Cliffs of Moher★★★
The Cliffs of Moher are Ireland's number one landmark — and rightly so. This 14-kilometer-long cliff wall rises up to 214 meters vertically from the Atlantic and offers a sight that is both sublime and humbling. When you stand at the edge and the wind almost knocks you off your feet, while the surf thunders deep below you and the lush green of the Irish fields glows behind you, you understand why over 1.5 million people come here every year.
The O'Brien's Tower at the highest point of the cliffs (built in 1835 as a viewing tower for "Victorian tourists") offers the best panoramic view — on a clear day, you can see the Aran Islands, the Twelve Bens of Connemara, and even the mountains of Kerry. The visitor center, cleverly built into the hill, features an exhibition on the geology, flora, and fauna of the cliffs. The cliffs are one of the most important seabird breeding sites in Europe: puffins, razorbills, kittiwakes, and cormorants nest in the rock walls.
The Cliff Walk leads from the cliffs northwards over 18 km to Doolin — one of the most spectacular coastal hikes in Europe, but without railings and potentially dangerous on windy days. The shorter version southwards to Hag's Head (4 km) is less frequented and at least equally scenic.
💡 Tipp
Come in the morning before 10 AM or in the evening after 5 PM — then the tour buses are gone, and you have the cliffs almost to yourself. The entrance fee (€8) is actually a parking fee; access on foot or by bus is free. The best photo perspective is NOT from O'Brien's Tower, but from the cliff path 500 meters south — there you see the tower silhouetted on the cliffs.
