Puffins - where to see if travelling by public transport

Puffins - where to see if travelling by public transport

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Posted Sun 19 Apr 2026 2:35 PM
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We will be in Ireland at the last two weeks in July and would like to see puffins. I have read the areas where we could see them. However, our goal is to travel on public transport. Therefore, we are looking for recommendations where we get close to the spotting location (of course we will need some additional transports to the final spots. :-))
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Posted Mon 20 Apr 2026 8:00 AM
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Hi Ha Lu,

That sounds like a great idea for a trip. Watching wildlife is always a highlight for me, and these little birds are just so special.

For finding your way around the island by public transport, TFI's journey planner is your friend. It offers information for travelling by bus, rail, tram, ferry and taxi, and it covers the entire island. Rome2Rio is great for quickly finding different ways to get from one place to another.

I'm curious which areas you've found to see them, and which you're most interested in visiting? The locations below are some of the more popular ones.

Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry
The best way to get to Skellig Michael by public transport is probably to take the train to Killarney and take a bus from there. You'd want to get to Portmagee, where most tours to the island start from. The bus ride is about 3 hours, so I'd say this is not the fastest location to reach, but it all depends on where you start your journey.

Saltee Islands, Co. Wexford
The ferry to the islands departs from Kilmore Quay, where you can get to by bus from Wexford town in about 40 minutes. 

Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim
To get to Rathlin Island, you can travel to Ballycastle Harbour by bus. The Rathlin–Ballycastle Ferry departs from there.

Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare
The famous Cliffs of Moher can be a great place to spot puffins as well, usually from April to July, with peak activity in May and June. Here's more on the best times to see them. You can get to the Cliffs of Moher by bus from either Galway or Ennis.

Please keep in mind that at the end of July, the puffins might not be visible everywhere. As always, nature can be unpredictable, which is part of its beauty, I'd say.

I hope this helps and wish you a wonderful trip!

Noortje


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