When is Elizabeth Fort open?

Elizabeth Fort is open: Sun - Sun 12:00 - 17:00 Mon - Sat 10:00 - 17:00 Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor . If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.

Do you need to book in advance to visit Elizabeth Fort?

We recommend booking Elizabeth Fort tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 4 Elizabeth Fort tours on Tripadvisor

What hotels are near Elizabeth Fort?

Hotels near Elizabeth Fort: (0.04 km) Elizabeth Fort (0.51 km) The River Lee (0.41 km) Lancaster Lodge (0.24 km) Blackmore Court (0.24 km) Lee Point View all hotels near Elizabeth Fort on Tripadvisor

What restaurants are near Elizabeth Fort?

Restaurants near Elizabeth Fort: (0.04 km) O'reillys Fish And Chips Barrack Street (0.05 km) Alchemy (0.11 km) Pigalle Kitchen (0.09 km) Miyazaki (0.10 km) Tiramisu View all restaurants near Elizabeth Fort on Tripadvisor

ELIZABETH FORT: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

363 reviews

#11 of 144 things to do in Cork

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See what other travellers are saying

Kristine B
Orlando, Florida274 contributions
So much history!
I learned so much from my visit to Elizabeth Fort. It was raining when I went so I didn’t ask about the guided tour (although I wish I had), but the admission is free and the history information inside the building of the fort is really interesting. I spent a good 20-25 minutes reading about the history of the fort, particularly its time as a women’s prison. The views outside were spectacular, as you actually you get to climb up into the fort and walk about three-quarters of the way around. This is a great stop in Cork, especially if you go up Keyser’s Hill to get to it (which dates back to Viking times).
Visited March 2020
Travelled solo
Written 10 March 2020
DeeJayDee
Belfast, United Kingdom196 contributions
Free attraction with good views
Elizabeth Fort is a short walk from the Cathedral. Entrance is free, and you can buy a paper guide (1 euro) or audio guide (3 euro). There are very enthusiastic guides (as in people) on hand to welcome you and tell you a little about the fort. One of the buildings has an exhibition about the fort's history and about some of the people who were held here pending transport to Australia. Both were interesting and won't take up too much time. Other than that you can walk around the walls and look out over Cork city. Given its proximity to the centre of the City (10 or 15 minutes walk maximum) I'd say it's worth going to see.
Visited August 2021
Written 13 August 2021
PandFB
Wirral, United Kingdom383 contributions
Tangible History!
I would thoroughly recommend anyone visiting Cork to put this on their itinerary, especially as it’s free! The fort Sites overlooking the town and is very close to the Cathedral. There is a small museum and you can walk around the walls of the fort learning about the function of the various areas within the fort but also, thanks to helpful guides on the walkway, you can see various landmarks around Cork City which are visible from the walls. There are audio guides available at the entrance should you require but we opted just to walk around and absorb the history of the the place. To be honest we weren’t sure whether to bother as we had just come from the Cathedral where we felt that whilst worth the visit, the entrance fee for the Cathedral was a bit steep for what it was.
Visited March 2023
Travelled as a couple
Written 10 April 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.

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4.5

363 reviews

Excellent

168

Very good

142

Average

48

Poor

5

Terrible

0

rossdmd

Panama City Beach, FL856 contributions

Nice place to visit, and it’s free

May 2023 • Couples

Arriving in Cobh on a cruise ship for a day, we looked at the local visitor center and then decided to take the train to Cork. A local girl recommended we just walk to the fort. Great advice. The fort was a great view, a nice half hour and then we wandered back trough town, The story of the fort through the centuries is interesting.

Written 4 June 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.

pandi0n1

Slough, UK21 contributions

Hidden gem of Cork

May 2023

This is a little off the beaten track and not well known (even by people in Cork!). Everyone I spoke to in Cork, did their best to get me to go to places outside the city. Stubbornly, I went to Elizabeth Fort. This is an old fort, subsequently used as a prison and Garda HQ. It is free to look around and they are in the process of restoring the grounds.

You are free to walk around the ramparts and there is enough information here for you to work out the development of the star-shaped fort. You also get some excellent views over Cork.

Inside the old Garda station, there is a small exhibition on the history of the fort and some detail about its' use as a womens prison.

I was there for about an hour. Loved it.

Written 2 June 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.

babykong

London, UK545 contributions

Fascinating piece of history.

May 2023 • Solo

Free entry; although you can pay €1 for a map, or €3 for an audio guide. I opted to walk around without purchasing either, and just read the various points of information dotted around the Fort.

I’d read somewhere that you get great views of Cork from the Fort - and if you like car parks, then you’re in for a treat! The views weren’t great, but that wasn’t my main reason for visiting the Fort anyway.

I really enjoyed the exhibition inside the old Garda Station - especially learning about the women who were held prisoner at the Fort before being transported to Australia.

Also I’d just like to say how super friendly and welcoming the staff were. There was no pressure to purchase the maps or audio guides, but they were both gave fantastic customer service regardless.

Written 1 June 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.

Yvonne E

Cork, Ireland115 contributions

Fabulous views of the city & a great place to while away an hour or so

Apr 2023

I took my nieces here as I'd only even realised it existed a few months back and had it in my mind to go and explore.

It's free entry which is great - the staff member we met upon entering was very friendly and I did pay for a paper guide which was a couple of euro I think and there was an option for an audio guide also if you wanted it.

With a 10 and 12 year old running amok, I didn't think I'd get time to listen to the audio guide! We had a go at putting the girls into the stocks which was fun and then climbed up the steps to see the stunning views out over Cork city and towards St Finbarr's Cathedral. The severed heads stuck on long pikes were a sight to behold. We also checked out the WWII bunker (happily never required) and had a quick look around the museum area but the girls were too impatient to spend much time there.

It's a lovely area and the young woman we met on entry told us we were free to bring our own food or drink in and sit in the courtyard to enjoy it which is a lovely idea.

Definitely worth a visit if you're in Cork.

Written 27 April 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.

PandFB

Wirral, UK383 contributions

Tangible History!

Mar 2023 • Couples

I would thoroughly recommend anyone visiting Cork to put this on their itinerary, especially as it’s free! The fort Sites overlooking the town and is very close to the Cathedral. There is a small museum and you can walk around the walls of the fort learning about the function of the various areas within the fort but also, thanks to helpful guides on the walkway, you can see various landmarks around Cork City which are visible from the walls.

There are audio guides available at the entrance should you require but we opted just to walk around and absorb the history of the the place. To be honest we weren’t sure whether to bother as we had just come from the Cathedral where we felt that whilst worth the visit, the entrance fee for the Cathedral was a bit steep for what it was.

Written 10 April 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.

MICK0950

Hinckley, United Kingdom490 contributions

3 euro well spent

Mar 2023

We thoroughly enjoyed been shown round and learned a lot. The young guide explained that she was Italian but she had excellent command of English and really brought the site to life. The time passed very quickly and together with the exhibition on site, it was well worth visiting.

Written 3 April 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.

Karen

Appia SS 7, Italy19 contributions

Elizabeth fort

Mar 2023 • Couples

Was greeted on arrival by a lovely lady, explaining it was free entry to walk around on our own or 3euro for a guided tour. We chose to walk around on our own you can walk around the wall of the Fort,lovely views across Cork City, very informative with different features as you walk around took around 40mins ,there is a picnic area so you can have some lunch in the courtyard

Written 15 March 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.

Jeff H

15 contributions

The history of Cork intertwined with the history of the Fort and of Ireland. Well worth a visit.

Jan 2023 • Solo

Visited on a cold grey Sunday afternoon and found it really interesting. Definitely worth getting the audio guide (€3 - cash only).
Tbe history of the Fort is pretty much the history of Cork and linked to the various tussles for power in Ireland.
Young (it's relative) lady at the entry kiosk was very friendly and helpful.
Only lost one star because the museum was unfortunately closed on the day I visited.

Written 8 January 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.

MARIA

5 contributions

Very interesting visit

Aug 2022

Interesting historic sight with fabulous views of Cork city. Museum history boards were very informative. Could do with coffee shop.

Written 18 August 2022

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.

ScottG

Annapolis, Maryland3 contributions

Great Experience. Must see in Cork!

Jul 2022

There are guided tours, but it was nice to walk around and explore. Great views of Cork! Definitely recommend it if you are in Cork.

Written 5 August 2022

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.

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amethyst2017

Syracuse, NY1 contribution

My family from Cork originates with John Cooley, who was baptized at St. Finnbar's 9/14/1800. His parents are listed as Thomas Cooley and Ellenor Fife/Fiffe. At the time of his baptism their address was given as "St. Barry's G Mila". In 1802 for a sibling's baptism it is shown as "Galwy Mila. Galway Regt.". I take it this means his father was in the military. Would he have been living with his family at the Elizabeth Fort since it was located so close to St. Finnbar's? John Cooley who was my 3x great grandfather was a bodyguard for Daniel O'Connell. In 1836 he left Ireland and settled in Hereford, England. In 1851 he and his family left there and immigrated to New York State. His occupation was a printer/compositor, having been apprenticed in Cork at the age of 13. When he died in 1874, he was the oldest printer in New York State, having been at his job for 60 years. I plan to make a trip to Cork from New York soon, and would be interested in finding out more about him and the family in Cork. Would there be military records for his father that far back and where would they be held? Thanks for your help.

Elizabeth Fort

Cork, Ireland2 contributions

Hello, Thanks for getting in touch. It's great to hear you have been doing so much research before your planned trip. Elizabeth Fort would indeed have been a military barracks in 1800. The fort and another barracks across the road combined were the main barracks in the area at the time. I understand that soldiers would have been living within these barracks' as well as (more so in the case of higher ranking soldiers) in houses nearby. There were no paper records left at the fort from the time of the army barracks (this closed in 1806), but it may be possible to get the records through the army themselves, I can send you a link if you email me. A group that may also be able to help you is the Cork Genealogical Society - they are easily searchable online. The barracks buildings within the fort have long since been replaced, but I would be very happy to show you around when you visit Cork. This email address would probably be a better means of contact going forward this is available on our website. Best regards, Peter

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Hipopmum

Hornsea, UK4 contributions

Is it open today? How far is it on foot from clarion hotel?

Elizabeth Fort

Cork, Ireland2 contributions

Hi. Yes, Elizabeth Fort is open today from 12 noon to 5pm, there is also a guided tour at 1pm. The fort is around 10-15 minuted by foot from the Clarion Hotel.

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