Blarney Castle & Gardens

Name: Blarney Castle & Gardens
Address: Monacnapa, Blarney, Blarney, IE
Telephone: 00353214385252

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Castles & palaces ·Blarney ·Closed

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#2Castles & palaces in Ireland Most reviewed in BlarneyTravelers' Choice 2026

Visit: about 3 h

Adult Admission EUR 24 · Student/Seniors (65 years and over) EUR 19 · Family (2 adults + 2 children) EUR 65

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About

Blarney Castle Gardens in Blarney village, 8 km northwest of Cork: a medieval castle, 100 acres of gardens, a poison garden and the Blarney Stone.

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Why go

The Blarney Stone, kissed head-down over the parapet by tens of thousands of visitors a year, high on a castle standing on an 8-metre cliff.

Plan your visit

Prices

Adult AdmissionEUR 24

Student/Seniors (65 years and over)EUR 19

Family (2 adults + 2 children)EUR 65

From the venue's website · checked 27 Oct 2026

Opening hours

Today09:00 – 16:30Show all

Monday09:00 – 16:30

Tuesday09:00 – 16:30

Wednesday09:00 – 16:30

Thursday09:00 – 16:30

Friday09:00 – 16:30

Saturday09:00 – 16:30

Sunday09:00 – 16:30

Don't miss

The Wishing StepsA natural rock formation on the garden paths, with a whimsical name.In the gardens, along the signed paths On the map
Druid's CircleOne of several natural rock formations in the gardens with fanciful names.In the gardens, along the signed paths On the map
Blarney HouseA baronial manor overlooking the lake, open to visitors within the estate park.Within the estate park, overlooking the lake On the map

Your visit in 1–3 hours

3 h

Enter by the main entrance and follow the signed paths into the gardens.
Walk past the Druid's Circle and the Witch's Cave.
Continue to the Wishing Steps and the poison garden.
Walk the lake walk and pass Blarney House.
Return to the castle to see the Blarney Stone at the top of the tower.

Know before you go Legends and hidden details What's inside Tips for your visit Best time to visit With kids

Know before you go

Open every day, 09:00 to 17:00.
Tickets can be bought online in advance or at the ticket office on arrival; there are no timed slots.
Tickets are not refundable, but the date of a visit can be changed.
A student ticket requires a valid student or college ID.
Dogs are not allowed, except guide and assistance dogs.
Bicycles, scooters, roller blades and ball games are not allowed in the park.
Drones are not allowed, as the site is a private estate.
The car park closes at closing time, and overnight parking is not allowed.

Legends and hidden details

Legend has it that kissing the Blarney Stone gives the gift of eloquence, so the kisser is never lost for words.
Legend has it that the stone is half of the Stone of Scone, on which Scottish kings were later crowned.
One version holds that the stone is the Lia Fáil, a stone on which kings were crowned.
Legend has it that Robert the Bruce gave the stone to Cormac MacCarthy in 1314 for his service at Bannockburn.

What's inside

The keep, the surviving part of the stone building that was restored as a family seat.
A shop selling gifts, garments, paintings, souvenirs and mementos.
A cafe, marked 12 on the map, with a coffee hut just inside the entrance.

Tips for your visit

Visa and Mastercard credit cards are accepted.
Address: Monacnapa, Blarney. Phone: 00353214385252.

Best time to visit

Open all year round.

With kids

Children aged 6 to 16 need a child ticket; children aged five and under enter free.
Children may kiss the Blarney Stone, with under-8s left to staff discretion.
The grounds have a mystical rock close, dungeons, caves and a lake walk to explore.
The castle supports Autism Friendly Blarney, a community initiative for a welcoming village.

Interesting facts3

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100 acres
The gardens around the castle cover 100 acres.
Plan Your Visit | Budget-Friendly Travel | Blarney Castle, Ireland
Only some rooms and the ramparts of the partly ruined castle can be visited.
Château de Blarney - Wikipedia
The castle is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ireland, well known among English speakers.
Blarney Castle - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

The castle has been a family seat, a siege target and an estate under new owners. Today it stands partly in ruin.

Before 1200A wooden house is thought to have stood here; no trace of it survives.
Around 1210A stone fortification replaced the wooden house.
c. 1400sCormac MacCarthy, one of Ireland's greatest chieftains, built the castle.
1446The fortification was destroyed, then rebuilt by Dermot McCarthy, a king of Munster, as a family seat.
1646Troops took the castle with cannon; its residents had fled through three long tunnels.

Show all

1690sThe estate was confiscated after its owner was captured in the Williamite war.
1703Sir James Jefferyes, governor of Cork, acquired the estate.
TodayThe Colthurst family, linked to the Jefferyes by marriage, still owns the estate.

Photo spots

The castle across the gardensThe castle is seen across the gardens that surround it.In the gardens around the castle, along the signed paths On the map
The parapet of the keepThe upper parapet of the keep is where visitors lean head-down to kiss the stone.Top of the keep, on the upper parapet On the map

Tours and audio guides

Guide map (also downloadable): English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Chinese
Virtual tour: On the castle's website, to help plan a visit

How to get there

180 minCarFrom Dublin, take the N8 motorway south towards Cork, then continue on to Blarney. The drive takes 3 to 4 hours.
300 minBusAircoach runs from Dublin airport to Cork eight times a day, taking 5 to 7 hours. Blarney is about 8 km northwest of Cork.

Accessibility

Wheelchair access to the castle The castle itself is not wheelchair accessible.
Wheelchair access to the grounds and gardens Part of the grounds and gardens is wheelchair accessible.
Free entry for visitors with a disability Visitors should alert staff when they arrive.

Sources: Blarney Castle - Wikipedia · Blarney - Wikivoyage (see) · Family Friendly Holiday | World-Famous | Blarne… · Family Friendly Holiday | World-Famous | Blarne… · Plan Your Visit | Budget-Friendly Travel | Blar… · Blarney Castle - Wikipedia · Château de Blarney - Wikipedia · Map and Virtual Tour - Blarney Castle · checked 18 Oct 2026

Where

Monacnapa, Blarney

Website: blarneycastle.ie/
Phone: 00353214385252

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

How much are tickets to Blarney Castle Gardens?

Adult admission costs 24 EUR. Students and seniors aged 65 and over pay 19 EUR, and a family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children costs 65 EUR.

How long does a visit to Blarney Castle Gardens take?

Plan about three hours to see both the castle and the gardens.

Do I need to book ahead for Blarney Castle Gardens?

No. There are no timed slots, so you can buy tickets at the ticket office on arrival or online in advance.

Can I pay by card at Blarney Castle Gardens?

Yes. Visa and Mastercard credit cards are accepted.

How do I get to Blarney Castle Gardens from Cork?

Drive out of the city centre on the N20 towards Limerick, then exit left at the signposted Blarney turn after about 7 km of driving.

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