How to Drive the Wild Atlantic Way: The Complete Guide

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The Wild Atlantic Way is the longest defined coastal touring route in the world — some 2,500 kilometres (1,550 miles) of cliffs, beaches, peninsulas and harbour towns running down the entire western seaboard of Ireland. This guide explains how to drive it: how long you need, where to start, the route region by region, a ready-made 7-day itinerary, and the practical tips that make the difference between a good road trip and a great one.

It runs from the Inishowen Peninsula and Malin Head in County Donegal, at the very north, all the way to the harbour town of Kinsale in County Cork, in the south, threading through nine counties along the way. You don't have to drive all of it — almost nobody does in one trip — but knowing how the whole route fits together is the key to choosing the right stretch for the time you have.

The Wild Atlantic Way at a glance

It runs from Malin Head in County Donegal to Kinsale in County Cork — just follow the blue zig-zag Wild Atlantic Way signs and the brown Discovery Point markers the whole way down.

How many days do you need?

The honest answer: as many as you can give it. Driving the full route end to end, with stops, is a two-week trip. But the Wild Atlantic Way divides neatly into regions, and the most spectacular of them — the southwest, where Clare, Galway and Kerry meet the ocean — can be done justice in well under a week. Here's how the time tends to break down:

If this is your first time, resist the urge to drive the lot. The roads are slower than the map suggests, and the joy of the west coast is in the stopping — the beach you didn't plan on, the harbour pub, the headland you climb just to see what's beyond it.

Which direction, and where to start

Most people drive the Wild Atlantic Way from north to south, chasing the sun down the coast, but there's no wrong way round — and most visitors drive just a section rather than the whole thing. The single most common starting point isn't on the route at all: it's Dublin, where most travellers land. From there it's a straightforward run west to Galway to join the coast — a drive we've turned into a tour in its own right, Dublin to Galway, so the crossing of Ireland's midlands becomes part of the story rather than dead motorway time.

One thing to settle before you set off: in Ireland you drive on the left, and the coastal roads are narrow, winding and often single-track with passing places. If you're not used to it, give yourself an easy first day and take the lanes slowly — our guide to driving in Ireland covers the rest. It quickly becomes second nature.

Don't just drive it — discover it

MacÉireann narrates the legends and history of the road as you reach each place, automatically and offline. Download on the App Store →

The route, region by region

From north to south, the Wild Atlantic Way falls into a handful of distinct stretches, each with its own character.

The Northern Headlands — Donegal, Sligo & Mayo

The wild, less-travelled top of the route: the sea cliffs of Slieve League (among the highest in Europe), the surf town of Bundoran, the blow-hole at Downpatrick Head and the long Atlantic-battered roads of Achill Island. This is the Wild Atlantic Way at its rawest and emptiest — magnificent if you have the days, and easily a trip of its own.

The West — Galway & Connemara

Galway city is the buzzing heart of the west coast: painted shopfronts, trad sessions spilling out of pubs, and the Spanish Arch on the river. West of it lies Connemara, a land of bog, mountain and island. Galway also makes the perfect hinge for the southwest — the point where most one-week trips really begin.

The heart of the route — County Clare

If you only drive one stretch, make it this one. South of Galway Bay the coast runs into the Burren, a vast pavement of bare limestone where Arctic and Mediterranean wildflowers bloom side by side from the rock, and on to the Cliffs of Moher, 214 metres of sheer Atlantic cliff and Ireland's most visited natural wonder. We've narrated this coast in both directions — Galway to the Cliffs of Moher and Cliffs of Moher to Galway — through Doolin, Ballyvaughan and the oyster villages of the bay.

The grand finale — County Kerry

Kerry is where the Wild Atlantic Way reaches its climax, on three great peninsulas reaching into the ocean. The Ring of Kerry loops the Iveragh Peninsula past mountains, ancient stone forts and colourful villages. To the north, the Slea Head Drive rounds the tip of the Dingle Peninsula past beehive huts, golden strands and the Blasket Islands. And tucked off the Ring is the quiet, dramatic Skellig Ring, with its view out to the monastery island of Skellig Michael. Each is a full day, and together they're the reason many people come at all. Torn between the first two? See Ring of Kerry vs Dingle, or browse them all on the tours page.

The southern finish — West Cork

The route mellows as it runs into West Cork, past the Beara Peninsula and the brightly painted villages of Allihies and Eyeries to its official end at Kinsale, a foodie harbour town that's a fitting place to raise a final glass.

A 7-day Wild Atlantic Way itinerary

This week-long route covers the very best of the coast — the Clare, Galway and Kerry sections — starting from Dublin, where most travellers arrive. Every driving day below has a MacÉireann audio tour to narrate it. Prefer a whole-Ireland loop that takes in the historic south too? See our 7-day Ireland road trip itinerary.

Day 1Dublin to Galway

Pick up your hire car and cross the country to the west coast, letting the Dublin to Galway tour turn the midlands into a story of Vikings, castles and the mighty Shannon. Overnight in Galway.

Day 2Galway, the Burren & the Cliffs of Moher

Follow the coast south with the Galway to Cliffs of Moher tour, through the lunar Burren to the Cliffs of Moher. Time your arrival at the cliffs for late afternoon, when the coaches have gone.

Day 3Into Kerry

Drive south from Clare toward the Kerry peninsulas (via the Tarbert–Killimer car ferry across the Shannon estuary). Settle in around Dingle or Killarney for the next three nights.

Day 4The Slea Head Drive

Loop the tip of the Dingle Peninsula on the Slea Head Drive — beehive huts, ancient oratories and the Blasket Islands — one of the most beautiful short drives in Ireland.

Day 5The Ring of Kerry

Give a full day to the Ring of Kerry, the famous loop of the Iveragh Peninsula. Set off early to stay ahead of the tour buses.

Day 6The Skellig Ring

Add the quieter Skellig Ring, too narrow for coaches, for cliffs, remote beaches and the view out to Skellig Michael. Overnight in Kenmare.

Day 7Kenmare to Cork

Wind down through West Cork toward Kinsale and the route's southern end — or turn back for Dublin, full of stories.

Practical tips for driving the Wild Atlantic Way

• Hire a car you're comfortable in. Most hire cars in Ireland are manual; book an automatic well ahead if you need one, and consider a smaller car for the narrow lanes.
• Drive on the left, and take single-track roads slowly — pull into passing places to let oncoming traffic and locals through.
• Allow more time than the map says. Coastal roads are slow, and you'll want to stop far more than you expect.
• Fuel up in towns. Petrol stations thin out on the remote stretches and peninsulas.
• Pack for four seasons in a day. The Atlantic weather is changeable; layers and a waterproof are essential year-round.
• Book accommodation ahead in July and August, when the popular towns fill up.
• Bring the stories with you. Download your MacÉireann tours before you set off — they run on GPS and work offline, exactly where the coast has no signal.

When is the best time to drive it?

May to September gives the best weather and the longest days — in June the light lasts until nearly 11pm, which buys you hours of extra driving and exploring. May and September are the sweet spot: warm-ish, quieter, and easier for last-minute beds. The route is open year-round and winter brings wild, empty drama to the coast, but expect short days and some seasonal closures. Whenever you go, set off early to have the famous spots to yourself before the day-trippers arrive. For the full season-by-season picture, see our guide to the best time to visit Ireland.

Frequently asked questions