15 hours
E-voucher
English
Overview
Depart from Dublin Heuston Station in the early morning on your train to Limerick, and enjoy breakfast on board (own expense) while taking in Ireland’s lush central landscape. Upon arriving in the ancient city of Limerick, enjoy a tour of this city that was once the key settlement for Vikings in Ireland, and is more recently known as the setting of Frank McCourt’s harrowing memoir Angela's Ashes.
Following this rich bit of history, board your northbound coach to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. Explore the fine medieval castle, complete with 15th- and 16th-century furnishings, tapestries and traditional works of art. Then tour Folk Park for a taste of Irish village life at the turn of the 20th century, including a schoolhouse, post office, doctor’s office and more.
Next up, take a break for a traditional Irish pub lunch (own expense) at Gus O’Connor’s Pub in Doolin, where you’ll enjoy a steamy bowl of seafood chowder or some crispy fish and chips with a cup of tea (or a pint of Guinness). Then head for the Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland’s most famous natural sites.
After a stroll along the cliffs, sit back for a scenic drive along the rocky coastal edge of the Burren and Galway Bay before arriving in Galway. Depending on what time you get to Galway, you may have time for a quick walk through the cobbled streets before catching your evening train back to Dublin. Have a leisurely dinner aboard (own expense) before returning to the train station.
Operated by
Railtours Ireland First Class
Ratings & Reviews
Average Rating
4.61
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Great day trip
492fayec, Jun 2026
Really enjoyed the trip and the guide (Paul) and driver (Michael) did a great job. Bunratty castle guided tour was interesting and the folk park was nice to walk around. The Cliffs of Moher are amazing and we lucked out with great weather. Walking up was not strenuous for someone in decent shape. They did offer a cart for those needing mobility assistance (not sure if there was a fee). The stop in Galway allowed time for dinner and a little walk around before boarding the train back, but not a significant amount of time for sight-seeing. If you really want to spend time in Galway you might want to do the option to stay overnight at a Galway hotel and come back the next day (I didn’t do that so not reviewing that). My one complaint/warning is definitely to not rely on train food on the way from Dublin to Limerick. The description said breakfast was offered on the train, but it was just a snack cart with packaged food, not many options. The train station had coffee/food available and you would definitely have a better meal from the train station (Heusten) than from the cart on the train. Overall I would recommend this for a great experience.
Great way to see another part of Ireland
Brian_M, Jun 2026
A long day to be sure, but Paul kept it on pace, on time, and on humor. The combo of train and small coach was just right to get a feel for another part of this beautiful country and its people. Spending a few hours in Galway was a good way to experience another Irish city. Very impressed with the amount of Irish history I absorbed on this excursion. And, it was, in my opinion a value for the amount of activities and duration of the trip.
Great, but long
Adam K, Jun 2026
John is a great tour guide. Very kind. Keeps people engaged. Taking the train out to the countryside is great. It's the main reason I chose this tour over others. I knew the day was going to be long, but I wonder if there's any way to make it shorter. Going to Galway didn't seem worth it to me. I'd rather do the castle, then cliffs, then journey back to Dublin without detours. Overall, it was a long, but nice day.
Beautiful Moher
274consueloh, May 2026
We loved it! Beautiful from start to finish, and our guide Paul was very attentive and kind at all times! Thank you, Paul
Response from Host, May 2026
Dear 274consueloh, Thank you for your lovely review! We are so glad you enjoyed our Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle, The Burren & Galway Bay tour and that Paul was an excellent host. We hope we have the pleasure of welcoming you back on tour with us soon! Kind regards, The Railtours Ireland Team
Itinerary
Bunratty Castle and Folk Park
After arriving to Limerick, we head out to Bunratty Castle. The castle was completed in 1425 and, after many years of neglect, has been restored to its former glory. There is a folk park here and many of the buildings – including the village – were dismantled at various locations in the region and rebuilt, brick by brick, at their present location.
2 hoursAdmission IncludedCliffs of Moher
Enjoy some free time at the Cliffs of Moher - among some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe.
2 hoursAdmission IncludedThe Burren
From the Cliffs of Moher, we take the coast road for much of the way to Galway, with time for photos along The Burren. This is a national park and the word Burren comes from the Irish Language and means ‘rocky place’. It is a unique lunar landscape of limestone. Today the Burren is noted for its diverse flora with few parallels elsewhere in Ireland or, indeed, Europe. As time permits, we will make a short stop here for photographs.
Eyre Square
Traffic dependent, there will be some free time upon your arrival in Galway to get some dinner and look at some shops, etc.
1 hour
Location
Address
Heuston Station Saint John's Road West, Saint James' (part of Phoenix Park), Dublin, Ireland
Experience
Highlights
Inclusions
- Qualified driver-guide on coaches
- Information pack
- Admission fees
- Reserved seats on trains
- Host on trains
- All travel by rail and coach from Dublin Heuston Station
Exclusions
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks, unless specified
Additional Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Check in at 6:40AM! Train departs at 7am & it does not wait. Our yellow check-in stand is located close to the Customer Service Desk at Heuston Station where our representative will be waiting for you in their BRIGHT yellow jacket!
- Due to operational reasons it may, on occasion, be necessary to alter certain itineraries.
- Children U16 cannot book independently. They must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times.
- WHEELCHAIR POLICY: Railtours Ireland First Class ltd very successfully offers hosted railtours for the independent traveller. Our tours are a combination of train and luxury coach and include a moderate level of physical activity, such as short walks to meeting points etc. Unfortunately even the most modern luxury coaches (buses) are not wheelchair friendly, thus our tours are not suitable for those with mobility issues, and regretfully walkers, wheelchairs and mobility scooters cannot be accommodated on our tours.
- This tour offers stops en route for photographs, shopping, etc.
Guide Languages
English
Cancellation Policy
A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.