Things to Do in Cobh

The port town of Cobh, formerly known as Queenstown, was the departure point for millions of Irish emigrants who left the country between 1848 and 1960. Housed in the town’s Victorian train station, the center chronicles the often-heartbreaking journeys of Irish emigrants during the Great Famine and beyond.

The Cobh Heritage Centre houses the Queenstown Story, an exhibition covering the maritime and naval history of the area. The exhibition also tells the story of the many millions of emigrants who left Ireland, some in search of new lives in America, and others—typically convicts—banished to far-away British colonies, such as Australia. Visitors in Cobh can prepurchase skip-the-line tickets and explore the exhibition with the aid of an audio guide. 

The Cobh Heritage Centre is often visited as part of organized day trips from Dublin, during which participants travel by train and explore both Cork and Cobh. Some shore excursions from Cobh include a visit to the Cobh Heritage Centre too.

Cobh Heritage Centre is situated adjacent to Cobh railway station in Cobh, County Cork. Visitors coming from Cork City can ride the train from Kent Station to Cobh. Most large cruise ships dock at the port in Cobh. Cruise passengers disembark directly onto the wharf, which is just a few steps from the center. 

Cobh Heritage Centre sees its highest number of visitors in the summer season. The center is particularly busy when cruise ships are in port, the majority of which arrive between April and October. To save yourself waiting around, prebook a skip-the-line ticket. 

Cobh is also known for its connections to two ill-fated ocean liners: the RMS Titanic and the RMS Lusitania. Cobh was the final port of call for the Titanic before it set sail across the Atlantic. The town was also involved in rescue efforts relating to the Lusitania, a British cruise liner that sank off the southern coast of Ireland in 1915 after being torpedoed by a German submarine. Both of these events are explored at the Cobh Heritage Centre.

Housed inside the old White Star Line Ticket Office, the Titanic Experience Cobh tells the tales of the 123 Titanic passengers who embarked on their voyage from here in Cobh—the final passengers to step aboard the luxurious liner. Exhibits recount life on board the ship and the events of the disastrous sinking using audio-visual effects.

Visitors can prepurchase tickets for the Titanic Cobh Experience. Once inside, you’ll receive a boarding card bearing the details of one of the passengers who passed through this very office back in 1912. Enjoy a 30-minute guided tour that covers the final steps of those who boarded tenders from this departure point. After, explore the exhibition area independently and finish up in the story room, where you will learn the fate of all the passengers, including the one on your boarding card. 

The Titanic Experience Cobh is situated on Casement Square along the Cobh Waterfront, just a few minutes’ walk from the cruise port. From Cork city, take the train from Cork Kent station to Cobh station, which is just a 5-minute walk away. Alternatively, ride the Cobh Connect bus, which runs from St. Patrick’s Quay in Cork city to Park Lane, again just a 5-minute walk away. 

The Titanic Experience Cobh is busiest during the summer, when more vacationers and cruise ships arrive in town. To avoid waiting in line, book a ticket in advance. Alternatively, come first thing in the morning before the crowds arrive. 

As well as being the last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic, Cobh town—formerly Queenstown—is also known for its connections to RMS Lusitania, an ocean liner torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1915, and for being the final point of departure for millions of Irish emigrants, leaving Ireland in search of new lives. Find out more about these, and Cobh’s maritime history, at the Queenstown Story exhibit in the Cobh Heritage Centre, and at Cobh Museum.