The Cliffs of Moher are arguably the top attraction to see in Ireland.
And I would argue that they’re not worth seeing at all!
Now, before you throw your fists up in a heat of rage, hear my out.
They’re hard to get to, weather dependant, and not even the tallest cliffs in Europe, or even Ireland!
So, before blindly running to see the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, I want to show you another perspective. There might just be a better way fox you to spend your time on the Emerald Isle.
Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!
This Is My Opinion Only – Based On My Experiences!
As I said, this is my opinion based on my experiences. I’m just trying to shed light on the fact that running to the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland might not be the best for you.
So although it might not be the most popular opinion, I think it’s important to discuss. This way, you can make a more educated decision if the Cliffs are worth visiting on your trip.
I Actually Skipped The Cliff Of Moher My First Time To Ireland
I also want to point out that I’m not telling you to do something that I never actually did.
I’ve been to Ireland twice now, but my first time there, I decided to not visit the Cliffs of Moher.
I was staying in Dublin for a few days with my sister, and we had a few extra day to explore a bit more of Ireland from the city.
So, we had to decide which day trips from Dublin we should do. The Cliffs of Moher were an option that we were considering, but ultimately we decided against it.
We decided to visit Belfast with the Giant’s Causeway, and Cork with the Blarney Castle, instead.
And we didn’t regret a thing!
My Tours From Dublin
Blarney Castle & Cork (with the Rock of Cashel) →
Northern Ireland Highlights Tour (with Belfast & Giant’s Causeway) →
For more organized tours from Dublin, click here.
Visiting The Cliffs Of Moher In Ireland On My Second Visit
I had the opportunity to go back to Ireland with my partner a few years later.
At this point, it felt a little silly to have been to Ireland twice, but never visited their top attraction.
So this time, instead of staying in Dublin for the whole trip, we planned a stay in Galway… just to see the Cliff of Moher.
After a last minute change of plans due to weather, we had one of our most exhausting days of the trip – but – we got to finally see the famous cliffs in Ireland.
So, instead of having a relaxing day arriving in Ireland, we had 3 hour drive straight from the airport. But this way we saw the cliffs in the sun rather than the pouring rain.
And after having finally seen the Cliffs of Ireland, I’m so happy I didn’t visit them 4 years earlier with my sisters.
Now I just feel bad that I dragged my partner to see some oversized cliffs right off the plane instead of the Giants Causeway!
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Why Visit The Cliffs Of Moher
There’s no denying that the Cliffs of Moher are one of the top things to do in Ireland.
They’re a giant cascading seaside cliff that is almost 14 km long! With a surreal and terrifying drop in to the North Atlantic ocean below. It really is a breathtaking view!
The Cliffs make a surreal photography spot (especially during sunset!).
They’ve also been featured in several films over the years (like Leap Year here, and even Harry Potter here!).
Why Skip The Cliffs In Ireland…
Just because the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland are one of the top things to do in the country, doesn’t mean you should go.
I want to give you a different perspective on visiting the Cliffs. So a visit might not be right for your on your trip to Ireland, and here’s why…
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The Cliffs Are Very Weather Dependant
The cliffs are outside, and that means that seeing them (and enjoying it!) are very weather dependant.
They can either be amazing or a complete waste of time to visit. And, you can only really know what the weather is like once you’re actually there.
If the sun is shining, they are lit up and you can see the full cascade of the seaside cliffs.
But, this is Ireland we’re talking about… and for the most part, the sun is not shining.
So there’s a high chance that you’ll be visiting the Cliffs in the rain.
It’s never fun touring in the rain, and it’s especially a completely outdoor activity.
Then there’s also a chance that the fog is so thick that you won’t even be able to see the Cliffs at all!
And finally, these are seaside cliffs, so the wind can be quite hazardous. Depending on the severity of the wind, they can actually completely close the visitors centre and evacuate everyone from the area (check the weather information here).
So you have to be prepared for anything.
P.S. If you do decide to visit the Cliffs, make sure you are flexible on when you visit. We made a last minute decision to change our plans so we could see the cliffs in the sun rather than the rain, which was the forecast for the following day.
But this also meant we hopped off our flight from Iceland, drove 3 hours to the Cliffs, and then an hour an a half back to Galway… all in one day.
But, we had no other choice. The day we arrived was beautiful and sunny, the following day poured NON STOP! So at least we were happy with that decision!
Read more about my tips for visiting the Cliffs here (post coming soon).
The Moher Cliffs Are A Hassle To Get To
The Cliffs are not close to any major city in Ireland.
Dublin is 3 hours away, Galway is an hour an a half, and Limerick is an hour and 15 minutes by car.
So the best way to see the Cliffs is actually not from Dublin…
But, the road conditions are the best from Dublin as you’re on a major highway for the majority of the drive.
Top Day Trips From Dublin – Viator Organized Tours
Cliffs of Moher, Wild Atlantic Way, & Galway →
Blarney Castle & Cork (with the Rock of Cashel) →
Northern Ireland Highlights Tour (with Belfast & Giant’s Causeway) →
Kilkenny, Wicklow Mountains, & Glendalough from Dublin →
For more organized tours from Dublin, click here.
But whichever route you choose, you can’t escape the narrow winding roads leading up to the Visitors Centre… which are two way roads that only really fit a car and a half…
And to make matters worse, for most people, you will be driving on the wrong side of the road.
What About Booking An Organized Tour?
Typically, a safer, less stressful alternative to driving in a foreign country is to book an organized tour. But that of course comes with it’s own sets of problems.
The problem with booking an organized tour to the Cliffs is that you tend to have to book those in advance… before you know the weather reports.
So now you’ve potentially paid a lot to see nothing… and spend a lot of time in the bus. This was the main factor for us when I was in Ireland the first time to not visit the Cliffs.
There’s Not That Much Else At The Cliffs…
There’s also not too much to do at the cliffs themselves.
They’ve set up a nice visitors centre, with about a 25 minute walk, a short exhibition, and some restaurants and shops.
The total recommended time at the Cliffs is about 2 hours. Which is about how much time we spent, but only because we went to the wrong entrance first. I think we would have spent way less time otherwise.
The exhibition looked like it was great for families with children, but nothing that really interested us.
The shops were closed when we arrived.
And we didn’t come for a meal time to enjoy one of the restaurants (and they don’t have great reviews anyway).
So, you can be travelling quite a ways for a 30 second view…
What About The Cliff Walk?
How silly of me! I completely forgot about the Cliff Walk at the Cliffs of Moher!
As it turns out, the Cliff Walk is not actually a part of the Cliffs of Moher Experience. The Cliff Walk is at your own risk… and for good reason.
You really shouldn’t be leaving the Cliffs of Moher Experience area. Here, there are well define barriers and a nice wide paved path to walk along to the different viewpoints.
The cliff walk on the other hand is exactly what it sounds like. There’s no barrier, and you’re on the cliffs edge on a narrow, uneven path.
We started a bit of the cliff walk from the South entrance and decided to turn back. It was absolutely terrifying. We also had decent weather, but I can’t imagine the path after some rain, or even with stronger winds.
Big Cliffs, Big Deal… (You See One Cliff You See Them All!)
This might just be my most controversial point yet. But big cliffs, big deal!
Most places have cliffs. This is not the first set of cliffs that I’ve seen, and they certainly won’t be my last!
We had a running joke on my first trip to Ireland (after we decided to skip the Cliffs of Moher entirely), that any cliff we saw were the Cliffs of Moher!
Then after I saw the cliffs, that joke rung even more true! A cliff is a cliff is a cliff!
And, the best part is….
The Cliffs Of Moher Aren’t Even The Tallest In The World, Europe, Or Even Ireland…
Can you believe it!
The highest points is 702 feet.
But, Sliabh Liag in Ireland are actually the highest accessible sea cliffs in Europe. They’re 1,972 feet tall – that’s almost three times as high as the Cliffs of Moher.
See how the Cliffs of Moher compare to the tallest seaside cliffs in the Europe here.
One Of The Deadliest Tourist Attractions In The World
So, they might not be the tallest, but they might just be one of the deadliest!
There are an average of 10 deaths a year at the Cliffs of Moher!
To be fair, I think these deaths could have been avoided if they stayed in the barrier of the park.
But, I also don’t know why they can’t make the Cliff Walk at least a bit safer, or just don’t make it accessible to everyone!
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Better Alternatives To The Cliffs Of Moher From Dublin
There are so many better (safer and more unique) places to visit in Ireland from Dublin.
Swap The Cliffs For The Giants Causeway Instead
My first time in Ireland, instead of seeing the Cliffs of Moher, I booked an organized tour to the Giant’s Causeway and Belfast.
It’s about the same distance from Dublin and both sites are a UNESCO world heritage site. But a lot more history and culture were packed in to the day.
Not to mention, it was not nearly as weather dependant!
The black cab tour in Belfast was a highlight of our trip as well.
The Giant’s Causeway wasn’t too bad either! It’s an unbelievable pillar rock field that I haven’t seen anywhere else (unlike cliffs!). Well, I have seen similar rocks in Iceland, but you couldn’t walk on them, and there weren’t nearly as many.
If I compare that day, to the stressful day I had visiting the Cliffs of Moher, it’s not even comparable. I would choose the Giants Causeway with a tour in Belfast any day!
Swap The Cliffs For The Howth Cliff Walk
Howth is a fishing village that’s only 45 minutes from Dublin! It’s doesn’t get easier than that!
And! They have a gorgeous (albeit just as scary) cliff walk you can enjoy – if that’s what you were looking for!
Howth gives you a similar experience with less of the hassle of getting there.
There’s an organized tour that takes you from Dublin to Howth (see it here) or you can even take public transit.
Plus, the walk was arguably more beautiful because it was lined with purple and yellow flowers at times. And, it’s better because there are a few trails to choose from, all looping back to the town!
But, if you aren’t up for the cliff walk itself, you can actually drive to the best viewpoints (see how in my Howth guide here!).
Howth Cliff Walk Organized Tours
Howth cliff walk with local guide →
For more organized Howth Tours, click here.
If You Still Want To Go To The Cliffs…
If you’re still keen on visiting the Cliffs, which is understandable, then read my guide for how to do it properly.
You want to make your most out of your time in Ireland.
There are a few things you can do to raise your chances of seeing the cliffs in all their glory.
Viator Tours To The Cliffs Of Moher Galway
Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, & Poulnabrone Dolmen from Galway →
Cliffs of Moher (with cruise) & Aran Islands from Galway →
For more organized Ireland Cliffs of Moher Tours, click here.
Need A Place To Stay In Dublin?
I’ve stayed in Dublin twice, at very different places, and would honestly recommend both depending on your budget and type stay!
For a budget friendly option, stay at a hostel, I really enjoyed staying at The Abbey Court Hostel (see it on Booking.com). We couldn’t beat the location, on the River Liffey, included breakfast, and loved the interior design with all the graffiti! See updated rates and availability here.
When I came back to Dublin with my partner, we stayed at the Zanzibar Locke Hotel (see it on Booking.com). This was perfect for the stay we needed, with more apartment vibes equipped with a washing machine and kitchenette. See updated rates and availability here.
Click here for more hotel options in Dublin, Ireland
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Read More Related Posts
- How To Visit The Cliffs Of Moher From Galway (& Actually See Them!)
- Top 15 Things To Do In Galway Your First Time Visiting
- Should You Visit Howth Ireland: An Easy Day Trip From Dublin
- Dublin Ireland: A Complete Guide For What To Eat, See & Do
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Last update on 2024-05-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API