Visiting the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland – Tips for a Great Trip

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Visiting the Cliffs of Moher is something that should be on every Irish travel itinerary.

Places like this tell the historical story of Ireland, and visiting the Cliffs of Moher supports the historical part of any trip.

The Cliffs of Moher have faced off against the wrath of the Atlantic Ocean winds and waves.

In fact, they are no worse for wear after over 350 million years.

Weather changes in the blink of an eye. Odd terrain, a high point of over 700 feet, and a span of over 5 miles are not to be missed.

It’s like an all-inclusive package of fun when you visit this geo-location UNESCO attraction in Clare County, Ireland. 

In the few hours we visited here, we experienced, rain, mist, wind, sun and more rain.

We visited in February in case you are curious, but you will bear witness to this in all of my photos.

Crazy weather and a very camera-worthy journey to the top! 

We spent a few hours here and we felt the wrath of the cliffs and water sinisterly meeting, yet were left with mouths gaping their beauty.

Here are my tips for visiting the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland. 

Tips For Visiting the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland

Visiting the Cliffs of Moher as hosted guests of CIE TOURS, truly gave us an advantage over others just traveling around Ireland.

Our driver (Brian) provided both history and what I shall declare as ‘fun danger alerts’ everywhere we stopped. 

The weather was honestly unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

It was not too cold until we got up the steps and then, the wind came and the chill that accompanied that wind was certainly not nice.

Then, when we got to the top and were standing in front of the ‘under construction’ O’Brien’s Tower, it began to pour! 

My suggestion is at least 3 hours, so you can take your time, and get into the Visitors Center and eat, and refresh, while still enjoying the views of the Cliffs of Moher.

That is the center in the mountain, so cool right?

Alerting us to what to really look for (hints) and of course what to watch out for.

Rightly so, as we were all new to Ireland and there’s stuff you must realize before you venture to any tourist attraction, historical site, and even hotel. 

I’ll start with the best advice first because if you don’t read further, I want you to understand where my tips are going. 

Visiting the Cliffs of Moher Requires an Iconic Shot

Photographers, be careful when visiting the Cliffs of Moher.

There’s a difference between capturing a shot and capturing your last shot. Use the path, follow the steps, don’t overstep your boundaries, as it can lead to death. Simply put and forwardly honest. 

Our driver said it like this, “if you are going to take unnecessary risks, please keep your hand on the SHOOT button on your way down, so we can sell those most infamous shot!”

Height, slippery and windy conditions are NOT your best friends here. 

While the scenery beckons risk-takers, understand this a natural setting, a preserved environment, and you need to be mindful of this. Stay behind the wall, or on the path. End of story. 

Dress for the Weather

Wow is all I can say, what fun. You see the smile ear to ear, right?

Now one girl was getting her photo in the same spot before me, she was much taller and the wall did not shield her, she was a hot mess before it was all done.

I wish I would have photoed that! 

Behind me, a storm is on us, but we just had to stop. Once in lifetime greenery and scenery. 

We started out on the Main Platform. From the main platform, we could see the South Cliffs and Hags Head.

It’s a great starting point before setting off either to the left or to the right.

During our day, the wind was relentless.

Our guide explained to us that the wind can pass you by on the front and then get you from the back.  

If you are here in February as we were, I suggest a parka that is waterproof and warm.

At times I had my hood up from the wind and rain. Other times, it was just windy. 

You can see how misty it got from the time we went up and down. 

This picture is the South Cliffside and at the very end is Hags Head.

We stopped walking at one point due to a lack of time and weather conditions. (It was so windy and wet).

We took this from the Main platform.

Honestly, I’ve never seen Michael so into a destination. Ireland captured his heart and the Cliffs of Moher just stunned him.

I actually think he spent more time behind his camera than I did behind mine. 

The storms would roll in and out, and that is the norm during February.

No big deal we just kept taking photos, what else do you do? Enjoy the moment. 

Be Prepared to Walk When Visiting the Cliffs of Moher 

Walking is an understatement here. Remember, you can walk over 5 miles depending on the weather and how much you want to walk.

Wear appropriate footwear.

We wore rubber-soled boots that could take on the rain and the muddied grass areas.

There are no Dublin limousines here!

Since we were with CIE Tours, our time here was approximately 3 hours.

We started at the main platform and then headed up to O’Brien’s Tower that was currently under refurbishment. 

From the O’Brien Tower platform area (not the tower), we could see the South Cliffs and Hags Head from a different vantage point. Off to the right is Galway Bay. 

Due to the weather, as you can see I struggled to capture better photos. 

Hold On To Your Phones 

I highly suggest a Popsocket on your smartphone. You will be able to firmly hold onto your phone when taking images even through the wind.

Yes, the wind is that strong, depending on the day and the weather. 

Additionally, the Popsocket lets you steady the grip, so you do not blur that ‘once in a lifetime photo!’ 

You’ll Walk. And Walk. And Walk at the Cliffs of Moher 

One thing I can say is that all the walking we did at the Cliffs of Moher we earned our vacation calories.

Look at our options when it came to which path to walk on. We paced ourselves and covered as much as we could. 

From the top, you can see so much. I preferred the footpaths on the way to the tower, Michael the more adventurous of us, like the other side, heading over to Hags Head. 

Be Sure to See the South Platform

Since we were under a time constraint, we needed to eat and see as much as we could, we did not get too far on the South Platform.

Michael and I were enamored by this one particular piece of cliff formation that had been separated (or so it seemed) by the continual pounding of water. 

To me, this simple formation speaks to the mightiness of the force of nature and it also creates a fantastic vantage point photo. 

Eating at the Cliffs of Moher 

The food is basic but good when visiting the Cliffs of Moher. It is not over-priced and the sandwiches are fresh.

Overall, it was a good Tuna Salad for being in a ‘tourism-driven’ destination.

The food is simple and more tourist-driven – definitely not like the dining options in Donegal, overall, it’s still tasty, though.

The grabbed some quick sandwiches at the Puffin’s Nest Coffee Shop. Truly they were good.

They had that Irish pub food vibe that the country is known for. It had started to rain and we knew we did not have much time left.

Therefore, we scoffed our sandwiches and freshened before heading back to the tour bus. 

Visiting the Cliffs of Moher Should be on Your List

While it was green when we visited, I can hardly imagine the beauty of the area in the Spring and Summer.

A wonderful adventure in Ireland is at the Cliffs of Moher and I feel fortunate to have experienced this.

If you’re traveling a trip to Ireland, visiting the Cliffs of Moher should definitely be on your list. ~ Always Traveling Deeper, Dana XO. 

Our trip was hosted by CIE TOURS. Images and opinions are my own.