A solo visitor can move freely on the self-guided route, add a €2 audio guide, and finish in 1-2 hours; on-site toilets, café items and no need to pre-book make the stop convenient and engaging.
Why 1-2 hours visit duration is ideal for solo trip: Solo visitors can cover a self-guided cell tour, audio guide and souvenir shop at a relaxed pace.
Self-guided cell tour:
Walk through original cellblocks with authentic graffiti and wax figures.
Tip: Grab a printed guidebook at the entrance to follow numbered displays.
Handheld audio guide:
Hear prisoner stories and sound effects in nine languages.
Tip: Pay €2 extra for immersive narration and explore at your own pace.
2pm daily guided tour:
Join a 45-minute tour led by a local guide on prison life.
Tip: Arrive 10 minutes early to secure a front-row spot.
Governor’s Garden picnic:
Relax at outdoor tables in the walled garden beside the gaol.
Tip: Pick up coffee or snacks in the souvenir shop before settling down.
In July and August, guided tours run hourly. In other months, they run once daily and the site may close by 5pm. Check the official website for current hours.
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Christy Faul
It's very odd to call a Jail beautiful but it really was something to see, rich with history. So well preserved and thought out in setting it up for visitors, the realistic looking mannequins. They did have a audio tour with audio devices and headphones that you use and return, we chose not to, a tour guide would have been my preference, to have a more authentic experience.But you can also do the ...
Lucas Raiol
Cork City Gaol provides a very thorough and informative tour not just around one of the main prisons in Cork of the 19th century, but also gives a very detailed experience on how the living conditions were for its inmates and the poor and miserable citizens of that time. The premises’ architecture is also stunningly beautiful and the tickets are definitely worth the price, especially if you’re a ...
Dr. Faisal
Excellent place to visit for families 👪 and solo visitors. The jail (gaol) is very well maintained with a little souvenirs shop, drinks, coffee, etc. There are interactive activities throughout and you can read about the history and how prisoners were transferred to Australia 🇦🇺 We spent two hours there followed by a lunch nearby. Highly recommended 👌 👍🏼 👏 💯
Damien Mc Sweeney
Amazing experience. This old prison museum across the river from University College Cork is great. It immerses you in the history of the prison by telling the personal and often tragic stories of some the former prisoners. There is also a nice walkway around the prison where you can see some of the outer buildings nit connected to the main building. Great for people of all ages.
Dan Burnett
This was a really fun stop to walk through and stretch our legs. It was easy to get to with free parking out front. We were in and out in about 30 minutes (we had a place to be) but you could easily spend an hour or so walking the buildings and grounds. It was neat being able to go into a few of the cells and feeling how cold and damp it would have been. I'd recommend this as a stop if you have t...
Item | Cost (Approx.) |
---|---|
Adult admission | EUR 11 |
Audio guide | EUR 2 |
Guided tour | EUR 2 |
Coffee | EUR 3 |
Souvenir | EUR 5 |
Total Estimated | EUR 23 |
Note: All prices are indicative and may vary. Please check directly with the venue for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
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Address: Convent Ave, Sunday's Well, Cork, Ireland
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