There is currently no pre-booking for regular visits – simply arrive and pay at the gate.

Most visitors drive to Fota Wildlife Park, (please note there is a €3 per car, per visit charge for the car park). We also have a dedicated entrance just outside the Fota Train Station on Irish Rail’s Cork – Cobh line. For further details on the train please visit irishrail.ie for train times and connecting options.

For directions to the park visit link to How To Find Us.

The car park is run by Fota House and Gardens and this means that Fota House’s grounds, frame yard garden, walled gardens and arboretum are also included in the €3 car park charge and monies raised from this charge go towards the upkeep of Fota House and Gardens. The Irish Heritage Trust, who own Fota House and Gardens is a charitable status organisation like Fota Wildlife Park.

Most visitors spend around 2.5 – 3 hours in the park, but this can vary.

There are three bathroom stations, with baby changing facilities, in the Park. They are located beside the main entrance, in the Asian Sanctuary and beside the Oasis Café. All have hand washing facilities and there are many hand sanitising stations through-out the Park.

You cannot drive inside the park, only authorised staff and contractor vehicles are allowed within the Park. Please note bikes, scooters, skateboards and other forms of personal transport are NOT permitted in the Park.

Fota Wildlife Park has no accommodation options but there are many options close to us, within the Cork Harbour Islands as well as Cork City, Midleton and the wider East Cork area.

You can find our opening times and prices here.

We offer both Educational Group Tours and private tours with a ranger on our VIP Experience Tours.

We do not have a Santa experience here in Fota Wildlife Park. Some of our neighbours on Fota Island do, both Fota House and Fota Island Resort, as well as the Cork North Pole Experience in nearby Cuskinny. Check out the Cork Harbour Islands website for more details on the region.

Fota Wildlife Park is closed 24th – 26th of December inclusive and is open the rest of the year. Unfortunately sometimes extreme weather means we may be closed outside of these dates.

The park is 100 acres and there is 4.5km of internal roads to walk around.

We have a wheelchair loan facility.
*Please note these are limited in availability and on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre-booking is not available for these wheelchairs.

The tour train operates daily during peak season and at weekends off peak (November to March). €1 per person per trip. Card payments are accepted.

It is prohibited to take any of the following into Fota Wildlife Park:

• Balls, hurleys, frisbees, balloons or other similar items.
• Dogs including assistance dogs any pets or other animals of any nature.
• Drones for aerial filming or photography
• Bikes, scooters, skateboards, roller skates, rollerblades and other forms of personal transport.
• Weapons, fireworks, smoke bombs, glass bottles, blades, flammable liquids, portable BBQs or other articles that may cause injury.
• Alcohol is not permitted in the Wildlife Park.

Fota Wildlife Park strives to be an accessible and enjoyable attraction for all.
You can find our Visual Guide / Social Story here.
Please note guide dogs and assistance animals are not allowed inside the wildlife park.

We have a discount of 50% on the entry ticket for a child or adult with additional needs, their accompanying carer will receive entry free of charge, please have your associate members card or lanyard or carers card with you on arrival.
No need to pre-book to avail, available at admissions.

Fota Wildlife Park does not allow dogs, including guide dogs and assistance animals into the Wildlife Park. We do have a limited amount of comfortable outdoor space available with access to fresh water for your assistance dog for the duration of your visit – please call our team ahead of your visit to make arrangements on 021 481 2678

All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times within the Wildlife Park.

Yes, we have two different Annual Passes available, visit the Annual Pass page for full details.

If you renew before your Annual Pass has expired, 12 months with be added onto your existing expiry date, 12 months will be added onto the current expiry. If you renew after your Annual Pass has expired 12 months will be added from the date of renewal (not your old expiry date).

There are currently no ATM’s within the park, our tills on the admission gates and at the Serengeti Gift Shop can provide cash-back.

Yes, if you wish to bring a picnic, there are lots of picnic tables around the Wildlife Park. There are also some catering facilities with the Wildlife Park. You can find more details here.

Feeding the animals is generally NOT permitted. Giving them food outside their specialised diet can make them sick.

There is duck food available at the lake area (the machine takes €1 coins only) but ONLY this specialised food can be fed to the ducks and geese but NOT the other animals in the park.

You can donate directly to Fota Wildlife Park. If you would like to find out more about the work we do please visit our Conservation information here.

We recommend buying gift cards as they can be used to book a visit. Enquire with our team on +353-21-4812678.

We do not have storage lockers at Fota Wildlife Park.

To avail of student and senior rate tickets, you must a valid relevant photo ID with you to admissions.

We do not currently have a Volunteer Programme.

We have a limited Work Experience Programme available, please email info@fotawildlife.ie for details on application process. (Please note there is extremely limited availability).