A visit to the Titanic Experience in Cobh is one of the more popular things to do in Cork.
And it’s arguably one of the best things to do in Cobh when it’s pouring down!
The iconic story of the Titanic is known right around the world. The ill-fated ship made its last stop in Cobh, then known as Queenstown, before departing for the long journey to New York.
The Titanic Experience in Cobh
Photo by lightmax84 (Shutterstock)
Although a visit to the Cobh Titanic experience is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.
1. Location
The Cobh Titanic museum is located inside the original White Star Line ticket office where the last 123 passengers boarded the ship. You can find it right on the edge of town on Casement Square in Cobh.
2. Opening hours
The museum is open every day of the week. From October until April, the hours are from 10am until 5.30pm. From May until September, they are open from 9am to 6pm (note: times may change)
3. How long it takes
The tour of the Titanic Experience in Cobh takes around 1 hour. There’s a guided tour, which takes 30 minutes, and then you’ve time to look around the exhibits on your own. Allowing at least an hour should be safe.
The Titanic and Cobh: Where it all began
Photo by Everett Collection (Shutterstock)
Cobh was the last stop for the newly built Titanic on her first and last voyage. The ship had set out from Southampton and stopped at Cherbourg before continuing onto Cobh, or Queenstown as it was known at the time.
The ship arrived at Roches Point, the outer anchorage of the harbour, at 11.30am on 11th April 1912. The last 123 passengers boarded ferries from the White Star Line pier in Queenstown which took them out to the liner.
Three were travelling first class, seven second class and the remainder in third class. At 1.30pm, the sound of whistles indicated that the ship was about to depart.
A total of 1308 passengers and 898 crew members were on board as the ship left Queenstown for the long journey to New York. Tragically, 1517 of the 2206 people on board would never make it to New York.
I’ll never do the history of the Titanic’s final port of call justice in a few paragraphs. The above ‘history’ is intended as an overview – you’ll discover the story in depth when you stroll through the doors at the Titanic Experience in Cobh.
What to expect from a tour of the Titanic Museum in Cobh
Photo left: Everett Collection. Photo right: lightmax84 (Shutterstock)
For the full experience, the guided tours of the Titanic museum in Cobh is a must (especially if you’re visiting the town when it’s raining!).
The tour delves deeper into the story of the ship and the 123 passengers who boarded from Cobh. The tours run every 15 minutes each day in summer and every 30 minutes for the rest of the year.
What to expect on the tour
The guided tours of the Cobh Titanic museum run for 30 minutes and take you on a virtual journey to board the Titanic on her maiden voyage.
You’re first given a boarding pass with the details of one of the real-life passengers on the ship, so you can learn more about the specific people who boarded in Cobh.
During the tour, you will see the original pier that the passengers left to board the ferries, learn a little more about life aboard the Titanic and feel the chill of the tragic sinking through a cinematographic experience.
Exhibition area
After the 30-minute guided tour, you will also have time to explore the exhibition area of the Cobh Titanic Experience at your own leisure.
The exhibition includes audio visual presentations and story boards detailing the tragic sinking, rescues and discovery of the wreck.
Reviews of the tour
The Titanic museum in Cobh has, at the time of typing, a score of 4.4 out of 5 on Google from over 2400 reviews.
For most people, the tour is a great way to learn more about the history of the Titanic and some of the passengers on board.
On TripAdvisor, the Cobh Titanic Experience has 4.5 out of 5 from over 2000 reviews and is listed as #2 of 16 things to do in Cobh.
What to do nearby
If you’re visiting Cobh, it’s well worth visiting the Titanic Experience as part of the itinerary on the map above. You’ll visit:
- Spike Island: Home to a 200-year-old fortress that was once the largest prison in the world
- The Deck of Cards: One of Cork’s most famous landmarks
- St. Coleman’s Cathedral: A towering neo-Gothic masterpiece perched above the town
Or, if you’re exploring Cork in general, head to the city (35-minute drive) and tackle the many things to do in Cork City!
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.