How to Visit Fanore Beach
Read our travel guide on Fanore Beach in Ireland. Includes what to expect, how to get there, tips on where to stay, or when to go.
Situated in the coastal area of the Burren, Fanore Beach is one of the best stops along the western edge of County Clare and a great add-on to your Ireland itinerary.
This lovely Blue Flag beach offers plenty of things to see and do, at least if you're a fan of sandy beaches in remote areas.
From catching some rays, floating in the sea, and peaceful walks to watching birds, listening to the waves, and surfing, there's always a reason to stop at Fanore Beach.
With its great swimming opportunities, clear waters, and stunning sand dunes, this beautiful stretch of sand is a great way to escape the crowds flocking to the nearby Cliffs of Moher.
So if you're looking for inspiration to add more beaches to your Wild Atlantic Way journey or for day trip ideas from Galway, you've come to the right place.
Here's everything you should know about Fanore Beach before you go.
How to Visit Fanore Beach
Planning a trip to Fanore Beach couldn't be easier. The beach itself is only a few hundred meters off the R477, and it's very easy to get there by car.
Driving along the narrow rural roads can be a bit daunting, but this is a regular two-lane road, so you should be fine here.
We left the Doolin Cave in the afternoon and headed north toward the northwest tip of the Burren.
The brown tourist sign Fanore Beach is easy to miss, so keep your GPS navigation on.
Unlike our visit to Minard Beach and Coumeenoole Beach on Dingle Peninsula, the weather was almost perfect.
Even though it was still the beginning of May, the outdoor temperature was pleasant, and we could enjoy the warm spring sun after a short spell of rain.
However, it was still pretty windy, so we kept our trusty windproof rain jackets on.
The parking lot is huge, so it should be relatively easy to find an empty spot here, even during the peak season.
The only downside is that if you arrive late during the peak season, you might end up at the other end of the parking area, meaning you will need to walk about 200-300 meters just to get to the beach.
It was a very quiet day, so we could easily find an empty space right next to the beach entrance.
The beach is accessible via a short 50-meter trail and a wooden boardwalk with steps that will bring you down to the sandy strip (people with limited mobility would find it difficult to access the beach).
Even though it was a beautiful day, the beach was almost empty, and we could enjoy a relaxing time with amazing scenery around us.
By the way, there's also a surf school at Fanore Beach simply called Aloha Surf School.
The sand dunes are part of conservation areas and were roped off for obvious reasons, so stay on the designated path.
However, it's perfectly fine to walk along the beach, which is, with its golden sand and crystal clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean, a true sight to behold.
In fact, we believe that Fanore Beach is beautiful at any time of the year, even on a rainy day.
By the way, if you're a beach lover, make sure also to visit Inch Beach, Dog's Bay Beach, or Ballinskelligs Beach while in Ireland.
Opening Hours
Fanore Beach is open 24/7. However, don't forget that overnight parking or camping is not allowed here.
Entrance Fee
There is no entry fee to Fanore Beach, which is great news for all travelers visiting Ireland on a budget.
How Much Time Do I Need
The whole visit to Fanore Beach will take you anything between 30 minutes to several hours, depending on your preferences.
No matter the time of the year, Fanore Beach is worth seeing.
When to Go
Summer is the best time of the year to visit Fanore Beach if you want to sunbathe or just sit on the beach, have a picnic, or relax.
Days are long with plenty of daylight, temperatures are pleasant, and it doesn't rain as often as in autumn or winter.
We visited Fanore Beach in spring, and while we enjoyed the overall experience, it was still too cold for swimming or even sunbathing.
However, this period was perfect for exploring the nearby Burren National Park, Corcomroe Abbey, or Poulnabrone Dolmen.
Autumn will most likely offer a very similar experience.
Winters are often considered not the best time when to visit Ireland due to bad weather.
On the other hand, chances are you will have the beach just four yourself.
As the beach sits on the west of the island, sunset is a perfect time of the day to visit the beach.
What to Pack
Bring strong sunscreen, swimwear, a beach towel, sunglasses, and plenty of water with you in the summer.
Whenever we go to the beach, we always have a waterproof dry bag to keep our valuables dry and safe.
In the off-season, you will need an extra layer or two.
Due to prevalent wind gusts, we wore our trusty windproof rain jackets and hiking pants.
Here you will find our Ireland packing list.
How to Get There
There are several ways to get to Fanore Beach, though some are more convenient than others.
Nevertheless, renting a car in Ireland has huge advantages, as you can visit many incredible places with ease.
If you're worried about driving in Ireland, read our guide, which includes plenty of helpful tips.
Car
The easiest way to get to Fanore Beach is by car. From Doolin, follow R477 north for about 16 kilometers until you reach the turnoff to the beach.
Fanore Beach is only 60 kilometers south of Galway and a great place to visit on a day trip from there.
Limerick is less than 90 kilometers north of the beach. The journey takes about three hours from Dublin.
Travel Resources
When renting a car, we use Rentalcars.com.
Bus
Unlike many remote beaches in Ireland, getting to Fanore Beach by bus is fairly easy.
Bus 350 runs every day between Ennis and Galway and stops at Murroogh Bridge and Fanore Cross (O'Donoghues Pub).
Both stops are within walking distance from the beach, but Murroogh Bridge is closer.
The main disadvantage of this mode of transport is that you will miss many amazing stops in the Burren along the way.
Tours
If you don't want to worry about transport, you can consider joining an organized tour that includes some of Burren's most beautiful places.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi, though this option will be expensive.
Here you can reserve The Burren Tour in advance.
Parking
There is a huge free parking lot at Fanore Beach.
However, it has a two meters height clearance, meaning you won't be able to enter this area with an RV or large campervan.
It seemed there was no other entrance for large vehicles, so keep that in mind.
The people traveling in a large campervan just ahead of us learned it the hard way and had to turn around.
Where to Stay
While you can find a few cottages and holiday homes in the village of Fanore, they have only limited capacity.
As a result, they are often booked out weeks ahead, especially during the summer season.
Therefore, it's easier to find accommodation in tourist villages such as Doolin or Lahinch, though you still need to book early to get the best deals for those busy times.
In case you're looking for classic mid-range hotels, the best selection can be found in larger cities such as Galway or Limerick.
Here are tips on the best hotels in Fanore Beach.
Lahinch | Lahinch Coast Hotel and Suites - Set in the quiet village of Lahinch, this hotel has an ideal location for exploring the whole Burren area. It has modern decor, clean rooms, welcoming staff, and free private parking.
Galway | Harbour Hotel - Situated on Galway's waterfront, this hotel features cozy rooms, comfortable beds, an excellent location, modern facilities, a buffet breakfast, and secure paid parking.
Limerick | George Limerick Hotel - Boasting a great location, contemporary decor, and modern rooms, this hotel is clearly one of the best options when it comes to accommodation in Limerick.
Staying Safe
In summer, this Blue Flag Beach has a lifeguard on duty, so it's safe as a beach in Ireland can be.
In general, it's safe to go swimming at Fanore Beach. As usual, use your common sense, and you should be fine.
If you want to learn more about this topic, read our post on staying safe in Ireland.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Is Fanore Beach Worth Visiting?
Fanore Beach is a fantastic little stop when exploring the Burren Region.
The large parking lot is located just off the main road, making the beach accessible to all types of travelers.
As this is a Blue Flag Beach and a popular swim and surf spot, it gets relatively busy during the summer.
Back home, we dreamed that our Ireland road trip along Ireland's coastal regions would be packed with similar places.
And the reality exceeded our expectations, as this is Ireland at its best. Furthermore, it's one of the best beaches you can visit in County Clare.
So if you're in the Burren, Fanore Beach is definitely worth visiting.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
