Getting to Bantry
How to reach Bantry by train, bus, taxi, or car.
Train
Bantry has no train station. The old Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway branch line to Bantry closed to passengers in 1947 and to freight in 1961, and no rail service has run to the town since. The nearest working station is Cork Kent Station, roughly 90km away, from which you would need to continue by bus or car. Most visitors reach Bantry by bus or by road rather than rail.
- Nearest Station
- Cork Kent Station, approximately 90km away
- Status
- No rail service to Bantry; the branch line closed in 1961
- Onward Travel
- Bus Eireann route 236 connects Cork city (and Kent Station) to Bantry
Tips
- •Do not plan around a Bantry train station: there has not been one since 1961.
- •If arriving in Cork by train, continue to Bantry on Bus Eireann route 236 or by car.
Bus
Bus Eireann route 236 is the main public transport link to Bantry, running from Cork city through the county to Bantry, on to Glengarriff and continuing to Castletownbere on the Beara Peninsula. It is the practical way to reach Bantry without a car, and the same route continues north to Glengarriff, so a car is not strictly required for a short day trip in that direction either, though frequency is lower than on the Cork city end of the route.
- Main Route
- Bus Eireann 236 (Cork to Bantry, Glengarriff and Castletownbere)
- Journey From Cork City
- Check current timetable at buseireann.ie; rural timetables are revised periodically
Tips
- •Check the live timetable at buseireann.ie before travelling, as rural routes are reviewed periodically.
- •The 236 continuing on to Glengarriff and Castletownbere means Bantry can anchor a car-free day trip north onto the Beara Peninsula, though the peninsula's smaller roads are best explored with a car.
Useful Links
Taxi
Local taxi firms operate from the town and can be arranged for airport transfers, evenings out, or trips onto the peninsulas where bus coverage is thin. Ask at your accommodation for a current recommended local operator, as availability is limited compared with Cork city.
- Availability
- Limited number of local operators; book ahead for early morning or late evening runs
Tips
- •Book ahead for early flights, as availability is limited outside the town centre.
Driving
Bantry sits on the N71, the main west Cork coastal road, which runs from Cork city through Bandon, Clonakilty and Skibbereen before reaching Bantry and continuing on to Glengarriff and Kenmare. The town is roughly 90km from Cork city, and driving times vary noticeably with the route and season, since the N71 is a winding coastal road for long stretches rather than a fast dual carriageway. Bantry works well as a hub for day trips: the Sheep's Head peninsula runs southwest, Glengarriff and the Beara Peninsula run northwest, and Cork city and the airport are back the way you came.
- From Cork City
- Approximately 90km via the N71, around 1 hour 45 minutes depending on route and traffic
- To Glengarriff
- Approximately 15km, around 20 minutes
- To Sheeps Head Peninsula
- Trailhead accessible directly from the town
- To Castletownbere
- Approximately 50km, around 1 hour on peninsula roads
Tips
- •The N71 through west Cork is scenic but slow in places; do not expect motorway speeds.
- •Roads onto the Sheep's Head and Beara peninsulas narrow considerably; allow extra time.
- •Parking in the town centre is easiest outside Friday market hours and outside the summer festival weeks.
From the Airport
Live options for reaching the village from the nearest airports. Times and fares are a guide and can change with traffic or operator schedules.
Cork AirportORK
80 km away- Duration
- ~1h 20m
- Cost
- Taxi or fuel
Cork Airport is the closest airport to Bantry, roughly 80km by road. Most visitors either hire a car at the airport or arrange a taxi transfer.
- Duration
- ~2h or more with a change
- Cost
- Adult fare, cheaper with a Leap Card
No direct bus from Cork Airport to Bantry; travel into Cork city first, then take route 236. Check connection times before relying on this option for a tight schedule.
Operator: Bus Eireann
Kerry AirportKIR
75 km away- Duration
- ~1h 30m
- Cost
- Fuel and tolls
An alternative to Cork for visitors touring Kerry as well as west Cork, via Kenmare and the N71 Caha Pass. Scenic but slower than the distance alone suggests.
Dublin AirportDUB
330 km away- Duration
- ~4h 15m
- Cost
- Fuel, tolls and parking
A long drive; most visitors fly into Cork instead, as it is far closer to Bantry.
Parking
Parking options in and around Bantry. On busy weekends, arriving early is recommended.
Wolfe Tone Square and town-centre car parks
Central pay-and-display parking around the square and the Quay. Space is tight during the Friday market and during the summer festival weeks (West Cork Chamber Music Festival, late June to early July, and West Cork Literary Festival, mid-July).
Planning the wider trip?
Our country-level primer covers national rail, intercity buses, airports, the Leap Card, and whether you actually need a hire car for your trip around Ireland.
Getting Around Ireland →