Cliffs of Moher, County Clare

If you're visiting Ireland and have decided not to hire a car, never fear. There are plenty of options for travelers going west without a car and considering the island of Ireland is only 200 kms across (at its widest point) getting the best out of the west is a breeze.

Here's just one option for the carless traveler in Ireland.

Discover the best of the west of Ireland with the Dublin Tour Company which operates a twice daily coach trip from the Discover Ireland tourist offices on Suffolk Street in Dublin.

Departure times are 7am and 8.30am with an optional day or open return for those wishing to extend their stay in the West of Ireland. Early birds (leaving at 7am) will arrive promptly in Galway after a short rest stop in Athlone at 10am.

They can then take advantage of a complimentary guided walking tour of Galway which lasts approximately one hour, taking in all of the interesting sights, sounds and images of this historic medieval city of the tribes, prior to boarding the 11.30 am Burren / Cliffs of Moher Tour from the Galway Bus Station (opposite the Tourist Office).

Sleepy heads can enjoy a couple of more z’s by taking the later 8.30 departure from Dublin (as above) skip the walking tour and hop on that same 11.30 tour departure to the Burren / Cliffs of Moher.

Another excellent and extremely popular package by the Dublin Tour Company is what they call the ABC option which includes two nights accommodation and three trips to (A) the Aran Islands, (B) the Burren / Cliffs of Moher and (C) Connemara, full details of the accommodation options and prices are included in their website But, an approximate guide is €25 per tour from Galway, €45 from Dublin, €75 including one night’s accommodation & two trips and €125 for the ABC Tour which includes two night’s accommodation and three trips.

Discounts of 10-20% are available online when booking two or more tours. What is especially good about the Dublin Tour Company is that all admission fees are included in the tour prices (apart from the gardens at Kylemore Abbey) There is also a free collection service from your hostel, bed & breakfast or hotel in Galway.

Tours operate daily apart from the 25th & 26th of December so your options are always open, and a really big plus? You will not have to pay extra for intercity transfers by public service providers. But more importantly it means you have plenty of freedom and flexibility, time and weather wise, which is just as it should be on holidays.

By Susan Byron author of www.irelands-hidden-gems.com