A picturesque coastal town, Cobh is a great base, not only in its own right but for its closeness to Cork. Cobh is not only quaint and historic, it also offers the budget minded traveler experiences that are free or very low cost. Read on for our five favorite free things to do in Cobh, Ireland.
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Why Stay in Cobh?
At just 30 minutes from Cork City, we chose Cobh as a part of our budget travel strategies. The town has more affordable apartment-style accommodations and was easily accessible by public transit. But most importantly, experiencing it’s charm is absolutely free, along with so much more.
Free Things to Do in Cobh
#1 Walk Along the Harbor
Cobh is believed to have the second largest natural harbor in the entire world. Second only to Sydney, Australia, the harbor stretches out into a beautiful coastline.
The town and harbor has remained largely unchanged since the RMS Titanic made its last stop in Cobh’s harbor.
So a walk along the harbor feels like a step back in time.
#2 Enjoy a Picnic in John F. Kennedy Park
When you first come into Cobh, be it by cruise ship or train, you walk past John F. Kennedy Park The park is the perfect place to take in the waterfront.
The park is fairly small, but has inviting benches to sit and a center pavilion. On Fridays, there is a farmer’s market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunshine brings out picnickers.
And we definitely recommend walking further down the waterfront to the Spar grocery store and grabbing supplies for your own picnic with a view.
#3: St. Coleman’s Cathedral
It is impossible to spend any time in Cobh and not see St. Coleman’s Cathedral. Formerly known as Queenstown Cathedral, the Roman Catholic Cathedral towers over the small town of Cobh.
The 19th century Cathedral is the tallest in all of Ireland and the neo-Gothic architecture is remarkable. And while the Cathedral is visually stunning, it is the 49 bell carillon that ensures that you will remember the beautiful sound marking the time.
The carillon is the largest carillon in all of the British Isles and free concerts take place every Sunday from May-September.
When we were in Cobh, the Gaia–an art installation–was displayed in St. Coleman’s as a part of Cork’s Midsummer festival. While the Gaia added to our St. Coleman’s experience, the architecture of the cathedral and the view from its grounds make it a must see.
The cathedral is open daily and admission is free.
#4 Visit the Deck of Card Houses
One of the most photographed streets in Ireland, Cobh’s row of 23 houses has been compared to the Painted Ladies of San Francisco. And for good reason. The steepness of the street and bright colors of the houses only add to the likeliness.
In front of the house, is a small park with benches for sitting and photo taking.
While many people come by for an Insta-worthy picture, you can actually stay in one of these iconic houses. We did! You can rent one of these Victorian charmers through Airbnb. The four bedroom house is perfect for one large or two smaller families.
The Cost of Staying in a Deck of Cards House
While renting one of the “Deck of Cards” houses was the most expensive per night lodging of our entire trip, it was still less expensive than any apartment we could find in Dublin. And the price was comparable to compact student housing in Cork City. So well worth the splurge.
For budget travelers who never stay at the “it” places, it was a little surreal looking out the windows at tourists taking pictures of us. Definitely not for everyone, but something we will not forget.
#5 Titanic Memorial Garden
Just outside of town, but still walkable, the memorial garden is dedicated to the 123 passengers who boarded the infamous Titanic in Cobh. Cobh was the Titanic’s last stop before its fateful end.
The focus of the garden is the glass sculpture that records the names of each of the passengers. The garden is beautifully maintained and an ideal spot for quiet and reflection.
#6 Explore the Downtown and Grab a Pint
All along the waterfront are brightly colored shops and restaurants, perfect for an afternoon of exploring. And if all that walking makes you thirsty, we will pass on the locals’ recommendation for a pint.
On the main street and five minutes walk from the pier, Kelly’s is the quintessential Irish pub. From its red doorway to its live and local music, Kelly’s is a great place to rest your feet and immerse yourself in quintessential pub culture.
#7 The Old Church Cemetery
The old church cemetery is an important historical site because it contains the graves of many individuals who were affected by the mass emigrations that occurred during the 19th and early 20th centuries in Ireland.
Many of the people buried in the cemetery were passengers on ships that left Ireland during the Great Famine and other periods of economic hardship.
The cemetery also contains 3 mass graves of victims of the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915.
The oldest grave at Old Church Cemetery is 400 years ago. And many are marked with beautiful, ornate Celtic crosses.
The old church cemetery in Cobh is a reminder of the human toll of these historical events and serves as a poignant reminder of the struggles and sacrifices of the people who lived during these difficult times.
The cemetery is a 1.2 km walk from Cobh.
Things to Do in Cobh That Aren’t Free (But Worth It)
Okay, even though these experiences aren’t free, they are totally worth the cost.
The Titanic Experience
While it isn’t free, we definitely recommend going to the Titanic Experience. The museum is fairly small, but given that it is on the very site where the Titanic made its last stop, it holds much history and memories.
Your admission ticket is a boarding pass of one of the people who joined the Titanic in Cobh on its maiden and final voyage.
As you walk through the various exhibitions, including replicas of state rooms, artifacts and personal stories, you can’t help but wonder if the person whose boarding pass you hold survived the infamous sinking.
The end of the tour reveals the fate of the person whose boarding card you were given. Of our 3 boarding cards, only one of us survived. A somber reminder of the Irish lives that were lost.
Even though the Titanic Experience is not free, it is quite reasonable. Adults are €11.00 and children are €7.50. If you are early risers, the museum has an early bird ticket that is 10% off.
The Titanic Walking Tour
If the Titanic Experience piques your interest, our final recommendation is the Titanic Walking Tour. The tour teaches its guests information about Cobh’s maritime, social and immigration history.
The tour happens daily at 11 a.m. and takes roughly an hour. A local historian meets the group at the front Door of the Commodore Hotel Cobh.
Spike Island Tour
Home to a 19th-century fortification known as Fort Mitchel, Spike Island was used as a prison for over 400 years. The fort was turned into a prison during during the 1600s.
And during the Victorian Period, Spike Island was the largest prison in the world.
The island was also a major naval base during World War II.
Today, Spike Island is open to visitors, and it is possible to take tours of the fort and learn about its history.
Tickets are €24 for adults and €11 for children.
Cobh Heritage Center
The Cobh Heritage Center tells the story of the emigration of people from Ireland, particularly from the Queenstown (now known as Cobh) port.
Visitors can see exhibits on the history of the town, including its role as a major departure point for Irish emigrants during the 19th and 20th centuries.
The museum also features exhibits on the RMS Titanic, which made its last stop at the port before sinking in 1912, as well as on the Lusitania, which was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the coast of Cobh in 1915.
The museum also features a replica of a third class cabin on the Titanic and an interactive exhibition on the Irish diaspora.
The full guided tour takes about 2.5 hours and cost €25 for adults and €12.50 for kids.
You can also book a 1 hour private experience with the Heritage Center’s geologist to trace your own Irish heritage.
Getting to Cobh
Train
Many people experience Cobh as a port of call for their cruise. The port is a few blocks from John F. Kennedy Park, the Titanic Experience and, after a short climb uphill, St. Coleman’s.
If you are coming from Cork, Cobh is easily accessible by either bus or train. During our time in Cobh we traveled using both types of transit. The train station is right next to the port for cruise ships. It is located in the red brick building adjacent to the Cobh Heritage Museum, which is another great stop to learn about Cobh’s rich history.
Trains run roughly every half hour from Cork to Cobh. The trip takes 30 minutes.
Adult roundtrip tickets are €6.90 and children travel for €3.50
Bus
The bus runs between Cork and Cobh as frequently as the train. In the early morning and early evening, buses run every half hour, but go on the hour during the middle of the day.
There are many bus stops in Cobh, but the one that most tourist will use is at the top of street where the Deck of Card houses are.
Adult roundtrip tickets are €6.00 and children travel for €4.00
The Surprise of Cobh
The seaside town of Cobh was a great place to base for our time in Ireland. As a charming seaside town, one of the greatest pleasures was just walking along the water, breathing in the Celtic air and waiting for the next chiming of the bells of St. Coleman’s.
FAQs
What is Cobh, Ireland known for?
Cobh is most known as the last stop for the RMS Titanic.
And while the Titanic history, including the Titanic Museum is rich, there is so much more to Cobh, including the remarkable St. Coleman’s Cathedral and the historic Spike Island, that served as a prison during the Great Famine.
How Do I Spend My Day in Cobh?
Visitors to Cobh definitely want to make time for the major sites: St. Coleman’s, Spike Island and the Titanic Experience.
However, Cobh is also just a great place to spend the day in an Irish port town on the Atlantic ocean.
Is Cobh, Ireland worth visiting?
Absolutely. We chose Cobh (pronounced Cove) because it was more affordable than Cork.
But while Cobh started as a budget choice, we truly fell in love with this seaside town. From it’s Titanic history to its brightly colored homes, Cobh is a wonderful day trip from Cork. Or make it your overnight destination and use the frequent and inexpensive public transit to travel between Cobh and Cork.
Coming to Cobh from Cork City? One of our favorite ways to see any city is on bike. Cork has a great city bike rental. Let us tell you how to rent bikes inexpensively and what to see under pedal power in the city of Cork.
Our time in Cobh was a part of our 2-week itinerary around the United Kingdom using public transit. We travelled all through the Scotland, including the Highlands, without a car. And we used the Sherpa bus in Wales to see all the natural beauty of Snowdonia.
