Introduction

The Republic of Ireland’s second city, Cork is every bit as cosmopolitan and enthralling as the capital Dublin is for visitors. Through the centuries, Cork has grown from a small, unassuming merchant town with a significant religious history to a city that offers much of what similar places of its size offer throughout Europe. In Cork, you might like to go for a bit of retail therapy on St Patrick’s Street, or stroll along the banks of the River Lee, which splits the city in two. Or perhaps you would prefer to head out into the Munster countryside. The weather in Cork is better during the summer, when it can be as pleasant as anywhere on the Mediterranean, if you’re lucky!

Ideal car

Important things to note

Highlights & Hotspots

St Finbar’s Cathedral, just a short walk away from Elizabeth Fort, was built in the 19th Century. It’s arguably the finest landmark in Cork, revealing a lot about the Saint, his good deeds and his impact on the area.
Elizabeth Fort is another place worth visiting. Although hard to find straight away, once you get there, you can get great views of the Cork skyline. On Sundays, a market festival is held there where you can buy food and craft goods made in Ireland.
The Cork Film Festival, which takes place at the beginning of November every year, is a great event where films made in Ireland and all over the world are premiered and screened. It’s over 50 years old, and is one of the city’s cultural highlights.
Pairc Ui Chaoimh, a 50,000-capacity stadium in Ballintemple is home of the Cork GAA team. Here, you can catch a game of either Gaelic Football or Hurling, both of which are physical yet thrill-a-minute sports which enjoy huge popularity here.