Cobh (Cork)

Cobh (pronounced "Cove") is a small harbour town in Cork Harbour where rows of brightly painted Victorian houses climb a steep hillside below St. Colman's Cathedral and its 49-bell carillon. The town was the Titanic's final port of call, and 123 passengers boarded from the quay here. Most cruise ships dock directly in the town centre. The Titanic Experience, housed in the original White Star Line ticket office, recreates the boarding process using the real passenger manifest. The Heritage Centre in the restored Victorian railway station covers the broader story of Irish emigration. Spike Island, once a monastery and later a prison, is a short ferry hop away. A 25-minute train ride brings you to Cork City, where you can visit the English Market for artisan cheese and fresh fish, or continue to Blarney Castle. Back in Cobh, the pubs along the waterfront serve stew, fresh mussels, and pints of Murphy's or Beamish (the local stouts, rather than Guinness). The terraced houses known as the Deck of Cards make for a good photo, and the walk up is steeper than it looks.