Getting To Kinsale Quick Links

Getting to Kinsale has never been easier. With air, sea & land travel available for both international and domestic travel. To quickly move between sections please use the links below, or browse through this page to find your best route for getting to Kinsale.

  1. Air Travel to Ireland
  2. Car Hire Cork Airport
  3. Ferry Services to Ireland
  4. Bus
  5. Bus Services from Dublin to Cork City
  6. Train
  7. Parking in Kinsale
  8. Camper van Overnight Parking

Air Travel to Ireland

The major airports in Ireland are Dublin, Shannon, and Cork. In Northern Ireland the main airport is Belfast. Cork Airport is just 20 km (13 miles) from Kinsale, with not one single traffic light to hold you up along the route so the drive takes about 20 minutes.

Most services to Cork Airport are year-round, but a few are summer-only. You may also travel via Dublin, Shannon or Belfast as well as several smaller regional airports.

  • Cork International Airport, Kinsale Road, County Cork, T12 YH66 |  Website: www.corkairport.com | Driving distance from Kinsale – 20km / 20 mins
  • Kerry Airport plc, Farranfore, Killarney, County Kerry, V93 KHF7 | Website: www.kerryairport.ie | Driving distance from Kinsale – 110km / 2 hours
  • Waterford Airport, Killowen, County Waterford, X91 E2WP | Website: http://www.flywaterford.com | Driving distance from Kinsale – 150km / 2.5 hours
  • Shannon International Airport, Shannon, County Clare, V14 EE06 | Website: http://www.shannonairport.ie | Driving distance from Kinsale – 160km / 2.5 hours
  • Dublin International Airport, Collinstown, County Dublin, K67 A0K7 | Website: http://dublinairport.com | Driving distance from Kinsale – 280km / 3 hours
  • Belfast International Airport Ltd; Airport Rd; Belfast BT29 4AB, County Antrim, N.I. | Website: http://www.belfastairport.com | Driving distance from Kinsale – 450km / 4.5 hours
  • George Best Belfast City Airport, Airport Road, Belfast BT3 9JH, Co. Antrim, N.I. |Website: http://www.belfastcityairport.com | Driving distance from Kinsale – 450km / 4.5 hours
  • City of Derry Airport, Airport Road, Eglinton, Londonderry, Derry BT47 3GY, N.I. | Website: https://www.cityofderryairport.com |Driving distance from Kinsale – 520km / 6 hours

Car Hire Cork Airport

Cars can be rented through the following car hire operators at Cork Airport. The rental offices are all located in the Arrivals Hall.

Note: at this time there are no car rental companies based in the town of Kinsale so Cork Airport is the closest location to hire a car. Cork Airport is only 20km from Kinsale.

Remember in Ireland you drive on the on the left!

Ferry Services to Ireland

There are five major ferry ports in Ireland with direct sailings to Britain and France.  All ferries are “Roll-on/roll-off” / “Car Ferries” that accommodate cars, motor-homes (RVs), caravans, buses, trucks, motorbikes, bicycles and regular foot passengers.

Ferry Service Companies

There are a number of crossings during peak Summer service. The ferryport for Cork is at Ringaskiddy, about 30 minutes drive from Kinsale. We have listed all ferry connections here to aid journey planning but all except Cork are some distance from Kinsale (at least 3 hours driving time).

Passenger Ferry Services to/from the island of Ireland

Ferry ports in Northern Ireland:

  • Larne, County Antrim:
    Cairnryan to Larne (P&O Ferries)
  • Belfast, County Antrim:
    Cairnryan to Belfast (Stena Line)
    Liverpool to Belfast (Stena Line)
    Douglas (Isle of Man) to Belfast (Isle of Man Steam Packet Company)

Ferry ports in the Republic of Ireland:

  • Dublin Port, County Dublin:
    • Douglas (Isle of Man) to Dublin Port (Isle of Man Steam Packet Company)
    • Liverpool to Dublin Port (P&O Ferries)
    • Holyhead to Dublin Port (Stena Line)
    • Holyhead to Dublin Port (Irish Ferries)
    • Cherbourg to Dublin Port (ICG/Irish Ferries)
  • Rosslare Europort, (operated by Iarnród Éireann/Irish Rail) County
    Wexford:

    • Fishguard to Rosslare (Stena Line)
    • Pembroke Dock to Rosslare (Irish Ferries)
    • Cherbourg to Rosslare (ICG/Irish Ferries)
    • Cherbourg to Rosslare (Stena Line)
    • Roscoff to Rosslare (ICG/Irish Ferries)

Bus Services

From Dublin to Cork City

There are several bus providers servicing Cork City from Dublin.   It is recommended booking the bus online to guarantee a seat and to avail of discounted fares.

Once in Cork City there is an excellent and very frequent Bus Éireann service (226) to and from Kinsale.

From Cork City to Kinsale

You can travel to Kinsale from Cork City and Cork Kent Train Station on Bus Éireann number 226.  This is a very frequent and reliable bus service to Kinsale from Cork City that runs 7 days a week.Free Wi-Fi is available on all buses so the 45-60 minute trip gives you plenty of time to check out what to do in Kinsale.  The service runs up to fifteen times a day (Monday to Saturday) and a reduced service on Sundays and public holidays.

Note: The Kinsale bus stop is now located in the Main Car Park.

The main bus station in Cork City is at Parnell Place on Merchants Quay (map)

The bus stop in Kinsale is located in the main car park on Pier Road (map)

Tickets for all Bus Éireann trips can be purchased from the bus driver, online or at the Cork City Bus Station.  You can also use your “Leap Card” on this bus.

All Cork City to Kinsale buses stop briefly at Cork International Airport and at Cork Kent Train Station. There is also a 226A bus that just services Cork City to and from the Airport.

In Cork City you may make connections to other destinations throughout Ireland by bus or train.

Train

Connections to and from all major rail-linked towns and cities in the country can be made from Cork’s Kent Station (map). Fifteen trains operate daily to and from Dublin (Heuston) (map) with connections to Limerick and the West of Ireland.

  • Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) | www.irishrail.ie | Kent Station, Lower Glanmire Road, Cork City, 021 450 6766

Train Timetable Dublin Heuston / Cork City – Direct Services

The Kinsale 226 Bus can take you to and from Cork Kent train station via the main Cork bus station and the Airport.

Parking in Kinsale

Parking in Car parks or on-street in Kinsale is either ‘pay and display’ or free. Please carefully read the signs to determine if you need to ‘pay and display’ and if so, what the maximum allowed parking duration is. There are ample convenient ticket vending machines located around the town that take coins only (10c, 20c, 50c, €1 and €2) and ‘pay and display’ parking typically costs €1.50 / hour.

Stopping or parking on roads marked with double yellow lines is illegal and strictly prohibited. The streets in Kinsale are very old and narrow so parking illegally will block and slow down traffic for everyone. We ask that you please respect the town’s parking and driving rules and do not do not let a parking ticket spoil your visit!

There are four main large car parks in Kinsale

  1. Main Town Car Park, (pay and display) Pier Road, Kinsale Sat Nav: 51.7051609,-8.5221269
  2. Church Square Car Park (Free), Church Square, Kinsale Sat Nav: 51.7062634,-8.5258832
  3. Town Car Park (Free, closed summer months), Pier Road, Kinsale Sat Nav: 51.7042369,-8.5208339
  4. New Road Car Park (Free), Kinsale Sat Nav: 51.7096994,-8.5197419. This car park is suitable for coaches, tour bus and motor-home parking.

Camper van Overnight Parking

Camper van Overnight Parking is available at the New Road Car Park or next to Charles Fort in Kinsale. Or if you want to venture a little further out you can park up at the beaches located at Garretstown and wake up next to the waves.

Please always use alternative routes that loop around the town when you use these car parks.