Wild Atlantic waves, ancient landscapes, traditional music and stories around every corner.
There's something wonderfully dramatic about County Clare.
Maybe it's the huge cliffs rising out of the Atlantic, the eerie limestone of the Burren or the sound of trad music drifting out of a pub in Doolin. Whatever it is, Clare knows how to leave an impression.
It's home to some of Ireland's best-known natural sights, but also to plenty of lesser-known treasures: ancient castles, underground caves, colourful villages, spectacular coastal drives and enough history and folklore to keep anyone busy. Whether it's a weekend away or a Wild Atlantic Way road trip, Clare deserves a place on your list.
Few places capture the drama of Ireland's Atlantic coast like the Cliffs of Moher. They rise more than 200 metres above the ocean at their highest point, and on a wild day the weather adds plenty of extra theatre.
The main visitor area and O'Brien's Tower give you the classic views without needing to go anywhere near the edge.
Why visit? Coastal scenery, photography and one of Ireland's most famous landmarks.
The Burren looks unlike anywhere else in Ireland: a vast limestone landscape of cracked pavements, strange rock formations and ancient monuments.
What looks like bare stone is actually bursting with life. Arctic, alpine and Mediterranean plants grow side by side here, and spring brings a remarkable show of wildflowers. Follow the marked trails, stop at the viewpoints and take your time.
Why visit? Geology, archaeology, nature and otherworldly landscapes.
Bunratty's mighty 15th-century tower house is one of the best-known castles in Ireland. Beside it, the folk park recreates village streets, farmhouses and cottages to show how people lived in rural Ireland in times gone by.
Why visit? Medieval castles, Irish social history and family days out.
Doolin is famous for traditional music and makes a great base for North Clare, close to both the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren.
Doolin Pier is also a departure point for ferries to the Aran Islands, especially Inis Oírr, the closest of the three.
Why visit? Traditional music, coastal scenery and island trips.
Hidden beneath the Burren's limestone is a remarkable underground world. Guided tours of Aillwee lead you through its passages and explain how water carved them over thousands of years.
Why visit? Caves, geology and family adventures.
Doolin Cave is home to the Great Stalactite, reputed to be the longest free-hanging stalactite in Europe. A guided descent shows you one of the Burren's most unusual sights.
Why visit? Geology and a genuinely unusual experience.
A lively seaside town with a long sandy beach and serious Atlantic surf. Book a lesson, take a bracing stroll along the prom or just watch the surfers from somewhere warm.
Why visit? Beaches, surfing and seaside breaks.
If you like dramatic coastal roads and quiet corners, Loop Head is a treat. Big cliffs, sweeping Atlantic views and the famous Loop Head Lighthouse at the tip, with the Shannon Estuary on one side and the open ocean on the other.
Why visit? Scenic driving, photography and coastal landscapes.
A classic seaside town wrapped around a horseshoe-shaped bay, with clifftop walks that look out over the Atlantic.
Why visit? Seaside holidays, coastal walks and photography.
Clare's county town has narrow streets, colourful shopfronts and a strong traditional music scene, and it's lovely to explore on foot.
The medieval Ennis Friary, founded in the 13th century, is famous for its carved sculptures.
Why visit? Town breaks, history, music and independent shops.
Killaloe sits beside the River Shannon at the southern tip of Lough Derg, linked by an old stone bridge to Ballina on the Tipperary side.
The town is closely tied to Brian Boru, Ireland's most famous high king, whose royal seat at Kincora is traditionally placed here.
Why visit? Riverside scenery, history and relaxing days out.
A mix of free outdoor places and seasonal attractions, labelled so you can plan around them.
One of Ireland's best-known portal tombs, standing alone on the Burren limestone. It's more than 5,000 years old.
A beautiful Atlantic beach with dunes, framed by the grey hills of the Burren.
An island in the Shannon Estuary with a round tower and the remains of an early Christian monastery linked to St Senan.
A seaside spot whose name recalls the ships of the Spanish Armada wrecked along the Clare coast in 1588. See the legends section for the story.
A picturesque village on the Shannon Estuary, with a castle tower overlooking the harbour and a long maritime heritage.
Woodland walks, lakes and riverside paths in a nature reserve near Ennis, rich in wildlife.
Atmospheric ruins of a 15th-century Franciscan friary in the village of Quin, with a beautiful cloister.
A natural sea arch on the Loop Head Peninsula, and one of Ireland's top spots for seabird watching, especially in autumn.
Our Hidden Ireland collection is where we keep the places most visitors drive straight past.
We've kept history and legend clearly labelled, because the best Irish stories are usually a bit of both.
At the southern end of the Cliffs of Moher, a rock formation is said to look like the head of a woman gazing out to sea. Legend tells of Mal, a hag who fell for the hero Cú Chulainn and chased him across Ireland. In one version, she leapt after him across the sea and fell to her death at this spot, leaving her face in the rock forever.
It's a legend, of course, but it's hard not to see her once you know the story.
The Burren is packed with prehistoric monuments, from wedge tombs to ring forts. Poulnabrone, the most famous, is a portal tomb more than 5,000 years old. When it was excavated, archaeologists found the remains of many people buried over hundreds of years.
These tombs are reminders that people have been farming and living on this stony landscape for thousands of years.
Brian Boru was born in the area in the 10th century and rose to become High King of Ireland. His royal seat at Kincora is traditionally placed at Killaloe, beside the Shannon.
He died at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, a battle that became one of the most famous in Irish history.
In 1588, after the failed invasion of England, storms drove ships of the Spanish Armada onto the west coast of Ireland, and several were wrecked off Clare. Spanish Point takes its name from those wrecks.
Many dark stories grew up around what happened to the survivors. The details vary from one telling to the next, so we'd treat the more dramatic versions as legend rather than proven history.
Our Friday Night Frights series explores ghost stories, myths and folklore from all over Ireland.
Realistic days out, each focused on one part of the county.
Prefer a guide, a ready-made tour or someone else to do the driving? These are good places to start:
Disclosure: GetYourGuide, Klook and TourRadar links are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Tours on TourRadar are our picks, not trips we've taken ourselves. Availability and prices change, so always check the provider's page before booking.
Opening times, seasons and access arrangements change, so please check official websites before you travel. For general visitor information, see Discover Ireland.
Clare is perfectly placed for a west-coast road trip:
Slán go fóill, and safe travels! — Nicola & Podge