Vacation Tours of Ireland3-Day Ireland Rail Tour: Blarney, Ring of Kerry and Cliffs of Moher
Of the Ireland rail tours sold from Dublin, this 3-day listing from Railtours Ireland First Class is built around a hosted train from Heuston. You leave Dublin Heuston Station on reserved train seats with a host on board, then switch to a coach for Blarney Castle, Cobh, the Ring of Kerry and the Cliffs of Moher. Two nights of B&B accommodation in Killarney with a full Irish breakfast are in the $1,183.73 per person price, along with entry to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre, Cobh Heritage Centre and Bunratty Castle. This page breaks down what the fare covers, how each day runs, the refund rules and who should look at a different vacation tours of Ireland listing instead.
About This Tour
Railtours Ireland First Class runs this 3-day, 2-night trip from Dublin Heuston Station through Cork, Kerry and Clare. The long legs run on reserved train seats with a host on board, and the sightseeing days run on a coach with a qualified driver-guide. Two nights of B&B accommodation in Killarney with a full Irish breakfast are included, and the tour ends in Galway.
It is one of the few multi-day listings on the comparison of Ireland vacation tours that uses the railway at all. The trade-off is scale: the coach carries up to 53 passengers, and the price buys a shared group experience rather than a small-bus trip.
$1,183.73 per person. There is one price option and no separate single supplement stated. Check the booking widget for a solo rate.
3 days, 2 nights. Both nights are B&B stays in Killarney with a full Irish breakfast. En-suites may be located either inside or outside the room.
Dublin Heuston Station. Check-in is 20 minutes before the 6:40 AM departure, at the yellow check-in stand near the Customer Service Desk with a Railtours Ireland representative in a bright yellow jacket.
Up to 53 passengers. A host travels on the trains and a qualified driver-guide leads the coach legs. The guide language is English.
All rail and coach travel from Heuston, reserved train seats, the train host, the driver-guide, 2 nights of B&B with full Irish breakfast, entry to Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre, entry to the Cobh Heritage Centre (Queenstown Story), Bunratty Castle admission and an information pack.
Full refund if you cancel at least 6 full days before departure, a 50% refund from 2 to 6 days before, and 0% within 2 days. Buy cancellation cover for the final window.
Check Dates and Availability
Live dates and the current per-person price sit in the booking widget. Rooms are on a double-occupancy basis, so say in Special Requirements if you want a double or a twin.
You'll confirm the exact date and time on the secure booking page.
Quick answer The short answer
This 3-day Railtours Ireland trip costs $1,183.73 per person for 2 nights of Killarney B&B with breakfast, train travel from Dublin Heuston and coach days on the Ring of Kerry and at the Cliffs of Moher. It is rated 4.4 from 213 verified reviews. Check-in is 20 minutes before the 6:40 AM departure. Cancel 6 or more full days out for a full refund.
Key takeaways
- It is the only listing on the site that puts the long legs on the train, with reserved seats and a host.
- The coach holds up to 53, so travellers wanting a small group should compare the 5-day Rabbie's small-group tour.
- Refunds stop entirely within 2 days of departure, so read the cancellation rules before booking.
- If you only want one Ring of Kerry day from Killarney, the 7.5-hour guided day tour costs far less.
What the Price Actually Covers
The $1,183.73 fare covers transport, two nights of B&B, three admissions and a full Irish breakfast on days 2 and 3. It does not cover lunch, dinner, drinks, tips or any hotel pickup.
What Is In the Fare
The listing states these inclusions: all travel by rail and coach from Dublin Heuston Station, reserved seats on trains with a host on board, a qualified driver-guide on coaches, 2 nights of B&B accommodation with a full Irish breakfast, entry to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre, entry to the Cobh Heritage Centre (the Queenstown Story), Bunratty Castle admission and an information pack. There is no hotel pickup, because the tour starts at a station, and no meals beyond breakfast are promised. Children are priced as infants 0 to 4, children 5 to 15 and adults 16 to 99, and anyone under 16 must travel with a parent or guardian.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rail and coach from Heuston | Yes | Reserved train seats with a host, then a coach of up to 53 |
| 2 nights Killarney B&B | Yes | Full Irish breakfast on days 2 and 3, en-suite may be inside or outside the room |
| Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre | Yes | Official adult tickets start from €8, so the entry is a real saving |
| Cobh Heritage Centre | Yes | The Queenstown Story exhibition |
| Bunratty Castle | Yes | Day 3, with a folk park and tea house on site |
| Lunch and dinner | No | Not included. There is a lunch stop at Blarney Village on day 1 and O'Connor's Pub in Doolin on day 3 |
| Gratuities | No | A common norm is €2 to €5 a day for guides on multi-day tours |
| Hotel pickup | No | You make your own way to Heuston Station |
Room Options and Solo Travellers
There is one price of $1,183.73 per person on a double-occupancy basis, and no separate room tiers or stated single supplement. The listing does not say what a solo traveller pays, so check the booking widget for your party size. If you share a room, tell the operator in Special Requirements if you want a double or a twin, subject to availability.
Compare that with the 4-day Paddywagon south-west loop, where the from price of $568.20 buys a shared hostel dorm bed and a private room costs from $854.01.
Sources: Ireland.com, Met Éireann
St Colman's Cathedral rises above the town of Cobh and Cork Harbour. Photo: Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Day by Day
Three days cover Cork, Cobh, the Ring of Kerry, Bunratty, Doolin and the Cliffs of Moher, ending in Galway. The listing gives a few fixed times, and the rest of the day is paced by the host.
Day 1: Dublin Heuston to Cork, Blarney and Cobh, Then Killarney
Check in at Heuston Station 20 minutes before the 6:40 AM departure and board with reserved seats and a host. The train arrives in Cork at 09:35, and the Railtours coach then runs through Cork City to Blarney Village and Blarney Castle. The current keep dates from 1446, and visitors lean backwards over a drop to kiss the Blarney Stone.
There is time for the gardens, shopping and lunch, and the listing recommends having lunch there. In the afternoon the tour moves to Cobh, visiting St Colman's Cathedral, the sea front past the former White Star Line offices and the Cobh Heritage Centre, where the Queenstown Story entry is included. The night is spent at a Killarney B&B.
- Train departs 6:40 AM, arrives Cork 09:35
- Blarney Castle, gardens, shopping and lunch
- St Colman's Cathedral and Cobh Heritage Centre
- Overnight at a Killarney B&B
Day 2: The Ring of Kerry, Second Night in Killarney
You are collected from your Killarney accommodation at 09:45, or as directed by the local representative, for the Ring of Kerry circuit. The route is a 179 km loop through County Kerry taking in towns such as Kenmare, Sneem, Waterville, Cahersiveen and Glenbeigh, and tour buses run it counter-clockwise so they can pass on the narrow roads. The listing promises plenty of stops for morning tea, lunch and photos, and Kerry's mountains fill the horizon.
Carrantuohill in the MacGillycuddy Reeks can be seen en route, standing at 1,041 metres in the listing's wording. Breakfast is included at the B&B, but lunch is not, so bring cash for the stops. The second night is again at a Killarney B&B.
- Pickup from your accommodation at 09:45
- Counter-clockwise circuit of the 179 km Ring
- Stops for tea, lunch and photographs
- Overnight at a Killarney B&B
Day 3: Killarney to Limerick, Bunratty, Doolin, the Cliffs and Galway
Between 07:00 and 07:15 you are collected from your accommodation and transferred by road to Limerick City, joining the coach for the Cliffs of Moher and Galway Bay leg. There is a brief city tour of Limerick, then a stop at Bunratty Castle with admission included, where a folk park and tea house sit in the grounds. Lunch is at O'Connor's Pub in Doolin, about 4 miles from the Cliffs.
The Cliffs of Moher run for about 14 km and reach 214 m just north of O'Brien's Tower, and the Visitor Centre entry is in the fare. The return run follows the coast road through the Burren, a 530 km2 limestone landscape about 325 million years old, with photo stops as time allows, then on to Galway, where the tour ends.
- Collection between 07:00 and 07:15
- Limerick city tour and Bunratty Castle
- Lunch at O'Connor's Pub in Doolin
- Cliffs of Moher entry and Burren photo stops
- Tour ends in Galway
Who This Tour Rules Out
The listing is clear about its limits. Several of them are hard limits that no amount of planning works around.
Mobility and Access
The operator states the tour is not suitable for people with mobility issues. Trains in Ireland are wheelchair friendly, but the coaches are not, and walkers, wheelchairs and mobility scooters cannot be accommodated. Every guest has to climb the steps onto the bus, and the days include short walks to meeting points.
If you need step-free travel throughout, look at a private or accessible option outside this comparison instead of a tours of Ireland.
Group Size and Pace
The coach holds up to 53 passengers, so this is a big-group day out with fixed stop times, and the tour proceeds without late guests. If a bus of 53 sounds like too many, the Rabbie's 5-day small-group trip caps at 16 and the Overland 7-day active trip caps at 12. Day 3 is also an early one, with collection between 07:00 and 07:15 and a long run from Killarney to Galway.
Refunds and Weather
Cancel within 2 days of departure and you get nothing back, and from 2 to 6 days out you get half. The listing states no refund for bad weather, so buy independent cancellation cover at the time of booking. Winter travellers should also note that some village shops and cafes close in the low season, though the listed attractions are still visited, and itineraries can occasionally be altered for operational reasons.
Pack layers and waterproofs for the cliffs either way.
Families and Solo Travellers
Children under 16 cannot book independently and must be with a parent or guardian at all times, though infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller and service animals are allowed. The listing states one price of $1,183.73 per person and no single supplement, so check the booking widget for a solo rate. If you want a shorter, cheaper first taste of the south-west, the 4-day Paddywagon loop starts lower, or a day tour from Dublin costs a fraction of the fare.
The front of Dublin Heuston station, where Irish Rail services to the south and west leave. Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting to the Start and Making a Trip of It
The tour starts at Dublin Heuston Station before 6:40 AM, so most guests need a plan for the early morning. The tour ends in Galway, which sets up the rest of a trip nicely.
Reaching Heuston for an Early Check-In
Dublin Airport is 7 km north of the city centre. Dublin Bus routes 16 and 41 cost €2 to €3.30 and take 30 to 50 minutes, with route 41 running around the clock, which matters for a 6:40 AM departure. Aircoach route 700 costs about €8 to €10 in 30 to 40 minutes, and Dublin Express runs 4 AM to 12:30 AM for about €9.
A taxi to the city centre costs roughly €30 to €45 and takes 20 to 30 minutes. Trains to Galway also leave from Heuston, with hourly services.
Before and After the Tour
Build a day in Dublin either side. The Guinness Storehouse Experience starts at €24 and includes the Gravity Bar and a pint, and an OPW Heritage Card at €40 for an adult covers sites such as Kilmainham Gaol and Dublin Castle for 12 months. If you would rather sample the Cliffs before committing 3 days, a day tour of the Cliffs of Moher from Dublin covers the same stop in 13 hours.
The tour ends in Galway, so an Aran Islands and Cliffs cruise from Galway or a train back to Dublin, about 2h 20m to 2h 50m, fits neatly after. This route never crosses the border, so you stay in euros the whole way, and pounds sterling only come into play on trips that include Northern Ireland.
Itinerary at a Glance
One step per day, with the fixed times the listing states.
-
Day 1
Dublin to Cork to Killarney
Check in at Heuston 20 minutes before the 6:40 AM train. Arrive Cork 09:35, coach to Blarney Castle and Village for gardens, the stone and lunch, then Cobh for St Colman's Cathedral and the Cobh Heritage Centre. Overnight at a Killarney B&B.
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Day 2
The Ring of Kerry
Collected from your accommodation at 09:45 for the counter-clockwise circuit of the 179 km Ring, with stops for morning tea, lunch and photos beneath the MacGillycuddy Reeks. Breakfast included. Overnight at a Killarney B&B.
-
Day 3
Killarney to Limerick to Clare to Galway
Collected between 07:00 and 07:15 and transferred to Limerick for a brief city tour, then Bunratty Castle with admission included. Lunch at O'Connor's Pub in Doolin, then the Cliffs of Moher and Burren photo stops on the coast road to Galway, where the tour ends.
Pros and Cons
An honest read of where this listing wins and where it asks you to compromise.
What we genuinely like
- The only tour on the site that uses the train for the long legs, with reserved seats and a host, so day 1 is not a full day on a bus
- Three admissions included: Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre, Cobh Heritage Centre and Bunratty Castle, against an official Cliffs ticket of €8 on its own
- 2 nights in the same Killarney B&B means you unpack once and breakfast is covered both mornings
- Starts and ends in different cities, Dublin to Galway, so it slots into a loop rather than backtracking
- Full refund up to 6 full days out, better than the no-refund terms on several rival multi-day listings
The honest downsides
- A coach of up to 53 passengers makes for fixed stop times
- The from price of $1,183.73 sits well above the 4-day Paddywagon loop at $568.20, though that buys hostel dorm beds at the bottom tier
- No refund at all within 2 days of departure, so late changes cost you the whole fare
- Day 3 starts with a 07:00 to 07:15 collection and runs all the way to Galway, so bring food for the morning
- Not suitable for anyone with mobility issues, since the coaches are not wheelchair accessible and guests must climb the bus steps
Who it's NOT for: Not for travellers who need step-free access, want a small group and flexible stops, or cannot commit the full fare more than 6 days ahead without cover.
Questions About This Tour
How much does the 3-day Ireland rail tour cost?
The price is $1,183.73 per person and covers all rail and coach travel, 2 nights of Killarney B&B with full Irish breakfast, and entries to the Cliffs of Moher, Cobh Heritage Centre and Bunratty Castle. For a lower base fare with dorm beds, compare the 4-day south-west coach tour.
Where and when does the tour start?
It starts at Dublin Heuston Station, with check-in 20 minutes before the 6:40 AM departure at the yellow stand near the Customer Service Desk. Dublin Airport buses 16 and 41 run from €2 to €3.30 if you land late the night before, and a taxi is about €30 to €45.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel 6 or more full days before departure for a full refund, 2 to 6 days out for 50%, and within 2 days for nothing. That final window is why cancellation cover matters, and several rival listings such as the 6-day all-Ireland coach tour offer no refund at any point.
Is this tour suitable for wheelchair users?
No. The operator states the coaches are not wheelchair friendly and that walkers, wheelchairs and mobility scooters cannot be accommodated, though the trains themselves are wheelchair friendly. Travellers wanting small vehicles and a lighter pace should read the 5-day small-group tour page for comparison.
How big is the group on the coach?
Up to 53 passengers on the coach legs, with a qualified driver-guide, and a host on the trains. If that sounds crowded, small-group alternatives cap at 12 to 16, such as the 10-day Overland small-group tour.
Do I need to buy my own tickets for the Cliffs of Moher?
No, entry to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre is included in the fare, along with an information pack. Official adult tickets start from €8 if you visit independently, and the Aran Islands day tour from Galway also bundles Cliffs admission with a cruise.
Can I do just the Ring of Kerry part without the rail tour?
Yes. A 7.5-hour guided Ring of Kerry day tour from Killarney costs $55 and uses a smaller coach that reaches views the big buses skip, which works if you are already staying in Killarney.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
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