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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1211 traveller ratings
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Great trip to West Ireland
chrisbuchanan1, Dec 2025
We were in Dublin and booked the west coast tour for 6 of us. The whole tour was magnificently organized. Our guide David was outstanding and very knowledgeable. We were given plenty of time to see the sights. Would highly recommend it.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Dear Chris, Thank you very much for your lovely review. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed our West Coast Explorer tour and that David was an exceptional host. We will pass on your kind words. We hope we have the pleasure of welcoming you back on tour with us in the future! Kind regards, The Railtours Ireland Team
Patience is a virtue!
Matthew_A, Nov 2025
Too much travel time but guide was amazing! Norman went above and beyond in being a tour guide. He truly makes the experience special.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Matthew, Thank you for your review. Your comments about Norman are very much appreciated. Regarding the travel time, our tours are designed as a 'highlights experience' therefore we try to showcase as many beautiful attractions as we can whilst ensuring guest comfort & safety. See you again soon! Kind regards, The Railtours Ireland Team
Absolutely loved this...
Elizabeth_R, Oct 2025
Absolutely loved this tour! It is a very long day (approx 15 hours), but totally worth it. Our tour guide (Norman) was very knowledgeable and great about shepherding us through all the different locations, making sure we were all together and accounted for. He communicated very clearly about what to expect and was very friendly. The driver (Jerry) was excellent as well. He maneuvered through those small mountain roads safely! Overall, great experience and highly recommend if you're looking for a day tour exploring Ireland.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Elizabeth, Thank you for your lovely review. We are very happy to hear you enjoyed our Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle, The Burren & Galway Bay day tour! Your complimentary remarks about Norman and Jerry are much appreciated and will be passed on. We hope we have the pleasure of welcoming you back on tour with us soon! Kind regards, The Railtours Ireland Team
Terrible and I rip off
Sarah M, Oct 2025
So they told us to be there by 7 which we got there at 6:58 and didnt tell us where to meet the people then when I message them it took them like 40mins to message me back and then they tell us that we should have been there at 630. Which it didnt say anything anywhere so we missed the trip and they won't give me a refund
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Sarah, The tour is advertised as follows: "check-in is 20 minutes prior to departure time (06.40H)". No representative of our company "told" you differently. The check-in times are all available both on TripAdvisor and our website. Additionally, our T&Cs are clear - if you miss the train, you miss the tour. All the best, 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.