Cliffs of Moher by Boat from Doolin: Is It Worth Adding to a Galway Trip?
4 min read
The Cliffs of Moher boat tour from Doolin shows you the cliffs from the water in 50 minutes for €30 per person (4.4 stars from 934 reviews). It leaves from Doolin Pier in County Clare, so from Galway you must get yourself there. If you want the transport from Galway and the view from the water in one booking, look at the combined Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher days: their bus tours come back by boat along the base of the cliffs.
What the boat does
According to the Doolin Ferry Company’s page, the boat sails for about 20 minutes to Hag’s Head, then turns back past the sea cave from a Harry Potter film, a sea arch, the surf spot Aill na Searrach, O’Brien’s Tower and the Branán Mór sea stack. There is commentary on board, and a version in several languages through a QR code. The page says seabirds nest on the ledges and that you might see puffins, guillemots, razorbills, and possibly seals, dolphins or basking sharks; those are possibilities, not promises.
Two points from the “know before you go” section matter. Ferries from Doolin run from March to November, seven days a week, weather permitting. And the ferries are wheelchair accessible but the harbours are not, because of tides, so wheelchair users must contact the operator beforehand. The page calls the tour suitable for all ages. Pay-and-display parking applies at the pier.
Four ways to see the cliffs from Galway
| Option | Duration | Price | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doolin boat tour | 50 minutes | €30 | Boat only, starts in Doolin |
| Cliffs of Moher and The Burren Guided Day Trip | 8.5 hours | €55 | Coach from Galway with Burren stops |
| Cliffs of Moher Half-Day Express Trip | 5 hours | €50 | Coach, about 2 hours at the cliffs |
| Cliffs of Moher Guided Coastal Walk | 9 hours | €89 | Group of up to 8, hike from Doolin |
The day trip lists Dunguaire Castle (15-minute photo stop), Poulnabrone Dolmen (20 minutes), lunch in Doolin (45 minutes, optional, extra fee) and 1.5 hours at the cliffs; it names the cliffs entrance fee in the same unmarked list as tips and food, so ask whether it is in the price. The express trip lists 1.5 hours each way and 2 hours at the cliffs, promises access to the visitor centre on arrival and lists wheelchair users as not suitable. The coastal walk starts at Galway Cathedral, with about four hours of hiking that ends at the visitor centre; a taxi back to Doolin is paid to the driver on the day (the page says €20 minimum, or €5 per person with four or more), and wheelchair users are listed as not suitable.
How to combine them
These are separate bookings, and none of the three Galway tours in the table lists a boat. Two combined days from Galway do: they drive to Doolin, take the ferry to Inisheer and return along the foot of the cliffs, as our Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher in one day comparison sets out. The Doolin Ferry page itself says the cruise works on its own or as part of an Aran Islands itinerary; our Aran Islands comparison covers that side. If you would rather reach Doolin on your own timetable, you can compare rental cars for Galway.
Our Cliffs of Moher comparison goes deeper on the coach options, and the Cliffs of Moher tours page lists every one.
