of Moher really a must-do?

We were there 2 summers ago. Making the same drive as you described from Dingle on to Galway. I agree it was a swap of people ! From the crazy parking lot to the crowds on the trail to the overwhelmed visitor center..... ugh... I’d definitely skip it !! There are other breathtaking cliffs in Ireland and the Aran Islands were worth it!

Since you’ve been, what do you think? I had been to Ireland twice before. Last year was the third time. Went to the Cliffs of Moher for the first time. It was crowded. I wouldn’t consider it a must do. The views are nice, but you are driving around Slea Head and going to the Aran Islands, some beautiful scenery. I don’t know how much time you have in Galway. I preferred Dingle I might consider going to Connemara if you have the time.

I have been there in September and it was not really crowded at all. Thought it was worth the drive.

I think you might be able to see them from the ferry over to the Aran Islands??

When I went a few years ago on a RS tour they were completely fogged in. I mean, you literally could not see past the path to the edge.

If you are going with 5 adults I do suggest they give you 3 things they want to see. I've planned a few trips for travel with others in my family and it always gets me by surprise when I say "What do you want to see or do?" - then they say "I don't know, whatever you think is best" - then 3/4 of the way thru the trip someone says when will we see "XX" or "YY" or "have time to shop?" Well, I sent you copies of the itinerary to look at as I developed it and gave you a final one a month before we left AND everyone had RS guidebooks available the whole planning process and no one had any input????

Ohhhh....sorry, that sounds bitter, doesn't it? Did not mean that, just make them do some research so you don't have the burden of making everyone happy!

Ireland is beautiful! As are the Cliffs of Moher....but if you get a really cloudy day, then you're not really getting to see them in their full bloom, so to speak.

The drive from the Newgrange (very cool/ancient) to Sligo is really beautiful, so you get that green and the mountainous vistas. And then Sligo is a cool town that's not overrun with tourists (which you might find in Galway). It was a breath of fresh air to get out of Dublin.

So much to see, so little time :) Enjoy!

Our visit to the Cliffs of Moher was in June 2011, just after the visitors center and outside seating areas had been expanded. There were people, but it wasn’t completely packed. We arrived by bicycle, after an arduous, grinding pedal uphill, and as we cruised past the parking lot for cars, even though there weren’t a lot of vehicles parked, the size of the lot suggested there could be times when cars and tour busses might be there in large quantity.

Our Ireland trip last September, by car, included Galway and points north, including the Slieve League cliffs north and west of Sligo, which are supposedly higher than the Cliffs of Moher, and while they were impressive, as well as their nearby rock formations off the coast, they didn’t seem as high nor as impressive as the long, massive, vertical Cliffs of Moher had, seven years earlier. We also visited the Giant’s Causeway and their adjoining 300-foot cliffs up on the north coast of Northern Ireland, which are also breathtaking, but are a long way from Dingle and Galway. There are many stunning landscapes throughout Ireland, but nothing packs a grater cliff punch than the Cliffs of Moher. Even if you’ve looked down from Dun Aengus on Inishmore in the Aran Iskands, and even if you’ve seen other coastlines in Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher are still a must-see for their unique height, breadth, and color. That means, maybe, that they’re a must-see for a lot of other people, too, but maybe getting there first thing when they open, and beating the crowds by just a bit, would make your visit better?

Well, I skipped them and seem to be okay. We focused on the Aran Islands and spent two nights there. We were quite glad that we did. So easy to get up and head out before the day tourists arrive. We had bicycled to Dun Aonghasa right after breakfast and had the clifftop fort almost completely to ourselves. This was plenty of "cliffs" for me. I think that focusing in on the Aran Islands may be the way to go.

Not a must see in our opinion. Over-hyped and overcrowded. There are plenty of other beautiful seascapes to see in Ireland. I agree with Carol that Inishmore and Dun Aengus are a much better use of your time.
If you're still inclined to try to see Moher consider one of the afternoon boats out of Doolin - dramatic views without the crowds.

We stopped at the Cliffs in mid-afternoon, after the tour buses and 95% of people were gone. It was partly cloudy, though we could see the Aran Islands clearly. The wind was absolutely howling-and we loved it. There were probably ten people there. It's not the type of sight where you jump out of the car, look and say "wow", and leave, Grand Canyon style. I think one needs a bit of time there to really absorb it.

Why not play it by ear? See how your time is, note weather, etc. I highly encourage it if you can be there before or after the buses, which may or may not work with the other items for the day. As well, it's not a huge detour to head for The Burren first, then double back to the Cliffs if weather is promising.

You guys are not making my decision any easier!!!

Totally kidding, of course; these comments are incredibly helpful. I'm going to present all of this to my family members and see what they want to do. Although I'm pretty sure they'll just say "We'll do whatever you think"...

Thank you all!!!

Well, Elizabeth, if you ask 10 people, you might get at least 10 different opinions! If you doubt that the Cliffs are going to be the best choice (as you posting to this Forum for our 2 cents worth might indicate), save yourself and your 4 travel companions the time and aggravation to orchestrate it, and avoid them. If anyone asks why you all aren’t going there, just tell ‘em that’s what was the best decision - easy.

Or make an executive decision, join the crowd if there is one, and visit the spectacular Cliffs - no second-guessing - also easy.

Or flip a coin and pick that way - easy as long as the coin doesn’t land on its edge. Have a great trip!

After my May trip I'm glad I didn't go to Moher. I'm just disappointed I went to Dingle. Northern Ireland seemed to be exactly what I expected, so that was good. I made the mistake of covering a few must sees in the Republic that I'd missed on my first trip. They were mostly disappointing because the ratio of tourists to locals seemed to be 20 to one (or more). Who knows what it's like in summer months?

Even in May Dingle was 100 percent tourist trap. Slea head drive is mostly non-sights that charge admission and are open exactly the hours the tour buses operate. I'm glad I saw the Oratories. A good rule on Dingle peninsula, if it has visiting hours, skip it. Actual historical sights can be visited early. I paid 2 euro for one ring fort (drop in a slot), nothing at either of the Oratories or the 12th Century Norman church. Other than that, time on Dingle was a complete waste. If you dropped in at the sights suggested in RS Ireland book, you'd spend 30 to 40 euros in admissions for generally cheesy re-creations - not including what you spend on snacks they sell.

Ring of Kerry has better views and better, less touristed, sights. The traffic on Kerry is primarily people making the ring drive and staying in Kinsale or Killarney which gives Kerry a much quieter feel, outside the daily traffic jam, compared to Dingle. I found I could completely avoid traffic on Kerry pretty easily. Especially out on the end where buses don't go.

I enjoyed the Cliffs of Kerry - even though I was hoping for sunset views and found out they aren't always open. When I did visit, there were a very small number of people (less than ten) in a very large area. I'm not sure I'd say they're better than Moher but they're higher and certainly spectacular.

I enjoyed our overnight on Inish More. I can see how that's becoming too much of an attraction. Not only do you have to pay to visit Dun Aengus, for example, but your photos are polluted with "Don't Climb" signage. As a rule there I'd suggest, the further you walk to see a sight on Inish More, the better chance you will have it to yourself. Going outside the ferry hours also reduced crowds considerably. Unfortunately admission hours for Dun Aengus limits the ability to visit outside of ferry hours. If you can, try the other ring fort. There is also a ring fort up near Derry, Grianon of Aileach, that is worth a visit. There was some signage about open hours there but no locked gates. We had it to ourselves in the morning.

If I planned my trip today, I'd skip Dingle, Moher, Galway and focus more on the northwest. I'd also take any town people suggest seeing off your list and visit only small towns no one has heard of. For my trip the best lodging and best meal was at Roundstone, it was not tourist-free but not nearly overrun.

Biggest disappointment was the lack of traditional sessions. Sure you can see professional musicians seven nights a week playing traditional songs (just like in Temple Bar in Dublin) but there is a completely different feel to local amateurs coming together playing for a local audience for the love of music. The best trad session I saw was a Sunday night in Dublin, that's somewhat damning with faint praise.

my 2 cents and I am going for the first time in October.

When you go to Paris, EVERYONE says did you go up the Tower?

While planning my trip to Ireland, everyone has said " are you going to see the Cliffs of Moher?" so I imagine your family members will get that question once they return home. Then they might feel like they missed out cause so many people will ask that..... We are going but we also have 28 days in Ireland so we are going to a lot of places.

Of course, this is just an opinion......everyone has one....LOL

@photobearsam - you’ll be glad you went. The incredible magnificence of the Cliffs of Moher should be seen, if you’re anywhere near them!

I wonder if there’s one or more guys from Moher, Ireland named Cliff? He/they would never get anything done, because someone would always be trying to see him/them.

I was there mid-July of last year. The only place it was crowded was from about 5-10 minutes worth of walking on either side of the visitor center and at the visitor center. The rest of the 18 km were not crowded at all and the views are great -- and varied. You can park or catch a bus at either end or at the visitor center which is sort of mid-way. There is no entrance fee if you are not parking at the visitor center. I highly recommend an hour or two walk (or more) but not worth going just for the visitor center.

Gosh, Brad.... I’m kind of depressed! We leave in a few weeks, the hight of tourist season, ( unfortunately no choice) and I’m losing hope of a real Irish experience. Hitting all the top spots, but now wondering if I should have planned differently, or headed to a different country?

Susan and Monte, you’ll have a great time in a fabulous country. It’s not like you’re staying home and seeing people on St. Patrick’s day wearing green makeup- whatever you do and see will be real, and Irish, even if some parts may now be catering to visitors.

In Dingle, go to the concert in the church - great setting, great music. Enjoy the drive, whatever the weather. Get ice cream at Murphy’s. Visit the butcher, even if you don’t buy a leg of lamb. Stop in at the music store, and ask their advice about the best CD to buy for a long remembrance of the trip.

We made a point on one trip of having seafood chowder at lunch each day. Never came out of a can, and the ingredients changed from day to day and place to place, but it was always superior. The locals wouldn’t eat it if it wasn’t fresh and good, and the tourists gain from that.

In the Burren area, take a guided tour, and/or lose yourself in the terrain and vegetation that is truly unique.

The Cliffs of Moher have been waiting for your third return, and for the rest of your family to see them their first time. If they can’t get themselves to go without your help, you’ll have enriched their lives by getting them there. Do it this year, or you’ll all be at least a year older, and there could be more tourists if you wait.

A small village between The Burren and Galway, Lisdoonvarna, could be worth a visit. They have an outstanding salmon smoking operation, started by a Norwegian woman who moved there, and their salmon is the absolute best Thing to have with your omelette for breakfast. If it wasn’t an Irish experience 150 years ago, it’s a modern one that everyone should experience today!

Enjoy your trip, and the rest of the family will benefit from all your forethought.

This experience was from 2007, right after the visitor's center opened, so things may have changed a lot.

I was driving from Dingle to Ballyvaughan on a Sunday afternoon on a bank holiday weekend in early June. The parking lot for the Cliffs was jammed, so I kept going. The next evening I drove to Lisdoonvarna for dinner and then onward to the Cliffs to see the sun set. There was almost nobody else there and it was gorgeous.

It would be a longer drive to do this from Galway but might still be worth it. The visitor's center is open till 9 pm in the summer. I was there later than that; the cliffs could be accessed when the visitor's center was closed. I don't know if that's still true or not.

Cyn, thank you so much for your thoughtful post and you great advice! Particularly about what to do in Dingle. I know our trip will be wonderful, and I’m excited to share Ireland with my family. I know they’ll love it!

My husband and I visited Aran Islands in October 2016. We took the earliest ferry from Galway and stayed at AirBB for one night on Inishmore. It was fabulous after all the day trippers left at 4pm. Be prepared for rough crossing and upset stomach. I took ginger candy which helped. We used a different “ferry” the second day from Inishmore to Doolin. It was a smaller vessel and again we needed the ginger candy. Loved the cliffs at Aran Islands and did miss seeing Cliffs of Moher as it was pouring rain when we arrived Doolin.

My family of 4 just returned from our 2 week trip to Ireland & Northern Ireland. I read many posts regarding the value of stopping at COM.
After spending 2 days in Dingle we left early on a Sunday morning for Galway. We took the car ferry in Tarbert, stopped for brunch in Lahinch. It was the only rainy day we had during our entire 14 day trip. In spite of the weather, we decided to stop at the COM. I was traveling with my husband and 2 daughters (23 & 26).
Even though it was absolutely pouring when we were there, all 4 of us were happy that we stopped. We walked both paths to the end. We spent very little time in the crowded visitors center. In spite of the weather, we enjoyed the beauty of the cliffs and we have great photos.
We were dressed for the weather (hiking boots and good rain gear).

We took the small plane over to Inishmore and stayed for a night. This was an absolute highlight of the trip.
Another highlight was the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland. We hiked the 5 miles from Dunsverick Castle (plus 2 additional miles) to the Bayview Hotel, where we stayed. The hike was absolutely breathtaking. The immediate area around the Causeway Visitors Center was very busy because of all the tour buses. If you're able to venture out (away from the visitors center), you can really experience this beautiful coast.
One of our afternoons we drove into Portrush for dinner and stopped at the Royal Golf Club.

We spent a day & a night in Galway (before taking plane to Inishmore). This was enough time in Galway for my crew.

Good luck with your planning. I know it can be stressful planning a trip that will be fun for a group of people. I bounced some things off of my crew and for other things (that required advanced tickets) I just made an executive decision.

We visited the Cliffs in September late in the afternoon, about 4pm, and were so glad we did. Beautiful! It was our last night in Ireland (on our first trip there) and a perfect ending. There is a reason they are popular and like someone said, everyone is going to ask you if you saw them.