Before you go

Your trip to Kinsale.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Kinsale – Cork Destination Cork and Kinsale about 25 km from Cork

How to get there

Aeroporto de Cork (Cork Airport) (ORK) Cork · 20 km
Parada de ônibus de Kinsale (Pier Road) 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Check before you book. Cork Airport is about 20 km away, a 25-minute drive. Regular buses link Kinsale with Cork city centre, via the airport, in about 40 minutes. There is no train service.

How many days

A full day covers the town centre, the harbour and Charles Fort. An overnight stay lets you dine in town, which is known for its restaurants, and walk the coast the next day.

When to go

From May to September boat trips around the bay operate and the streets are lively. July and August are busy. In October the town usually holds a food festival. In winter the town is quiet and some restaurants reduce their opening hours.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

Not needed for the town or Charles Fort, which can be reached on foot. A car is useful for the surrounding coast, such as the Old Head of Kinsale. There are buses from Cork. In Ireland you drive on the left.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Kinsale

Morning
Kinsale town centre
Walk the streets of the centre along Market Street and Main Street to Desmond Castle and the church of St Multose.
Afternoon
Charles Fort
Walk along the Scilly Walk by the bay to Charles Fort, about 3 km, and explore the ramparts.
Late afternoon
Summercove
On the way back, stop in the village of Summercove below the fort, with views over the harbour.
Evening
Seafood
Have fish and seafood at one of the town-centre restaurants near the harbour.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Is Kinsale worth a full day?

Yes. The centre, the harbour and the walk to Charles Fort fill a day, and the town is known for its restaurants, so it’s worth staying for dinner.

What was the Battle of Kinsale?

The 1601 battle in which English forces defeated the Irish chiefs and their Spanish allies, who had landed at Kinsale. The defeat marked the end of the old Gaelic order in Ireland.

How to get from Cork to Kinsale?

By bus, which leaves Cork city centre and goes via the airport in about 40 minutes, or by car along the 25 km R600.

What is the Old Head of Kinsale?

A headland about 18 km from the town with a lighthouse. It was off this headland that the ship Lusitania was sunk in 1915. The tip of the headland is occupied by a private golf course.

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