Blarney Castle & Gardens
Blarney Castle & Gardens
Blarney Castle & Gardens
4.5
09:00 - 16:00
Monday
09:00 - 16:00
Tuesday
09:00 - 16:00
Wednesday
09:00 - 16:00
Thursday
09:00 - 16:00
Friday
09:00 - 16:00
Saturday
09:00 - 16:00
Sunday
09:00 - 16:00
About
Situated 8km from Cork City, this historic castle is most famous for its stone, which has the traditional power of conferring eloquence on all who kiss it. The word Blarney was introduced into the English language by Queen Elizabeth I and is described as pleasant talk, intended to deceive without offending. The stone is set in the wall below the battlements, and to kiss it one has to lean backwards (grasping an iron railing) from the parapet walk. LAST ADMISSION IS 60 MINS BEFORE CLOSING TIME/Dogs Not Permitted/Drone Photography Prohibited
Duration: More than 3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Blarney Castle & Gardens
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
58 within 5 kms
Attractions
109 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
7,793 reviews
Excellent
5,105
Very good
2,034
Average
414
Poor
128
Terrible
113
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
Erina
California376 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
We didn't know what to expect when we got to Blarney Castle, but we were excited nonetheless. I was hoping that we didn't have to wait in line too long to get to the top. We've heard stories and watched videos of endless lines that people have turned away at the sight of it. But, when we got to Blarney Castle it wasn't crowded at all. It was earlier in the day and we narrowly missed the tour bus that just pulled up. We got to the end of the line which was about 30 feet from the Castle entrance. It wasn't bad since I've seen videos of the lines literally wrapped around the corners, outside of the castle, with sign postings of how long the wait was" from this point." As you walk in the castle, you get to feel what it was like back in the day inside an actual castle that's not turned into a hotel. Some areas of the line can get tight so be aware of that. As you go up the stairs, you see different rooms and corridors that you can walk into. (There are videos of it on YT from other travelers). As you get close to the top, the spaces and the stairs get tighter, might get claustrophobic for some. Just take deep breaths and realize you will be moving sooner than later. As you get to the top of the castle, you can look out over the horizon and see the grounds. You can really feel how massive the area is, just don't look down. When you get close to the blarney stone, organize yourself and decide who will take a photo of you and vice versa. The guides move you rather quickly so be prepared. One person in line ahead of us took her time and she was greeted with harsh words and they told her to wait. They let a few others kiss the stone before letting her kiss the stone. Remember, they want the line to keep moving so BE READY. Again, organize withing your group who will take the pictures of you kissing the stone etc...they also take pictures of you for a price. But, do it yourself and be quick about it. After the castle, we toured the grounds, its massive like I said. Take your time walking the grounds and you won't be disappointed. There's a cafe nearby where you can grab a bite to eat and buy souvenirs. There's also a souvenir shop in the castle while you're waiting in line but you feel rushed because the line is moving. Overall, it was a fantastic place and will do it again.
Written 17 April 2024
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.
Kieran D
2 contributions
Jun 2024 • Solo
I visited Blarney Castle on a Friday morning as I assumed it wouldn't be too busy to go and visit (I was wrong), firstly visiting the castle ground & gardens was lovely, the scenery was beautiful from atop the castle, the gardens & wildlife were beautiful, the lake at the far end of the ground was picturesque as it was a 10-15 minutes walk from the castle to the lake (25-30 all around walk), the cafes & gift shops were busy but again spacious
Now comes the minor defaults, onsite was Blarney house where from the outside was really nice & would've like to have looked around the inside, however after already paying 22 Euros to visit the ground & castle I didn't want to pay an extra 10 Euros to look around the house as it should be open to visit if paying to look at everything onsite, & lastly if you want to go to the top of the castle & kiss the stone then be prepared to stand in line for 1-1 & 1/2 hours for a 5 minute view and kiss it, I personally didn't kiss the stone for my own reasons
I would recommend visiting the castle but just be prepared for a long wait & also be willing to do a lot of walking cause there is a lot to see
Now comes the minor defaults, onsite was Blarney house where from the outside was really nice & would've like to have looked around the inside, however after already paying 22 Euros to visit the ground & castle I didn't want to pay an extra 10 Euros to look around the house as it should be open to visit if paying to look at everything onsite, & lastly if you want to go to the top of the castle & kiss the stone then be prepared to stand in line for 1-1 & 1/2 hours for a 5 minute view and kiss it, I personally didn't kiss the stone for my own reasons
I would recommend visiting the castle but just be prepared for a long wait & also be willing to do a lot of walking cause there is a lot to see
Written 27 July 2024
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.
Gary W
Courtown, Ireland131 contributions
Aug 2024 • Solo
There is a reason this is so touristy...it is really great fun. The grounds are beautiful and castle is a legit 1400s building and of course throw a good legend on top and it has everything you want for a good day out. If you can time your visit for the earlier or later in the day as tour buses arrive mid-day. There are markers for the wait to see and kiss the Blarney Stone so you know what to expect. The castle is impressive and there are two people who help you kiss the stone. You have to lay on your back and kind of kiss it upside down. Pretty fun and funny if you ask me! There is also the Blarney House on the grounds which is Gothic fun. There is of course a good gift shop and just outside is a wool outlet. You can eat at the statehouse cafe or wonder a short distance to the quaint town to get some authentic Irish food. Great outing!
Written 12 August 2024
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.
go9ers
Billericay, UK913 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
I can't say that the castle is that impressive; there are much more attractive ones around Ireland, some more complete. Blarney though is the famous one. I do feel that the kissing of the stone is just a story perpetuated to bring in tourists. At around midday there was a queue so it took about an hour to reach the top. The stairs get very steep, narrow and shallow so wear good shoes. There's nice views at the top but had I known then what I know now I wouldn't have bothered with the castle. Bear in mind you have to lie of your back and kiss the stone from beneath; not a task for everyone! However, the grounds and gardens are a different story. It's well worth allowing time to explore these. There are various themed gardens within the grounds and of course it depends on the time of year how spectacular these are but there should be something for everyone.
Written 7 October 2024
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.
bears54it
Vicenza, Italy482 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
Castle with large themed gardens where you can walk. You can climb to the top of the castle, putting a half-hour queue in advance, to be able to kiss the stone of eloquence. As for the ticket price of 22 € is in my opinion a bit high, they should at least not charge parking.
Automatically translated
Written 29 August 2024
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.
ven_of_attre
10 contributions
Apr 2024 • Solo
The grounds of Blarney Castle alone are gorgeous. So many different plants, trees, and flowers, all perfectly maintained. The poison garden was a fascinating bit as well. The castle itself was brilliant. It's in decent condition for such an old castle, and there were many little panels explaining what each room was for. The stairs were narrow and winding, just as they were back then, and while that's not great for those who are claustrophobic it certainly kept it authentic. Up top, alongside some breathtaking views, was the Blarney Stone. There was a sizable line, even early in the morning, but the attendants were fastidious in keeping it sanitised between each person who kissed it. Does it give you the gift of the gab? No idea. I didn't kiss it; I'm a fighter, not a talker, so naturally I gave it a slap instead. I am yet to find out what effect that will have on my fighting skills. Will update once I know.
Written 17 April 2024
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.
classicalsteve
Oakland, CA11 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Blarney Castle is an iconic historical site. The kissing of the Blarney Stone has become one of those tourist traditions everyone talks about. That said, the line to get up to kiss the Blarney Stone is essentially the same as the line to get into the main keep of the castle. The wait in line can be two hours plus. When my brother and I visited, we thought there was another entrance into the castle if we didn't want to wait to kiss the Blarney Stone. None exists. So be advised that the line for the Blarney Stone and the entrance to the castle are the SAME. Only some small rooms below are available towards the lower part of the castle for those who don't to wait two hours.
Also, the castle is not as old as it seems. It appears to have been built in an older Norman style, which would date it to circa 1100 to 1300. However, it was in fact built 1445-6, at a time when Norman style castles were generally out of vogue and palaces became the norm in Europe rather than fortress-castles.
Also, the castle is not as old as it seems. It appears to have been built in an older Norman style, which would date it to circa 1100 to 1300. However, it was in fact built 1445-6, at a time when Norman style castles were generally out of vogue and palaces became the norm in Europe rather than fortress-castles.
Written 6 September 2024
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.
tms215
Philadelphia, PA687 contributions
May 2024 • Family
Very pretty grounds, It gets packed so go early on a weekday. I am a germaphobe, hate heights, and tight places. This offered all of my phobias rolled into one. If you are a large human being, you won't make it through one doorway going up. Tight winding staircase with tine steps. You have to grip a rope on the way up to climb the stairs. Once on top, it is open air and windy. Hissing the rock? YOU HAVE TO! Of course I bathed in Purell when I got back outside. Scared the crap out of me and worth every minute
Written 15 May 2024
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.
karoleigh
North Carolina4,121 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
What’s not to love about a 15th century castle and beautiful gardens? We arrived around 9:30 in the morning. The first thing we did was go into the tower. Our tour guide advised us not to go intro the tower if we were claustrophobic, but I had no problems with it and I am claustrophobic. The reason I didn’t mind it was because there were plenty of windows and open spaces. The castle was moderately crowded, with a couple of school groups there. However, the line on the winding stairway moved smoothly in one direction as we were told to do.
The castle was a shell of what probably once was, but the grounds were alive with gorgeous flower gardens. We walked through magnificent floral displays. Very tall trees created a beautiful complement to the flowers.
We ate lunch at the Woolen Mills cafe after a two-hour visit to the castle and grounds.
The castle was a shell of what probably once was, but the grounds were alive with gorgeous flower gardens. We walked through magnificent floral displays. Very tall trees created a beautiful complement to the flowers.
We ate lunch at the Woolen Mills cafe after a two-hour visit to the castle and grounds.
Written 12 July 2024
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.
Kez W
Brooklyn, NY123 contributions
Jul 2024 • Friends
My friend and I visited Blarney Castle on our way to the Ring of Kerry, after overnighting in Cork. You can park on the street in the Village for 2 hrs, for free. It is not necessary to buy tickets ahead of time, you can purchase them at the ticket office. There is no discount in price to do it ahead of time. The grounds are beautiful. I felt like I was visiting an Arboretum. There are many photo opportunities for the Castle and other historical ruins or just the nature that you're surrounded by. It wasn't super crowded so the line to go to the top of the castle, to just experience the views or to kiss the Blarney Stone, wasn't very long. Although I started to make my way up the first set of stairs, I chose not to do the windy staircase to go up to the top due to being claustrophobic and there not being enough space to come down if I opted not to continue. You can only go up, you cannot come down the same way. Something to consider if you have a problem with super tight spaces that are also crowded. I heard from some who came down that it was an amazing view but it was a super tight space to go up through.
There is much to see if you walk the grounds. There is signage letting you know what these places are and gave you some history. There are caves to explore and gardens, it is really a beautiful place. Definitely recommend a visit. There is a cute village near the entrance to the castle and gardens, we unfortunately did not spend time there, but from just what we saw as we drove off, they have a lot of little shops and restaurants to walk through and visit.
There is much to see if you walk the grounds. There is signage letting you know what these places are and gave you some history. There are caves to explore and gardens, it is really a beautiful place. Definitely recommend a visit. There is a cute village near the entrance to the castle and gardens, we unfortunately did not spend time there, but from just what we saw as we drove off, they have a lot of little shops and restaurants to walk through and visit.
Written 28 July 2024
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.
We are going to be driving through Cork, but I don't think we're going to make it in time before they close for the evening. Can we see the castle from the roadway? Can we drive up to it after hours just to take pictures?
Written 27 May 2024
Yeh, its not close to where your car would be parked. Since you're driving through Cork, is there no way that you can visit the castle since you're already there? Its a beautiful castle and it would be a shame to miss it if you're going to be in the area anyways.
Written 28 May 2024
I understand if u purchase advance tickets u still need to wait in line with those that have not purchased tix in advance so there is no efficiency benefit. We are driving through so can’t arrive early. Realistically, what is the entry line wait time around 2:30pm in mid-June?
Written 20 April 2024
I understand if you purchase an advance ticket you still need to wait in line with those that have not purchased advance tickets. (Feedback - not efficient / defeats the purpose of advance purchase) We’re driving through so can’t arrive early. Realistically, what is the entry line wait time around 2:30pm in mid-June. Thx
Written 20 April 2024
We were there yesterday for a short time to see the castle only. We could not wait in line to purchase photos. Is it possible to order it online? What is the e-mail I can use to inquire about buying photos?
Written 3 September 2023
We did our own photos so not really sure but in this tech age you'd assume so
Written 6 September 2023
If you're chubby will the stairs be too narrow?
Written 21 February 2023
You will be fine. Chubby no problem. If you are 400 or 500 lbs it might be a bit narrow. But I am chubby too and was totally fine.
Written 19 May 2023
Hello, I am visiting in June and planned to visit Blarney Castle on June 5th, 2023. I was wondering if there is a specific time when we have to be there, or if we have tickets, we just show up. Also when is the best time in the day to visit?
Written 13 January 2023
I believe you just turn up as when suits, you may have to queue if its busy in order to kiss the stone.
Written 7 February 2023
Hi, is there anywhere to store luggages around the castle ? If not, are big backpacks allowed ? We don't plan on going to see the Stone, so won't be blocking the stairs.
Written 2 August 2022
They did not have any visible storage facilities but maybe the check in counter can hold it or the gift shop. I would contact the place before going. Blarney castle is a huge place that you can spend up to 2 hrs just strolling the beautiful grounds. The Blarney Stone is at the top of the castle, approx 100 steps up a narrow stair case. u don’t have to kiss it but you should go through the castle . It was interesting to see and learn a few things about castle living and has plaques all over to tell you what room was what . Not to mention the view was beautiful from the top.
Written 4 August 2022
Is there overnight parking available near the Castle?
Written 10 February 2020
You can’t park on the castle grounds overnight, they lick it up. Nearby, perhaps. I would ask a local and I bet they can direct you correctly.
Written 12 February 2020
How far from airport please
Written 4 February 2020
Approx:
Cork airport = 30 mins.
Shannon airport = 1hour 30mins
Kerry airport = 1hour 30mins
Dublin airport = 3 hours
Written 8 February 2020
…
Showing results 1-10 of 81
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing