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Major city · Ireland

CastletownbereBaile Chaisleáin Bhéarra

Give it 1–2 nights as a Beara Peninsula base: one day for the town and Bere Island, one for the Allihies and Dursey run.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Castletownbere is a working fishing port on the Beara Peninsula, 50 km west of Bantry along the N71 and R572. It is not a sightseeing town in itself: it is the practical base for the peninsula, Bere Island and the Dursey cable car. Without a car you are limited to the town, the ferries and the few buses that reach it on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (weather, short days, many places shut)
Airports
ORK · KIR
Nights
1–2
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • Ireland ↗Ireland is in the EU but not in the Schengen area; it sets its own entry rules and a Schengen visa is not valid for Ireland. Check Irish immigration for your passport.
  • Ireland ↗Ireland and the UK form the Common Travel Area, with no routine checks on the land border. Visitors who are not Irish or British must still meet UK rules (including the UK ETA where it applies) to enter Northern Ireland.
  • Ireland ↗Driving is on the left; rural roads are narrow with hedges and few passing places.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Castletownbere112 ▾
  • Police, ambulance, fire, coast guard112
  • Alternative emergency number999

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Castletownbere, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee€3–4 (≈ US$4–5)
  • BeerPint of stout€5–6 (≈ US$6–7)
  • Budget bedHostel or bunkhouse bed, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedB&B double room, a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)
  • High-end bedB&B double room, a night, per room€160 (≈ US$190)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €60 (≈ US$70) · Mid €100 (≈ US$120) · High €160 (≈ US$190)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Beara Peninsula baseBere Island ferryDursey Island cable carMacCarthy's BarAllihies copper mines
Airports
ORK Cork Airport (About 2 h 30 min by road via Bantry; no direct bus to Castletownbere, so rent a car or go via Cork city.) · KIR Kerry Airport (About 2 h by road via Kenmare and the north side of the peninsula.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    9°C (48°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    9°C (48°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    10°C (50°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    12°C (54°F)

  5. May

    Best

    15°C (59°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    17°C (63°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    17°C (63°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    14°C (57°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    11°C (52°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    9°C (48°F)

Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (19°C (66°F)), coolest Jan (4°C (39°F) low), wettest Jan (18 rain days), driest Jun (11). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Castletownbere: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

9°C (48°F)

4°C (39°F)

18 rd

Feb

9°C (48°F)

4°C (39°F)

15 rd

Mar

10°C (50°F)

5°C (41°F)

16 rd

Apr

12°C (54°F)

6°C (43°F)

13 rd

May

15°C (59°F)

8°C (46°F)

12 rd

Jun

17°C (63°F)

11°C (52°F)

11 rd

Jul

19°C (66°F)

13°C (55°F)

12 rd

Aug

19°C (66°F)

13°C (55°F)

13 rd

Sep

17°C (63°F)

11°C (52°F)

13 rd

Oct

14°C (57°F)

9°C (48°F)

16 rd

Nov

11°C (52°F)

6°C (43°F)

17 rd

Dec

9°C (48°F)

5°C (41°F)

18 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

You need wheels for the peninsula and Bere Island. Bere Island Ferry runs from the harbour to the west landing, roughly hourly, 10 min, year-round. Murphy's Ferry runs from Filane Middle Pontoon (5 km east, by the golf course) to Rerrin/Lawrence Cove, about six sailings daily, 20 min. There is no local taxi in town; taxis exist in Bantry.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Bere Island

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Bere Island Ferry from Castletownbere harbour, 10 min, roughly hourly year-round

10 km (6.2 mi) by 3 km (1.9 mi); bring a bike or car. Ruins at Ardaragh West and Greenane.

Allihies and the Copper Mine Museum

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Drive R572 west, about 20 km (12 mi)

Museum open Apr–Oct daily 10:30AM–5PM, adult €7, child €3.

Dursey Island

go

Door to door: About 45 min plus crossing

Drive to the cable car station at the tip, then the cable car

Cable car runs daily from 9AM, to 7:30PM Mar–Oct and 4:30PM Nov–Feb, with a 1–1:30PM break; adult return €10.

Eyeries and Ardgroom

go

Door to door: About 30–45 min

Drive the north coast road towards the Kerry boundary

Ballycrovane Ogham Stone and a stone circle at Ardgroom.

Kenmare

go

Door to door: About 1 h 10 min

Bus 282 four times a day, 70 min via Lauragh and Ardgroom

Change at Kenmare for Killarney and Tralee.

Bantry

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Bus 236 or Local Link 232, or drive the N71 and R572

The nearest town with a full range of services.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Main Street and Main Square

Pubs, shops and the harbour on foot; MacCarthy's Bar and the seafood places are here.

West End and the pier

Quieter, closest to the Bere Island ferry slip and Lynch's on the Pier.

Coast road east (Derrymihan, Ballard)

B&Bs and the golf course 2–4 km (1.2–2.5 mi) out; you need a car or a long walk.

Bere Island

A handful of places to stay on the island; book ahead and check ferry times.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€60–90 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
Mid
€90–140 (≈ US$110–170) excl. bed
High
€140 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
B&B double room1 × 2 nights × €120€240
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × €100€400
Bere Island Ferry return2 × €10€20
Dursey cable car, adult return2 × €10€20
Allihies Copper Mine Museum, adult2 × €7€14
Car hire, one day1 × €45€45
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€74
Trip total≈ €203 per person per day, bed included€813≈ US$950

2026 estimate in euro; fuel and ferry fares excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee€3–4 (≈ US$4–5)
Seafood main in a pub or restaurant€18–28 (≈ US$25–35)
Pint of stout€5–6 (≈ US$6–7)
B&B double room€90–160 (≈ US$110–190)
Bere Island Ferry return€10 (≈ US$12)
Dursey cable car, adult return€10 (≈ US$12)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A small, quiet port town; the real risks are single-track roads, weather that turns fast on the hills, and the exposed Dursey crossing. Tell someone your route if you walk the Beara Way.
  • Bus Éireann 236 only continues past Glengarriff to Castletownbere on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: check the timetable before you rely on it.
  • No local taxi: arrange lifts or drive.
  • Dursey cable car takes a lunch break 1–1:30PM and stops earlier in winter.
  • Dursey Island has no shops, accommodation or toilets: take everything you need.
  • Puxley Mansion is derelict and barricaded; do not plan a visit.
  • Mobile signal is patchy on Eir and Vodafone outside town.

Emergency numbers

Police, ambulance, fire, coast guard
112
Alternative emergency number
999

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

CastletownbereBaile Chaisleáin Bhéarra

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Chuig an seoladh seo, le do thoilTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All emergencies112
  • Alternative999

Embassy

No embassies in Castletownbere; the US Embassy is in Dublin and most others are in Dublin or Cork.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bere Island Ferry, return: about €10 (≈ US$12), 10 min
  • Dursey cable car, adult return: €10 (≈ US$12), runs from 9AM
  • Bus 236 Cork → Castletownbere: about 3 h, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only

Say or show

  • Dia duit — Hello (jeea gwit)
  • Go raibh maith agat — Thank you (guh rev mah agut)
  • Le do thoil — Please (leh duh hull)
  • Sláinte — Cheers (slawn-cha)
  • Cá bhfuil an bád? — Where is the ferry? (kaw will on bawd)

English is spoken everywhere; Irish is used in signage and in Gaeltacht areas nearby.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Castletownbere. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (weather, short days, many places shut) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry and cable-car times field-checked for the shoulder months, with a wet-day fallback.
  2. Walking clusters for the town, Bere Island and the Allihies–Dursey run.
  3. Place pages with verified hours for the Copper Mine Museum and Dzogchen Beara.
  4. Storm and short-day fixtures so the peninsula plan can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Ireland

Sources