Blarney Castle & Gardens
Blarney Castle & Gardens
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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
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  • DaisyLoula
    Sunderland, United Kingdom10 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely trip and interesting castle
    Lovely gardens and walking trails around the castle. We waited around 30-40 minutes to get in to the castle and then it took around about 30-45 minutes to climb the castle stairs. It gets quite tight towards the top so if you’re claustrophobic be prepared.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 20 March 2023
  • Ashley K
    Charlotte, North Carolina29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A good thing to do IF you don't have to wait too long...
    The garden is beautiful and the castle is impressive. We arrived about 30 minutes before closing and the weather was rainy. Perhaps because of these things, there was no line or crowd at the castle. We passed sign after sign indicating the wait time from that point to kiss the stone. Honestly, I can't imagine waiting a long time to do this activity, but it is a classic. To kiss the stone, you have to lay down on your back, reach up over your head with both hands and slide yourself down to kiss the stone. The castle has lots of signage and information posted about the different rooms, which we enjoyed reading. We also walked around the garden a little bit afterwards and found a cave/tunnel system under the castle that was neat. I would definitely recommend stopping here, but maybe not waiting more than 30 minutes to kiss the stone unless you just really want that off your bucket list!
    Visited March 2023
    Written 25 March 2023
  • Nick
    Nottingham, United Kingdom236 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Got the gift of the gab now...
    We came early April. Got there just before opening and managed to be first in and legged it to the Stone to do the kiss as we didnt want to wait in queues and it paid off massively... this had been the whole reason we'd travelled the whole country and Wild Atlantic Way. After kissing the stone, we could then look around the rest of the castle and gardens. Quite nice on a nice day. I can imagine this place being a nightmare in the high season with crowds, it would make the castle impossible to properly see, however in the low season, it's a great time to come.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 6 April 2023
  • PandFB
    Wirral, United Kingdom385 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Must whether you’re Irish or Not!
    We came here by bus from Cork City. Blarney village itself is worth a visit, especially as the Blarney Woollen Mill is on the main road and well worth a visit. We walked from there to the castle which takes about five minutes. We realised that although we had had misgivings about going to the castle and grounds on a day when rain was forecast, it was a good decision as it was clearly evident from the numbers there, that in good weather you could have a long wait to go into the castle and up the tower. I’m aware that some people are nervous of the climb up the tower to the place of the stone but you can stop on the way at different floors and to be honest at seventy two I managed okay. At the top you have the chance to kiss the famous stone and your picture is taken as you do so and this can be retrieved, for a fee, back at ground level. Surrounding the castle are extensive grounds which are a delight in themselves. You can navigate around them using the guide you get on entrance. We stopped at the cafe in the former stable block and had a hot drink and some food which was reasonably priced. All in all a very enjoyable experience and hey, I can say I’ve kissed the Blarney Stone, priceless!!
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 10 April 2023
  • Paul O
    County Monaghan, Ireland4,838 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Much more than a kiss
    Was a bit sceptical before visiting but ended up really enjoying it. Parking is €2 and it’s €20 for adult to enter. The gardens are beautiful and castle is impressive. The queue was 30 mins for us to get to the top of castle and kiss the stone. Overall we spend a very enjoyable couple of hours here.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 April 2023
  • Gmanbumpy
    Chicago, Illinois668 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful to walk around. Even in the rain
    The grounds around the castle are beautiful. It was sprinkling rain for most of the time we were there, but with the proper rainwear it was fine. There is a small café that needs more seating. It is a great place to warm up with a warm drink. the castle itself is amazing. My daughter kissed the stone, not me. Beware of narrow stairs and walking uneven surfaces.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 11 April 2023
  • Melmetal
    Chieri, Italy19 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun, tiring but super memorable
    Hiking up the castle was tiring but possible even for my grandma who came with us. When me and my family got to the top we were so happy and the views of the surrounding area were incredible. We all kissed the Blarny stone and immediately after it started hailing…not sure if that is a good sign! Our experience at the castle was great and a trip we will never forget!
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 11 April 2023
  • delagioventu
    Luxembourg City, Luxembourg1,407 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice
    Fantastic gardens and of course, Blarney castle and the stone, to get the gift of the gab is a must when in Ireland! Quite pricey though for a family with teens (until 16 they count as family members, otherwise student price, so 65 euro for our family (one 16, the other 17). Without parking. And a photo (12 euro). But all right, it is a very nice place, Beware, the stairs are quite steep, and it gets really windy up the tower.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 12 April 2023
  • Kelly A
    9 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful views - narrow staircase
    Extremely beautiful, breathtaking gardens and view from the top of the castle. my only complaint is there is no warning about how narrow the stairwells are to climb up and once you start you cannot turn around. So if it’s your first time doing this sort of thing be aware.
    Visited April 2023
    Written 5 May 2023
  • pfefmeister
    San Francisco, California3,043 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mandatory Tourist Stop
    This is a well organized and highly marketed castle just outside of Cork. If you’re in the area, it is a must see. Parking is 2 Euros - why? - two seniors ran 32 Euros. Here’s the deal - get here early to avoid the onslaught of tourist buses. The grounds are beautiful, the castle itself is faithfully presented, and it’s worth a couple hours of time.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 14 May 2023
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4.5
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Shipahoyahoy
Portsmouth, UK566 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Solo
Very easy to get to by bus from Grand Parade, Cork. About 30 minutes on the bus and only 2 Euros each way. Going on a fairly dull March day meant few other visitors around. Staff very friendly and helpful. Castle interesting but be aware of the steep spiral staircase to the top of the keep and the same going down. Fortunately a one way system. I didn't kiss the stone for hygiene reasons rather than the height. Lovely grounds. Staff in the café by the castle friendly. It was just warm enough to sit outside in the court yard. An enjoyable 3 hours. I would imagine the grounds are spectacular in the summer but also crowded.
Written 12 March 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.

Michelle
Jensen Beach, FL61 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
We took the train to Corkand walked around a lot of the attractions are closed on Mondays. It the amazing man at the tourist office on St Patrick’s Street told us to talk the 215 bus to the. Blarney Castle we spent the whole day there.walked over 8 miles. The gardens are just stunning and in full bloom. The castle its self was beautiful although mostly in ruins you can see why it was hard to take the castle. I was the only one brave enough to kiss the Blarney Stone it was scary but had to do it. Good time of the year to go because most of the time in the gardens we barely saw a sole and no line for the Blarney Stone. Worth the €20 euros. If you want to do the caves there you need water proof boots it’s quite wet and you need to watch your head. Climbing up the stairs is a challenge steep and tiny steps in places especially near the top but so worth the views. Watch out for the stunning sculptures around the grounds they pop up in places you don’t expect. Make sure you make your way to the Vietnamese garden I think this was my favorite space it was liking going to another place, just beautiful. Highly recommend and I would definitely go back in the winter l.
Written 27 February 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.

Brian C
Oakland, TN340 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
I originally did not want to visit because I was afraid of how touristy it might be. I was pleasantly surprised at what a great visit we had though. One of the few castles where you actually get to go inside and see firsthand how tight a spiral staircase is, and how hard it would have been to run up one in armor during a battle. Staff was excellent and the whole area is very well maintained. Parking was a breeze as well. Highly recommended a stop.
Written 23 February 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.

Giorgio B
Lund, Sweden845 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
I visited Blarney Castle 38 (!!!) years ago and that visit left me with lasting pleasant memories. Needless to say that, returning to Cork half a life later with my son, that was one of the first place I made a point of visiting with him. It sometimes happens that memories tend to add a gilded veneer with which reality struggles to keep up, but in this case, the castle and the surrounding gardens made - if anything - an even better impression on me than the previous time. An additional cherry is the legend of the Blarney Stone (more on this in the specific post).
Everything is spotless, and the various information boards - which I did not remember from so many year ago - provide excellent, if synthesised, knowledge of what life must have been like when the castle was in use.
The gardens are a joy to stroll around, and since we visited in January, I cannot imagine how luxurious they must look around May. A special curiosity is the "Poison garden", a delimited area with a broad collection of plants which can be toxic in a variety of ways. Extremely interesting and informative.
Written 11 February 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.

Yvonne T
Kilcoole, Ireland4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
We had a beautiful morning walking around the gardens & climbing the steps to kiss the Blarney Stone

The Gardens are stunning, we had rain on our visit but it didn't matter at all, the place is so beautiful

All the staff were so friendly. Carpark was only €2

Gift shop has beautiful things in it
Written 10 February 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.

Reece W
Pocatello, ID19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
Out of all the Castles we toured while in Ireland, and there were a number of them, this was by far the BEST experience! Maybe it was going in December that made it feel like we had been transported back in time ( We were the only 2 people there ALL day!)

Spend time in the woods, walk backwards up the Witches Staircase and KISS the Blarney Store. A true experience!
Written 29 January 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.

Warrens_of_Conder
Canberra, Australia500 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
The climb to the top of the castle in order to kiss the blarney stone is narrow, steep and claustrophobic, and not for the feint hearted, especially as you emerge at the top with narrow railings, a big drop and uneven path, BUT you have to do this quintessential bucket list visit.
Written 22 January 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.

PFC75
Darwin, Australia24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
My second visit after 13 years. As beautiful and amazing ruins as I remembered
Nice friendly staff and great views
Worth the visit lots of history
Written 10 January 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.

Georgia
22 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Friends
Me and my friend went while visiting Cork, it was a simple bus journey from the centre of Cork so an easy day trip. We spent the majority of the day here just wondering around the gardens and grounds. There was a massive queue for the kissing stone so we didn’t bother with it. Some parts of the grounds felt like it had jumped out of a fairytale with just how magical it felt.
Written 30 December 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.

amandime colette
Cannes, France32 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
Beautiful gardens,we had a great time learning about the castle.we really enjoyes our walk.The walk to the top wa amazing
Written 25 December 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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BLARNEY CASTLE & GARDENS: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Blarney Castle & Gardens