Dublin to Galway Rail Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Scenic train ride through Ireland's countryside
- Explore historic Bunratty Castle and Folk Park
- Stunning views at the Cliffs of Moher
- Discover the unique Burren landscape
- Experience the vibrant city of Galway
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Round-trip train tickets from Dublin to Galway
- Guided tour of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park
- Visit to the Cliffs of Moher
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
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.
Enjoy some free time at the Cliffs of Moher - among some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe.
Pass by: 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.
Traffic dependent, there will be some free time upon your arrival in Galway to get some dinner and look at some shops, etc.
Meeting point
Start Location
Heuston Station, Saint James, Dublin, Ireland
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for the weather.
- Please arrive at the departure point at least 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
- This tour involves walking; participants should be able to navigate uneven surfaces.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for uneven terrain.
- Bring a light jacket or sweater, as weather can be unpredictable.
- Don't forget your camera to capture the stunning landscapes.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Service Animals Allowed
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- 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.
Traveler reviews
Good connections and tour...
Good connections and tour guides. Paul was entertaining and attentive as we covered lots of territory on a long day trip from Dublin.
10/10 experience if you want to experience a lot of the Irish countryside in one day, with great company!
This is well worth the money - the train journey was soooo lovely, to just watch the beautiful countryside go by and the coach journey was fantastic too. The whole trip was made by John, who was our guide. So knowledgeable about everything we went past with a fantastic sense of humour and just made everyone feel so well looked after. We even had a rainy Cliffs of Moher but nothing could dampen the overall 10/10 experience!! Would 100% recommend:) thanks John and our amazing driver, love Catherine and Ann x
Great day trip
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
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
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.