Blarney Castle and Kinsale Tour from Cork
Description
This is the only day trip from Cork that combines all of the most popular sights in one day: Blarney Castle, Kinsale, Charles Fort and Cobh (Titanic's last port of call).
Tour Options
Itinerary
Enjoy three hours at Ireland's premier fairytale castle - Blarney. Climb the battlements, kiss the stone (or cheer on the crazy ones who do), walk in the gardens and shop tax free at the famous Woolen Mills. VIP Skip the Line access has already been arranged for you - so no worries about the long lines on days when the world's biggest cruise ships are at nearby Cobh.
Next up is the spectacular 17th century pentagon shaped fortress, Charles Fort - named after Charles II. Built when Ireland was the second seat of the British Empire, Charles Fort was a major British Army and Royal Navy base overlooking the approach to Kinsale for 200 years. The structure, grounds and coastal vistas will excite both adults and kids and provide excellent opportunities for photos. Look out for marine wildlife from strategic vantage points where cannons used to perch. Your entrance fee (EUR 5.00 adult / EUR 3.00 student & senior) is included with the cost of your tour!
The resort town of Kinsale is a delight and a highlight for many this afternoon. Nicknamed "Ireland's Riviera" the town features a marina full of yachts, winding cobbled streets with galleries and pubs and one of the best gastronomy scenes in the region. Enjoy 80 minutes at leisure to stroll around soaking up the atmosphere or pop into a good pub for a pint of Murphy's Cork Stout and a plate of trawler fresh seafood. You'll find plenty of delicious options to choose from including pubs, cafe's and sandwich shops. Some of our favourite's include The Spaniard Inn, The Bulman Bar, Lord Kingsale and Fishy Fishy. (For those who prefer to explore or to shop, feel free to take a packed lunch or to grab a sandwich at Blarney)
Our last stop of the afternoon is in the historic port of Cobh. Scene of many tearful goodbyes for generations of Irish emigrants on their way to the United States and Canada, these days Cobh hosts the biggest cruise ships in the world on blue skied summer days. If you have Irish ancestors who left the Emerald Isle before the 1950s it's likely you're now standing on the same soil as they did all those years ago. Check out the Titanic Museum (optional) in the White Star Line ticket office, check out the colourful houses and streets with a casual stroll or pop in to the spectacular St Colman's Roman Catholic Cathedral which dominates the skyline.
You'll arrive back in downtown Cork 9.5 hours after departure (the 160 minutes allocated to this "attraction" of the total 9.5 hours is spent touring in the bus through the countryside of Cork during the day).
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(9)
I took this tour on 1 July, 2026. When we stopped at the fort in Kinsale, we were told to return to the bus by 1:15. At 1:13 I was in the parking lot, and the bus was gone. The tour guide left without me, taking the 10 minute drive into town for lunch. I called the office. They were not at all concerned about me being stranded. With no facts to go on, the person on the other end of the line told me it was my fault that I was left behind because I must not have made it back in time for the bus. He told me my travel was now my own problem to solve. It was suggested that I could walk "10 minutes" into town to catch up to the bus while everyone was having lunch. The "10 minute" walk turned out to be nearly 1.5 miles. The tour guide could have come back to get me, obviously, but he apparently wasn't answering calls, or just didn't feel like it. When I arrived in town I got a half-hearted apology from the tour guide which was in no way commensurate with the fact that I had just walked a mile and half (thank Heavens for GPS!) At the end of the tour the guide told the entire bus over the PA that he was sorry for "abandoning" me (his word). Again, this was half-hearted at best. I got no apology from the office or the company, and no offer of a refund. I strongly suggest that no one do business with this company. They don't care about your well-being or safety, never mind creating an enjoyable experience.
Great/friendly driver and tour guide: Tommy! All his tips and pointers were spot on (i.e. do the Blarney Stone first, to avoid the lines). Note: the Blarney Stone tower climb is no joke. Some of the spiral staircase sections were more like a ladder. The guys running the stone kissing station do a top-rate job with the guests. Be sure to tip them a coin or two. Only down-side was very limited time in Kinsale (1:20) and Fort Howard. (About 30-min). Could have skipped Cobh and spent more time at Fort Howard and Kinsale. There wasn’t enough time to do the Cobh Titantic Museum, and we were mostly beat by the time we got there. Cobh was mostly a place near the water to have 1-2 pints before heading back to Cork.
Fantastic tourguide/bus driver Tommy while on the drive gave us a great speech on everything historical about ireland, it was unbiased & heartfelt. Enjoyed the places we visited and highly recomend this tour for first time visitors to Cork.
Great day, Ray Kelly our driver and guide was great. He left us enough time at Blarney Castle to walk around and kiss the stone, and the right amount of time to explore the other stops.
This was an amazing experience! I highly recommend it! And our tour guide Michael did a great job. It's a must do if given the chance.
Wonderful tour! Tour guide Brian was very friendly and informative. Loved the various locations we stopped at during tour
It is worth to go! The arrangement is just nice to visit four places - Blarney Castle, Charles Fort, Kinsale and Cobb!
Awesome time and paddywagon did a great job with everything. I would recommend to my friends and family all the time. Thank you
The driver was great driver and knowledgeable about Irish history and locales
