Things to do in Co. Cork
85 places
1.Fastnet Rock Lighthouse
last sight of land for 19th-century emigrants
Ireland's most southerly point and its most iconic lighthouse — the 54 m granite tower of Fastnet Rock, known as "Ireland's Teardrop", can only be experienced by boat tour through the whale- and dolphin-rich waters of West Cork.
- Highlights
- 54 m granite tower — tallest & widest rock lighthouse in Ireland and the UK
- Nicknamed 'Ireland's Teardrop' — last sight of land for 19th-century emigrants
- Boat circles the rock twice for perfect photos from every angle
2.Kinsale Mead Co.
Taste mead at a 300-year-old oak bar
Ireland's first new meadery in 200 years — a family-run craft producer in Kinsale where you can tour the mead-making process, taste raw honeys, and sample award-winning meads at a bar carved from 300-year-old Fota Island oak.
- Highlights
- Ireland's first meadery in 200 years (est. 2016)
- Award-winning meads: Great Taste, Blas na hEireann, International Mazer Cup
- Oak bar tasting room made from a 300-year-old fallen Fota Island tree
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
3.Seaside Alpacas
Only alpaca trek that ends at the sea
A small, remote family farm on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way where you can lead gentle alpacas along coastal trails all the way to the sea — as featured on ITV's Tour de Fred.
- Highlights
- Only alpaca trek in Ireland that reaches the sea
- Alpacas sometimes dip in the Atlantic
- Handcrafted knitwear from the farm's own alpaca fleece
- Facilities
- Good for kids
4.Beara way
The country's only cable car to Dursey Island
A 206 km waymarked loop around Ireland's ruggedly beautiful Beara Peninsula — coastal cliffs, mountain passes, stone circles and Ireland's only cable car make this one of the Wild Atlantic Way's most rewarding long-distance trails.
- Highlights
- 206 km / 128-mile circular waymarked trail
- 5,245 m total ascent — grade: Strenuous
- Ireland's only cable car, to Dursey Island
5.Gougane Barra National Forest Park
6th-century island monastery on a lake
A wild valley of pine forest, craggy mountains and a mirror-like lake in West Cork — home to the source of the River Lee and the 6th-century monastic island of St Finbarr.
- Highlights
- Six waymarked trails from 0.5km to 2.5km
- Source of the River Lee
- St Finbarr's Oratory on a lake island
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
6.Ardnakinna Lighthouse(Teach Solais Ardnakinna)
a working lighthouse with 360º views over Bantry Bay
A striking white lighthouse on the wild western tip of Bere Island, reached by a rugged loop walk with panoramic views over Bantry Bay, the Beara Peninsula, and the Atlantic. No admission — just a ferry ride and a rewarding hike.
- Highlights
- 360º views over Bantry Bay and three peninsulas
- Working lighthouse on dramatic cliff-edge setting
- Moderate-to-difficult loop walk on old military tracks
7.Ballyhass Coachford
One of the first dedicated High Nets courses
A full Aquaglide floating obstacle course on Inniscarra Lake, backed by High Nets, paddle sports, archery and a lakeside sauna — Cork's biggest connected wipeout-course experience.
- Highlights
- Full Aquaglide floating course with connected layout
- RLSS Gold safety standard
- One of Ireland's first dedicated High Nets courses
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
8.Ballyhass Mallow
Double 160m over-water zipline
A 36-acre adventure playground carved from a former limestone quarry near Mallow, with two crystal-clear spring-water lakes, Ireland's leading cable wakeboarding park, a brand-new 2026 Wibit Peakz Aquapark, and over 15 land, water and height-based activities — all bookable individually so you build your own day.
- Highlights
- Brand-new 2026 Wibit Peakz Aquapark layout — exclusive to Mallow
- Ireland's leading cable wakeboarding facility with two straight-line systems
- Double 160m over-water zipline, 50ft above the lake
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
9.Baltimore Beacon
1849 beacon known as Lot's Wife
A striking 15-metre white cone-shaped beacon perched on dramatic West Cork cliffs since 1849, offering sweeping 360° views over Baltimore Harbour, Sherkin Island, and the wild Atlantic.
- Highlights
- Iconic 15m white cone-shaped tower with red ball on top
- Built 1849, locally nicknamed 'Lot's Wife'
- Panoramic 360° views over harbour, islands & Atlantic
10.Capel Way Coastal Trail
an 1803 Napoleonic signal tower and WWII lookout
A community-maintained coastal trail on the rugged Knockadoon Peninsula, offering two looped walks with panoramic views across Youghal and Ballycotton Bays to Capel Island.
- Highlights
- Two looped routes for different fitness levels
- 1803 Napoleonic signal tower and WWII lookout post
- Views of Capel Island bird sanctuary and Ballycotton Lighthouse
11.Doneraile Wildlife Park
free-roaming deer herds in a 166-hectare Capability Brown parkland
A vast 166-hectare Capability Brown-style estate where herds of red, fallow and sika deer roam freely beneath 300-year-old trees — and entry to the parklands is completely free.
- Highlights
- Free entry to 166 hectares of Grade-A parkland
- Three deer species (red, fallow, sika) plus Kerry cattle
- Doneraile Court guided tours — home of the world's first woman Freemason
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
12.Glensheskin Woods
Historic spring well along the Douglas River
A sprawling Coillte woodland along the Douglas River near Kilworth village, criss-crossed by walking trails, rich with bluebells in spring, and threaded through by the long-distance Blackwater Way.
- Highlights
- Large Coillte woodland with multiple trail options
- Part of the European E8 / Blackwater Way long-distance route
- Historic spring well along the riverside path
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
13.Leahy's Open Farm
real JCB diggers kids can operate
A family-run petting farm in the East Cork countryside with an astonishing range of activities — from real JCB diggers and a barrel train through the woods to homemade ice cream and an antique museum, you can easily fill a full day here.
- Highlights
- Real JCB diggers kids can operate
- Complimentary barrel train ride per family
- Petting sessions with snakes, rabbits, goats
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
14.Mizen Head Bridge(Droichead Cheann Mizen)
45m-high bridge over the Atlantic
Ireland's most south-westerly point — cross a dramatic arched footbridge 45m above the Atlantic to a historic signal station perched on the edge of Europe.
- Highlights
- Iconic arched footbridge 45m above the sea
- Historic signal station & lighthouse (est. 1909)
- Ireland's first radio beacon (1931)
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
15.Mullinhassig Wood & Waterfalls, Aghavrin
Mermaid-guarded salmon pool at a hidden waterfall
A tucked-away Coillte woodland in rural Cork where the Glashagarriff River tumbles over Poulanassig Waterfall into a deep, folklore-rich pool — a short, rewarding loop walk for those who don't mind muddy boots.
- Highlights
- Poulanassig Waterfall thunders into a folklore-steeped pool
- Two connecting trails form a scenic loop under 2 km
- Dramatic rock outcrops and a steep wooded gorge
16.Rocky Bay
Napoleonic signal tower from 1806
A secluded, south-facing sandy cove tucked beneath rugged cliffs near Minane Bridge — loved by locals for wild swimming, peaceful sunbathing, and its raw, unspoilt character along the Wild Atlantic Way.
- Highlights
- Green Coast bathing water quality
- 300 m of golden sand (at low tide)
- 1806 Napoleonic signal tower on the headland
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
17.Sheep's Head Walk - Tooreen Turning Point
Climb concrete steps to a 1968 lighthouse
The road ends at Tooreen — and the real drama begins. This wild, wind-scoured trailhead at the tip of the Sheep's Head peninsula delivers cliffside paths, a lonely lighthouse, and panoramic views over Bantry and Dunmanus Bays on one of Ireland's most unspoilt Atlantic headlands.
- Highlights
- Panoramic 360° views over Bantry Bay, Dunmanus Bay, Mizen Head & Beara Peninsula
- Sheep's Head lighthouse (built 1968, 7m tall) — climb the concrete steps to it
- Lough Akeen — a small, picturesque lake en route to the lighthouse
18.The Treehouse
Free tea and scone every Tuesday
An indoor soft-play centre and café in Skibbereen — a lifesaver for families on rainy West Cork days, and the only dedicated indoor play venue in the area.
- Highlights
- Two age-zoned soft-play areas, all visible from the café seating
- Award-winning café with homemade food and Red Strand coffee
- Parent & toddler mornings with free tea and scone (Tuesdays)
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
19.Youghal Eco Boardwalk
1.9km boardwalk to three Blue Flag beaches
Ireland's longest seafront boardwalk — a 1.9km accessible coastal stroll linking three Blue Flag beaches, with the sea on one side and Ballyvergan Marsh on the other.
- Highlights
- Ireland's longest seafront boardwalk
- Three connected Blue Flag beaches
- Ballyvergan Marsh — Cork's largest coastal marsh
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
20."Deck of Cards" Houses
gravity-defying row of 23 candy-coloured houses
A gravity-defying row of 23 candy-coloured Victorian terraced houses stacked up a steep Cobh hillside, with St Colman's Cathedral towering behind — Ireland's most photographed street.
- Highlights
- 23 candy-coloured Victorian houses built in the 1850s
- St Colman's Cathedral backdrop — Ireland's tallest cathedral
- Multiple viewpoints: park, hilltop, Spy Hill, and rear angle
- Facilities
- Good for kids
21.Allihies Mountain Copper Mine Shaft
One of few surviving Man Engine houses worldwide
Ireland's most productive 19th-century copper mine, now a haunting post-industrial landscape of engine houses and shafts on the wild Beara Peninsula, explored via a waymarked trail from the excellent village museum.
- Highlights
- Only Man Engine house in Ireland — one of few surviving worldwide
- Mine shafts reached 421m deep, 280m below sea level
- Quartz-sand Ballydonegan Beach — created by mine waste
22.Awesome Walls Cork
200+ climbing routes up to 18m
Ireland's newest and most cutting-edge indoor climbing centre — over 800m² of walls, 200+ routes, and up to 18m lead climbs, all under one roof on Model Farm Road.
- Highlights
- 800m²+ of climbing surface
- 150m²+ of dedicated bouldering
- 200+ climbing routes, up to 18m lead walls
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
23.Ballinaboola Trailhead
largest mountain bike trail network in the country
A quiet forest trailhead on the lower slopes of the Ballyhoura Mountains, offering two well-waymarked loop walks through Coillte forestry with sweeping views across the Golden Vale towards Limerick and the Shannon.
- Highlights
- Two waymarked National Looped Walks from one car park
- Views across the Golden Vale to Limerick City and the Shannon
- Part of the wider 6,000-hectare Ballyhoura forest block
24.Ballycotton Cliff Walk
one of only two black lighthouses
A spectacular 5-mile cliff-top trail from Ballycotton village to Ballyandreen beach, flanked by wildflower meadows on one side and the Atlantic on the other. The views of the iconic black lighthouse and the working harbour make this one of East Cork's finest coastal walks.
- Highlights
- Stunning views of Ballycotton Lighthouse — one of only two black lighthouses in Ireland
- Meadows on one side, Atlantic Ocean on the other
- Rich birdlife: peregrine falcons, choughs, oystercatchers
25.Bell's Field
a free hilltop panorama over Shandon and the northside
A grassy hilltop open space above Cork's northside with one of the city's best panoramas — Shandon Bells, the North Cathedral and rooftops stretching to the harbour below.
- Highlights
- Panoramic view over Shandon, the North Cathedral and Cork's northside
- Free, open 24 hours, dog-friendly grassy hill
- On-site café: Bell's Coffee & Crepes (10:30-17:00)
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Dog-friendly
26.Bishopstown Playground
a free, gated playground with toddler and sand zones
A modern, all-inclusive city playground at Murphy's Farm in Bishopstown Park — with separate toddler and juvenile zones, a big sand area, and a buggy-friendly fairy trail on the doorstep.
- Highlights
- Free to visit, no booking
- Gated and CCTV-monitored for safety
- Separate toddler and juvenile zones
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
27.Blackwater Castle, Castletownroche, Cork, Ireland
Continuously occupied for 800 years
A 12th-century private-hire castle on a 50-acre wooded estate overlooking the River Awbeg. One of Ireland's oldest continuously occupied homes, now available for exclusive weddings, family gatherings, and by-appointment heritage tours.
- Highlights
- One of Ireland's oldest continuously occupied homes (~800 years)
- 10,000 years of visible heritage on one site
- Private stretch of the River Awbeg for trout fly fishing
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
28.Blarney Castle & Gardens
Kiss the Blarney Stone for eloquence
A 15th-century tower house perched above 60 acres of enchanting gardens, home to the legendary Blarney Stone — kiss it and gain the gift of eloquence, but the gardens alone are worth the trip.
- Highlights
- Kiss the legendary Blarney Stone atop a 15th-century tower house
- 60 acres of world-class gardens: Poison Garden, Rock Close, Fern Garden
- Ancient druidic settlement and witch's kitchen in the Rock Close
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
29.Castledonovan
A tower house blasted apart by Cromwellian cannon
A dramatic 16th-century O'Donovan clan tower house, blasted apart by Cromwellian cannon and now a brooding, free-to-visit ruin perched on a rocky outcrop above the River Ilen in West Cork.
- Highlights
- 16th-century O'Donovan clan stronghold
- Machicolated doorway and surviving bartizans
- Massive Cromwellian blast scar on the south-west corner
30.Charles Fort
Survived a 13-day siege in 1690
A massive 17th-century star-shaped fortress perched on the edge of Kinsale Harbour — one of Ireland's largest and best-preserved military installations, with rampart views that stretch across the town and out to the Atlantic.
- Highlights
- Star-shaped pentagonal fortress designed by William Robinson (architect of Dublin's Royal Hospital Kilmainham)
- Spectacular panoramic views over Kinsale Harbour and the Atlantic from 16-metre-high ramparts
- Survived a 13-day siege in 1690 during the Williamite War before falling to John Churchill (later Duke of Marlborough)
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
31.Collins Barracks Military Museum
Michael Collins' revolvers and diary, free admission
A working army barracks in Cork whose military museum holds the largest collection of Michael Collins' personal belongings, including the diary he carried on the day he was killed.
- Highlights
- Largest collection of Michael Collins artefacts
- 1806 Georgian Old Guard Room setting
- Historic working barracks, still in military use
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
32.Curraghbinny Woods (Coillte Corra Binne)
Bronze Age cairn and harbour-view loops
A compact 35-hectare Coillte woodland on a hill jutting into Cork Harbour, laced with Victorian carriage paths and crowned by a Bronze Age cairn and a hilltop gazebo.
- Highlights
- Hilltop gazebo with panoramic Cork Harbour views
- Bronze Age 'Giant's Grave' cairn, excavated 1932
- Gazebo Loop (1.5km) and Terrace Loop (2.2km)
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Dog-friendly
33.Doneraile Court
Home of the world's first woman Freemason
A magnificent Georgian country house set in 160 hectares of Capability Brown-style parkland, where herds of deer roam free and 13 generations of St Leger history come alive on a guided tour.
- Highlights
- Home of the world's first woman Freemason, Elizabeth St Leger (1712)
- Capability Brown-inspired landscape with cascades & ornamental ponds
- 17th-century Frans Snyders painting, Battle of the Birds
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
34.Fitzgerald Park
a gold-medal Sky Garden from Chelsea Flower Show
An 18-acre riverside retreat along the Mardyke, where tree-lined avenues, flower beds, sculptures, and a free museum sit just a 15-minute stroll from Cork city centre.
- Highlights
- Free entry to both park and museum
- Riverside setting on the River Lee
- Sky Garden — Chelsea Flower Show gold-medal winner
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
35.Fota House
Ireland's only island with its own railway station
A beautifully preserved Regency mansion set on an island in Cork Harbour, where guided house tours, a world-renowned arboretum, restored Victorian working gardens, and a café make for a rich half-day escape.
- Highlights
- Ireland's finest example of Regency architecture
- One of the finest collections of Irish landscape paintings outside the National Gallery
- 11-acre arboretum with rare Southern Hemisphere trees
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
36.Fota Wildlife Park
See the Cheetah Run daily at 4pm
A 100-acre conservation charity on Fota Island where kangaroos, lemurs, and wallabies roam freely around you — just 15 minutes from Cork City and with its own train station.
- Highlights
- Free-roaming lemurs, wallabies, kangaroos, and capybaras
- Ireland's only Cheetah Run — daily ~4pm
- 35m Panoramic Wheel with views over Cork Harbour (seasonal, from €5)
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
37.Garinish Island (Oileán Garinis)
Subtropical garden warmed by Gulf Stream
A tiny island garden of rare beauty in Glengarriff harbour — Italianate gardens, a Martello tower, and subtropical planting flourish in the warmth of the Gulf Stream, reached by a seal-spotting ferry ride.
- Highlights
- Italian Garden with casita, pavilion, and lily pond
- Bryce House — restored Edwardian island home
- Martello Tower (1805) with panoramic bay views
38.Glenview Gardens
home to Ireland's only hobbit house
A family-run, three-acre themed garden near Enniskeane where a hobbit house, fairy trail, exotic birds and a dozen interlocking garden styles hide around every corner.
- Highlights
- Hobbit house with underground tunnel bedroom
- Fairy trail with dozens of fairy houses
- 11 themed garden styles in 3 acres
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
39.Marlogue Woods Forest Recreational Area
a hidden-gem forest walk to a stony harbour beach
A quiet, old-world forest on Great Island where an easy loop trail drops down through oak and beech to a stony beach with wide-open Cork Harbour views.
- Highlights
- Easy 4.3 km loop trail (about 1 hour)
- Stony beach with skimming stones
- Harbour views to East Ferry, Whitegate and Spike Island
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Dog-friendly · Wheelchair access
40.Midleton Distillery Experience
World's largest pot still (31,618 gallons)
The beating heart of Irish whiskey — where Jameson, Redbreast, and Midleton Very Rare are made. Step inside 200 years of heritage on a working 15-acre distillery campus.
- Highlights
- World's largest pot still (31,618 gallons)
- Live maturation warehouse on the tour route
- Seven iconic whiskey brands under one roof: Jameson, Redbreast, Powers, Midleton Very Rare, The Spot Whiskeys, Method and Madness, Knappogue Castle
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
41.Mizen Head Signal Station
Cross a footbridge 45m above the Atlantic
Ireland's most southwesterly point: a former signal station perched on a sea-crag, reached by an arched footbridge suspended 45m above the Atlantic swell. A Wild Atlantic Way signature discovery point with dramatic cliff scenery, maritime history, and year-round wildlife.
- Highlights
- Cross the arched footbridge 45m above the Atlantic
- Explore Ireland's first radio beacon station (1931)
- See seals on the rocks below the bridge
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
42.Red Strand Beach
Green Coast beach with a Galley Head lighthouse view
Red Strand is a small sandy beach in a sheltered horseshoe bay between Clonakilty and Rosscarbery, with clean water, consistent surf and views across to Galley Head lighthouse. A Green Coast-awarded beach, it stays quiet because there is no car park and almost nothing on site.
- Highlights
- Green Coast bathing-water award
- Sheltered horseshoe bay in Dirk Bay
- Galley Head lighthouse views
- Facilities
- Good for kids
43.Skibbereen Heritage Centre (Ionad Oidhreachta an Sciobairín)
the Great Famine told from the town that suffered most
Skibbereen was the town most synonymous with Ireland's Great Famine, and this small, deeply moving museum in the old gasworks building tells that story through personal accounts. It also covers Lough Hyne, Ireland's first marine nature reserve, and runs a respected West Cork genealogy service.
- Highlights
- One of Ireland's most important Famine heritage centres, in the town that became a byword for the Great Hunger
- 8,000-10,000 victims lie in the Famine burial pits at nearby Abbeystrowry
- Lough Hyne exhibition with 15-minute film in three languages
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
44.Spike Island
once the world's largest prison
A 15-minute ferry from Cobh delivers you to a 104-acre island that's been a monastery, a fortress, and the world's largest prison — now one of Europe's most acclaimed visitor attractions.
- Highlights
- 1,300 years of Irish history on a 104-acre island
- Fort Mitchel — a 24-acre star-shaped fortress built in 1804
- The 1850s Punishment Block: 28 solitary confinement cells
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
45.Waterfall Alpaca Farm (by appointment only.)
Lead alpacas to a waterfall swimming hole
Ireland's first alpaca-walking farm — a peaceful, family-run haven in the hills of West Cork where you can lead gentle alpacas along a wooded riverside trail past a spectacular waterfall.
- Highlights
- Ireland's first alpaca walks
- 12 alpacas plus donkeys, ponies, rabbits and hens
- Spectacular waterfall with natural swimming hole
46.Zipit Forest Adventures
Over 800m of ziplines through lakeside forest
Ireland's only Munster treetop adventure park: five colour-coded high-ropes circuits and ziplines through mature lakeside forest just 20 minutes from Cork City.
- Highlights
- Five colour-coded circuits, 1–20 metres high
- Over 800 metres of ziplines
- 3-hour session (incl. safety briefing)
- Facilities
- Good for kids
47.Adventure Park at Kartworld
850m floodlit karting track and night racing
A 25-acre outdoor adventure hub just off the M8 in Watergrasshill, packing karting, paintball, archery, laser tag, and sumo-suit wrestling into one adrenaline-filled day out — 25 minutes from Cork city.
- Highlights
- Two floodlit karting tracks (850m International & 480m National)
- Three themed paintball arenas with a 6m drawbridge
- Laser tag with no bruises, no mess, unlimited ammo
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
48.Ballard Waterfall Forest Recreational Area
Otters, salmon, lamprey at woodland waterfall
A hidden woodland waterfall tucked into a Coillte forest near Mitchelstown, reached via a rewarding 5.3 km loop that mixes quiet country roads, forest tracks, and riverside paths.
- Highlights
- Secluded waterfall with timber viewing deck
- 5.3 km moderate loop, ~1 hr 30 min
- Rich wildlife: otters, salmon, lamprey in the river
49.Cobh Heritage Centre
the Titanic's last port of call
Housed in a beautifully restored Victorian railway station on the waterfront, the Cobh Heritage Centre tells the powerful story of Irish emigration — from coffin ships to the Titanic and Lusitania — through the port where over 3 million people departed.
- Highlights
- Titanic's last port of call — see the original message in a bottle
- Lusitania exhibition with rescue stories from Cobh
- Annie Moore statue: first immigrant processed at Ellis Island
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
50.Cork City Gaol
Countess Markievicz called it the most comfortable jail
A castle-like former prison overlooking Cork City, where lifelike wax figures, furnished cells, and haunting soundscapes bring 19th-century prison life vividly to life.
- Highlights
- Lifelike wax figures and furnished cells with original graffiti
- Countess Markievicz called it the most comfortable jail she had ever been in
- Restored 6CK Radio Broadcasting Studio and Radio Museum
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
51.Corrin Wood Forest Recreational Area
3,000-year-old Bronze Age burial mound
A wooded hill rising above the M8 motorway near Fermoy, where a brisk forest walk leads past 3,000-year-old Bronze Age remains to a stone cross with sweeping 360° views across the Golden Vale.
- Highlights
- Carn Thiernagh — Bronze Age burial mound (3,000+ years old)
- Large stone summit cross (1933), illuminated at Christmas & Easter
- 14 Stations of the Cross along the forest road
52.Farran Forest Park(Páirc Foraoise an Fhearainn)
red and fallow deer, lake walks and treetop ziplines
Farran Forest Park is a 45-hectare woodland on the southern shore of Inniscarra Lake, 20 minutes west of Cork city, with waymarked walks, a deer enclosure and a treetop adventure course in the canopy.
- Highlights
- Red and fallow deer enclosure with a duck pond
- Zipit high-rope circuits up to 15 m high
- Enclosure Trail and Woodland Loop walks
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Dog-friendly · Wheelchair access
53.Green Park, Youghal
Victorian bandstand and 1798 memorial by the sea
Green Park, also known as the '98 Memorial Park, is Youghal's leafy Victorian seafront park, laid out around 1900 with an octagonal cast-iron bandstand, a cast-iron fountain and a memorial to the 1798 Rebellion — a free, open-all-day green space right beside the beach and promenade.
- Highlights
- Octagonal cast-iron bandstand, c.1900
- Cast-iron public fountain, c.1900
- Peter O'Neill Monument commemorating the 1798 Rebellion
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Dog-friendly · Wheelchair access
54.Kanturk Castle
An unfinished 1601 fortress, free to visit
A roofless, never-finished fortified house built for a Gaelic lord on the edge of Kanturk town, standing open to the sky for over 400 years and free to explore.
- Highlights
- Never completed and never roofed — construction stopped on orders of the English Privy Council
- Finely carved Renaissance limestone doorway
- Until 2000 the only National Trust property outside the UK
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
55.Piccolo Play Village
14 themed role-play zones for kids up to 6
A calm, beautifully crafted miniature town on the 3rd floor of CastleWest Shopping Centre where children up to 6 can explore 14 themed role-play areas — from fire station to pizzeria — while parents unwind over Three Fools coffee in the cosy on-site café.
- Highlights
- 14 themed miniature role-play zones
- Designed for calm, child-led play (not a noisy soft-play centre)
- Parents' café with specialty coffee and local treats
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
56.Rineen Woods
an inlet only 50 metres wide at the Narrows
A tucked-away coastal woodland on the shores of Castlehaven inlet, where a short forest trail meets fairy houses, a famine-era wall, and views across water just 50 metres wide at "The Narrows".
- Highlights
- Fairy village with tiny houses and tooth-fairy letterbox
- Views of The Narrows — inlet just 50 m wide
- Coastal lime kiln on the shore
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Dog-friendly
57.The Ewe Experience
Voted Ireland's #1 Garden by The Irish Times
Ireland's only interactive sculpture garden — a playful, thought-provoking 1 km trail of art, poetry, games, and nature threaded along a waterfall in the hills above Glengarriff.
- Highlights
- Voted Ireland's #1 Garden by The Irish Times
- Ireland's Top Ten Experience — Lufthansa
- McKenna Guide: Ireland's 100 Best Places
58.Toy Soldier Factory - Prince August
paint your own soldier in a live metal-casting factory
Ireland's only toy soldier factory, a working metal-casting workshop in the countryside near Macroom where you watch your own miniature being made, then paint it and take it home.
- Highlights
- Ireland's only toy soldier factory
- Watch your own figure cast in metal, then paint it
- World's largest pewter chess set range
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
59.West Cork Model Railway Village
8 working trains on 500m of track
Ireland's only model village — a 1:24 scale recreation of 1940s West Cork towns with working miniature trains, set beside Clonakilty Bay.
- Highlights
- Ireland's only model village
- 1:24 scale handmade replicas of four West Cork towns
- Eight working G-scale model trains on 500m of track
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
60.Youghal Clock Gate Tower
costumed storytellers in a 1777 gaol
A 1777 clock-tower-turned-gaol straddling Youghal's main street, where costumed storytellers bring 700 years of history to life across four floors — capped by panoramic rooftop views over Youghal Bay.
- Highlights
- Costumed storytellers bring 700 years of history to life
- See — and hear — the original clock mechanism in action
- Poignant McGrath family video, the last residents of the tower
61.Alpine Skate Trail Cork
Ireland's original ice trail — twists and turns under twinkling lights
Ireland's original ice skating trail winds through an Alpine winter wonderland of pine trees, festive lights, and real ice — back in Cork City at a new home on Centre Park Road.
- Highlights
- Real-ice trail through an Alpine winter wonderland
- Separate practice rink for beginners and kids
- Free parking for pre-booked customers
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
62.Annes Grove House & Gardens
Rare Himalayan rhododendrons from 1930s expeditions
A Robinsonian-style historic estate where rare plant-hunter rhododendrons meet an 18th-century walled garden along the wooded banks of the River Awbeg — quietly reopened by the OPW in 2022 after a meticulous restoration.
- Highlights
- 30 acres of Robinsonian gardens on a 190-acre estate
- Rare rhododendrons from Frank Kingdon-Ward's Himalayan expeditions
- 18th-century walled garden with viewing mount and ribbon beds
63.Bailick Park
20-foot steel feathers honouring the Choctaw Nation
A small riverside park in Midleton whose centrepiece, Kindred Spirits, is a powerful sculpture of nine stainless-steel eagle feathers honouring the Choctaw Nation's 1847 famine gift to Ireland.
- Highlights
- Nine 6.1 m stainless-steel eagle feathers forming an empty bowl
- Tribute to the Choctaw Nation's $170 famine donation of 1847
- Unveiled in June 2017 by Choctaw Chief Gary Batton
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Dog-friendly · Wheelchair access
64.Ballybeg Priory
Home to a dovecote with 352 nesting boxes
A 13th-century Augustinian priory in ruins south of Buttevant, home to one of Ireland's finest medieval dovecotes — free, unguided, and quietly atmospheric.
- Highlights
- One of Ireland's best-preserved medieval dovecotes — 352 nesting boxes
- 13th-century Gothic window with carved human faces
- Founded 1229, dissolved 1541 — nearly 300 years of monastic life
65.Carrigaline Playground
A €300k new playground with zipline, skate park and duck pond
A free, council-run community playground in the heart of Carrigaline, completely rebuilt in 2026 with a zipline, jungle gym, skate park and duck pond all in one park.
- Highlights
- €300,000 new playground opened July 2026
- Zipline, jungle gym, climbing frames, slides
- Skate park and basketball court
66.Little Rascals Funworld
Electric ride-on racing cars for kids
A large indoor adventure play centre in Mallow that keeps up to 250 children busy with slides, an assault course, a sensory room, and a dedicated under-5s area — while parents relax at the coffee dock.
- Highlights
- Capacity for up to 250 children
- 90-minute structured play sessions
- Dedicated under-5s and baby area
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
67.Mallow Castle
Rare white fallow deer herd since 1600
A riverside 16th-century fortified house ruin set in 84 acres of interconnected parkland, complete with a rare herd of white fallow deer — right in the heart of Mallow town.
- Highlights
- 84-acre interconnected parkland along the River Blackwater
- Rare white fallow deer herd, resident since 1600
- 16th-century Jacobean fortified house (National Monument)
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
68.The Haystack Restaurant is Open daily. The Farm Park is closed for the Winter
A 1950s village with 100 vintage farm machines
A 40-acre working farm in North Cork blending hands-on animal encounters, a nostalgic 1950s village, and a fairy garden — with the Haystack Restaurant serving farm-fresh food daily.
- Highlights
- 40-acre working farm with traditional Irish breeds
- Hands-on milking, petting, and feeding sessions
- 1950s village with over 100 vintage farm machines
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
69.Timoleague Friary
Once housed the Book of Lismore
A striking medieval Franciscan ruin perched on a knoll above the Argideen River estuary in the colourful village of Timoleague — one of West Cork's most dramatic and photogenic monastic sites.
- Highlights
- 13th/14th-century Franciscan friary with extensive remains
- Dramatic waterside setting on the Argideen estuary
- 15th-century bell tower added by Bishop John de Courcy
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
70.Blackrock Castle Observatory
16th-century castle turned working observatory
A 16th-century castle on the banks of the River Lee that doubles as a working space observatory — part medieval fortress, part cutting-edge science centre, all in one visit.
- Highlights
- 16th-century castle turned working observatory
- Planetarium Star Show with resident astronomer
- Panoramic harbour views from the tower top
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
71.Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium
Glass-fronted dining overlooking live greyhound racing
Cork's premier greyhound racing venue, where the thrill of the track meets top-class dining in a glass-fronted grandstand — a uniquely Irish night out for all ages.
- Highlights
- Racing every Friday & Saturday night
- Adult admission just €10, kids go free
- Glass-fronted restaurant with track views
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
72.Dunboy Castle
Site of the 1602 O'Sullivan Bere siege
Haunting 15th-century O'Sullivan Bere stronghold on a windswept promontory above Berehaven Harbour, with castle ruins, siege history, and woodland-coastal loop walks — all free and unstaffed.
- Highlights
- 15th-century O'Sullivan Bere tower house ruins
- Gripping 1602 siege story on interpretive panels
- Star-shaped Cromwellian fort earthworks
73.Mallow Town Park
Home to a rare white fallow deer herd
A sprawling 23-hectare riverside park seamlessly connected to Mallow Castle's historic grounds — together forming an 84-acre green corridor along the River Blackwater, home to a rare herd of white fallow deer.
- Highlights
- 84-acre continuous parkland with Mallow Castle
- Rare white fallow deer herd — unique in Ireland
- Over 5 km of accessible riverside paths
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
74.Airtastic Entertainment Centre Cork – Bowling, Mini Golf, Arcade, NY Kitchen
bowling, inflata ninja park & space-themed mini golf under one roof
Cork's largest indoor entertainment centre packs a 12-lane bowling alley, a massive inflata & ninja park, a space-themed 18-hole mini golf course, and a play-to-win amusement arcade into one 40,000 sq ft venue — with an American-style diner to fuel the fun.
- Highlights
- Cork's largest indoor leisure destination at 40,000 sq ft
- Only indoor mini golf course in Cork — space-themed 18 holes
- 12-lane bowling alley with lane-side food & drink service
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
75.Aura Youghal Leisure Centre
A 65m water slide for kids and adults
A family-friendly leisure centre on the Cork coast with a 25m pool, 65m water slide, fully equipped gym, and health suite — open to all with pay-as-you-go or membership options.
- Highlights
- 65m water slide — a big hit with kids
- Recently refurbished gym with TechnoGym kit
- Three pools for all ages and abilities
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
76.Bamboo Park
a garden of 30 bamboo species with harbour views
A family-run exotic garden on the Glengarriff coast, where 30 species of bamboo grow alongside palms and tree ferns, with paths leading down to a private beach and views over the harbour.
- Highlights
- 30 species of bamboo plus palms, tree ferns and tropical plants
- Views over Glengarriff Harbour and Garnish Island from the shoreline
- Private beach access with possible seal sightings
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Dog-friendly · Wheelchair access
77.Fermoy Leisure Centre
25m five-lane pool always 28°C
A well-run public swimming pool in Fermoy Town Park with a 25m five-lane pool, kiddies splash pool, and sauna/steam room — popular with families, schools, and swimming clubs across North Cork.
- Highlights
- 25m five-lane pool at a steady 28°C
- Kiddies splash pool for young children
- Sauna & steam room included with swim admission
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
78.Monkey Maze
a 4-level indoor play maze for kids up to 10
Europe's largest indoor children's activity centre: a giant 4-level play maze in Glanmire with slides, ball pools, rope bridges, football courts and a dedicated toddler zone, all under one bright yellow roof.
- Highlights
- 4-level indoor adventure play maze
- Ball cannon arena
- Indoor football & basketball courts
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
79.Tír na Sí Farm
secret fairy woodland and pony rides
A family-run 20-acre working farm in Watergrasshill where visitors meet animals, explore nature trails, find fairies in a secret woodland, and refuel with homemade food from the on-site farmhouse restaurant.
- Highlights
- 20-acre working family farm
- Indoor soft play with electric tractors
- Secret fairy woodland
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
80.LeisureWorld Bishopstown
Three pools without membership
One of Cork's largest public leisure centres — with three swimming pools, a split-level gym, four floodlit astro pitches, and a café — all available pay-as-you-go, right beside MTU in Bishopstown.
- Highlights
- Three pools under one roof — 25m, 18m & toddler pool
- Split-level gym refurbished in 2017 with 40+ cardio machines
- 4 floodlit astro turf pitches with free parking
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
81.Little Rebels
Over 100m³ of 3D soft play space
Cork's favourite indoor soft-play centre for babies, toddlers and kids up to 11 — a clean, weather-proof adventure zone with a café for parents and an adjoining climbing centre.
- Highlights
- Over 100m³ of 3D soft play space
- Dedicated baby area with sensory toys
- Toddler climbing frame
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
82.Perks Family Entertainment & Indoor Funfair
70,000 sq ft of rides, bowling, laser tag
A massive 70,000 sq ft indoor funfair in the seaside town of Youghal — free entry, pay-as-you-go, and packed with rides, bowling, laser tag, soft play, crazy golf, and arcade games for ages 1 to 101.
- Highlights
- 70,000 sq ft of indoor entertainment — weather-proof fun year-round
- Free entry and free parking
- Voted Ireland's best family-friendly party venue
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
83.Planet Entertainment Centre Cork
14 lanes of bowling, laser tag & a 10,000 sq ft soft-play zone
Cork's biggest family entertainment centre since 2005, packing ten-pin bowling, laser tag, a massive soft-play world, 9D cinema, American pool, and an on-site diner under one roof in Blackpool.
- Highlights
- 14 lanes of computerised ten-pin bowling with bumpers and ramps for kids
- Cosmo's Funworld: 10,000 sq ft soft-play with slides, rope bridges, ball pools & bouncing castles
- Laser tag arena for ages 6+ with advanced equipment
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
84.The Butter Museum
once the world's largest butter market
A one-of-a-kind museum in Cork's historic Shandon quarter celebrating Ireland's butter trade — from medieval dairy culture to the global Kerrygold brand — with live churning demonstrations and an extraordinary collection of vintage wrappers.
- Highlights
- Live butter-making demos with tasting
- Once the world's largest butter exchange
- 150+ vintage Irish butter wrappers
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
85.Rumley's Open Farm
a working farm with meerkats, lemurs & a robotic milking machine
A genuine working farm just outside Cork City where kids feed lambs, ride a tractor trailer, and watch a robot milk the cows — with panoramic views over the city and countryside.
- Highlights
- Robot milking machine
- Covered petting area — feed & hold the animals
- 2km of walkways with panoramic Cork views