Blarney Castle & Gardens

So, visit this place in February and you'll find it has lots of clean bathrooms, not too crowded, and the staff is absolutely welcoming and helpful. The castle and the trip up some very steep and narrow stairs is a climb, so wear good shoes with non slip soles since it's wet and slippery, but the view alone is worth it. But my favorite part were the gardens and grounds, which are full of little stories, so much local art and sculpture, and really magical nooks of history and nature. So far, my favorite part of my trip to Ireland.

Awesome castle! Unlike most others you can explore MOST of the booked and cranny’s. It’s incredible. Just don’t forget to duck your head down in the stairs

If you want to have the opportunity to feel like you are in the medieval era, you cannot miss this Castle. It's an incredible walk with a beautiful garden and a stunning view! It's worth visiting all the spots, as each one has its own story.

Blarney Castle is a magical place, rich in history and surrounded by stunning gardens and scenic trails. The grounds are beautifully maintained, offering peaceful walks and breathtaking views. A must-visit for nature and history lovers alike!

Stunning property! I could spend all day here just to walk around the beauty. The castle is amazing, and the Rock Close Garden is so cool with all the different things around it. Again, I wish I could've stayed longer. The Blarney house is beautiful as well! Watch out for all the workers driving around maintaining the gardens. There wasn't really a wait to get a ticket, but there was an hour wait to go up into the castle itself, and that was at 10 AM.

Blarney castle is a must visit if you are exploring Ireland. Our tour took us here and it was a beautiful, sunny day and we had a wonderful experience. The grounds are well maintained and there are lovely gardens to wander through and enjoy with ivy hedges and lavender bushes. The old manor house and the little, ivy covered cabin on the grounds were stunning as well and had their own gardens. We climbed to the top of the castle and I kissed the Blarney Stone. An attendant holds your body, as you lay down and you grab the two, metal bars, edge forward and stick your head out of the castle walls to kiss the lucky stone. My wife was scared and she didn’t do it, but it is safe to do and was certainly an experience. The line moves quickly and enjoy the panoramic views of the countryside while you wait. It was a very memorable experience and one that we are glad that we were able to see. It’s an iconic place, that was even better in real life!

Our visit to Blarney Castle & Gardens in Cork, Ireland, was a memorable experience! The castle itself is beautifully preserved, and the surrounding gardens are absolutely stunning. There's a magical feeling as you explore the grounds, which are meticulously maintained and full of unique plant life. The Poison Garden, in particular, is fascinating! Of course, the highlight for many is climbing to the top of the castle to kiss the famous Blarney Stone. However, be prepared—the walk up to the top is not for the faint of heart! The spiral staircases are narrow, steep, and can be challenging, especially if you're uncomfortable with tight spaces or heights. It’s worth noting that the climb can take some time, especially when it’s crowded, but the view from the top is incredible, and the experience of kissing the stone is something you’ll never forget. While the journey to the top may be a bit strenuous, the sense of accomplishment and the history surrounding the Blarney Stone make it worthwhile. If you're planning to visit, wear comfortable shoes and be patient. It’s a popular attraction, so expect some waiting, but the staff is friendly and helps keep things moving smoothly. Aside from the castle itself, the gardens are a must-see. You can easily spend hours wandering through the different sections, from the peaceful fern garden to the mystical rock formations of the Wishing Steps. It’s a fantastic spot for both history enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.

This was a awesome castle. So much to see. Beautiful grounds. I highly recommend kissing the stone. We went in February and no lines

Blarney Castle is a "Must Visit" attraction in Ireland. Of course when you are at Blarney Castle, then you should kiss the Blarney Stone!! Kiss a stone? Why? It is said that if you kiss the Blarney Stone, then you will receive the gift of eloquence and persuasiveness!! So, did I kiss the stone? You bet I did!! Do I now have the gift of the gab (eloquence, skill at flattery, and persuasiveness)? Hmmm......maybe!! Probably depends on who you ask. Lol!! The journey to the Blarney Stone is very scenic. The castle grounds are beautifully photogenic. We spent a couple of hours at Blarney Castle exploring the gardens, grounds, and Castle. We did this after lining up to kiss the Blarney Stone though. First thing we did, was walk over to the Castle so we could wait in line to climb up the castle's narrow and winding staircases to do the deed. Fortunately, we beat most of the buses loaded with tourists so our wait took less than an hour. Surprisingly or maybe not so surprising there were many folks who decided NOT to kiss the Blarney Stone. "The Blarney Stone is a block of Carboniferous limestone built into the battlements of Blarney Castle. It was set into a tower of the castle in 1446". So how do you kiss the Blarney Stone? Well, you have to lie on your back grab the handrails and lean way way back upside down so you can get close enough to kiss this special stone. Lots of folks choose not to do that for various reasons. They may be afraid of heights. It is located up high on one of the castle towers, and there is a good size hole that you squeeze through to give a nice peck. By the way, you can see the ground from that hole too. Also some people may not want to kiss a stone that thousands of other folks have kissed already. They do wipe the stone with cloths after each visitor though. Still, you never know what germs you may pick up. Didn't bother me, though. I traveled many kilometers to the Emerald Isle of Ireland so I was going to kiss that Blarney Stone no matter what. Overall, it was a wonderful bucket list experience visiting Blarney Castle. The entire area is just so BEAUTIFUL!!!! Even if I had not done the Blarney Stone experience it still would have been a 5 star experience for me. Loved it all!!

If you're like me, then a visit to kiss the Blarney Stone is a must when visiting Ireland. It's definitely not for everyone, but I felt it was a worthwhile activity. The Blarney Castle is an austere building on a misty hill (on the day we went) in Cork. It has super pretty verdant gardens around it, so there are cool sights to see from the top of the castle when you get up there. While you wind your way up the steps inside the castle toward the top, it can get a little claustrophobic, but once at the top it's so airy up there, you'll be relieved to be up so high. You will actually hold onto a rope while you ascend the steps, to make sure you don't fall! Once you get to the kissing spot, it's a little awkward of a process - you lay on your back, hold on to two bars on either side, and an attendant holds you while you lean forward and give the stone a big kiss. Yes, there are wives tales of what people "do" to the stone and also the worry of how many people have done the kissing before you, but sometimes you have to go with the flow and do the thing you came to do! *MWAH*

To be honest, skip the Blarney Stone experience. It's weird and awkward and there's no good photo op of it. I didn't even get close to the stone (wherever it is). So it's just a photo of a guy holding you while you lay upside down. But I waited so long in line -- which wasn't even that long since we went first thing in the morning -- that I felt obligated to do it. They should just pick a fake Blarney Stone and lie to us and tell us that's the real stone if it means I don't have to lay down and have a stranger hold me to take a photo. These are all negative comments, so why do I give it 5 stars? The grounds are BEAUTIFUL. It's such a peaceful walk. A wonderful respite for an introvert who needs some quiet time. I could have spent all day walking in the woods.

Don't go when it's rainy! Not a pleasant experience in the rain. You have to walk a lot just to get to the castle. And walking through the grounds in rain and mud isn't fun at all. Plus if you plan on climbing the castle and going to the Blarney Stone, the rocks will be slippery! We had people in our tour slip and fall multiple times. Blarney Castle is awesome. It's so big and magnificent! The gardens and cafe are fun to hit also while you are there. If you want to climb the castle to kiss the Blarney Stone, notice the warning. The climb is steep and the stairs are narrow! Plus it's really high up. Some people started having panic attacks and freezing up in fear. So, think about how you do with heights before you go. Once you enter the stairs, you can't go back. There's no way to go back, because people will be behind you climbing up. It is about 120 steps to climb up. 120 steep, narrow and possibly slippery steps if it is raining. I wasn't able to go up. I'm not in shape to be doing that, and I'm really clumsy lol Not gonna break my neck to climb the castle. A great landmark to visit! 10/10

Blarney castle is not only the castle itself but also all the wonderful gardens and grounds around it too. Spent 2+ hours there and only left because they were about to close at dusk. So much to see and well worth the price of admission

One of the more famed castles in Ireland which has become a must stop for tourists! I enjoyed my time here with my tour group! Of course Blarney Castle is known for the rock at the top where you lay upside down and kiss the Blarney Stone in hopes of acquiring the "gift of the gab". There was a super long line to get to the top so my friends and I actually skipped this part! Many in my tour group did the same and chose to spend our time exploring the vast gardens instead. The property is so beautiful. There is SO much to see and we so lucked out with the weather being gorgeous. There are signs posted throughout that give a brief overview of what you are looking at/the section you're in. I would definitely recommend saving time during your visit to explore. So many picture worthy sights and I loved the gift shops here too of course.

We stayed in Cork and it was only a 20 minute drive to the castle. Such a beautiful set of grounds to walk around and of course get to keep as the Blarney Stone.

I didn't climb to the top and kiss the stone because the line was long but I still enjoyed visiting the outside of the castle and the grounds. They have plenty of places to shop and eat as well!

Very nice grounds. Privately run and not under the park service. I don't get the appeal of kissing the stone though I'm in the minority. The line was very long. Money has been well invested and the care clearly shows.

The gardens are beautiful in May! If you don't want to wait 90 minutes to tour the inside of the castle the grounds and gardens are worth the ticket cost of about 22 each. 60 acres of beautiful greenery!

Just walking into the entrance garden I was in awe of the most beautiful blossom tree. The castle is huge and beautiful with so much history. The day we visited wasn't too crowded but it still took a while to go all the way up with the narrow steps. We didn't know we were waiting in line to kiss the Blarney Stone lol I guess our tour guide did not explain this stop that well. You are hung for a quick upside down and they also take a picture of you while kissing the stone. But no way I'm gonna kiss centuries of saliva and covid ewww! I just kinda pretend to boop it plus my back almost didn't make it. There are also cafes and souvenir stores all around the castle . We actually got the BEST ever crunchy & cheese toastie here. It was SO delicious. The seating area for the cafe is also where the stalls for the horses used to be so that was pretty cool.

This catle was probably the best castle ruins experience we had in Ireland. Your admission pays for entry into the entire estate, which is expansive and beautiful. If I was planning the trip again, this would be a lovely place to spend the better part of a day. While the details of the castle and the stone are fast enough to get through, the grounds could be wandered for hours. There are so many fields, woods, and gardens with well maintained paths, I felt the itch to put on running shoes and just go get lost through them. There were beautiful picnic spots and plenty of gardens with botanical informative signs. The additional residence on the grounds (still privately owned) was also beautiful and fun to photograph. As we were here during the off-season, the castle itself only took us about a half hour to go through. Several floors in various dilapidated states and lots of tiny little rooms you can't imagine to have ever been cozy. It was fun to be able to climb the many stairs and passages exploring. At the top you're rewarded with some incredible views of the surrounding countryside. The Blarney stone was less exciting. If it had been packed, we'd have waited in what was roped off to suggest a pretty ridiculous line. We walked right up, and two attendants help you lay on your back and kiss a stone (that looks like all the other castle stones with no particular distinction) upside-down.. Seemed a tad unsanitary and unnecessary. I just photographed the stone, but my friends did the whole bit. The caves below the castle were far more interesting in my opinion. Overall, I wouldn't go again for the stone (especially because the history of it is very shaky), but the castle is worth a view, and the gardens and grounds are divine.

Many, many years ago the San Antonio Shamrock Society used to hold an event at The University of The Incarnate Word. It was meant to highlight Irish Culture in our city. One of its main attractions was a replica of the Blarney Stone. Although it wasn't in the Blarney Castle it still left an indelible impression on me. It was on the ground far away from its gloried five flights. I did kiss that replica but I thought one day I would make a trip to experience it firsthand. I have always had an affinity for Ireland. Enter a trip to Europe where tickets purchased to see Ozzy Osborne only to have his Dublin date canceled. So I was left searching for things to do in its absence. In a heartbeat traveling to Blarney Stone was at the top of my list. A thing about Ireland is there exists a magical realism reflected in its lore and landscape. It is very similar to Latin American particularly Mexican Culture in that sense. Historical monuments like Blarney Castle should not be considered just as structures but contain fantastical properties. It is abundant all around. Me and my company arrived here right before it opened. Visitors were slowly trickling in at this point. If you can I suggest you buy tickets online to expedite the process quicker. And a friendly reminder carry Euros with you at all times. You should use them when paying for parking. The grounds are lush with green and every type of shrubbery imaginable in bloom. I saw tourists with huge backpacks or were wearing shoes meant for a fancy date thereafter. Leave them behind. Dress comfortably but know even in the summer it is still cool here. As a person who is afraid of heights looking at its base then the top made me nervous. But whatever distance you have traversed you should do it. Once inside I could sense its immensity. A video of the Castle's history is on repeat before you even start. So we made our way through its stairwell. A family of three was before us. Not even a flight of stairs in a lady from their company had a panic attack. She was sobbing miserably, afraid to go any further. She was apologetic that her meltdown had somehow effected our experience. We offered for her to climb with us. But her fright got the best of her. In her defense the flight of stairs are long-winding, narrow and claustrophobic. There are ropes, places to grip that guide you to the top. It is an extremely helpful tool. In hindsight getting there early allowed us to travel at our own pace. That alleviated most of the pressure I had with my nervousness. Along the way there are small rooms that serve to " catch your breath." I peered into one quickly only to see the distance downward. When we finally made the trek to the top there were two men waiting. One cleans the wall as you kiss it with Windex. The other helps you position yourself. I saw one person refuse to kiss the stone. Which is basically the Castle's wall because of the hygienic implications. At this point any surface touched by hand even kiss is compromised. (I know Covid is no where near over, I'm already over it.) You are positioned on your back. Beneath you are safety bars that make it impossible for you to fall. In addition as you kiss the wall staff takes your picture, which can be purchased downstairs for twenty- something(ish) dollars. Even if you are afraid of heights I implore you to look at the Castle's landscape from the top. Before you leave. I tend to not be superstitious nor easily lulled by the supernatural but I felt a presence. As if someone were guiding me through the stairs. Even in the entrance way as I was watching the video I felt something next to me. To me there is a magical realism at hand here. Or maybe it was the Guinness talking from the night before. Furthermore I know the garden's ground is vast with much more to see but by then more tourists arrived. A replica and the genuine article are two different things. I will not soon forget my trip here. On the way down one of the men said by kissing the stone you are bestowed with the gift of gab. Or eloquence. I'm still waiting . Any day now.

Awesome and a must see if you come to Ireland. Climb the 180 stairs to the top of the castle and then kiss the Blarney Stone!

Go for the Blarney Castle/Stone... stay for the Gardens! This is absolutely a must-do on the things to see while visiting Ireland. In general the Blarney Castle feels like it was just going to be a major tourist trap, but once we were inside of the gardens, we realized that the 60 acres had so much more to offer. We got lucky and the weather was absolutely beautiful, with partly cloudy skies and no rain. We started by checking out the gift shop... I actually thought I needed socks, but it ended up being really crowded on the way out, so now I would say this is a *PRO TIP* to start your visit at the gift shop. We arrived around 11:30 and grabbed a bite to eat (watch out for the ruthless crows) before venturing off (in hindsight, we probably should've brought our water and rain coats too, but it worked out just fine, luckily...). We immediately got in line for the Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone because the line can be upwards of 90 minutes long and if it had been pouring rain, I can't even imagine what that would be like. Our wait was about 30 minutes and went by fast, as they did a great job putting up informational signs along the way to teach you about the 5 different levels of the castle and the history of the castle and gardens. The castle itself is extremely impressive and the biggest one we've seen, ever. Even if you do not want to kiss the stone, the castle is still pretty cool to see. The stairwell is original and VERY narrow and steep, so I would warn anyone with a fear of heights, claustrophobia, or physically unable to climb back down the stairs, NOT to venture up to the top. We of course kissed the stone, got our pictures, and explored the castle before heading all the way down. Once the most touristy part of our day was behind us, we casually found our way through the rest of the gardens. Admittedly, we did not see every part but we did work our way around to the poison garden, the fern garden, the bee house, the lake and dock, the Blarney House, the loop around the fairy hideout, the jungle, the waterfall, the rock close, the lookout tower, the caves, AND the bridges on our way out. Details below: The gardens are so tidy and expansive, really awe-inspiring... and nothing like we've seen before. If you venture off the main path, you'll be rewarded with a secluded walk through vine covered trees in the poison garden, everything in a vibrant green around you. The fern garden is super peaceful and overwhelms you with a sense of calm. The bee house is so cute, especially for kids... You can see the hives and learn a little about their bee habitat (save the bees!). The lake is absolutely stunning, especially on a clear, sunny day. Overall the walk to the lake was long but super relaxing and we still hadn't seen it all! When we got to the Blarney house, there were donkeys, horses and cows in the fields. As we worked our way through the gardens, we came up to the playground and signs to the fairy hideout and again, everything was just so clean, tidy, and beautiful in the ways that nature is. We found some huge trees, spruce (native to CA) and unique archways. Before leaving we took the extra steps to clean through the "jungle" and glad we did because it really wasn't too much farther and we got to see the gorgeous waterfalls. The other areas nearby the castle are the rock close and the lookout tower. Our last stop was the caves... So cool! It was a short walk but you have to bend down the whole time walking through, because it is only about 4.5 feet tall but totally worth it because it is really unique and nice and cool inside. 10/10 recommend the gardens and if we lived locally, then we would definitely get and annual pass. For more recommendations and tips from our Ireland trip... Follow @vanmblin

Loved Blarney Castle, House, and Gardens! The whole grounds were so beautiful! Would highly recommend stopping here if visiting West Ireland. And make sure to kiss the Blarney Stone!

A must-do for tourists. Booked our tickets online in advance but tickets are available for purchase there. Cash and credit card accepted on the premises. Water was 2 euros at the gift shop. There were toilets available throughout the grounds. Kissing the Blarney Stone was on my bucket list for Ireland, and given that we were here on a Monday during off-season, there was no wait. We did see signs that indicated wait times of 60-90 min wait times for the stone. Note that the stairs were very narrow and there's no railing. If you're afraid of heights, you may wish to reconsider going up. However, the employees working at the top were lovely and also help secure you while you're hanging upside down. There are photos available for purchase but I would recommend having a friend film the process. There was a private farm on the grounds as well as stables converted into a cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. A picnic would be lovely on the grounds. It's good for kids as well as first time visitors. It was easily accessible via Bus from Cork City Center. Overall, a really fun afternoon outing.

Perhaps more Americans have heard of the Blarney Stone than the Irish Civil War Castle Blarney is a worthy visit Of course, many folks are in pursuit of the Blarney Stone But will it instill Blarney? I had plenty of Blarney before the Stone experience Journey to top of Castle Blarney, and join the line An attendant will assist you into a wooden frame; he will then propel you to the exterior of the castle where the "kiss" might occur There is Blarney that a group of Irish Lads who have spent several hour at the nearby pub visit the stone in the night to "water it down" Castle security makes this Blarney highly unlikely My Irish mother had plenty of Blarney as well

Yes, I did kiss the Blarney Stone. Yes, they do clean it after someone kisses it. Come early as possible since there will inevitably be a line and the less time in line, the less time in the potentially hot hot sun. Consider having some euro coins on you to tip the people that help you kiss the stone--it looks like a hard job, especially when the sun is beating down. Did I feel any different after kissing the stone? Yes. Some people get their speaking confidence from life experience, taking classes, boobs jobs, or mentors, but you can cut all that out and just kiss the stone to achieve the gift of gab.

A couple things to know about Blarney Castle..... 1. The Blarney Stone is an attraction in itself and brings people from all over the world looking for the ""gift of gab" 2. The castle alone is well worth the price of admission and a quick train ride from Dublin to Cork. Great stories both legend and fact. Beautiful views everywhere you look. And finally #3 and the one I didn't know until I got there..... The castle grounds and amazing!!!! You need to make the additional time and walk around. The site has done a great job of mapping out locations on the property that are steeped in legend. The Druid stones, witches kitchen and wishing stairs, and seven sisters make for a fun little treasure hunt. I had a great time. You will too.

The grounds and castle were beautiful. We absolutely loved our trip here in August. Parking was fine and they had multiple areas to get food. A lot of people talk about the castle, which is amazing, but the grounds are fairly large with other interesting sites like the Poison Garden (complete with cannabis), Stable Yard, Arboretum area, and Fern Garden. I would highly recommend exploring the whole grounds and not just the castle. The line to see and or kiss the stone was all the way to outside of the forecastle, so we bypassed that but spent a lot of time on the upper walls by the Poison Garden and Stable area. You can see the stone from below and see the poor people being helped under the area to kiss it, which is pretty funny to watch! Seating can be limited in the eatery areas so be aware of that.

It is an amazing place to visit. Be prepared to climb the small narrow walkway and stairs of the castle.

I have to make a confession, when planning our trip to Ireland I had planned on traveling in the northern part of Ireland. I wasn't dismissing the other half of the island but I wanted to limit my driving especially since I would be driving on the wrong side of the road :( I also wanted to avoid being in the car all day. I figured I would come back to Ireland one day and do the south end of the island but the wife and some friends all said "you have to go to Blarney Castle". I watched several videos on YouTube and all said how beautiful it was BUT one said if you are claustrophobic or had fear of heights "you may want to rethink this landmark". Damn, I kinda have both. My initial plans were a mistake, this is a MUST visit place. The climb was awful only because I am way too overweight; but honestly, it wasn't that bad. I climbed into the spiral staircase and the mind started to work on me but I quickly quelched those thoughts and after that is wasn't that hard. There are plenty of places to visit between floors. They are both interesting and give persons of all ages and physical conditions the ability to rest and gather their breath. I saw many persons into their 70's + passing me by on their way to the top. At the top, the fear of height wasn't too bad because it is all being done so quickly and it is just a process. There are some openings that are kind of crazy to look down but those can be avoided, until you get to the Blarney Stone. That is one of the openings where you go backwards and kiss the stone. The girl in front of me was under 5' tall and she kind of freaked out because her butt would have gone past the edge of the ledge that we all used to sit on. There were two metal vertical bars to grab onto but because of her height, she couldn't do the bars and keep her butt on the ledge. I'm 5'8" and had no problems. Having said all that the GARDENS ARE INCREDIBLE to explore. Just enjoying the green fields, trees and rivers is a great way to enjoy Ireland. I think I may have enjoyed walking the gardens even more. Strolling in a lush green trail under a canopy of trees is an amazing way to reflect on the beauty of this country, this area and His blessings. Near the coach house, we enjoyed a Bailey's and coffee with a raison scone. I am glad I listened to my wife and all our friends that suggested we come here. Worth the drive from Dublin.

Story... 10/10 Exhibits... 10/10 Weather 2/10 ***very damp This was my favorite stop of our Ireland excursion. The weather was not on our side, and the sheets of rain prevented us from being able to explore the gardens, but we were able to get an in-depth look at the castle. Be prepared for the stairs and alleyways to be short, narrow, and slick. Every room has something to explore, and they all have helpful information regarding the room. With two hours here, we only really had enough time to snoop through the castle. Definitely coming back here!

What a cool place. We went their as a group. We went all the way up to the top and looked around. It's a tight walk. I did not kiss the rock. Some of the team did I choose not to. What a nice place to walk around. We went to the court and had a drink. It's a must stop

Neat castle. Overpriced entrance fee. It is more of a tourist stop. We experienced a great tour at Ross castle providing more information about castle and tower house life for only €5 each. This is a beautiful place with lovely gardens.

The Blarney Castle site is a must see for folks visiting Cork. The grounds are gorgeous with several varied gardens, including a garden of poison. Of course, the penultimate reason for going is to kiss the Blarney Stone. There are staff to help you get in position and they will take your photo if you don't have co-travelers who will. There are two cafes on site. I had a very good sandwich, soft ice cream and an espresso. Overall, a very good experience. I couldn't recommend it more highly.

We lucked out with beautiful weather and got to walk around the extensive gardens for quite a while. We visited in September and crowds actually weren't too bad, which surprised us. Although we didn't wait the hour-long wait to get to the top of the castle, it was fun walking around the grounds and learning more about its history. We would definitely recommend the stop! For road trippers who are planning on stopping at Blarney Castle on the way to your next destination, they have a few cafes on the property with sandwiches that were fine, and coffee that was ok (push button machine style coffee, not super strong). They also had nice clean facilities and a big gift shop.

This review is for a pre-COVID experience. I would argue that every Yelp Elite has the gift for gab. Think about it, why are we so opinionated about food, service, ambiance?? Now if you kiss the Blarney Stone - you will join many who've done this. Will you have the gift? Maybe. Do they clean the Blarney Stone? I don't believe so. Although the main focus is to kiss the Blarney Stone - which may not be the best option due to COVID right now, the grounds and castle are quite wonderful. There's a long procession leading up to kissing the stone and you're able to enjoy the Castle and the views from up high. The castle is 600 years old - wow!! The trails, trees, mansions, etc. - are all great to take in and experience. Make sure to bring an umbrella - this is Ireland, after all. I hope to come back as soon as possible. :)

Pre COVID my sister and I visited Ireland on a Brendan tour. The Blarney Castle was one of the highlights of the tour. The grounds were amazing and we were treated by a bagpiper. The castle itself was amazing. The stairs climbing to the top were narrow! I'm really afraid of heights but was determined to "kiss the stone." Remember, this was before COVID. "Kissing the stone" was scary as hell, as you are hanging off (gripping bars) the side of the castle, but they did have good grip on me as well. There's the typical souvenir shops on the grounds, a pub where my sister and I grabbed a drink afterwards, I was still shaking! Since COVID, once everything reopens, don't know if kissing the stone will be allowed, I probably wouldn't, but a very unique, fun once in a lifetime experience.

You could spend a whole day here. Everything was worth the visit. Don't miss the giant swing also.

You have to visit Blarney Castle if you are in the Cork Ireland area. This was the first and only castle I've ever visited so I was in a bit of awe. One we entered the grounds were so beautiful, lush, and green. There was a creek with a small bridge on the way to the castle and the flowers and birds surrounding it was picturesque within itself. Anyway in order to get to the castle, there is a path to follow and once you enter its amazing to see how narrow the stairwell was to get to each level and section of the castle. There are write ups in each section and room explaining its use and features. But for many, the top is the main event. At the top of the castle, I was quickly surprised at how high we were although it didn't seem as high on the ground looking up. There was a walk stopping area to get the full view of the ground. Now if you are looking to get the the gift of gab, kissing the Blarney Stone is for you. While I watched many experience missing the stone, I did not as I'm a bit of a germaphobe. But all in all, an entertaining experience. The last portion of the grounds that's I had a chance to check out was the flower garden, it was beautiful and worth checking out as well. But I was pretty tired at that point. So we ended our day at the cafe and enjoyed a scone and beverages. Both times I went it was an amazing day!

Wonderful experience to spend the night is this perfect castle. Didn't know what to expect but there were all the modern conveniences that don't impact the castle atmosphere. Would have loved a quick tour and history overview. The staff was very helpful. Beautiful property with a wonderful walking trail near!!! Would go again!

We absolutely loved Blarney Castle and the surrounding gardens. We came in November and during Covid so we basically had the castle to ourselves! There were no lines and no waiting, I can imagine it gets very claustrophobic during the busy season. I saw signs for wait times of 60 minutes during peak season! The castle is amazing! It's one of the only castles where you can walk through the entire thing. There are definitely some tight spaces and steep staircases, but it's totally worth it. Amazing to be able to walk through a 600+ year old castle. And of course once you get to the top, you HAVE to kiss the Blarney Stone. There are 2 men that will help you, one holds you while you grip the iron bars and the other takes your photo. During Covid they're disinfecting after every person, so don't worry about that. After you kiss the Stone, there's a small gift shop at the bottom where you can purchase your photos. Pretty reasonably priced as well. We also enjoyed walking through the rest of the gardens and grounds. The air smelled amazing. I know it's weird to say but I could not get over how amazing the air smelled. There's several trails and plenty of beautiful gardens, you could spend all day there walking around. We had such a great day, I highly recommend taking a tour bus or spending the day there on your next trip to Ireland. Definitely one of the best days I've ever had.

What a beautiful castle and grounds. The sculptures on the walk up are very interesting. We were greeted by a gentleman playing the bag pipes. We had about a 90 minute wait to get in the castle. Some of the stairs are steep and narrow and can be a bit claustrophobic. They have rooms you can tour and look out the windows. Once at the top you see the bell and can enjoy the view. You have to sit backwards and hang a bit upside down to kiss the Blarney stone. They also take your picture you can purchase. We took our own pictures. You take another staircase down. It was worth the wait to say you have done it.

This was a must for my mom and me. She had been once decades before, now it was time to pass the tradition on to my generation. The castle sits quietly, covered in foliage over the centuries, it looks just so and as it should be, so fitting in such a wet and lush green country like Ireland. It was a cold and damp day, as was most of our days while in Ireland in fact. It is good distance and walk to the castle, be sure to have good walking shoes on and it's a steep and narrow spiral stairwell to get to the stone. You must be helped to lean back to kiss the stone. I remember a moment of terror wondering if teens come here at night and leave unpleasant fluids on this stone at all, hope not, we kissed the stone. The castle and grounds are a relic and something to see.

Blarney Castle was another one of my favorite places we visited in Ireland. One of the vendors at my work highly recommend that I visit the county where she was born and raised - Cork, Ireland. Blarney Castle is beautiful, it was quite a trek up the castle to the top where you are assisted hanging upside-down over a sheer drop to kiss the Blarney stone, which is said to give the gift of eloquence. Eloquence? I had to google it while I was there - fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing/clearly expressing or indicating something. Everything here was beautiful once you enter, the gardens, the rock close (I took a couple steps and opted to turn back around. Tip: do not wear expensive shoes or mules!) My mistake, but I still made it up to kiss the Blarney Stone! I must admit, it was not easy. I recommend wearing tennis shoes or flats. Laying down and hanging while holding the bars isn't scary at all, there's a man holding you so that you don't slip. They also have a little café on site where they sell Irish coffees and other snacks and beverages, very convenient. It was the perfect day out. We came here early in the morning, there was no wait for the stone! The whole property is very well maintained and beautiful, you can seriously spend hours here. Tip: Admission is 18 euros and parking is free and easy. Also, do not hesitate kissing the stone, you won't regret it and plus they take a picture of you kissing the stone.

The Blarney Castle, home of the legendary Blarney Stone, but there is oh so much more to behold here. Let's start with the main attraction; the castle and the Blarney Stone on the very top of the castle. The castle is one of the most intact castles I visited on my trip, and it was really cool to see. The steps up to the very top of the castle, where the stone is, are very steep and often located in round towers, so the steps are very narrow at points. Make sure you know what you are in for before you make the journey to the top. Some of the signs outside stated "90 minutes from this point to kiss the Blarney Stone." Luckily, on the day we were there, we were able to walk right up the steps, and once we got to the rooftop, there were only 8 or 9 people ahead of us to lean out over the edge and kiss the stone, so things moved really quick for us. The grounds that the castle stands on are very beautiful and well manicured. Lush, green foliage everywhere you look, and there are 9 different garden areas you can explore. Plenty of trails through the woods and around a small lake as well. My favorite garden was the Poison Garden. They have all kinds of plants that were (and some that are still) used for medicinal purposes, or to make people sick. One thing I found interesting was a single cannabis plant in the garden. It was covered with a jungle gym like structure so no one could steal it, LOL. Same goes for an opium poppy plant. It kind of made me giggle that they had to fence them off so no one would steal them. Lots of good reading about the various plants and their uses in this garden - take some time and read the signage on each plant. There are also caves located underneath the castle that some of the previous residents used to escape an invading army. You can't go in very far, but it's still cool to experience. We were there for a total of four hours but still didn't get to see everything. But then again, I was the victim of a horrific dancing accident the night before in a nightclub in Killarney, so I was limping pretty bad, and I slowed us down. For those of you in good health, you can probably see all the grounds in 3-4 hours. I can't stress the beauty of these grounds enough. I think a lot of people just head straight up to the castle, but take the time and explore the gardens and the walking trails. You won't regret it! Tickets bought at the gate are €16.00 per adult if bought online, but €18.00 at the gate. This really baffles me, but I love it. In America, when you buy tickets to things online ahead of time, you are hammered with convenience and service charges. But MANY of the attractions I visited in Ireland offered discounts for online purchases - I LOVE IT! Parking cost a couple of Euro and their parking machine wasn't taking credit cards that day, so you might want to bring cash with you just in case.

The Blarney castle is a must visit if in the area. The place ran us 50 euro for a family of 4 (2 adults and 3 kids). There is no cost difference for buying online versus there and you still have to wait in the line for tickets if you order online too. Once in the grounds we headed straight to the castle and Blarney Stone. They are one in the same - you wait in line regardless even if you just want to see only the castle. For us on a Monday around 2pm we were in line about 90 minutes. The castle was really neat and my hubby and I did kiss the stone but with the precarious way you have to lean to get to the stone we let our girls opt out of trying (if I was a little concerned being upside down - I know they would be too). After finishing with the castle and stone you can wander the ground and see the Blarney house (from the exterior) and see all the different gardens. They have a poison garden full of deadly or poisonous plants and another favorite was the stone garden filled with lots of unique things like the wishing stairs, the witch stone, and the seven sisters. We were within the park for about 4 hours and still didn't see everything. They do have parking at the castle for 2 euros. We would totally come back again.

Kissing the Blarney stone, ok I did it. Got there very early. No waiting. Would I do it again? No. The staircase up to stone is a but tight with very tiny stairs. The stairs coming down are much wider and easier to come down. What you need to see is the grounds! Amazing! There were hidden gardens, waterfalls, ponds, lakes, statues! Such a beautiful place to wander about! Skip the stone. Walk the grounds. That's what Blarney should be famous for!

Great castle with a lonnnnggg steep flight of steps to get to the top and kiss the Blarney Stone....but it's worth it. Great view from the top as well. Grounds are attractive with clean restroom and dining facility.

I continue to love Blarney Castle and grounds. The admissions has gotten much steeper but I totally understand. They do such a great job keeping everything together and presentable. Plan to spend at least 4 hours there if you want to explore the entire grounds. There are so many paths to take. The wonderful and beautiful gardens are just a haven for pictures. The sculptures are another place to hang about. The open fields by the lake with the wonderful animals are a sight! The cafes are well priced and staffed. The castle itself is one thing to see and I assume most people come for the Blarney stone. The line to wait to kiss the stone can be 30 min + on busy days so come early! Loads of bus tours come here. The walk up isn't bad at all. The guys who are supervising the stone though are quite abrupt since there is performance pressure for them due to the heavy lines. I love coming just to explore the gardens and I still have more to see! I can't wait to come back!

The Blarney Stone is something that I had always heard of but getting to kiss the stone is something that I can knock off my bucket list. Now, what does the legend say you wonder? Kissing the stone will give you the gift of the gab aka you will be a charmer. The actual kissing of the stone was semi-terrifying. My friend almost didn't do it and then we had to talk her into it since you can't come all the way to Ireland to the Blarney Castle and not kiss the stone. Basically, you sit down facing away from the stone which is on the wall of the castle. You then turn your head towards the wall, being held by the employee and kiss it upside down. It is very involved after climbing up many steps to even get there, so now I have that achievement to boost of as well. The actual grounds are quite pretty. We enjoyed walking around and snapping photos of the castle and the adjacent buildings. Luckily because we came right when they opened there were not many people and we did not have to wait in line or have too many other tourists around us at all. Yes, kissing the stone is a bit hokey, but you gotta do it. Now that I've done it I do not feel the need to ever put myself through that ordeal again though!

The Blarney Castle complex has quite a lot of attractions spread across its 60 acres. It has an amazing medieval castle built way back in 1446. It has caves to explore. It has some pretty water ways. It has gorgeous gardens and walking paths that criss-cross the grounds. It has the Blarney Stone ! It has lots of food options. It has lots of retail stores. It even has a hotel. You could easily spend a day here.

So I pretended to stand in line for the kissing of the rock but totally bailed once I got closer haha! We enjoyed this castle. Our favorite part of the area though had to be the park. We laid under a big tree and it was just breathtaking!

Amazing place to visit. As a child, I only read and seen pictures of castles and to to see one in person is awesome. It's also educational, you'll have an insight of how life was in the medieval times. Some people kissed the "Blarney Stone", which has an interesting story behind it. I'm glad this is part of our tour.

You come here for one thing and one thing only.... to kiss the blarney stone. Is it a tourist stop??? Absolutely and it was so much fun! When you visit Ireland this is a must stop! I came with a tour group and since our guide already purchased tickets we got to bypass the long line of people waiting to get tickets. Then it was off to the castle to climb the narrow spiral steps to the open top. Once at the top you walk over to the section where two guys are there to help you get in position to kiss the stone. This takes a minute... one has to lean backwards (holding on to an iron railing) from the parapet walk. Of course they take photos for you... in hopes you will purchase. Just hand your phone off to someone in your group before you lay down! It happens super fast but it is so worth it. After kissing the stone you are suppose to have the gift of gab. Will see :) We lucked out with the weather, it was sunny with just a little bit of wind.

Great for a family day out , lots to explore and great views . Access to the top of the castle is up some steep steps but worth the effort.

This is a beautiful facility with gorgeous grounds. Make sure to visit the stone in the castle first. We were there at 10 AM and had an hour wait on a weekday in June. There are staff at the stone to help position you and they take your picture (charge if you choose to buy it). You can walk around the grounds/gardens. There is a bagpiper playing next to the castle. We were on a bus tour and were there 2.5 hours which was enough time to visit stone, see some of the gardens, and have time for lunch.