Doolin, Clare – An Essential Travel Guide for 2025

Doolin is a small coastal village, sitting on the outskirts of the Burren in County Clare. In recent years its popularity has boomed with social media painting it as a mecca for traditional Irish Music and one of the most vibrant stops along the Wild Atlantic Way. Its location makes Doolin a great base from which to explore the attractions of the west of Ireland, but is there more to the village itself than its penchant for a trad session?

Read on to find out!

Public Transport: The village is well-connected by bus to several locations. Bus Eireann route 350 links the area to places of interest including Ennistymon, the Cliffs of Moher, Lahinch and Lisdoonvarna.

Unfortunately, Doolin doesn’t have a train station. The only option in this regard is to take the train to Galway City before catching the aforementioned route 350 bus.

Book Tickets for Bus Eireann Route 350

Hotels here tend to book out quickly so many visitors opt for hostels like the Aille River Hostel and B&Bs which are both cheaper alternatives. If you aren’t travelling with your own car then ensure your hostel or B&B is centrally located. Doolin Glamping is another fun option that allows you to stay in a yurt or tent, which may sound primitive but the facilities are first class. It’s also extremely conveniently located just a short walk from the village.

Book the Aille River Hostel

The hotels here are small establishments unlike the characterless buildings of Dublin City. The Fiddle and Bow Hotel and Hotel Doolin are two beautiful options located right in the middle of the village. The beautifully lit outdoor area behind Hotel Doolin is one of the most idyllic places in the country for a drink at night. Prices can indeed be steep around this area, but this is the case with most hotels in the country right now.

Hotel Doolin also hosts the Doolin Folk Festival every year, when brilliant folk and trad artists depend upon its barn for a weekend of brilliant fun. It usually takes place in the height of summer and, although we definitely recommend visiting, we don’t advise trying to book a room during it!

Check out Hotel Doolin

There are a surprising range of options for a delicious meal in this village. Stonewall, located centrally at Hotel Doolin, offers several delicious wood-fired pizzas for less than €15! Check the opening hours in advance however as it currently closes on Mondays and Tuesdays.

If you prefer the more ambient setting that accompanies pub-grub then you are in for a real treat here. Gus O’Connor’s Pub on Fisher Street serves a delicious breakfast for €12, as well as exquisite lunch and dinner options. In Roadford, at the opposite end of the village, you can chow down on an €11 breakfast at McGann’s Pub or amazing bar food until late in the evening.

Hot Beverages: Cafés aren’t common here but Doolin Café 21 in Roadford is a wonderful place for a coffee and a snack. It also boasts a great breakfast menu with vegan options, at very reasonable prices.

Alcohol: The area comes alive at night, though you won’t find any nightclubs in this little village. Instead head to some of the greatest pubs Ireland has to offer. Prices are standard for Ireland with a pint costing around €6.

Gus O’Connor’s is unquestionably the most famous of the town’s pubs and is a great starting point for any bar crawl. This Fisher Street haunt hosts trad sessions from 9pm every night from February to November and dishes out incredibly tasty pints. McDermott’s Pub in Roadford has the finest trad music in the country from 9pm every night.

Our own personal favourite is McGann’s. This cosy joint offers incredible trad sessions, sing alongs and the best Guinness in the county. Their staff go the extra mile to ensure a fun-filled visit.

The weather here, like the rest of Ireland, is usually pretty dire. It certainly doesn’t need to be sunny to appreciate the rugged beauty around here, but it should at least be dry. Visit from June to August to get averages of around 18 degrees, although the summer weather in Ireland is very unpredictable. October through March sees high levels of rainfall and the village is much quieter.

Travel on Foot: Doolin may be small but it’s very spread out with no defined center. Getting from one part to the other can require quite a bit of walking! It consists of four areas; The Harbour is the departing point for boat trips. Fisher Street is home to Gus O’Connor’s pub. Fitz’s Cross is home to the main hotels and Roadford is where you will find McGann’s pub. Walking from Roadford to the Harbour takes 30 minutes and can be a dreadful experience in the Irish weather!

Public Transport: There is no train nearby but the Bus Eireann route 350 bus links it to Ennistymon, the Cliffs of Moher, Lahinch, Lisdoonvarna, Fanore and Galway. To get around within the village itself, ask your accommodation to provide local taxi numbers. Providers are scarce so you will have to book them well in advance and they are costly.

Vehicle Hire: You won’t find car hire providers nearby so pick one up at whichever airport you fly into. The area is very safe to traverse by bicycle and you can grab one at Doolin Rent-a-Bike on Fisher Street. This part of Ireland is beautiful for a cycle but don’t rely on the weather holding up, even during the summer months!

There something abundantly charming about the buildings in this village, nestled among the Irish hills with the Atlantic Ocean as their backdrop. Fisher Street, with its quaint thatched cottages, provides a glimpse into local life along the serene Allie River. This is the colourful street that you have likely seen on social media, with the bright pink Sweater Shop undoubtedly the star attraction.

Doolin Pier is much more than your gateway to the Aran Islands! Beyond its practical function as a ferry terminal, the pier treats visitors to stunning vistas of the tempestuous Atlantic, particularly during stormy weather. While admiring the scenery exercise caution and maintain a safe distance from the water, as the winds can be formidable.

The unique landscapes of the 1500 acre Burren National Park are a 30-minute drive from the village. The Burren offers hikes and walks of all difficulties and the park really must be seen to be believed. It’s vast limestone pavements are home to all manner of rare plants and animals, making it one of the best free things to do in County Clare.

If walking isn’t your thing, the Burren Scenic Drive might well be! This 160km route offers plenty of chances to stop and admire the landscape without the need to traverse any tough trails. On our visit we decided to walk the White Trail, known as the Nature Trail, which is a leisurely 1.5km route that offers incredible vistas and lovely spots to chow down on a picnic.

View a Map of the Burren Scenic Drive

The atmosphere is what separates this village from almost every other one in Ireland. It somehow manages to mix a quaint and idyllic setting with a lively and jovial atmosphere, even during the high season where it is unblemished by big crowds. During the day many tourists explore further afield, leaving behind a peaceful village that is perfect for a short stroll.

In the evenings the tourists return, congregating at some of the finest pubs in the world to create a melting pot of different nationalities. There is a palpable feel-good vibe here and the Irish trad music sessions will be among the most authentic experiences you could ever have.

Visit during the annual Doolin Folk Festival in the barn of Hotel Doolin for a truly upbeat vibe. The festival draws inspiration from the world famous Lisdoonvarna Festival and is a celebration of all things trad music.

The drink section above provides all of the best points to visit on an unforgettable pub crawl. Gus O’Connor’s, McGann’s and McDermott’s are our personal favourites, although we sometimes skip Gus O’Connor’s because it is not located close to the rest of the pubs. If you are planning on covering all three then stop in at Fitz’s Pub in the Hotel Doolin for a pint to break up your journey.

The bartenders in all of these pubs are ferocious craic and the blend of international tourists makes for a hilarious mixture. Try a different spot each night because they all offer a very unique vibe.

The Ailwee Caves lie hidden in the heart of the Burren, around 35-minutes away. For €25 each (Adult) you will get a guided tour with admission to the Birds of Prey Centre afterwards.

A tour of the caverns will give you the chance to see an underground waterfall, stalactites and stalagmites and, although slow-paced, the tours are extremely interesting. The real star of the show is the Birds of Prey Centre, where you will see all sorts of large birds in their enclosures before witnessing their 45-minute displays.

Book Tickets for the Ailwee Caves

Just a 20 minute drive from Lahinch, Doolin Cave boasts Europe’s largest free hanging stalactite. Daily guided tours, priced at approximately €17.50, offer an immersive experience into the cave’s wonders. The visitor center is a hub of information about the cave’s history and the surrounding area. The cave is open all year-round from 10am to 6pm, with tours running until 5pm.

The cave is a cool experience in itself but we advise visiting the Ailwee Caves instead if pressed for time, for the added experience of the Birds of Prey Centre.

Book Doolin Cave Guided Tour Tickets

These 8km long and 700 feet high cliffs have been immortalized through movies like Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. They are situated a handy 13 minute drive away, although the more adventurous among us can take the beautiful 2 hour trek (each way) to the cliffs instead.

The Cliffs of Moher are not free to access from the main entrance. Gate tickets cost €12 for an adult but you get a discount if you book online in advance. The fee also gives access to the visitor centre and O’Brien’s Tower, which sits at the highest point of the cliffs and gives further views out over the sea. O’Brien tower bares no historical significance, having been built in the 1800s as an observation tower for tourists!

The cliffs get very busy during the peak season so arrive early to avoid the crowds. There is ample parking but your views may be obstructed somewhat. You are encouraged to bring your dogs, but keep them on a leash for obvious reasons!

Book Tickets for the Cliffs of Moher

A trip to the Aran Islands, located in Galway Bay just off the West Coast of Ireland, is an absolute must when staying here. If time only permits visiting one island, we recommend heading to Inishmore (Inis Mór), the largest of the three. The island is set amidst a backdrop of winding roads and stone walls and its 760 Irish-speaking inhabitants further contribute to providing a unique glimpse into what Ireland looked like in days gone by.

Our Guide to Inishmore will help you plan your visit to this majestic island, which is just 35-minutes away by ferry.

Check out our Travel Guide to Inishmore

The small seaside resort town of Lahinch, overlooking Liscannor Bay, is known as a surfer’s paradise as well as a golfing haven. There are plenty of surf schools in Lahinch that cater for novices and skilled surfers alike and boards are available to rent for as little as €20!

A mere 20-minute drive from Doolin, our Guide to Lahinch will help you find the best things to do there.

Check out our Travel Guide to Lahinch

Doolin itself has no beach of note but make the 15-minute drive to Fanore and you will not be disappointed. This golden blue flag beach is a perfect location for paddling, provided you get the weather. Those looking to slow down can walk among the beautiful sand dunes. For something a little more adventurous you can avail of the local Surf School for some adrenaline raising action! There are toilet and shower facilities available at Fanore Beach during the summer months.

After your dip head to the nearby O’Donohue’s Pub for fish and chips while you warm up again. The grub here is surprisingly delicious (given the lack of competition in Fanore) and on warm days you can grab a table outside and enjoy a creamy stout while soaking in stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean.

You will find Doolin Pitch and Putt on the road that links Fisher Street to the Harbour, a 5-minute walk from the village. This beautiful 18-hole course sits scenically along the cliffs, with the Atlantic hammering away in the background. It’s a brilliant family activity and opens from 10am to 7:30pm daily during the busy season.

Nestled within the Burren lies the charming Burren Distillers, a boutique whiskey distillery that proudly preserves ancient Gaelic distilling techniques. Each batch is aged for a minimum of four years in oak barrels, ensuring exceptional quality. Unlike the polished setups of larger distilleries like Jameson or Bushmills, a tour of Burren Distillers provides a refreshingly authentic experience.

Led by the charismatic master distiller Jack O’Shea, visitors are treated to a journey filled with laughter, storytelling, and genuine Irish hospitality. Listen to Jack’s witty anecdotes, from tales of pine martins being used to repel mice, to discussions of the ‘premature ejaculation’ of seeds. Grandiosity takes a backseat to Irish charm here, so approach it with an open mind and don’t take it too seriously.

As the tour reaches its peak, Jack invites you to sample some of their finest creations. You won’t want to leave when the jokes start rolling and the whiskey starts flowing. Book your tour through their website to discover the unique charm of Burren Distillers for yourself.

Book a Tour of the Burren Distillers

Yes, you read the title correctly. Willie Daly, one of Clare’s most famous sons and the author of The Last Matchmaker, resides over a Matchmaking Museum on his farm which also serves as a Donkey Sanctuary. Do not question the location’s modest appearance, as this visit is not about the museum or the donkey sanctuary.

The experience here revolves around meeting Willie Daly himself, a third generation Irish matchmaker with over 50 years of matchmaking expertise, and one of the greatest Irish characters you could ever meet. Listen to him regale his memories and consider yourself blessed to be in the presence of the man at the centre of a matchmaking festival which brings 40,000 visitors to Lisdoonvarna every year.

Willie’s 160 year old love-matchmaking book has played cupid for over 3,000 couples. Local lore states that a touch of the book with one hand will spark love within six months, while using both hands will lead to marriage within nine! During September’s world famous Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival Willie can be found at his office in the Matchmaker Bar in the village.