Cork — Sightseeing & Walking Tours
Photos: (top row, left) The Spirit of Kinsale cruise and (right) the Kinsale Ghost Tour walk with Brian O'Neill; (middle row, left) a Heritage Walk with Dermot Ryan, and (right) the Kinsale Historic Stroll with Don Herlihy; and (bottom row, left) sign/schedule for the Kinsale Road Train, and (right) Cork City Hop-on/hop-off Sightseeing tour bus.
Sightseeing tours of Cork City and County Cork range from bus tours and walking tours to boat cruises. Click here for your choices:
Cork City Tours
Tours From Cork City
Tours in Other Parts of Cork
Cork Historic Walking Tours – Cork City historian John Collins leads guided 90-minute walking tours on the various aspects of Cork City. Three distinct themes are offered - a “Grand Tour” at 10 a.m.; “Monks, Vikings and Normans Tour” at 2 p.m.; and “The Modern City City” at 4 p.m. Monday – Friday, April 7 – September 26. More information and reservations: tel. 085-100-7300 or Web site: www.walkcork.ie
Cork City Hop-on/Hop-Off Bus Tour – Tour Cork City on board a double-deck open air bus, making 16 stops at all the major attractions including St. Finbarr’s Cathedral, St. Anne’s Shandon, Cork City Gaol, English Market, Grand Parade, Custom House, City Hall, Tourist Office, and more. Get on and off as often as you wish; buy your ticket on board or at the tourist office. April – October, daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact the Cork City Tours (tel. 021-430-9090).
Cork/Blarney Tour - Bus Eireann offer
tours via open-top bus through Cork City, viewing the city's famous landmarks with commentary, and then out to Blarney, with
time to explore the village, shop, or kiss the famous Blarney Stone. 3
hrs. April 28 - Sept. 30, daily at 1:45 p.m., rerturning to Cork at 5:45 p.m. (Tour includes an option of extending stay in Blarney and returning to Cork City on any scheduled Bus Eireann service, on same day, at no extra cost). Departs from Cork Bus Station,
Parnell Place, tel. 021-450-8188. Web site: www.buseireann.ie
Tours
From Cork City
Tours to West Cork, Kinsale or Kerry: Easytours Cork provides excursions to West Cork (Gougane Barra, Glengarriff, Garinish Island and Bantry) on Wednesday and Saturday; to Kinsale (including Timoleague, Clonakilty, and Ardfield) on Tuesday and Friday; or Kenmare and Killarney on Sunday and Thursday. Departures from Cork City Toursit Office, at 9:30 a.m.; no advance reservations required. May – September. More information: 021-454-5328 or Web site: www.easytourscork.com
West Cork, tel. 021-450-8188. Bus Eireann provides a
day-long sightseeing tour to Inchigeela, Gougane Barra, Bantry Harbour,
Schull and a cruise to Cape Clear, with several hours at leisure on the
island. 12 hrs. July 7 - Sept. 15, Sat. at 9:30am. Departs from Bus Station,
Parnell Place and may also be joined at Blarney or Macroom. Web site: www.buseireann.ie
Tours to Kerry & Beyond, tel. 021-450-8188. Bus Eireann
offers a selection of day-long tours to other counties from Cork. These
include Ring of Kerry (May 6-Sept. 30); Killarney, Dingle & Tralee
(June 26-Aug. 28); Kenmare, Moll's Gap, Ladies View and Lakes of Killarney
(July 9-Aug. 27); and Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Ennis, Burren,
Lisdoonvarna, and Cliffs of Moher (June 28-Sept. 6). 9-10 hrs.; departure
days vary. All tours depart from the Bus Station, Parnell Place and may
also be joined at Blarney and or Macroom. Web site: www.buseireann.ie
Tours
in Other Parts of Cork
Kinsale
Heritage Walks in Kinsale, tel. 021-477-2729 or 086-826-7656. One of the best introductions to Kinsale is a “Heritage Walk,” an informative and enjoyable walking tour led by local historian, educator, and writer Dermot Ryan. A native of Kinsale, Dermot conducts an “illustrated town walk” using old photos and original maps, dating back to the 1600’s, to meld history with the present. Dermot also provides added insight by describing the changes he has seen in the town over the past 60 years. 90 minutes. Tours depart daily from the Tourist Office on Bank Place, at 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from April to October; at 10:30 a.m. in November, February and March. Web site: www.kinsaleheritage.com
Historic Stroll in Old Kinsale, tel. 021-477-2873 or 087-250-0731. Get to know the highlights of the historic seaport town of Kinsale is by taking a walking tour with local guides Don Herlihy or Barry Moloney. Both men use an historic chart (available for purchase as a souvenir) to illustrate the various phases of Kinsale’s history, and to relate it to the town today. 90 minutes. Tours depart daily, March to mid-November, from the Tourist Office on Bank Place, at 11:15 a.m., with an additional “early bird” departure at 9:15 a.m. during May-September. Web site: www.historicstrollkinsale.com
Kinsale Ghost Tours, tel. 021-477-2240. For a different perspective of Kinsale, local ghost-enthusiast Brian O'Neill conducts tours of Kinsale that are "exciting, crazy and full of fun." 75 minutes. Mid-March to Sept., Sun. - Fri. at 9 p.m. Tours depart from the Tap Tavern, Guardwell, Kinsale.
Kinsale Road Train, tel. 087-750-2737, a motorized trolley-style train that travels around Kinsale from Pier Road out to Charles Fort, on its “red route.” It also operates a “blue route” as a form of community transport. Tours depart hourly from the bus stop on Pier Road. Duration: 40-50 minutes. More information: www.kinsaleroadtrain.com
"The Spirit of Kinsale," tel. 021-477-3188, offers scenic cruises around Kinsale Harbour and the River Bandon, passing Charles Fort and James Fort, Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse, Summercove, and many historical sites, with commentary and music. 45 minutes. April-Oct. daily. Boat dock is on Pier Rd., Kinsale Harbour Marina. Sailing times vary; check at tourist office or at boat dock. More information: www.kinsaleharbourcruises.com
Cobh
"Titanic Trail," tel. 021-481-5211; e-mail: info@titanic-trail.com. Local bookseller Michael
Martin created this historic walk around the port of Cobh, visiting 19 different sites or
buildings, most of which have direct connections with the ill-fated "Titanic."
Also available via minibus. 1 hr. May-Sept. daily at 11am. Tours depart from the Commodore
Hotel. Web site: www.titanic-trail.com
Ghost Walk of Cobh, tel. 021-481-5211. Devised by Michael Martin, creator
of the "Titanic Trail," this unique walk provides a commentary of paranormal
activities of the town and visits "haunted" sites. 45-55 mins. May-Sept. Tues.,
Thurs. and Sat. at 8:30pm and by appointment. Tours depart from the Pillars Bar, Cobh. Web site: www.titanic-trail.com/ghost.htm
Youghal
Youghal Walking Tours, tel. 021-024-92447. Local guides
escort visitors on walking tours of historic Youghal including the town's 13th century
lighthouse and walls, and 18th century Clock Gate. 1 hr. June to mid-Sept. daily at 11am
and at other times by appointment. All tours begin at the Youghal Visitor Centre, Market
Square, Youghal. Web site: http://homepage.eircom.net/~youghal/tourist.html
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