Cork City
Enjoy the laid-back vibe of one of Europe’s cultural capitals
Activities
Get into the spirit of things in sports-mad Cork
Cycling
Rent a bike and enjoy a tour around Cork’s sightseeing spots. The local tourist office will point you in the right direction for stockists.
Golf
You don’t have to worry about heading out of the city for golf because the Ted McCarthy Municipal Golf Course is just three miles from the centre of Cork.
Hurling
Experience one of Ireland’s most exhilarating indigenous sports with the Munster Club Hurling Championship.
See more highlightsRowing
The Ocean to City race is a unique event that draws competitors and spectators from all over the world to the Cork City for a 15 nautical mile race.
Children
From a playzone to a prison, children’s fun in Cork is nothing if not varied!
Chuckies Playzone, Wilton
This large indoor play centre is packed with cool slides and a big ball pond. It has also been specifically designed to cater for children with special needs.
Cork City Gaol
Unlock the past in a wonderfully preserved old gaol with life-sized wax figures from Irish history. The gaol has a haunting atmosphere with grafitti on the cell walls and it was from here that thousands were transported on coffin ships to America and Australia.
Foto Wildlife Park
Take a walk on the wild side in Cork's fabulous wildlife park, with wallabies, cheetahs, penguins and many, many more, it's a nature trail to remember.
Culture & festivals
Soak up the artsy vibe in one of Europe’s most cultural capitals!
Cork Opera House
Over 150 years old, the Cork Opera House offers a world-class programme of events across all disciplines in the performing arts. It’s Cork’s premier venue and boasts a 1,000-seat auditorium.
Crawford Municipal Art Gallery
The city art museum, located right in the heart of Cork City in a stunning building, welcomes more than 200,000 visitors a year. The collection comprises over 2,000 works from 18th-century Irish and European painting and sculpture through to modern video installations.
Festivals
The Cork Choral Festival is one of Europe’s premier choral festivals, and is held annually in Cork City Hall. Ireland’s film fraternity descends on the city in October for the Cork Film Festival and a pure party atmosphere. The Cork Jazz Festival, meanwhile, entertains around 40,000 revellers with a host of excellent local and international artists.
See more highlightsTriskel Arts Centre
Triskel is a brilliantly conceived arts centre with a broad range of exhibitions from poetry to photography and has a wide-reaching community and outreach programme.
Eating, Drinking & Luxury
Sit back and savour top restaurants, cool bars and luxury hotels
Hayfield Manor Hotel
This deluxe hotel has the feeling of a country house and is a wonderfully grand and opulent place to rest your head.
Pub and bars
Currently one of the most popular bars in Cork, Bodega is a hip spot in a converted warehouse. Rhino Rooms is a stylish, and rather tiny bar that’s popular with a trendy crowd. But for old-school atmosphere and a more traditional vibe, try the lovely Castle Inn with its cosy front snug.
Restaurants
Café Paradiso is a wonderful, critically acclaimed vegetarian restaurant that’s as popular with carnivores as it is with veggies. Fenns Quay is a good spot for a casual dining, with husband and wife team Pat and Eilish O’Leary serving up simple quality dishes at affordable prices in this pleasant 250-year-old listed building. Innovative chef Seamus O’Connell gets creative at The Ivory Tower, and his unique style has earned him a loyal following and lots of rave reviews. Jacobs on the Mall is a stylish contemporary, highly-regarded restaurant with modern European dishes and locally sourced organic and free range ingredients.For some stylish French fine dining try Les Gourmandises Restaurant, or for a good value traditional Cork-style lunch try the Farmgate Café in the first floor of the English Market. Finally, if you’re after some delicious Japanese fast food, head to Wagamama.
See more highlightsThe English Market
This Victorian market building is worth a visit in its own right, but don’t miss the fresh local produce including meat, poultry, fish and a range of cheeses and delicatessen items.
Gay & Lesbian
Head to Cork City for the best gay scene in the south
Boo (3 Faulkner’s Lane, off Patrick Street)
Hip bar that gets packed on weekends.
Instinct (Market Lane, off Patrick Street)
Cork’s premier gay venue with karaoke, drag queens and dance tunes.
The Other Place (St Augustine Street)
Full-on parties on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a predominately male crowd.
Shopping
Cork is the top shopping destination in the south with elegant department stores and chic boutiques
Beth, Cork
Smart boutique with an excellent selection of women’s designer labels.
Brown Thomas, Cork
Elegant department stores specialising in top designer labels.
The English Market, Grand Parade, Cork
A must-visit for those with even a passing interest in gourmet food.
Sightseeing
Explore Cork’s unique history with an intriguing museum and landmark cathedral
Cork Butter Museum
The dairy industry is central to the history of Cork and this unique museum traces the craft of butter-making right back to the late 17th century.
Clover Hill
Clover Hill is a pretty spot with an exotic collection of trees and shrubs.
Fitzgerald Park
Home to the Cork Museum, this lovely park extends over 18 acres and has a good collection of plants and shrubs as well as a children’s playground.
See more highlightsMarina Walk
This pleasant walk goes from the suburbs of Blackrock towards the city alongside the river, and lasts for about two miles.
St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Dean Street
Built by William Burges at the end of the 19th century, St Fin Barre’s is on a site that dates back to the 7th century. The present cathedral is within easy walking distance of the city centre and enjoys beautiful marble mosaics from the Pyrenees.
