Pair it with nearby sights
The cave sits between Cahir and Mitchelstown, 20 minutes from the Rock of Cashel, 15 km from Cahir Castle and 17 km from the Swiss Cottage, so it slots easily into a Tipperary day trip.
Mitchelstown Cave
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About
Discovered by accident in 1833 when a quarryman dropped his crowbar into a crevice, Mitchelstown Cave is one of Ireland's largest and most complex show cave systems, with a 9-metre calcite column and three vast caverns.
Things to Do
Take the guided underground tour
Every visit is a guided tour through around 1 km of well-lit passages and three massive caverns, covering the cave's history, geology and folklore. You descend 88 steep, often wet steps and climb them again to exit, so wear sensible shoes and expect some bending.
Marvel at the dripstone formations
Inside you are surrounded by stalactites, stalagmites, calcite curtains and huge pillars, with named features like the House of Commons and Pipe Organ. The highlight is the Tower of Babel, a 9-metre column described as one of Europe's finest.
Hear the caverns' acoustics
The largest chamber, Tír na Nóg, is 61m by 49m and 18m high, and its acoustics have hosted concerts, film screenings and even a pop-up sushi night. Events are sporadic, so check the cave's website or Facebook page for announcements.
Enjoy the Galtee Mountain views
Above ground, a sheltered waiting area and a scenic picnic spot look out towards the Galtee Mountains. It is worth lingering before or after your tour, and there are toilets on site.
Buy your ticket at the farmhouse
There is no visitor centre: tickets are bought at a window at the side of the family farmhouse by the car park, exactly as tours have been run since 1833. Photography is not permitted inside the cave.
Plan Your Visit
- Hours: Open daily 10.30am to 3.45pm. Entry is by booking only; the booking office is open 10.30am to 4pm. Closed 1, 2 and 29 September 2026.
- Admission: Adults €11, children €5 (up to 14 years old)
- Parking: Parking for cars and coaches is provided on site, in a car park directly across from the farmhouse ticket office; it is a short walk up a slight incline to the cave entrance.
- Food: There is no cafe, shop or visitor centre at the cave — the site is deliberately uncommercialised. Bring your own picnic and water; the nearest towns for food are Mitchelstown and Cahir.
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