3-Day Cork, Blarney Castle, Ring of Kerry and Cliffs of Moher Rail Trip

Dublin, Ireland

From Cork and Blarney Castle to the Ring of Kerry and Cliffs of Moher, you'll see the best of Ireland's west and south-west on this leisurely three-day rail and coach tour from Dublin.

Departing from Dublin Heuston Station, you'll catch the train to Cork and coach to the famous Blarney Castle. There'll be time here for you to kiss the famous stone, and enjoy some free time for shopping and lunch in the village of Blarney before returning to Cork for a short city tour.

You'll then transfer to Cobh, where the Queenstown Story Heritage Center is located in the beautifully restored Victorian railway station and transatlantic terminal. This was the embarkation point for generations of Irish emigrants from famine times to recent years.

Transferring back to Cork station, you'll catch the train to Killarney to stay in comfortable bed and breakfast accommodation (with en-suite facilities). Your evening in Killarney is free.

Next day, you'll take the lovely Ring of Kerry coastal drive around the Iveragh Peninsula, flanked by Dingle Bay. The stunning mountain and coastal scenery includes the famous Lakes of Killarney.

After spending another night in Killarney, you'll tour Limerick City before continuing to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. Next you'll visit the stunning Cliffs of Moher and Black Head, the Burren and Galway Bay, before returning to Dublin.

USD $495.04

Traveler Reviews

Review by: Steve H	December 2011
The trip was very nice but when I booked the trip, I was advised that our luggage would be taken care of for me but that is not the case as you need to transfer your own luggage to/from the train and bus. Also, the coach bus does not have a restroom so if you are traveling with older people or children, the 2.5 bus ride can be a bit difficult. _br/_ The holel in Killarney was an ideal spot and very nice hotel. The hotel opens for breakfast at 7:30a but our transfer picked us up at 7:15a so we were unable to eat before taking a two hour car ride to meet the coach bus (an additional 45 minutes) to take us to the Bunratty Castle. After the Bunratty tour, we were back on the bus another 2 hours before stopping for lunch (No place to eat at Bunratty). I highly recommend packing snacks.._br/_ I also feel that we didn't have enough time at the Blarney Castle and too much time in Cove._br/_ I do want to mention that the tour guides were great! We wanted to see a lot in the short time that we were there so I understand time constraints are difficult. _br/_ At one point the bathroom on the train was out of order so we had to use the restroom at the station before connecting to the coach but were told that another bus would not have waited..? I recommend that the tour allow for bathroom breaks between transfers.

Review by: Doron S	October 2011
The trip was great and I highly recommend it. Our tour guides were informational and funny. Everybody was in good spirits and with great atmosphere to make new friends. The accomodation in Killarny was excellent too. Going for it was a good decision. Thanks!

Review by: michele m	October 2011
The trip was awesome. Great tour guides and drivers. My only problem was that our train was late getting back to Dublin and our tour guide (Billy) offered to have the airport shuttle drop us off on the way as our hotel was out that way. We had planned on taking a cab but he wanted to save us some money. when he saw the bus was not there, he physically pushed us on to an electric train and told us which bus to catch. He did not tell us where to get off the train and we had no idea of where we were. Someone with limited english on the train assisted us best she could. She had us get off at her stop and then found out which bus would be going by. It was a dimly lighted area and the bus would not be there for 45 minutes. We finally found a cab. the driver informed us that we were in a very unsafe neighborhood. We were scared and upset and angry.

Review by: Lester D	October 2011
The entire package was well organized. Our guide on the first and last day, Bob Beatty was exceptionally good and very well informed. He gave us loads of inputs and useful tips. Michael, our driver and guide for the 'Ring of Kerry' tour was also very pleasing and good. 'Beauty's Home', at Killarney, where we spent 2 nights, was a very clean, homely and comfy B and B - well run by Katherine. She was very warm and welcoming and treated us to lavish Irish breakfasts. Due to the hazardous weather conditions on the 'Cliffs of Moher', we were unable to climb to the top and our coach hatch and windscreen ripped open! However, thanks to our driver, Michael and guide, Bob, we were sent a back-up coach within half an hour and safely tranferred to Galway. An incredible and highly recommended experience on the whole!!

Review by: Rosanne L	October 2011
What a great trip! The guides were very knowledgeale and the sites were spectactular._br/_ It was my first trip to Ireland, but certainly not my last. Slainte.

Review by: Richard F	October 2011
IT WAS AGREAT WAY TO TOUR AND SEE HOGHLIGHTS OF IRELAND. TRIP WAS VERY WELL ORGANIZED AND GUIDES WERE VERY HELPFUL AND KNOWLEGABLE. WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT

Review by: Suzanne H	October 2011
Plenty of time to stop and see the sights and all the history and info given about the places we were seeing. Dennis our driver couldn't have been nicer, even taking photos of us if we needed him to. A great day out.

Review by: Chen T	September 2011
It's hard to review this trip because it is in fact three different trips - every day you get a deferent guide and a different organizer (day 1 and 3 and day 2). So while day 1 and 3 were quite great, day 2 was quite awful - the guide didn't really give any guidance and we barely understood what he was saying. The overall organization was quite good, the buses always came in time, the accomodation was nice. But the bottom line is that you can't really know what to expect the next day.

Review by: Muhammed A	September 2011
My trip was excellent. South West Ireland is an amazing and a very beautiful place, definitely a must-do visit.

Review by: Muhammed A	September 2011
My trip was excellent. South West Ireland is an amazing and a very beautiful place, definitely a must-do visit.

Review by: Elizabeth B	September 2011
Overall a nice thing, but way way too much stopping at gift-store-only spots. Would be better with more chances to get out and walk around, looking at something. Last day, stop in Galway was awful--after three days of organization and easy transit of bags, were dumped out, tired, and told to kill an hour before train. Disorganized, was really unpleasant for a traveler in our group for whom it was difficult to drag the luggage so far. Could have been arranged so that we were on the bus until the last minute, or bus could have taken us directly to train station. Was a sour note to end. Guides all exceptionally helpful, especially one woman, no- nonsense, who took us to where we needed to go. Overall recommended.

Review by: Lisa E	July 2011
Generally a good trip. Staff were very nice and knowledgeable. We were a bit rushed and didn't get enough time at the some of the venues. Also, we wasted a lot of time waiting for people to get back to the bus. Staff should have made it clear that if you weren't back on time the bus would leave without you. By being nice and waiting the rest of us were significantly disadvantaged and inconvienced.

Review by: Gabrielle W	July 2011
Unfortunately we had lousy weather but still had a great time. We were very dissappointed in the fact we asked for an upgrade in accomadation and when we were dropped off at the hotel where we were told we where staying at it was incorrect so we had to lug all our luggage about half a kilometer or more in the rain to the correct hotel. We were not given any further contact with the company and only that other guests knew where we were staying we were collected for the tour and transport .This was very poor.

Review by: Deborah K	July 2011
This was a wonderful trip. It was a great way to see much of ireland in a short time. My only concern was with the bed and breakfast. The toilet did not work very well and there was no phone (would be nice to at least be able to call the main house - we were in a cottage).

Review by: KATHLEEN M	July 2011
All the tours were great! However, our accommodations were sub standard in Killarney. We stayed at Beauty's Home B and B. Although they were very nice, the room was not nice at all. Other people on the tour received beautiful accommodations, so I guess it's just the luck of the draw. I don't think you should use this B and B anymore. If you want additional information, please e-mail me.

Review by: Leslie H	May 2011
Great time, well organized, the bed and breakfast was a little to far out of the village to enjoy.

Review by: Michelle F	December 2010
I was a good way to see the countryside if you didn't have a car. It was a little disjointed becuase of bad weather and the tour buses basically drive you around and point out things so fast you don't really have time to see them. Everyone we met was very nice and very helpful though.

Review by: June H	October 2010
Found the tour guides interesting. However, a member of our party commented on how all the tours ended in tourist shops. Well run and enjoyed the B&B.

Review by: Colleen S	October 2010
Overall a very good trip, well run and planned. Trains and buses ran on time and the guides Bob and Michael were absolutely great. For me, the first day was not as good - there was a lot of traveling and the sites on the itenerary weren't in my top 10 (of course it was raining and this may have something to do with it). Another small issue was that the bed and breakfast in Killarney was a 15 minute walk from town. If I had it to do over, I would have taken the train from Dublin to Killarney myself, stayed in a place of my own choosing, and booked the tours from there.

Review by: Terry P	October 2010
Just returned from this wonderful three day trip to the west of Ireland. We were extremely lucky with the weather, only rained when we were on the train, and everything was beautiful. We were delighted with the countryside and happy to leave the big city of Dublin behind. We met some great people from all over and Bob, our guide was excellent. He combined a lot of knowledge with a good sense of humor and was also able to be quiet. There is a good combination of free time with guided time on this trip. Blarney Castle maybe does not need so much time when it's not summer but the grounds were lovely and it was not a problem. Our B&B in Killarney was delightful. The Ring of Kerry trip was contracted out to a local Killarney company and while beautiful, the guide was not very friendly or open to questions. They also picked us up at 09:20 from our B&B and had us stand around in town until 10:30 for the train to arrive with the day trip people. I would have preferred being told where to meet at 10:30 and made my own way there in my time. Killarney is not hard to find your way around and even though our B&B was a 10 minute walk it was not a difficult one. We did have perfect weather though so it might be different in the rain. The Cliffs of Moher are breathtaking and Bunratty Castle is one of the more interesting we have visited. On the whole I would highly recommend this trip and if you want to see some of these places do it as an overnight trip as going back and forth to Dublin on day trips is a waste.

Review by: nicanor c, United States of America	June 2010
3rd day was very hectic with very early start and very short time at the cliffs of moher. cliffs of moher deserved more time more than the 1 hr aloted to it.

Review by: Nicanor C	June 2010
3rd day was very hectic with very early start and very short time at the cliffs of moher. cliffs of moher deserved more time more than the 1 hr aloted to it.

Review by: Anonymous, China	May 2010
The trip is very well organized, good transportation and accomodation arrangement. The tour guides are very professional. We like the one for the day to ring of Kerry most, and hope the tour guides for the other two days could be younger,

Review by: Anonymous	March 2010
I loved this trip! The people were friendly and fun, the guides brilliant, witty, and informative, and the sightseeing well worth every penny. Ireland is beautiful, and the way to see it in a short period of time was definitely this tour.

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	September 2009
It was very enjoyable!

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	August 2009
I highly enjoyed the rail tour. The guides were professional with a sense of humor. The first and second day were timed well, but on the third day I would have loved to spend more than an 1.5 hours at Bunratty Castle. I enjoyed the B and B, especially the host, but the shower in the large room was very small and did not have any water pressure. It felt as if we were taking a sponge bath. Her back gardens were beautiful. I did miss the cup of tea in the afternoon. I remember having tea at another B and B that I stayed in while in Ireland. I will look up other rail tours for our next trip to Europe.

Review by: Linda B, United States of America	July 2009
Fantastic! Everything was so well planned. Our Bed & breakfast in Killarney was great, near downtown. Not one thing to complain about on the whole three days, but pack light cause you are bringing your luggage with you. Drivers help, but at train stations you have to lug on your own. Scenery is fantastic. We will go back to Ireland and use Viator again.

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	July 2009
It could have not been more organized. I felt like I needed a little more time at the Cliffs of Moher.

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	July 2009
This was an amazing tour. All of the guides took care of us and kept us on track. They were all knowledgably and professional. Our Bed and Breakfast in Killarney was clean, efficient and friendly.

Review by: Lisa B, United States of America	July 2009
This was a great way to see a big chunk of Ireland in 3 days. Our various tour guides were well-informed and quite entertaining. The only downside was the accommodations, which were awful! I had called beforehand and asked if we could switch to a hotel but was told that the company only contracts with B&Bs. Maybe we just got a particularly bad room, but I would not stay there again. Otherwise, I would definitely recommend this trip.

Review by: Jacqueline M, Australia	June 2009
This trip was great, but unfortunately our transfer on the last day there was a misunderstanding and we were left standing at Limmerick Station for a good half an hour which was fine by us but the tour leader for that day went on about us keeping the other people waiting all day it ended the trip on a sour noteas we were told to look for a yellow bus and he was in a white bus and never came looking for the 8 people waiting.

Review by: Umber N, United States of America	June 2009
If you don't want to navigate roads, deal with confusing rail connections, stand in line to buy tickets, book this. The guides are very friendly and knowledgeable. They point out things you might miss where the road curves to avoid cutting a "fairy tree" to build the highway. Meals are a bit rushed and at tourist traps. But there are plenty of opportunities for pictures. Some of the older guides, are not great about giving clear directions. But, at the train station and at all the stops, everyone is familiar with the local tour company so it is easy to find the group. The Ring of Kerry component is not done by this company so the guide for that wasn't as informative. The views from the bus are magnificent. If you are an outdoorsy person, I recommend going to Killarney on your own and taking a local tour that allows you to explore places like the Skelligs or hike to the Gap of Dunloe. The B&B is bare bones but not uncomfortable. It is a ten minute walk from the city center. Be sure to bring your own soap, shampoo, etc. There is an attached private bath. One of the days we had to leave early by 7 a.m. and only a "light breakfast" was provided. If you do a two, three, or four day tour you meet up with those arriving from Dublin to do those same activities as a day trip. On one day that meant having a leisurely start to the day after 9 a.m.. But on another day that meant being ready at 7 a.m. and waiting for two hours for the train from Dublin to arrive. Overall, I'm very glad I did this and would recommend it to anyone who wants to skip the hassle of planning or navigating.

Review by: Umbereen N	June 2009
If you don't want to navigate roads, deal with confusing rail connections, stand in line to buy tickets, book this. The guides are very friendly and knowledgeable. They point out things you might miss where the road curves to avoid cutting a "fairy tree" to build the highway. Meals are a bit rushed and at tourist traps. But there are plenty of opportunities for pictures. Some of the older guides, are not great about giving clear directions. But, at the train station and at all the stops, everyone is familiar with the local tour company so it is easy to find the group. The Ring of Kerry component is not done by this company so the guide for that wasn't as informative. The views from the bus are magnificent. If you are an outdoorsy person, I recommend going to Killarney on your own and taking a local tour that allows you to explore places like the Skelligs or hike to the Gap of Dunloe. The B&B is bare bones but not uncomfortable. It is a ten minute walk from the city center. Be sure to bring your own soap, shampoo, etc. There is an attached private bath. One of the days we had to leave early by 7 a.m. and only a "light breakfast" was provided. If you do a two, three, or four day tour you meet up with those arriving from Dublin to do those same activities as a day trip. On one day that meant having a leisurely start to the day after 9 a.m.. But on another day that meant being ready at 7 a.m. and waiting for two hours for the train from Dublin to arrive. Overall, I'm very glad I did this and would recommend it to anyone who wants to skip the hassle of planning or navigating.

Review by: Terrence M	June 2009
This trip was great, but unfortunately our transfer on the last day there was a misunderstanding and we were left standing at Limmerick Station for a good half an hour which was fine by us but the tour leader for that day went on about us keeping the other people waiting all day it ended the trip on a sour noteas we were told to look for a yellow bus and he was in a white bus and never came looking for the 8 people waiting.

Review by: Reta G, United States of America	May 2009
This was very enjoyable and a comfortable trip! The local bed and breakfasts were also very nice. Killarney is lovely, and I understand why it is so popular. This trip was a great way to see a lot in a short time. I would highly recommend it.

Review by: Julie P, United States of America	May 2009
Orchestrated very well!

Review by: Maya A, Canada	May 2009
Really nice trip. Well organised. The only thing that I didn't like was the lodging, a B&B in Killarny. I would say it was a half-star accommodation; it was very old, smelled like mould and was very dusty. I would have expected a better accommodation for the price I paid.

Review by: Elizabeth P, United States of America	May 2009
We were well taken care. Guides and drivers were excellent, except for driver from Killarney to Limerick, when we had a non-English-speaking driver. He was pleasant but could not understand our questions nor give us any commentary about the countryside we were driving through._br /__br /_The bed and breakfast in Killarney was mediocre. Beds were hard, dining room was cold, and our hostess was not happy to give us an early full Irish breakfast, which was included in our package, on the 3rd day when we had to leave early to drive to Limerick. She suggested we do self-service. The location was not bad, but we do think you should consider an upgrade of this property to a better one._br /__br /_Our Dublin-based guide was wonderful and took personal care of all us, making sure we made the proper train connections and reserving seats for us on the trains out of and into Dublin. He was knowledgeable about all the sites and areas we visited. The tour operators in Killarney were excellent as well. Coaches were clean and comfortable. Stop in Blarney Woolen Mills was way TOO LONG! All in all it was a great tour; very expensive, however.

Review by: T S, United States of America	April 2009
My mother and I are not so much of the "tour guide tourist" but this trip is a must. I believe you can't really experience the Irish culture or see the beautiful land without native tour guides. From start to end, our trip was indescribable. The tour guides were so friendly and full of personal stories and useful information. Blarney Castle, Ring of Kerry and Cliffs are Ireland's best attractions, we are so pleased to have gotten the experience to see them. During our trip, we in Killarney at a Bed and Breakfast that was alright, we strongly feel that one day is enough in Killarney. Instead of staying in the town for 2 days, maybe one night in Killarney and the other in Limerick!! I advise others, when shopping in around the local shops, the euro is expensive! You can buy pretty much the same goods at the Dublin Airport for a little bit cheaper of a price! I could go on all day and night about the highlights of the tour, but definitely worth the money spent.

Review by: Tara S	April 2009
My mother and I are not so much of the "tour guide tourist" but this trip is a must. I believe you can't really experience the Irish culture or see the beautiful land without native tour guides. From start to end, our trip was indescribable. The tour guides were so friendly and full of personal stories and useful information. Blarney Castle, Ring of Kerry and Cliffs are Ireland's best attractions, we are so pleased to have gotten the experience to see them. During our trip, we in Killarney at a Bed and Breakfast that was alright, we strongly feel that one day is enough in Killarney. Instead of staying in the town for 2 days, maybe one night in Killarney and the other in Limerick!! I advise others, when shopping in around the local shops, the euro is expensive! You can buy pretty much the same goods at the Dublin Airport for a little bit cheaper of a price! I could go on all day and night about the highlights of the tour, but definitely worth the money spent.

Review by: Donna B, United States of America	March 2009
I had a grand time on my tour. My guides were knowledgeable and made sure that we saw as much as we possible could during our stay. The rooms provided during the stay were fantastic. And the people went out of their way to be helpful. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone visiting Ireland.

Review by: Anonymous	August 2008
The tour guides were extremely good and traditional. However the accommodation needs to be improved and be clearly advertised on the website. The air conditioning on the coach was poor during July weather and the first coach was very dirty.

Review by: Anonymous	July 2008
When we were there the weather was unusually sunny. The weather was fabulous and not usual for this year. We made pictures that could equal the ones in the museum at the cliffs. For a comparison, the view is great, but not quite like Grand Canyon, Carmel, or the Smokey Mountains.

Review by: Juha H	July 2008
Although the weather was really bad, the commentary of guides and bus driver were great. It's not so tough to do a three day trip, the program is built to please the travel enthusiasts. The price was still quite high.

Review by: Anonymous, Australia	December 1969
I loved this trip! The people were friendly and fun, the guides brilliant, witty, and informative, and the sightseeing well worth every penny. Ireland is beautiful, and the way to see it in a short period of time was definitely this tour.