Rail Tour from Dublin: 2-Day West Coast Explorer

About This Tour

If you only have two days to see the west of Ireland, this is how to do it properly. The route covers the greatest hits - Bunratty Castle, the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, Galway, Connemara, and Kylemore Abbey - with the bonus of an overnight in Galway City, one of Ireland’s most atmospheric towns.

Day one starts with an early train from Dublin to Limerick, where you swap to a coach. Bunratty Castle and its Folk Park come first, then the route hugs the Clare coastline to the Cliffs of Moher. Standing 214 metres above the Atlantic, the cliffs are a sight that stays with you long after you leave. From there, the road winds through the lunar landscape of the Burren and along Galway Bay before dropping you in the centre of Galway for the night. The evening is yours to explore the city’s pubs, restaurants, and busking scene.

Day two heads into Connemara, the wild, lake-studded heartland of the west. The route takes in Clifden (the capital of Connemara), Kylemore Abbey, Killary Harbour (Ireland’s only fjord), and stretches of rugged Atlantic coastline that John Ford used as the backdrop for The Quiet Man. You return to Galway in time for the evening train back to Dublin.

What’s Included

• Return InterCity rail from Dublin Heuston
• All coach transfers and tours
• One night in a three-star hotel in Galway with full Irish breakfast
• Admission to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park
• Admission to Cliffs of Moher

What’s Not Included

• Lunches and dinners
• Admission to Kylemore Abbey interior (reduced rate available)
• Single room supplement (price is per person sharing)

Good to Know

• Departs daily, Monday to Saturday
• Check-in at Dublin Heuston Station Customer Service Desk for 07:00 departure
• Breakfast is available for purchase on the morning train
• Price is per person sharing - a single room supplement applies
• Moderate walking is involved at each stop, but the pace is relaxed