The Marble Arch Caves in County Fermanagh are well worth a visit.
These are a series of natural limestone caves found near the village of Florencecourt.
A visit here is one of the best things to do in Northern Ireland. In the guide below, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about visiting!
How the Marble Arch Caves were discovered
It wasn’t until 1895 when two explorers disturbed the silence of the caves and the first beam of light pierced the darkness.
The two adventurers were French cave explorer Edouard Alfred Martel and a Dublin born scientist named Lyster Jameson.
The two explorers ventured into the cave on Martel’s canvas canoe, the way illuminated by candlelight.
Fast forward 100+ years and the Marble Arch Caves now boast European Geopark status, Global Geopark status and a UNESCO endorsement.
Marble Arch Caves Tickets and Tour
The tour takes visitors on a short walk down through the Marble Arch National Nature Reserve, before taking a short 10-minute underground boat journey and then a 1.5km walk through the showcave.
Expect stalactites, spectacular walkways, huge caverns, a subterranean river and lots more.
The tours, which are conducted by lively and informative guides, take visitors colossal variety of cave formations.
Here’s how the folks at Marble Arch Caves describe it:
‘Stalactites glisten above steamways and chambers, while fragile mineral veils and cascades of creamy calcite coat walls and create shimmering terraces. Spectacular walkways allow easy access while powerful lighting reveals the stunning beauty and grandeur of the caves. Electrically powered boats glide through the huge caverns carrying visitors along a subterranean river.’
The tour goes on for 75 minutes and is suitable for people of any age and of average fitness.
Related Read: Check out our guide to the best things to do in Fermanagh
The Marble Arch Caves Game of Thrones link
A couple of months ago I recieved 10 emails in a day asking about caves in Fermanagh that were being used as a location for a Game of Thrones prequel.
One of the emails was from a Canadian journalist looking for info on the caves.
After chatting to him, I asked him to fire on a link to the piece they were writing.
It turns out that you’ll be seeing the Marble Arch Caves added to the above map of Game of Thrones Filming locations in Northern Ireland very soon.
Filming for the GOT prequel took place in the summer of 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions
We published this guide a while back.
Since then, we’ve had a tonne of emails about the caves.
I’ve put the most frequently asked questions into the section below.
What’s the best way to get from Belfast to marble arch caves
Belfast is a 2-hour drive from the Marble Arch Caves. The easiest way to find the caves is by using Google Maps. You can take the M1 from the city as far as the Woodlough Road. You’ll then need to use the A4 road, which will take you to Maguiresbridge. From here, you’re 30 minutes away.
Have you visited the Marble Arch Caves? Were they worth checking out? Let me know in the comments below!
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.