Ennis, Ireland: travel guide
A walkable County Clare market town near the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren
The bustling market town of Ennis is the capital of County Clare and the most convenient base for the Cliffs of Moher — Ireland's most visited natural attraction, drawing 1.5 million visitors every year.
About Ennis
Ennis is the main town of County Clare, a market town of narrow medieval lanes and small squares that makes a pleasant base on the west coast. Ennis Friary, a Franciscan ruin of medieval origin, sits at the centre, and the town is known for its traditional music in the evenings.
The reasons to stay here are all nearby: the Cliffs of Moher, the limestone plateau of the Burren with its rare flowers and stone monuments, and the music village of Doolin. Bunratty Castle and the Shannon Estuary are also within easy reach.
Ennis suits travellers who want a base with real local character rather than a resort. Late spring to early autumn is the most comfortable time to visit.
- Country
- Ireland
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Dublin
- Nearest airport
- SNN
Last updated
Top places to visit in Ennis
Cliffs of Moher
sea cliffs · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Ireland's most visited natural attraction — an 8 km stretch of near-vertical sea cliffs rising to 214 metres at their highest point, plunging straight into the Atlantic with no ledge, no beach and no transition between clifftop and ocean.…
Ennis Doolin Cliffs Walk
cliff-walk · 4.9 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
The Doolin Cliff Walk — Clare's spectacular 8km walking trail along the Cliffs of Moher from Doolin to Hag's Head, with the iconic Atlantic views and the wildflower meadows.
Ennis Bunratty Folk Park
folk-park · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Ennis to Bunratty Folk Park — the spectacular recreated 19th-century Irish village with thatched cottages, the famous Medieval Banquet, and the iconic shillelagh dancers.
Lahinch Beach
surf beach · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Ireland's most celebrated surf beach — a 2 km Blue Flag arc of clean Atlantic sand backed by a vibrant surfing village 40 km west of Ennis. The beach receives powerful Atlantic swells from the northwest that produce consistent, clean waves…
The Burren National Park
karst limestone plateau · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · free entry
One of the most extraordinary landscapes in Europe: 250 km² of exposed limestone pavement carved by glacier and dissolved by millennia of rain into a lunar surface of horizontal clints and deep fissures (grikes) harbouring an extraordinary…
Poulnabrone Dolmen
Neolithic portal tomb · 4.8 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The most photographed prehistoric monument in Ireland and the most iconic image of the Burren — a portal tomb with two portal stones and a thin tilted capstone, perched alone on grey limestone pavement with the Burren hills as backdrop.…
Ennis Doolin Cave
show-cave · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · entry €20 (≈ ₹2,080)
Doolin Cave — Ireland's spectacular show cave with the Great Stalactite (the largest free-hanging stalactite in Europe at 7.3m), with the iconic guided tour.
Ennis Lahinch Surf School
surf-school · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
The Lahinch Surf School — Clare's spectacular surfing capital, with lessons on the famous Atlantic waves, the iconic surfing competitions, and the rich Wild Atlantic heritage.
Ennis Loop Head Lighthouse
lighthouse · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Ennis to Loop Head Lighthouse — the spectacular 1854 lighthouse on the wild Clare peninsula, with the panoramic Atlantic views and the dolphin-watching tours.
Ennis Friary
medieval Franciscan friary · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
One of the finest and most complete medieval friaries in Ireland — a substantial Franciscan foundation established c.1241 by Donnchadh Cairbreacht O'Brien, King of Thomond. The friary grew to become a major centre of learning before its…
Ennis Quin Abbey Ruins
franciscan-friary · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Quin Abbey — Clare's spectacular 1402 Franciscan friary ruins, one of the best-preserved medieval monastic sites in Ireland, with the iconic crenellated tower.
Ennis Doonbeg Trump Day
links-golf · 4.6 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Ennis to Doonbeg — the spectacular Atlantic links golf course (now Trump International), the historic 16th-century McMahon castle, and the iconic Doonbeg beach.
Things to do
- Cliffs of Moher Guided Coastal Walk Outdoor · 3 h · from EUR 21 per person
- Burren Guided Walking Tour Outdoor · 3 h · from EUR 25 per person
Day trips and tours
- Cliffs of Moher & Burren Full-Day Guided Experience 10 h · from EUR 50
Where to stay in Ennis
- Ennis Town Centre about EUR 105 per night
Staying in Ennis town centre gives you Ennis Friary, the Saturday Milk Market, all restaurants and the bus station within 10 minutes' walk. Dromoland Castle is 5 km away.
- Dromoland Castle Estate about EUR 450 per night
The most spectacular luxury accommodation in County Clare — Dromoland Castle on the shores of its private lake, 5 km from Ennis and 14 km from Shannon Airport. The ideal first or last night of an Ireland trip arriving…
Hotels
- Dromoland Castle Hotel 5-star · EUR 360 to EUR 2,200 per night
- Old Ground Hotel Ennis 4-star · EUR 95 to EUR 245 per night
- Old Mill Hostel Ennis 2-star · EUR 17 to EUR 68 per night
Where to eat
- The Old Ground Hotel Restaurant Ennis Traditional Irish, Hotel Restaurant · about EUR 50 per person
- Knox Gastropub Ennis Modern Irish, Gastropub, Seafood · about EUR 38 per person
- Brewed Awakening Ennis Café, Coffee · about EUR 12 per person
Getting to Ennis
Airport: Ennis (via Shannon) (SNN)
Getting around
- Car Rental Self
- Walking
More in Ireland
Frequently asked questions about Ennis
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Ennis?
- The highest-rated places in our Ennis guide are Ennis Doolin Cliffs Walk, The Burren National Park, Poulnabrone Dolmen, Ennis Loop Head Lighthouse, Cliffs of Moher.
- Where should I stay in Ennis?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Ennis: Ennis Town Centre, Dromoland Castle Estate.
- How do I get around Ennis?
- Ways to get around Ennis covered in our guide: Self-drive car, Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to Ennis?
- The nearest airport to Ennis has the code SNN.