Cobh is one of the most popular towns to visit in all of Ireland and for good reason – this colorful waterside town is so picturesque! Many tourists decide to base themselves here for their vacation to Cork and it’s also where the cruise ships dock! So, as you can guess it’s a very popular spot!
Being from Cork (I was raised in Blarney) I know all about the best things to do in Cobh because I’ve visited here countless times over the years. Of course, St Colman’s Cathedral and the Titanic Experience are two of the must-do and most sought-after activities in Cobh. But, did you know you can also do an after-dark ghost tour here and visit an awesome zoo (just a 10-minute drive away!)
If you’re a history buff – Cobh is a must-visit as Cobh was the last port of call for the titanic. And if you’re a foodie, well, let me tell you the restaurants here are some of the best in Cork.
Anyway, in the below blog post, I’ll introduce you to attractions not on most Cobh itineraries as well as list the best hotels and restaurants in this photogenic town.
Related Read: Check out my guide to the most unique Airbnb’s in Ireland! They’re all so scenic and bucket-list-worthy!
10 BEST Things to Do in Cobh
1. St Colman’s Cathedral
First up is one of the best free things to do in Cork!
The Cathedral of St Colman, also known as Cobh Cathedral, is one of the most iconic buildings in Cork! It’s also known as the tallest church in Ireland thanks to its huge steeple, which stands at a whopping 91.4 meters tall!
It’s such a photogenic structure and is a great example of neo-Gothic architecture, having been constructed in the early 1900s. Take some time to admire the colorful stained glass windows, intricate roof detail, and gorgeous wood carvings inside!
The cathedral’s tower houses the only carillon in Ireland (a percussion instrument that is played with a keyboard). These instruments typically only have 23 bells, but the one at St Colman’s has 49. Including Ireland’s largest bell, which is a giant of 3.6 tonnes. This is the largest carillon in Great Britain and Ireland.
2. Deck of Cards Houses
After exploring St Colman’s, be sure to pop over to the “deck of cards,” a row of brightly painted houses lined up along a steep hill. It’s a short (4-minute) walk from the Cathedral via Sandymount and Cannon O’Leary Place.
Stand in the public West View Park facing the houses for an epic photo of these houses with the cathedral in the background!
3. Titanic Experience
Did you know that Cobh (then known as Queenstown) was the last port of call for the Titanic? Yep, the doomed ship stopped in Cobh on April 11th, 1912 before sailing off toward New York. What happened to the Titanic just 3 days later was a major historic event that has been featured in countless movies and books.
So, if you’re fascinated by history then be sure to visit the Titanic Experience in Cobh which sits at the site of the White Star Line Ticket Office – this is where the last 123 Titanic passengers boarded the ship!
The experience comprises of two parts, the first is an audio visual tour that tells the story of the passengers who boarded in Queenstown (aka Cobh). And the second part details the sinking of the Titanic through audio-visual effects
Tickets for the Titanic Experience in Cobh costs €12 per adult.
Related Read: Even if you just have one day in Cork, it’s well worth visiting the Titanic Experience!
4. Titanic Trail
In Cobh, we also loved walking the Titanic Trail with a local historian. On the one-hour tour, you’ll get to see Cobh’s key historic sights such as St Colman’s Cathedral and the White Star Line Ticket Office, which both look pretty much exactly the same as back in 1912 when the Titanic was in port in Cobh.
As you walk along, your guide will tell you all about the history of the sights you’re seeing as well as relay some stories about the passengers who boarded the Titanic on that fateful day in April 1912.
Tickets for the Titanic Trail tour cost just €19.50 per person!
5. Spike Island
Right in the middle of Cork Harbour and a short boat ride from Cobh is the notorious Spike Island aka Ireland’s Alcatraz. It’s a former monastery, military fortress, and prison. Older kids will love hearing the stories of the convicts who once called this island home, the guided tour is so fascinating and we learned so much about the history of Spike Island – like, did you know that during the Victorian era, Spike Island was the biggest convict depot in the world!
Your ticket to Spike Island includes a 40-minute guided tour of the fort area, after which you are free to roam the island. Some of our favorite sites on the island included the punishment block, the tunnel, the convict cemetery, and the artillery gun block.
You can even do an after-dark tour here which is suitable for those aged 16 and over only. During the 3-hour visit, you’ll experience candlelit corridors, spooky tunnels, and prison cells.
Spike Island is reached by ferry from Kennedy Pier, Cobh. The ferry journey takes approximately 15 minutes each way. Your ticket includes the return ferry, a guided tour, and access to all areas on the island. It costs €26.95 per adult and €13.95 for children.
6. Cobh Heritage Centre
At the Cobh Heritage Centre you can check out the super-popular Queenstown Story exhibition. As I said, Cobh was previously known as Queenstown and this fascinating exhibition tells the story of emigration in the area, dating back to the 1600s. Would you believe that millions of Irish started their emigration journey right here in Cobh?!
You will hear tales of convicts who made the lengthy sea passage from Cobh to Australia and locals who escaped Ireland during the Great Famine in search of a better life for themselves.
Fascinatingly, the center also offers you the opportunity to trace your Irish roots via their Genealogical Family History Research Profile service. This hour-long session will give you a detailed analysis of all Irish records relating to your Irish ancestors. It costs €80.
Tickets for the Queenstown Story at the Cobh Heritage Centre cost from €15.
7. Cobh Historical Tour
Cobh is of course most well-known as being the last stop for the Titanic but there’s so much more history to the area than that one super-famous event. On this 90-minute Cobh Historical Tour, you will delve deep into the history of Cobh by visiting 16 key historical sites in the town.
You will visit the spot where the history of the Irish Republic was written by volunteers from Cobh as well as visit sites where bloody battles took place. And you’ll also get to see former prison and barrack sites. Run by a local historian, this tour offers a unique tour into the side of Cobh that many tourists don’t get to see. And the tour ends with a free tea or coffee at a local bar.
The tour starts from the Cobh Heritage Centre and there are many departure times throughout the day. Prices start from €25 per person.
BOOK the Cobh Historical Tour here!
8. Ghost Tour
Are you a fan of ghost stories? Then, this after-dark Ghost Tour of Cobh is sure to be right up your street! The one-hour-long tour will introduce you to the spooky side of Cobh by visiting buildings like the Commodore Hotel and the Sirius Arts Centre, which are said to be haunted.
Your local guide will tell you the stories behind the ghosts of Cobh, for example, the Commodore Hotel was used as a morgue during World War I so it’s believed to be haunted by a couple of ghostly soldiers.
At the end of the tour, you can enjoy a free glass of local Irish stout or a soft drink for under 18, at a local bar.
This unique tour starts outside the Commodore Hotel and costs €39 per person.
Book the Cobh Ghost Tour here!
9. Fota Wildlife Park
Next up, is one of the best things to do in Cork for kids!
Under a 10-minute drive from Cobh is the second largest zoo in Ireland (behind Dublin Zoo). Spread across 100 acres, Fota Wildlife Park is home to cheetahs, rhinos, lions, various types of monkeys, kangaroos, giraffes, zebras, lemurs, and more. There’s also a large Tropical House that houses tortoises, sloths, fish, butterflies, etc.
On the grounds of Fota, there are two playgrounds and a variety of places to eat. We love the food truck-type area near the tiger enclosure as it offers good coffee and pizza or doughnuts. You can also hop on board an open-air train that takes you around the park, a return journey costs just €2, or one-way is €1. You can hop on the train near the entrance or at the Oasis Cafe.
I recommend allowing around 2.5-3 hours here. I should also note the park is stroller-friendly. Tickets to Fota Wildlife Park cost €18.90 for an adult and €13.10 for children if you book online in advance. It’s slightly more if you pay at the ticket booth on the day.
P.S. If you don’t have a rental car you can get the train from Cobh to Fota Wildlife Park, this takes around 25 minutes, and a one-way ticket costs from €3 per adult.
10. Fota House & Gardens
While you’re at Fota Wildlife Park why not make a day of it and include a visit to the stunning Fota House & Gardens right next door?
Fota House is one of the most impressive mansions in Cork and is a great example of Regency architecture. You can book a guided tour of the house for €12 where you can learn about the house’s fascinating past and all about the Smith-Barry family who owned it for over 200 years. There are often art exhibitions on display in the house, too.
The gardens here are my favorite part and the best thing is they’re completely free to visit. These former Victorian working gardens have been tended to for more than 200 years and contain exotic plants, greenhouses with fruit and vegetables, and several lovely tree-lined pathways.
You can BOOK your ticket for Fota House here, it also includes a guided tour by a local!
Best places to eat in Cobh
Titanic Bar & Grill – Located at Casement Square with a picturesque and large outdoor terrace area overlooking Cork Harbor, this is arguably one of the most popular restaurants in Cobh. Their menu is varied and caters to all tastes. We loved their Crispy Katsu Chicken and Braised Featherblade of Irish Beef. In peak season (summer time) advance booking is essential.
Jacob’s Ladder – Located within the WatersEdge Hotel, Jacob’s Ladder is a bistro-style restaurant that prides itself on using local produce where possible. They also have a lovely Waterview terrace area that’s a popular spot in the warmer months. Seafood dominates the menu here, and we loved their Fish & Chips.
The Quays – Enjoying a prime position along the waterfront in town, The Quays is another super-popular restaurant in Cobh. It has a large outdoor seating area with BBQ area and again they specialize in seafood dishes.
The Arch Cafe & Wine Bar – A smaller, cozy eatery in Casement Square “The Arch” is a popular spot with locals. They offer sharing platters, like their charcuterie cheese board (yum!), and an extensive wine list. In the morning, come here for their coffee – it’s excellent!
Ellens Kitchen – For breakfast or lunch you can’t go wrong with Ellen’s Kitchen, a cute deli-style eatery on Wharton’s Corner. Here, they serve up delicious breakfast sandwiches, salads freshly baked cakes and pastries, and excellent coffee.
Seasalt Cafe & Deli – Another great lunch option in Cobh is Seasalt Cafe & Deli, they’ve won lots of awards. For breakfast their breakfast burritos are top-class and for lunch, we loved their fish tacos. Located on Casement Square they also offer a wide range of options for vegan and gluten-free customers.
Where to stay in Cobh
Commodore Hotel – A 3-star Georgian Hotel on the waterfront, this large property is one of the most popular hotels in Cobh. It was built back in 1854 so holds a lot of history. There’s a bar and restaurant on-site and the rooms are comfortable and spacious. A room here averages around €150 per night.
WatersEdge Hotel – Exactly as it says is a 3-star waterfront hotel that boasts lovely views of Cork Harbor. The rooms here are on the small side but stylish and some have water views. The Jacob’s Ladder restaurant is located within the hotel. Book a room here, it averages €150 per night.
Bellavista Hotel – A 3-star hotel set within a Victorian Hotel, the Bellavista Hotel is well-rated and offers hotel rooms as well as self-catering options. This property also enjoys some great water views and the rooms are surprisingly spacious and on the luxurious side. Expect to pay around €130 per night here – you can book here!
Robin Hill House – This lovely bed & breakfast housed within a 19th-century former rectory also offers an on-site holistic center. The rooms are colorful and have unique period features. There are 6 different room types to choose from. A room averages around €150 per night. You can book it here!
How to get to Cobh?
From Cork City, you can either drive the 30-minute distance. It’s a fairly easy drive that follows the East Cork Parkway. Alternatively, you can hop on the train from Kent Station this will take around 30 minutes and costs €3.90 per adult for a one-way ticket.
From Cork Airport, your best bet is to hire a rental car and drive to Cobh. This will take around 30 minutes and follow the N40 motorway for most of the way. If you don’t have a car – you can either get a cab or catch the 225 bus to Cork Kent Station and from there get the train to Cobh.
Thankfully if you have a car, parking in Cobh is fairly easy to find. There are a few public car parks for example the Five Foot Way car park is open 24 hours and costs 10 euro for overnight parking. However, there’s a 48-hour limit to parking here (you can leave and come back again to re-start this limit).
There’s also a public car park next to St Colman’s Cathedral called Parking People Cobh Cathedral car park, the daily rate here is around 8.50 and it’s open 24 hours.
Related Read: Check out my detailed guide to renting a car in Ireland!
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Thanks for Reading!
And there you have it a list of the best things to do in Cobh as well as the top places to eat and stay. Tell, me have I missed anything or anywhere off this list?
While you’re here – you may also enjoy reading:
15 Best Free Things to do in Cork City
The Best Beaches You Must Visit in West Cork
Unique Things To Do in West Cork (Updated for 2024)
Visiting Killarney National Park + 8 Things To Know Before You Go!
Last Updated on August 1, 2024 by snaphappytravel
10 thoughts on “BEST Things to Do in Cobh, Ireland + What To Know Before You Visit!”
Hi. Thanks for all the great info. The Ghost Tour is up my alley.
I would definitely book the ghost tour and the history walking tour for Day 1. I love to meet a local and find out their recommendations on what to do. I love the bright colors of the old homes – red and canary yellow. Striking!
I have a cruise planned with a stop in Cork and haven’t decided what to do. This post gave me an idea to visit Cobh. Thanks for the info, I believe I will be heading to the train station and taking a 30 minute ride into Cobh
Oh amazing, I’m so glad to hear that you’ll use my blog to help you plan. I’m sure you will love Cobh!
The St Colman’s Cathedral looks amazing! And those super cute Cards Houses, great guide!
A wonderful overview. Unfortunately, on my very short day trip from Cork, I visited the Titanic Experience and the Heritage Centre. Both were excellent!
You still got to fit in two of the best things in Cobh, glad you enjoyed them.
The deck of cards houses and the gardens would top my list. Sorry we’ve missed Cobh on our previous Ireland trips, will need to add this to our next trip’s list.
I spent a night in Cobh when I was in Ireland last year – what a lovely town! We did the Titanic experience which was really cool and the cathedral is gorgeous!
I agree, the cathedral is stunning! I’m so happy to hear so many people have fallen in love with Cobh.