Spike Island Tours
A visit to Spike Island is a journey through 1,300 years of Irish history, and a chance to explore our wild Irish nature. Departing from the scenic town of Cobh, your ticket gets you:
- The 10-minute return ferry journey across Cork harbour, one of the world’s largest natural harbours.
- A guided tour on arrival with one of our storytellers.
- Self-guided time after your tour to enjoy access to our fortress and prison—home to over a dozen museums, exhibitions and authentic centuries-old buildings, which showcase our rich past as a prison, fortress, and island home. See centuries-old prison cells, military emplacements and modern museum spaces, with lots for all ages to enjoy.
- Full access to our nature and walking trails—discover the 1.4 km glacis walk with stunning harbour views, or the 2.4 km ring of Spike, which is fully signposted and interpreted as it passes abandoned places like a village or convict cemetery.
- A map to explore our island’s walking trails and many interesting areas inside the fort (can also be downloaded from our website homepage).
- A map for children, and access to our brand new playground, to keep little ones entertained as they explore our fortress.
- A free to download augmented reality (AR) app for your phone, that offers historical reconstructions over real locations, designed to enhance your visiting experience.
Ticket options
A visit to Spike Island is a journey through 1,300 years of Irish history, and a chance to explore our wild Irish nature. Departing from the scenic town of Cobh, your ticket gets you:
- The 10-minute return ferry journey across Cork harbour, one of the world’s largest natural harbours.
- A guided tour on arrival with one of our storytellers.
- Self-guided time after your tour to enjoy access to our fortress and prison—home to over a dozen museums, exhibitions and authentic centuries-old buildings, which showcase our rich past as a prison, fortress, and island home. See centuries-old prison cells, military emplacements and modern museum spaces, with lots for all ages to enjoy.
- Full access to our nature and walking trails—discover the 1.4 km glacis walk with stunning harbour views, or the 2.4 km ring of Spike, which is fully signposted and interpreted as it passes abandoned places like a village or convict cemetery.
- A map to explore our island’s walking trails and many interesting areas inside the fort (can also be downloaded from our website homepage).
- A map for children, and access to our brand new playground, to keep little ones entertained as they explore our fortress.
- A free to download augmented reality (AR) app for your phone, that offers historical reconstructions over real locations, designed to enhance your visiting experience.
Our payments are processed using : Stripe (Checkout)
