boat tours in cork

+353 (0)87 9544140

• [email protected]

Cork Harbour

Where ireland's wild atlantic way meets ireland's ancient east.

We are available all year round for private charters just give us a call to discuss your event! 

Our booking system is now open for the 2024 season! 

See the book now button for details..

We are looking forward to welcoming you all onboard 🙂 our 

We Look Forward To Welcoming You To Our Home

Cork harbour is one of the most beautiful destinations in ireland.

Cork Harbour and its surrounding areas is one of the most beautiful destinations in Ireland with its natural harbour, scattering of islands, colourful houses and proximity to Cork city.

The second largest natural harbour in the world, Cork Harbour is steeped in history with its man-made fortifications, maritime tradition and the key role it has played in significant points of Irish history. Its natural beauty is undeniable with its breath-taking coastal views, island retreats, picturesque villages and long, sandy beaches.

We look forward to welcoming you to our home.

Our Favourite Ferry And Tour Routes

Cork harbour cruises and tours.

Cork City 2hr Scenic Day Tour

Jump on board our family-friendly ferry for a 2-hour scenic guided return tour along the lovely Lee to Cork Harbour. No Alcohol is served on family-friendly cruises.

View Timetable

Sunset/Twilight Cruise from Cork City

Leave your cares behind for a 2.5 hour round trip, taking in the tranquil sights and sounds of the Cork Harbour at twilight.  Alcohol is served on evening cruises.

Gift Vouchers

Why not treat some to a unique gift of a cruise on Cork Harbour the second-largest natural Harbour in the World! Gift can be purchased for any amount and used on all services provided by Cork Harbour Cruises.

Sit back and relax with a Cork City Harbour Cruise

So much to choose from 

Why Choose Cork Harbour Cruises

Cork Harbour Cruises was born out of the love for a boat and a desire to keep it on the water.

We run a range of day and evening cruises from both Cork City and Crosshaven around the harbour, around the islands and to the famous Spike Island.

Photo Gallery

Spectacular sights for everyone, testimonials, what people are saying on facebook.

Facilities Available

What’s on board.

• Ramp available for wheelchairs and buggies
• 360 panoramic views
• Top Deck outdoors
• Indoor heated area
• Tuck Shop available day and evening
• Bar available on Evening Sunset cruises
• Two toilets available
• Ample seating outdoor on the lower deck

Book your next amazing experience with us today! Choice of many different cruises

Follow us on instagram, keep up to date with us @corkharbourcruise, sign up to our newsletter.

• Office: +353(0)879544140
• Boat:+353(0)879544140

Our Sisters Companies

cruises & tours

• Cork City 2 hr scenic harbour tour
• Crosshaven Twilight Cruise
• Sunset cruises from Cork City
• Around the Islands

Corporate/private tours

• Corporate / Private Charters
• Hens and Stag Parties

Cork City Custom House Quay Cork T12 YC81

• Arrival Early: boarding 15 min before departure. No parking on the piers.
• Port of Cork : City Hall car park on the overflow carpark in the train station.
• Wheelchair and buggy accessible.

Content © Cork Harbour Cruises 2022

© osd.ie digital agency ireland 2022, privacy overview.

THE 10 BEST Cork Boat Rides & Cruises

Boat rides & cruises in cork.

• Stand-Up Paddleboarding
• Kayaking & Canoeing
• Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing
• Water Sports
• Speed Boats Tours
• Boat Rentals
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• Good for Big Groups
• Budget-friendly
• Adventurous
• Good for Couples
• Good for Kids
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Hidden Gems
• Honeymoon spot
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Cork Harbour Boat Hire

2. Atlantic Sea Kayaking

3. Cork Harbour Cruises

4. Ballyhass

5. Ocean Escapes

6. Cork Sea Safari

7. Kinsale Surf Adventures

8. Cork City SUP

9. Kinsale Sea Safari

10. Ballyhass Lakes Mallow

11. G Town Surf School

12. Shearwater Wildlife Tours

13. OceanCrew

14. eco adventures, 15. bantry bay blueway, what travelers are saying.

Ocean Escapes

Boats tours, scenic trips & private charter.

Keep Discovering

Ocean Escapes has the largest fleet of RIBs in Cork Harbour and are the market leading providers of Private Charters, Public Trips, Corporate Trips and Commercial RIB Hire services. Our RIBs are fast, fun, safe, new and immaculately presented.

We supply RIBs for corporate events, private parties and to the commercial sector. We have worked tirelessly to delight our customers since we were established in 2015.

City Adventure

This trip is great if you’re looking to depart from Cork City and take in a few stops for drinks or explore one of the many scenic towns. Perfect for hens, stags, and work summer parties.

Duration from 3 hours

Departs from Cork City

Party size 10+ people

Harbour Discovery

Departing from the historic town of Cobh or the picturesque village of Crosshaven, the Harbour Discovery explores the world’s second-largest natural harbour. Take in all the sights and sounds of Cork’s breathtaking coastline & ancient history.

Duration from 1 hour

Departs from Cobh, Crosshaven

Party size 6+ people

Public Trip

Our public trips are ideal for smaller groups or individuals. Follow in the wake of the legendary RMS Titanic to Roches Point Lighthouse and beyond. Your personal skipper will bring you up close to some amazing scenery & unspoilt beaches.

Duration 1.5 hours

Party size 1+ people

Why book with us

Discovery begins here with Ocean Escapes. Experience Cork Harbour with its rugged coastline, scenic lighthouses, breathtaking cliffs and amazing maritime history. Whether you are seeking an epic adventure on the water, a family trip or wanting to have a few drinks with friends we’ll find the perfect boat trip for you.

We operate throughout the year!

The nights are drawing in and the temperature has noticeably dropped over the past couple of weeks, yet there’s still plenty of opportunity to get on the water with us. We operate year-round, boating is not just reserved for the summer months.

Corks Largest RIB Operator

Ocean Escapes currently operates four passenger RIBs making it Cork’s largest RIB operator. We pride ourselves in our fleet which are kept in pristine conditions to ensure a comfortable and safe trip for all our passengers.

Best Equipped Fleet

From inbuilt sound systems to suncream and water, we have everything on board to make your trip not only memorable but thoroughly enjoyable too.

Private Charters

Ocean Escapes is based in Cork Harbour but our boats can be transported anywhere in Ireland. We can create bespoke trips to meet our customers needs.

Ocean Escapes has been tasked with a huge range of jobs from Royal visit security support, film support and standby safety boats. Read below for some examples of our commercial work.

Whether you are seeking an epic adventure on the water, a family trip on the water or wanting to have a few drinks with some friends you’ll find it here with Ocean Escapes.

The craic and banter was flying.

“ We all had the best trip from start to finish. The craic and banter was flying, waters were crystal and calm and the overall experience was just incredible. ”

Andrew was so friendly and welcoming

“What an amazing trip out. Andrew was so friendly and welcoming and had a great sense of humour. We got to see lots of dolphins and beautiful views which was such and unreal experience.”

Such an enjoyable afternoon

“Such an enjoyable afternoon. Our skipper was funny, informative, entertaining and a real genuine guy.”

As featured in

• Tips & Info
• Inspiration
• Explore Cork App
• Conferences

Things To Do

Food & drink, plan your trip, what's on in cork.

Bounce in a club with Pure Cork pizzazz, revel in a festival or kick back to some jazz. Catch an intimate gig in a pub with a fire or watch a horse race with locals that comes down to the wire…

Things to do in Cork

Kayak around the city or head north for a hike, see Dursey by cable car and explore Beara by bike!

Stay in Cork

Find a charming old cottage or quiet hotel, in our old merchant city or near the sound of sea swell…

Food & Drink in Cork

Sink a cool pint of stout as the fireside roars, there’s a plate of fresh seafood and the name on it is yours…

From public transport to fish and chips. Read our list of handy Pure Cork tips.

• Getting to Cork
• Getting Around Cork
• Wild Atlantic Way
• Ireland's Ancient East
• View Itineraries
• Download a map of Cork
• Tourist Information Offices
• Helpful Information
• Destinations
• Ireland's Gateway
• Weather & Climate

Ocean Escapes Harbour Tours

• Departs Port of Cork Marina, Custom House Quay, Cork City & Kennedy Pier, Cobh,
• +353212339049
• www.oceanescapes.ie
• [email protected]

Get ready to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Cork Harbour - a place that boasts of magnificent scenery, top-rated attractions, and a rich history as the last point of departure for the iconic RMS Titanic.

But that's not all - buckle up and get ready to explore Cork Harbour in a way you've never seen before. Climb aboard one of our RIBs and set off on an adventure of a lifetime, taking in the stunning landscape from a completely unique perspective.

No matter where you choose to depart from - Cork City, Cobh, or Crosshaven - get ready to immerse yourself in the world's second-largest natural harbor, filled with breathtaking cliffs and panoramic views of Cork Harbour and beyond.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to discover Cork Harbour like never before!

•    7.9 km from Cork Airport
•    0.625 m from Cork City centre
•   Bedrooms: 0
•    Cork Convention Bureau Member

Explore Cork City

Places to stay, college view apartments, radisson blu hotel & spa, garnish guesthouse, the kingsley hotel cork, the lavit gallery, about ireland taxi tours, deora dé deep sea angling charters, fitzgerald park & museum, macau sporting club, cork folklore project, cork city cycle tour, cork photo gallery, the planet entertainment centre, cork craft & design, cork harbour powerboat taster sightseeing tour, vintage tea trips, the boole library ucc, underground donut tour, cit blackrock castle observatory, crawford art gallery, the cork butter museum, marina market, rebel city distillery, cork city walks (trails), cork culinary tour, this is cork tours: cork's many childhoods, st. peters cork, cork bike hire, awesome walls, blackpool shopping centre & retail park, the reel picture - blackpool, five day hiking tour, cork golf club, the hidden attic, wilton shopping centre, cork arts theatre, st. fin barre's cathedral, mahon golf club, merchants quay shopping centre, the secret garden - outdoor venue, omniplex cinema - mahon, cork public museum, the glucksman, shandon bells & tower, university college cork historic tours, national kart centre, backwater artists group, cork city walks (guided tour), leisureworld douglas, frankfield petanque boules club, playground - churchfield, river kayaking, axe throwing cork, cork on ice, eight day explorer tour, kilkenny shop - city, playground - shalom park, cork english college, hysterical histories - top-notch, comedic dinner theatre experience, franciscan well brewery tours - pour your own stout, laneway gallery, playground - douglas, cork printmakers, the english market, cork city sightseeing tour - hop on hop off, newbridge silverware cork, the everyman cork, douglas golf club, playground - kilmore park, the black market, playground - clashduv, learn to fly: tour of cork from the air, elizabeth fort, the reel picture - ballincolllig, the arc cinema, eyemazy - iris photography, rebel city tour of cork, dance cork firkin crane, playground - tory top park, playground - glenamoy park, playground - ringmahon, cork fab food trails, ebee - bike hire, old cork waterworks experience, victoria sporting club, douglas village shopping centre, cork city gaol, douglas court, playground - the lough, the big escape, cork ghost tour, hola students, paul street shopping centre, playground - fitzgerald's park, voodoo rooms, mizen head day trip from cork city, leisureworld churchfield, nano nagle place, mahon point shopping centre, ucc language centre, triskel arts centre, cornmarket centre, cork harbour cruises, alliance francaise de cork, monkey maze, leisureworld bishopstown, live at st. lukes, cork english academy, city limits comedy club, cork opera house, the nightmare realm, leisureplex, cork greenway cycle tour, playground - pophams field, cork unitarian church - art spotlight, cork city sup, active centre of english training, ucc visitors' centre, mardyke entertainment complex, mtu cork school of music, mtu gallery, zipit forest adventures, murphy's farm playground, the castle inn, the shelbourne bar, the lee sessions trad trail, dwyers sessions, dwyers of cork, trad session, seventy seven.

• Cork Business Tourism
• Pure Cork Brand
• Add a Business
• Add an Event
• Art, Culture & Heritage
• Performance
• Cinema & Film
• Theatre & Comedy
• Sports & Outdoors
• Food & Drink Events
• On The Water
• Outdoor Activities
• Attractions
• Nature & Gardens
• Food Experiences
• Clubbing & Nightlife
• Sacred & Spiritual
• Learn English
• Guesthouses
• Self Catering
• Caravan & Camping Parks
• Restaurants
• Acceptable Use Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Copyright 2017.
• Website by Batucada Digital Ltd.

Cookies & Privacy

Pure Cork website use cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. For more details about cookies and how to manage them see our cookie policy

More information Accept

The 2 best boat tours and sightseeing cruises in Cork

Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.

Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.

1 Spike Island Tours

2 cork harbour boat hire, top searches in cork, popular road trips from cork, what's the weather like in cork.

It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA on what the weather is like in Cork for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.

• Weather in Cork in January
• Weather in Cork in February
• Weather in Cork in March
• Weather in Cork in April
• Weather in Cork in May
• Weather in Cork in June
• Weather in Cork in July
• Weather in Cork in August
• Weather in Cork in September
• Weather in Cork in October
• Weather in Cork in November
• Weather in Cork in December

All road trips from Cork

• Cork to London drive
• Cork to Dublin drive
• Cork to Paris drive
• Cork to Edinburgh drive
• Cork to Rome drive
• Cork to Amsterdam drive
• Cork to Barcelona drive
• Cork to Berlin drive
• Cork to Prague drive
• Cork to Madrid drive
• Cork to York drive
• Cork to Belfast drive
• Cork to Liverpool drive
• Cork to Florence drive
• Cork to Blackpool drive
• Cork to Brussels drive
• Cork to Glasgow drive
• Cork to Milan drive
• Cork to Vienna drive
• Cork to Budapest drive
• Cork to Bath drive
• Cork to Galway drive
• Cork to Venice drive
• Cork to Cardiff drive
• Cork to Birmingham drive
• Cork to Manchester drive
• Cork to Bruges drive
• Cork to Copenhagen drive
• Cork to Liscannor drive

Explore nearby places

• Ballygarvan
• Ballincollig
• Ballinhassig
• Carrigaline
• Ringaskiddy
• Carrigtwohill
• Watergrasshill
• Innishannon
• Oysterhaven
• Kilbrittain
• Garrettstown
• Killavullen

All related maps of Cork

• Map of Cork
• Map of Glanmire
• Map of Riverstown
• Map of Ballygarvan
• Map of Ballincollig
• Map of Blarney
• Map of Ballinhassig
• Map of Carrigaline
• Map of Monkstown
• Map of Ringaskiddy
• Map of Cobh
• Map of Ovens
• Map of Carrigtwohill
• Map of Watergrasshill
• Map of Grenagh
• Map of Innishannon
• Map of Aghada
• Map of Oysterhaven
• Map of Rostellan
• Map of Midleton
• Map of Kinsale
• Map of Dugort
• Map of Coachford
• Map of Scarriff
• Map of Bandon
• Map of Cloyne
• Map of Crookstown
• Map of Dungourney
• Map of Kilbrittain
• Map of Garrettstown
• Map of Killavullen

Cork throughout the year

• Cork in January
• Cork in February
• Cork in March
• Cork in April
• Cork in May
• Cork in June
• Cork in July
• Cork in August
• Cork in September
• Cork in October
• Cork in November
• Cork in December

Looking for day-by-day itineraries in Cork?

Get inspired for your trip to Cork with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Check them out here:

• 1-Day Cork Itinerary
• 2-Day Cork Itinerary
• 3-Day Cork Itinerary
• 4-Day Cork Itinerary
• 5-Day Cork Itinerary

Best attractions in nearby cities

• Top things to do and attractions in Kinsale
• Top things to do and attractions in Cobh

Best restaurants in nearby cities

• Where to eat: the best restaurants in Cobh
• Where to eat: the best restaurants in Midleton
• Where to eat: the best restaurants in Blarney

• Itinerary + map in one view
• Live collaboration
• Auto-import hotels and reservations
• Optimize your route
• Offline access on mobile
• See time and distance between all your places

Tour Cobh – on a boat!

Taking in Spike Island, Roches Point Lighthouse, the Irish Naval Base, and, of course, Cobh, the guided tour will ensure your holiday snaps are second to none.

Your experienced skipper will retell the intriguing history of the storied harbour which includes tales of the Titanic, the Lusitania, and the many ships that led Irish immigrants to new shores.

Booking is essential, as is a sense of adventure. For more info and to book, click here .

“What a great way to spend a few hours in Cork and experience a new perspective of the city and surrounds. Can not recommend highly enough. I’m from Cork and it was such an amazing way to see the place and learn a few new things about Cork’s interesting history.” – Mary via TripAdvisor

Related Activities

privacy policy

Privacy overview.

• ATTRACTIONS
• THINGS TO DO

Cork Harbour Tour

Ahead of the upcoming season, we here at Discovering Cork took a first run at some of our great shore excursion routes over the weekend. With the conditions improving by the day and plenty of great Cork shore excursions to look forward to in 2015, our Cork Harbour Tour was a great way to spend the weekend as we move into Spring in Cork.

With choppy waters ahead of us, we set out for our Cork Harbour Boat Tour. Despite the fresh conditions, the experienced captain put our minds at ease from the start, and the boat did little more than sway across the waves.  We set out into the depths of Cork Harbour for a little bit of seal spotting. With plenty of sea life to admire from our relative comforts as we stood out on deck, it was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. We were out on the water for a good two hours, with plenty of interesting sightings made and lots of laughs shared. St Colman’s Cathedral stood out like a beacon from the mainland of Cobh, seeming all the more impressive from out on the Cork Harbour Tour.

After a lap around Spike Island, it was time to head back towards the big beacon in the skyline, and take our ship back into port. After a fantastic day out on the water, we can certainly heartily endorse the Cork Harbour Boat Tour now.

Discovering Cork offer some fantastic Cork day tours, with coach trips across our Wild Atlantic Way coastlines and on up into all parts of the county. The Cork-Blarney-Kinsale tour is a particular highlight, with your experienced local guide bringing you all the way from Cork Harbour in Cobh to the world famous Blarney Castle. The journey is a wonderful ride through the Cork countryside, before you arrive at Blarney Castle itself to get the gift of the gab. The next stop is into Blarney Village, home of the fantastic Blarney Woollen Mills, where you can get all your traditional Irish clothing.

This tour proceeds on to Kinsale, which is the very pinnacle of Ireland’s Gourmet Riviera. You can explore all the best spots in Kinsale, which is easily one of the most naturally stunning towns in all of Ireland. This immaculately clean seaside town is home to the delightful Kinsale Harbour, as well as Charles’ Fort and a lofty and interesting history that you can explore when in town. The Cork-Blarney-Kinsale tour is ideal for those who want to see as much of Cork as they can in a short time.

With Discovering Cork offering a series of great Cork day tours, such as the Cork City & Jameson Distillery Tour and the Waterford Crystal Tour,  as well as the Cork Harbour Boat Tour, you can be sure of getting the best Cork day trips with us. Whether you want to tour the harbour or simply explore County Cork, Discovering Cork Day have plenty on offer for any Cork day trips.

No comments yet.

Leave a reply click here to cancel reply..

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Sign Up to our Newsletter.

Our packages.

• Golf Packages
• Cork’s Wild Atlantic Way
• Ireland’s Gourmet Riviera
• Corporate Events

Practical Information

• Electricity
• Emergency Services
• Entry Requirements
• Health & Safety
• Money & Banking
• Religious Services
• Shop Opening Hours
• Smoking Laws
• Telephones & Internet
• What to Expect
• When to Visit
• Disability Access Guide

General Information

• A Cork History
• Advertising
• Interesting Facts
• Neighbouring Counties
• Getting Around

The Ocean Is Calling

Cork Sea Safari

Fun & informative harbour & coastal tours.

• Bull Rock Trip
• Castletownbere Harbour Trip
• Group & Custom Tours
• Discover Beara
• Our Drivers
• Our Stories

Join us on a sea safari adventure

Book your trips, popular trips.

€60/1.5 hours

Embrace the wild beauty of the Beara Peninsula with an unforgettable adventure around Dursey Island and out to the Bull Rock.

€50/1.5 hours

Join us on our fast, fun-filled Castletownbere Harbour Trip for an experience full of history, adventure, excitement and stunning views.

Established in 2019, Dursey Boat Trips offers visitors to Beara the opportunity to take in this spectacular peninsula on an exhilarating boat trip filled with stories, history and wildlife.

We currently offer two trips – the Bull Rock Trip and the Castletownbere Harbour Trip – which run seasonally from April – September.

Customer Reviews

“Great trip to bull rock yesterday the scenery was spectacular amazing views of our coastline and wildlife good commentary from skipper paul a trip to bull rock not missed when in the area”

“The best boat trip ever! Great crew and very friendly staff, incredible scenery, loads of wildlife including a huge pod of dolphins and seals, amazing history. There was all age groups on board and all loved it. Can’t fault it in anyway, would recommend it to all age groups for a fun and exciting day out.”

“This by far is the best boat trip experience ever, four of us went out and we all absolutely loved every second. Everything from start to finish was incredible, a definite must for anyone visiting Beara. The team were fantastic , the boat is amazing and the views and wildlife won’t be seen anywhere else, the history is remarkable.”

“Early morning family trip out to see the Bull, Calf & Cow Rock. Skipper Jason was friendly and informative. The scenery is majestic and wild. Cannot recommend enough”

“Very unique and thoroughly enjoyable experience. A must for anyone who hasn’t yet done this trip. Fantastic customer service, friendly and knowledgable crew. Great craic with so much history on our doorstep. Will be back for more! Thank you”

Sundown on our 2022 season

A few words to thank everyone who made 2022 our best and busiest season yet! The summer did not seem...

“Such a gift!…”

Thank you to Julia for here recent review and images; We had wonderful boat trip ! An incredible experience - we...

Instagram Feed

Durseyboattrips, gift vouchers.

• Top Navigation
• All Boat trips

THE 10 BEST Cork Boat Rides & Cruises

Boat rides & cruises in cork.

• Stand-Up Paddleboarding
• Kayaking & Canoeing
• Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing
• Water Sports
• Speed Boats Tours
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• Good for Big Groups
• Budget-friendly
• Adventurous
• Good for Couples
• Good for Kids
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Hidden Gems
• Honeymoon spot
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Cork Harbour Boat Hire

2. Atlantic Sea Kayaking

3. Cork Harbour Cruises

4. Ballyhass

5. Ocean Escapes

6. Cork Sea Safari

7. Kinsale Surf Adventures

8. Cork City SUP

9. Kinsale Sea Safari

10. Ballyhass Lakes Mallow

11. G Town Surf School

12. Shearwater Wildlife Tours

13. OceanCrew

14. eco adventures, 15. bantry bay blueway, what travellers are saying.

Welcome to Bantry Bay Boat Hire

For an unforgettable west cork experience.

Bantry Bay is an area of outstanding natural beauty and we are lucky to call it home.  Let us take you out on the bay to explore our stunning part of the Wild Atlantic Way from the water, and let your senses immerse you in the sounds, tastes and sights of West Cork from the sea.

Come explore the bay with us and choose from a trip on our  Sea Safari,   Guided Boat Tours ,  Kayak Tours  or  hire a Kayak  or  Stand Up Paddle Board .  Take the family for a boat trip they'll never forget on our  Guided Tours  in self-drive boats, hire a boat and do a spot of Mackerel Fishing  or let the kids off to enjoy our  Kayak Camps  while you enjoy a walk about Bantry town or spend time exploring the local market.

Being out on the water in Bantry Bay is one of the best things to do in West Cork and we can't wait to share it with you.

Bantry Bay Boat Hire

A unique west cork experience, explore the wild atlantic way from the water.

Let the Adventure Begin

Join us for a unique experience by boat, kayak or stand up paddle board.  Watch out for the beautiful wildlife and birdlife that inhabit these shores - it's not uncommon to see dolphin and seals on our trips!

Take photographs from vantage points that are only accessible by water and appreciate the beauty and history of Bantry Bay, a West Cork gem.

Join us for a great day out in Bantry

Explore wider Bantry Bay and out around Whiddy Island.  Watch out for widlife, maybe spot dolphins and learn about local history. Min. age 10yrs.

Find Out More

€50 per person

Guided Boat Tours

Great fun exploring the inner harbour in our self-drive boats with some tours including local seafood and picnics. Take turns at being captain for the day!

€65 per boat

Kayak at Sunset Tour

A magical experience and a must-do when in West Cork.  We will hopefully see wildlife and possibly see the wonder of bioluminescence on our trips.

€45 per person

Single or Double Kayaks available for hire by the hour.  If you would like to hire for longer, simply select the additional hours needed at booking.

€15 per person

Guided Kayak Tours

Join one of our Kayak Tours with one of our experienced guides.  Day and Sunset Kayak Tours are available or arrange a Private Guided Kayak Tour.

€40  per person

Kayak to Whiddy Island

Hire a kayak for time in Bantry Bay and end your trip on Whiddy Island where we will collect your kayak and you can get the ferry back to Bantry.

€25 per person

What People Say

AOIFE - TRIP ADVISOR

Easy & enjoyable.

We did 2 hour kayaking and 1 hour boat hire. No stress. Covid ready. Felt safe - that they were ready to help us if needed. Aaron presented as calm, mature and experienced which had us all at ease. Local knowledge and folklore a bonus. Equipment from kayak to paddle to wetsuit and life jacket all seemed perfect.

PADDY - TRIP ADVISOR

Great guide & relaxing paddle.

We had a fantastic evening and would highly recommend Bantry Bay Boat Hire. Aaron was a great guide. He brought us along the bay and gave us the really interesting history of Bantry Bay, Bantry House and Whiddy island. He was able to bring us along a sheltered route to make for a very relaxing night time paddle. He also has excellent cleaning procedures which should reassure anyone worried about COVID.

ROSE - GOOGLE

Fantastic sunset kayaking.

Fantastic sunset kayaking trip with Aaron! So much fun, lovely group and Aaron made sure everyone was safe, comfortable and enjoying it. Great local knowledge and history, dolphins, beautiful sunset and bioluminescence in the water when it got dark! Highly recommend.

Where To Find Us

We are located on The Railway Pier in Bantry, which is a short walk from the town centre, just past the Supervalu supermarket that you can see from Wolfe Tone Square.  Bantry is just over 1hrs drive from Cork city so we are the perfect choice for a day trip from Cork.

• MOST POPULAR

Self Drive Boat Hire in Cobh, Ireland

Quick Details

• Hour Glass Duration: 1 hour
• Users Capacity: Up to 5 people
• Calendar Availability: 7 days a week
• Info Ages: All ages are welcome!

*At least 1 person onboard must be 21 (ID required on arrival) Smoking or Drinking onboard is strictly forbidden and will result in being towed in straight away! You will not be refunded 

Self-Drive Boat Tour Available 7 Days a Week. Peaceful and relaxing.

For groups of all ages and sizes, with the easy to drive boats making it very easy to navigate the waters with Cork Harbour Boat Hire.

Perfect for families and groups of all ages. An hour filled with fun, facts and adventure, wrapped up in an unforgettable sightseeing boat  tour of Cork Harbour.  

Our easy-to-drive boats make it simple to navigate Cork Harbour. Our Safety Boat Guide will lead you around the harbour pointing out the many eye catching sights that our harbour has to offer.

What To See & Do In Cork Harbour? 

Discover another side of Cork filled with a fascinating history and captivating  sights.

• Spot the different birds and sea creatures along Cork’s coastline. ● See the famous pier where the last passengers embarked on the  Titanic’s fateful voyage.
• Take a trip around Spike Island,
• Observe the old monastic settlement and prison in the middle of the  Harbour.
• Pass Hawlbowline island and visit the home of the Irish Navy.  ● Check out Crosshaven, home of the oldest yacht club in the world, ● Go past Roche’s point lighthouse.
• Swing by St Coleman’s cathedral is located in the centre of the  picturesque town of Cobh.
• Discover Cobh’s Seaside Promenade.

How Long Will Our Boat Trip Take In Cork Harbour?  

All our Self Drive Tours are 1 hour.

Will I Be Shown What to Do? 

You will receive full training before setting out on the water. We ensure you’ll have enough support to enjoy your trip around Cork Harbour safely.

Age restrictions:

• Max capacity 5 per boat
• No more than 4 adults
• Children must be under 16
• At least 1 person must be over 21 (ID required on arrival)

Drinking or Smoking on the boats is not allowed and will result in being towed in and asked to leave immediately, you will not be refunded

What to Bring

On a Hot, Sunny Day:

• A Cold Drink

On a Cold, Damp Day:

• Waterproof Jacket

Top-Rated Tours & Adventures on Cork Harbour as voted by Tripadvisor

The self-drive boats were very easy to operate, extremely safe, and offered a great tour around Cork Harbour. It's a definite trip to repeat next year! The kids and adults loved it!

Everything was brilliant we brought or little fella he's 4 and he loved it, the instructor was very nice and made sure we know everything so couldn't be happier!

Great day out, very friendly helpful staff, and we saw seals again, as we did the trip a few weeks ago also. Looking forward to doing it again. Highly recommend it! 🛥 🌊

Just a great trip. Really well organized and safe for all. The kids had a ball. We all had a ball. Couldn't recommend it highly enough!

Had a great time driving through cork harbour, saw so much of the surrounding areas and the boat was so easy to drive!

Really really great evening. Brilliant experience to drive the boat out around the harbour! Would highly recommend it. Staff really friendly!

Welcome to Bantry Bay charters

Explore the waters with a guided boat tour from Bantry Bay Charters

Where you can experience the native wildlife up close, try mackerel fishing, chase the sunset, and discover the beauty of West Cork from a fresh perspective.

BANTRY BAY CHARTERS

Our Adventures

Family Adventures

FIND OUT MORE

Groups & Individuals Adventures

Whether you’re a lifelong local or first time visitor to Ireland, you haven’t truly seen Bantry Bay until you’ve seen it by boat.

Bantry Boat Experience

West Cork Hidden Gems

We’ve got something for the curious outdoor adventurer, the seeker of West Cork’s hidden gems, the whale-obsessed, the watersports enthusiast, and the experienced angler. So whichever you are, go grab your kids, your gang of friends, your ma, or your Mrs. and let us take you off land, out of town, and away on an epic adventure.

Discover Our Adventures

While our crew is the fun-lovin’ kind, safety is our top priority on board, and you can count on the Boat Charter team to keep operations running on an even keel – rain or shine. That’s right, even if the standard West Cork drizzle hits, you can still make the best of a day on the water since our boats have overhead canopies for shelter and a supply of ponchos onboard.

MAP OF ROUTES

With plenty to experience and explore, find out all the information you will need to plan an unforgettable day trip with Bantry Bay Charters.

Destinations

Plan your Trip

Things to do & see

What people are saying about our boat tours

“Absolutely brilliant. Ireland’s waters are extremely rich in life and the displays here are top-notch. I learned a *lot*. Thanks to very helpful staff member Laura, I learned that the lumpsuckers – beautiful fish — need to be “burped” occasionally, in their tank! The variety of wrasses was amazing, as were the anglerfish and the seahorse. I plan to dive on Monday if the weather cooperates, but I am sure I saw more here than I will in the wild!”

Robert M. Corless – June 2022

“Amazing day out! Best boat tour we have ever done! Skipper Brian gave us the best experience possible, with his depth of local knowledge, passion for the area and hugely entertaining personality. We learned about the local wildlife, fished for mackerel, and he even cooked us up a tasty pot of mussels!”

Trip Advisor

“We had the most incredible, memorable family trip out on the Bay with Darren & Bantry Charters, we relaxed in the sun on the boat & got a totaly different perspective of the scenery of the Bay, Bantry & Whiddy, caught fresh pollack for our dinner & got to see 2 whales, amazing! Would highly recommend & will definitely plan a return trip!”

Claire Hayden – Facebook Review

“Absolutely top class we loved it. Niall and Luke really looked after us we did a three hour tour which included the best Dolphin watching we have ever done and we also caught some fish. Made the kids at ease straight away and it was just lots and lots of fun. 5 stars all the way.”

Dan Stenson – Google Review

“Could not say enough about what an amazing day we had, we celebrated my sons birthday and the kids caught, cooked and ate their own fish. Darren and crew are unreal from the sights , the fishing, everything. An amazing day Thanks all”

Gillian Morris – Facebook

“I booked the wildlife tour, Sea angling, and the sunset cruise for my family. We had the absolute best time with BB Charters. Darren and Brian were excellent guides and great with our 2 children. We learned a lot about the history of the area as well as the sea life. Sharon was brilliant advising us what to bring to make sure we were prepared for all of our trips. We will definitely be back next year. Thank you Bantry Bay Charters!”

Keep up with our new tours, new routes and what we’re doing