Things To Do In Cobh
Fota House & Gardens
Fota House was designed by 19th-century architects Richard and William Morrison. From the beautifully proportioned rooms with exquisite plasterwork to the preserved service wing and kitchens, Fota House offers visitors an intimate look at how life was lived in the past, whether as a servant or as a member of the gentry. Our painting collection is considered to be one of the finest collections of landscape painting outside the National Gallery of Ireland and includes works by William Ashford PRHA, Robert Carver, Jonathan Fisher and Thomas Roberts.
You can also visit the fascinating award-winning Victorian Working Garden which has been brought back to life. This includes the beautiful orchard, pit houses and working glasshouses.
For opening hours and booking information see www.fotahouse.com, Call + 353 (0) 21 481 5543, or Email: [email protected]
Visit One Of Europe’s Best Wildlife Parks, Fota Wildlife Park
Fota also boasts one of the best Wildlife Parks in Europe. Many of the animals here roam free, allowing visitors to get up close and personal with some of the world’s most amazing creatures.
The Park’s Tropical House is home to Butterflies, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Tropical Fish and their Asian Sanctuary houses Sumatran Tigers, Warty Pigs, and Lion-Tailed Macaques. Lions are the new arrivals for 2016. Make sure your phone battery is charged – there will be lots of snaps taken!
For opening hours and booking information see www.fotawildlife.ie
Take The Ferry To Ireland’s Alcatraz, Spike Island
Off limits to civilians for some 200 years, Spike Island is now open to visitors and a recently completed €5m investment is phase one of a massive tourism project. The island has a fascinating history, from Monastic settlement to Military Fortress, a convict depot, prison and Army and Naval facilities.
Take the ferry from Cobh and explore the extensive star shaped Fort, see the jail cells, walk the ramparts, marvel at the 360 degree views of Cork Harbour, see the huge gun that protected the harbour from attack, hear about the high-society artist Willam Burke Kirwan, convicted of the violent murder of his young wife, or John Power, a Waterford orphan who was so brutalised by the system that he ended up murdering a prison warder, or learn about John Mitchel, a patriotic Young Irelander, after whom Fort Mitchel is now named.
Visit: www.spikeislandcork.ie
Email – [email protected]
Visit The Famous St. Colman’s Cathedral
Perched on the hillside, St Colman’s Cathedral is one of the most popular attractions in the region. Impressive and imposing from the outside, the stained glass and carvings inside are exquisite. Its 49-bell Carillon is the only such instrument in this country and is the largest in Ireland and Britain.
Cork Harbour Boat Hire
Explore Cork Harbour and see Cobh from the sea on a fantastic boating adventure with Cork Harbour Boat Hire. These easy to drive boats are led on a one hour tour of the harbour by a safety boat. It is great fun for people of all ages, no previous boating experience is needed and all equipment is provided.
Call: 086 074 7926
The Titanic Trail Walking Tour
The Titanic Trail is a fascinating guided walking tour that explores Cobh, taking visitors through this Historic town where the buildings, streets and piers have not changed since the Titanic was in port over a century ago. Enjoy the fascinating Heritage of Cobh and reveal its many Historical secrets on Dr. Michael Martin’s famous Titanic Trail walking Tour.
Book online at www.titanic.ie or call 087 2767218. For the 2020 season both Titanic trail and The Cobh Heritage Centre are offering a combined tour called “The Cobh Cultural Tour” where visitors can experience both attractions on a combined and discounted ticket. Book online at www.titanic.ie or on this website here
Titanic Experience
Cobh was of course, the last port of call for the Titanic. The Titanic Experience offers visitors an opportunity to travel in the footsteps of an actual passenger on that famous ship’s tragic maiden voyage.
Cruise Liners
hy not visit Cobh on a day when a great cruise liner is in port. With visits from over 60 cruise liners annually Cobh is the place to visit . For a full up to date list of Cruise Liners go to www.portofcork.ie
Cobh Museum
The exhibitions reflect the cultural, social and maritime history of Cobh and the Great Island. The Museum holds the last written record for the RMS Titanic in the Pilot’s Log book
Ocean Escapes – Harbour Tours
Enjoy the Pure Cork Maritime Experience – Guided boat tour (approx. one and a half hours) from Cobh to Cork or Cork to Cobh. Enjoy free time in either Cork or Cobh and return by rail (optional). What a great way to see our wonderful harbour. ]
Contact: [email protected]
Cobh Cultural Tour
Combine a visit to the wonderful Queenstown Story at Cobh Heritage Centre with the famous Titanic Trail walking Tour with Dr .Michael Martin. Tickets available online or at the admissions desk at the Cobh Heritage Centre. Not to be missed.
Ring Of Cork
Connecting and supporting tourism businesses in East and south Cork.
Explore this region , full of History and Heritage.
visit: www.ringofcork.ie
Butlers Bus Tours
Butlers Private Driver Tours Of Ireland is a family run business offering a flexible, private and personal driver tours for Private Groups, Family Holidays, Golf Trips, Airport Transfers & more.
Cuskinny Court – Adventure & Group Activity Centre
Cuskinny Court Group Activity Centre, is a woodland country house estate located on Cuskinny Bay to the east of the historic seafaring town of Cobh, Great Island, County Cork.
This unique destination offers a range of outdoor adventure activities for groups in the spring and summer months as well as indoor group self-catering accommodation in our Lodge. With a mix of woods, open grass areas and it’s nearby waterfront location it is ideally suited to Scout and Guide groups for both overnight and day excursions.
And Much More
We could go on about the walking tours, the incredible local food, the nearby Jameson Distillery, and the amazing traditional music offering but you’re just going to have to check all that out for yourself.
Cobh is used to welcoming visitors and the warmth of the welcome is legendary – after all Cobh was developed as a Victorian Spa Retreat in the mid 19th century and became Ireland’s most important port for transatlantic travel.
This pretty seaside town is also a Tidy Towns gold medal recipient and has stunning floral displays and well kept open spaces right on the water’s edge.
If you would like to create some memories that will last a lifetime, take the plunge and visit Captivating Cobh – ‘captivating’ because it will hold you in its spell long after you’ve left.
For more on Cobh, see : www.visitcobh.comBOOK COBH HERITAGE CENTRE TICKETS HERE BOOK GENEALOGIST MORE INFO CONTACT US VIEW OUR GALLERY
This is a self-guided tour but we have audio units available in English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Polish and Hebrew.
