Cobh (Cork) to Blarney Castle & Kinsale - Shore Excursion
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Cobh (Cork) to Blarney Castle & Kinsale - Shore Excursion
By Butlers Shore Tours
About
Enjoy a hassle-free shore excursion without the worry of having to go to a meeting spot, as port pickup and drop-off is included. Save the research time and get access to a guide’s shortlist of top county highlights near Cobh (Cork), such as Blarney Castle, Kinsale, and Cobh Cathedral. Enrich your knowledge as you travel through informative guide commentary.
from per adult
€79.00
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 100 per group
Duration: 8h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- See multiple County Cobh (Cork) highlights in a day, such as Kinsale
- Avoid the hassle of planning transport— return transfers included
- A guide brings the tour to life through on-board commentary
- Avoid waiting in ticket lines—entry to Blarney Castle is included
- Live commentary on board from local experienced guides
- Pick up from your ship and return to same
- Storage for wheelchairs, scooters, etc
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Admission To Blarney Castle & Gardens
- Entry/Admission - Blarney Castle & Gardens
What's not included- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Departure details
- Traveller pickup is offered.
- Departure time is 8am or 30 minutes after disembarkation begins (whichever is later)
- Port of Cobh, Kilgarvan, Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland Departure time is 8am or 30 minutes after disembarkation begins (whichever is later) When you get off your ship, turn right and head for the gates. Our team will be there holding signs with "Butlers Shore Tours" on them and will escort you to your correct bus.
- Ports:
- Cobh (Cork)
Return details- Returns to original departure point
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 37261P2- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Front seats can be reserved if you have mobility issues (let us know after you book)
- Good agility is required for the famous Blarney stone which has lots of challenging steps up to it
- Our tours are for ships that dock in Cobh/Cork
- Live commentary is while on the bus only - Blarney Castle is a self guided tour.
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 100 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- Which attractions will I visit with Cobh (Cork) to Blarney Castle & Kinsale - Shore Excursion?
- During this experience, places you will visit include:Discover and book Cobh (Cork) to Blarney Castle & Kinsale - Shore Excursion on Tripadvisor
- How much is Cobh (Cork) to Blarney Castle & Kinsale - Shore Excursion?
- Cobh (Cork) to Blarney Castle & Kinsale - Shore Excursion price starts from €79.51. Discover and book Cobh (Cork) to Blarney Castle & Kinsale - Shore Excursion on Tripadvisor
- What is the Cobh (Cork) to Blarney Castle & Kinsale - Shore Excursion cancellation policy?
- Cobh (Cork) to Blarney Castle & Kinsale - Shore Excursion cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Cobh (Cork) to Blarney Castle & Kinsale - Shore Excursion on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides Cobh (Cork) to Blarney Castle & Kinsale - Shore Excursion?
- Cobh (Cork) to Blarney Castle & Kinsale - Shore Excursion is hosted by Butlers Shore Tours. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Butlers Shore Tours on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Cobh (Cork) to Blarney Castle & Kinsale - Shore Excursion on Tripadvisor
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 37261P2
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Itinerary
- You'll start atPort of CobhOr, you can also get picked upSee departure details
- 1Blarney Castle & GardensStop: 2 hours - Admission includedSee details
- 2Blarney Woollen MillsStop: 30 minutesSee details
- 3Charles FortStop: 15 minutesSee detailsPass byThe English Market
- 4KinsaleStop: 2 hoursSee details
- 5Cobh CathedralStop: 15 minutesSee details
- You'll return to the starting point
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About the operator
- Dianekinz00Best tour group everButler Tours is the most amazing group to work with. Just spent 10 days with our amazing guide,John. This was a personalized tour for my group and they get 5 stars in all areas. I can’t wait to plan my next trip to Ireland and boos Butler Tours
- 1ronaldg00A day in IrelandTrip was great and the staff was very engaging. Our half-day tour was canceled and we appreciate being given the full day tour at no additional cost. We thank you. However, it might’ve been nice to be advised of the change in case this is not what we wanted. However, it might’ve been nice. We went to Kinsale for the afternoon and it might’ve been helpful to know that we were going to have lunch well after 2 o’clock. We appreciated the opportunity to go there but notice of lunchtime might’ve been helpful. The lack of notification are very small in the overall Trip. Everything went well and we love the stay at the castle and at the woolen mills. Well done.
- adeledE686XL0010 Stars!This was a wonderful tour! If I could give it 10 stars I would. Ian is a great guide. He knows the tourist pattern and got us to our destinations before the crowd hit. His daughter Emily is a gem. A very sweet girl and we loved how she worked with her dad. I would highly recommend this tour and this company.
- jennmiko100Blarney plus!Perfect day! Driver/Kevin was great. We didn't feel rushed on the tour, plenty of time to climb the 120 stairs to Blarney Castle and shop the woollen mills. The stop for lunch, could have been a little longer (just a busy area with wait times in Kinsale) but that wasn't the operators fault. Every stop was breath-taking! Thankfully, everyone in our group was time efficient which made th tour operate smoothly.
- MyrnaP62200Beautiful BlarneyGreat tour! Blarney Castle was fabulous! Wish we had had more time to spend looking around on the grounds and gardens.
- Mktpro9900Tasty tourExcellent tour of a model distillery. Near the end you walk through an actual mini-distillery and do an excellent taste testing comparison. Acquired a taste for Jameson and ginger ale with lime.
- Denise R00Blarney ROCKS!Safe, professional driver who was knowledgeable about the area. Family run business. Clean, comfortable motor coach. After returning from a two week UK trip in which we visited a lot of castles, we all agree that Blarney was our favorite. We had no idea that the grounds were so extensive. Every one of us I our party of 6 (aged 40s to 70s) love this stop. Absolutely breathtaking scenery and architecture. The brief tour of Cork was great. The additional stop at the cathedral in Cobh was much appreciated. Would revisit Blarney in a heartbeat and make it a full day stop!
- cajungirl4400Best Travel business in IrelandIf you are looking for the best travel company in Ireland, THIS IS IT!!!! Wonderful, accommodating people. Rest assured, they treat everyone like royalty!
- Ann M00Beautiful experienceWe have been on many cruises and always choose our excursions through the cruise line but this was the first time we booked through a third party and we were very happy we did. We were picked up and returned to the boat. Our guide was very informative and explained the history and culture of Ireland as we took a scenic drive to Blarney Castle. We never felt rushed and had plenty of time at each stop to explore and enjoy the scenery. The cruise line had offered a very similar trip but this trip was cheaper and the experience was much better than other excursions we have been on. It was tailor made for our cruise so we had no worries about times or pick up points. We would definitely take this excursion again.
- 61glen00Weekend awayWe went on Friday left on Sunday we stayed at the commodore thoroughly enjoyed ourselves meals out a good few drinks visited spike island lovly hotel should b rated above 2star
- Spyder_1200Good "Big Bus" TourMy husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our eCoach "Blarney Full Day", shore tour, during our port day in Ireland. We are always hesitant to book "Big Bus" tours, but decided for this day, it would be a good fit. And it was. The pre-tour emails, provided great instruction, so were easy to find when we arrived in port. The bus was comfortable, and we felt safe at all times, with our driver/ tour leader, Ian. Not only was Ian a great driver, but was funny, and full of information on the many,great,sites we saw during the day. Was a great itinerary, meeting our expectations. For big bus tours, this is one of the best, and would highly recommend eCoach Shore Tours Ireland.
- Traveler82186000Lovely day outGood tour, tour guide waiting outside port to direct you to the coaches. Good tour guide with lots of interesting facts. Plenty of time at Blarney Castle. Countryside was lovely.
- Madjude00Excellent company for port excursionWe did a full day tour in Cobh Ireland. Fabulous day - great tour guide who made the day fun and very interesting. Bus left right on time and the guide made sure we were at the Blarney Castle before the crowds so we got to the castle with having to que for hours. I really felt like we had a good look around this part of Ireland with ample free time to do our own thing. Would not hesitate to us this company again!
- 810Baker00Wonderful Tour!!Local driver was entertaining while pointing out many "extras" during the tour. Wonderful knowledge of Cobh!!
- scott642800Easy trip to Blarney CastleThe coach was easy to find literally just at the port exit. We left on time and Nial was informative and friendly. We got to the castle when in the first group of buses but it was still a long wait to get into the castle as we'd been warned. The castle is a dangerous climb through a tight medieval spiral stair case. We made it to the top but really only had time for a quick snack at the cafe and back on the bus. We would have liked to explore the grounds if we'd had more time. One more hour there would have been nice.
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5.0
79 reviews
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Sue M
Toronto, Canada6 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
what an amazing experience! Communication was amazing from the time of booking and throughout the tour. We were traveling with family on a cruise and we booked this as a private excursion. Only having a brief time is Cork, we wanted to see as much as possible without feeling rushed. Nail met us on time and whisked us to Blarney Castle ahead of the big coaches. After kissing the Blarney Stone, we met up easily and were able to enjoy a beautiful drive, visit a fort and spend a leisurely afternoon exploring beautiful Kinsale and lunch at a traditional pub. Amazing day. Amazing guide!
Written 26 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gsmith576
Montpelier, OH25 contributions
Trevor and Brian were are driver and guide. They were fantastic, very knowledgeable and fun. Blarney Castle and the gardens were very pretty. They had no people at the entrance to the castle to help you if u had questions, very lacking in personnel. U get in line to go up to the castle, it can be up to an 1.5 or more wait. They say u can go in the castle or up the stairs to kiss the blarney stone. The castle is round like a corn silo, so not to big. Once your in, there is no way to get out. I had went to the first floor and realized if I went any further, I would not be able to get back down, so I turned around there and went back out, which I'm glad I did, because the rest of the way up to the top was really small narrow steps that went around this small circular castle. When u got to the top, u had to stay in line even if u didn't want to kiss the blarney stone ( which u had to hang over the edge to do) then make your way back down another set of small narrow steps. The people I was with did the trek up to the stone, said it was not worth it and had a hard time going up. We saw a couple in line with a baby stroller, again no helpers/ workers, to let people know what to expect, that no way were they going to go in there with a stroller. I strolled around the gardens, and to the blarney palace. There was some really unique beautiful trees in the gardens. The take away for me was they need more personnel on hand, to let people know what to expect if they want to go into the Blarney Castle especially when u have to wait such a long time to get into it. See the castle from the outside, stroll the gardens.
Written 20 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathy G
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
We loved our tour through Butler Tours! Thank you for providing this great tour to see a part of your beautiful country. We enjoyed walking and exploring the gardens of Blarney Castle on our own, visiting the Blarney Woolen Mills, and doing lunch in the harbor town of Kinsale, as well as a stop at Fort Charles. BUTLER TOURS IS A TOP NOTCH TOUR COMPANY WITH WONDERFUL GUIDES AND DRIVERS!
Written 13 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KENNETH B
Philadelphia, PA1 contribution
If your ship is stopping at Cobh or you are visiting County Cork and want a great tour of the area highlights, call Butlers ShoreTours. We did a shore excursion from a cruise ship on August 26, 2023. The tour bus was at the port, a short walk from where you get off the ship, which is a big convenience not offered by all tour companies. We were met by the tour guide and got on the bus. Our guide, Niall, was very pleasant and knowledgeable. He kept us informed and entertained while on the bus. We were provided plenty of time at the tour stops and enjoyed the sites. After visiting Blarney Castle and Cork. we stopped in the beautiful town of Kinsale for lunch and sightseeing and had a wonderful time. When the tour ended we were returned to the ship area and still had time to explore Cobh before we had to board. It was a great day. I forgot to mention the value of the tour. Compared to what the cruise ship excursions cost, Butlers Shore Tours offers great tours at fair prices, which is appreciated when you consider the total expense of vacations. My only disappointment was that Butlers didn’t offer tours from the port near Dublin. Enjoy your time in Ireland!
Written 9 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nancy T
Arcanum, OH35 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Ian was an excellent driver and guide for our trip to Blarney Castle and Kinsale. Unfortunately, we had to wait for the last arrivals in our group to show before we our bus could depart, which required us to wait an extra 20 minutes before leaving the pier, as per tour policy. Castle, grounds and Blarney village were all lovely. Opted not to kiss the stone and explore instead, since the line was estimated at 1.5 hours to reach the top. Had an authentic fish and chip lunch on our own when we finally reached Kinsale and was able to do a bit of souvenir shopping while exploring the quaint little town. Upon returning to Cobh, final stop was the cathedral before heading back to the ship...entire day was a very nice Irish beginning to our cruise!
Written 4 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anita G
Morganton6 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
This is the second time we've used Butlers Tours for a trip to Nlarney Castle and Cobh. The first time was in May 2017, so when I was looking to book an excursion tour this time I knew we wanted to go with them again. Both times Butler's was an excellent choice!
We were picked up right at the port just at the welcome center. Easy! The experience of the driver in the suggestions he gave and choosing to get us there as early in the day as possible made all the difference! When you have to wait in line at Blarney to go inside the earlier is better! In 2017 we had a pretty significant wait but this year he showed us what we missed. Butler's was cognizant of getting us back in time for our cruise departure.
If we choose to go back a third time or have any other opportunities to use a Butler's tour we will. Thank you!
We were picked up right at the port just at the welcome center. Easy! The experience of the driver in the suggestions he gave and choosing to get us there as early in the day as possible made all the difference! When you have to wait in line at Blarney to go inside the earlier is better! In 2017 we had a pretty significant wait but this year he showed us what we missed. Butler's was cognizant of getting us back in time for our cruise departure.
If we choose to go back a third time or have any other opportunities to use a Butler's tour we will. Thank you!
Written 20 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JJ L
St. Augustine, FL3 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
Our tour was wonderful! We were either the first or second bus to arrive at Blarney Castle and were up to the stone in no time. By the time we exited the castle, the line was back to the 1.5 hour wait mark. Arriving early was key. We had no idea the how extensive the grounds and gardens were and enjoyed touring those areas as well.
Although the town of Kinsale was lovely, we would have preferred the half day tour to Blarney without Kinsale, but it was not offered on our date. Either way, the price was excellent so we booked the full day tour.
Although the town of Kinsale was lovely, we would have preferred the half day tour to Blarney without Kinsale, but it was not offered on our date. Either way, the price was excellent so we booked the full day tour.
Written 10 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zachary60
melbourne, australia6 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
We really enjoyed this tour. Our guide was very helpful with my husband who had mobility problems. It was very good value for money . I do not hesitate to recommend this shore excursion
Written 10 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael J
North Plainfield, NJ4 contributions
Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and was extremely helpful in getting the most out of our tour. Our first stop was Blarney Castle where lines to the stone can easily top 3 hours. Butler's suggested that we get off the ship as soon as possible, so we could be the first or second bus to leave the port. We wound up being first out and we waited less than 30 minutes to get up to the stone. This allowed us some extra time to shop for some Irish sweaters at a large shopping complex nearby. The town of Kinsale was nice and we had a fantastic fish lunch at Dinos and some additional time to explore the area and souvenir shop. Overall this is an excellent tour option for the Cork area.
Written 17 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roam704879
3 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
It was really nice to have a tour company work with the cruise ship itinerary. So many others couldn’t tell me how far they were from the port or how long it would take to get to their meeting place. These guys met us right off the ship and dropped us off with plenty of time to go to the titanic museum. Great price too!
Written 17 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
legalasst1204
Plantation, FL3 contributions
We are interested in the Cork Kinsale tour. How many people are on each tour? We are 4 traveling together.
Thank you
Scott B
San Jose, CA11 contributions
Same here. When you get there, you basically want to run to the Castle before the other buses get there or you will wait a long time..
KathyGr2011
Corona, CA8 contributions
We are interested in the day excursion to Cork, Blarney Castle and Kinsale. Is there a time to get off the coach and look around Kinsale?
CathyF
Sydney, Australia16 contributions
Yes, we had about 1.5-2 hours in Kinsale which was more than enough time to have a good look around and some lunch. Getting to Blarney Castle early was good because the queue to climb up to the Blarney Stone was very short. We had the Cork tour at the end of the day. This is a great tour.
sherlock1952
Summerville, SC15 contributions
Trying to book on Tripadvisor next July....Is there a problem with the calendar in that we cannot highlight the date? A couple of couples are trying to book. Thanks.
sherlock1952
Summerville, SC15 contributions
We're interested in booking this tour for next July. A couple of questions: 1) what kind of vehicle will be traveling in (there will be 7 people). Will we be the only people in the vehicle? 2) one person is handicapped and in a wheeelchair. Will she be allowed to attend and if so, how much (% wise) is Not Wheelchair Accessible? Thanks, MJC
Howard W
San Diego, CA13 contributions
Hi,
Air conditioned coach with about 30 people onboard. The grounds at Blarney are accessible, but getting up to the Blarney Stone isn’t. Hope this helps.
prezNaperville
Naperville, IL115 contributions
Do you provide a golf excursion from the port for one golfer? If so, what about clubs?
Thetravelingq
Kendale Lakes, FL160 contributions
Fota Island Golf Club: A 15-minute taxi ride from the pier takes golfers to this 18-hole parkland course, the venue for the 1997 Amateur Irish Open and the Smurfit Irish PGA Championship. There are clubs and carts for rent. Call first to check that the course is open for visitors. (21 488 3700)
barry m
Davie, FL2 contributions
We arrive on our cruise at 9 AM
what times are available for this tour?
Gerry N
4 contributions
What is the number of passengers on this tour?
darlak8
Rochester, NY36 contributions
They have buses of different sizes. I was part of two groups of 40 people in each bus. That sounds like a lot but this tour includes driving some distance so being in a larger group during the drive/narration is not a concern. Once you are at the Castle you are given detailed instruction of the best walking route to follow then everyone is on their own, so again the size of the bus is unimportant. I suggest contacting the vendor for details about the specific day you are considering.
Bonjour,
Est-ce que la visite prévoit un temps d'arrêt pour visiter Cork?
Can we visite Cork by feet during the trip?