Cobh in County Cork is one of the most colorful towns in all of Ireland! I’ve spent lots of time in Cobh over the years and I promise I’m not being biased when I tell you that Cobh is a very special place. When you visit for yourself, you’ll discover a picturesque, harborside town that’s full of history and brightly painted buildings!
Cobh is incredibly popular with tourists not only because of its history (Cobh was the last port of call for the Titanic) but because of how pretty it is. St Colman’s Cathedral and the Titanic Experience are two of the must-do attractions in Cobh. But, you can also do a ghost tour or a pub tour by speedboat (I’ll explain more below!)
As a local, I’ve done the research over the years so that you don’t have to. So read on to uncover how to have the best one day in Cobh!
What to do in Cobh for a day?
The ideal amount of time to spend in Cobh is two full days. But, if you’re on a tight schedule you can see the best of Cobh in just one day.
My perfect day in Cobh would begin with a wander up to St Colman’s Cathedral and then from there heading over to the very colorful Deck of Cards houses nearby. Then, I’d grab a takeaway coffee from Seasalt Cafe on Casement Square and stroll over to the waterfront to check out the Titanic Experience. Where I’d learn all about the last Titanic passengers to board here at Cobh (then known as Queenstown).
Later that afternoon, I’d learn all about the history of Cobh by visiting the Cobh Heritage Centre. And finally, in the evening, I’d do something completely different and join a ghost tour of the town or if I was visiting in the summer – do a pub tour by speedboat.
Morning – St Colman’s Cathedral & Deck of Cards
The first thing I do when I arrive in a new town is to spend a few hours exploring it on foot. That way I can get my bearings, snap some photos, and check out where I want to eat that day. And this is what I suggest you do this morning before going to St Colman’s Cathedral.
Start by walking along The Strand, aka, the colorful main street – which is lined with bars, Cafes, and restaurants. And then head over to the harborside Promenade (where you can check out the bandstand in JFK Park). Before making your way to St Colman’s.
St Colman’s Cathedral:
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.
Deck of Cards:
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!
Afternoon – Titanic Experience & Cobh Heritage Centre
This afternoon is all about learning about Cobh’s fascinating history – with a visit to the super-popular Titanic Experience and The Cobh Heritage Centre (where you can learn about the history of the town itself).
We also loved walking the Titanic Trail with a local historian when we last visited. 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 docked 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 €25 per person!
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). The second part details the sinking of the Titanic through audio-visual effects
Tickets for the Titanic Experience in Cobh costs €13 per adult.
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 its 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.
Evening – Join a Ghost Tour or do a pub tour by boat
For this evening, I’ve come up with two very unique activities – a ghost tour to some of the most haunted buildings in Cobh or a pub tour by speedboat.
Cobh 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 those under 18, at a local bar.
This unique tour starts outside the Commodore Hotel and costs €39 per person.
Cork Harbor Pub Tour:
Hop on your rib (a type of speedboat) in Cobh and cruise across Cork harbor in search of epic pubs. Whether it’s a chilled-out pub where you can enjoy a pint outside or a lively bar with live music, each stop is sure to give you a taste of the Cork nightlife. This is a bar hop with a difference. You can choose from a 3 hour or 4 hour tour and you can contact the team here to check availability and book.
Best restaurants 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.
- 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.
- 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. 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.
- 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.
Getting to Cobh:
From Cork City, you can easily 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 for overnight parking. However, there’s a 48-hour limit to parking here.
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.
The cost of renting a car in Ireland can be expensive. However, there are some ways you can save money. We tend to always book our rental car through Discover Cars. This is a search engine for rental cars and allows you to filter by price if you’re on a budget or by vehicle type if there’s a specific car you’re after.
Thanks for Reading!
To me, one day in Cobh is enough to see the highlights of this harborside town. I just love it here and I know after visiting you will too!
If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy my other articles like –
How to Spend One Day in Kinsale (Written by a local)
3 Day Itinerary for West Cork (A Weekend in West Cork)
How to Spend 3 Days in Cork, Ireland: A Complete Guide
What to Do in Cork with Kids? (Popular Attractions & Hidden Gems)
Last Updated on April 30, 2025 by snaphappytravel