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Disclaimer: I paid for this trip myself. All recommendations and opinions are my own.
My husband and I visited the Irish city of Cork on a day trip from Dublin. GoBe run a very affordable and regular direct express bus that runs from Dublin airport, to Dublin city then on to Cork and back. It is quite a long bus ride between the cities, taking around 3 hours each way, but it’s a picturesque drive and the buses are comfortable enough to take a nap. Of course, if you have the time, then I do recommend staying the night to get the most out of your visit, as there is plenty to see and do in Cork. However, if you are limited in time, then you can explore the best parts in a day, and if you are on a budget then you will be pleased to discover that many of the sights are free.
The bus depot is right in the city centre, so there was no wasting time, we delved straight into sightseeing. Our first stop was the nearby English Market. This famous covered indoor market was built in the 18th century and has been visited by many famous people including the famous chef and restaurateur Rick Stein and Queen Elizabeth. They sell a variety of food from fresh vegetables, fish and meat to chocolate. But even if you are not interested in the food, the architecture is reason alone to visit. There is an upstairs balcony area where you can enjoy a drink or cafe meal whilst watching the coming and going of customers.
We walked through Cork’s vibrant centre city area which had a nice relaxed, laid back feel compared to the frenetic hustle and bustle of Dublin. Cork has a variety of architecture, I really enjoyed the colourful terraces. I recommend just allowing yourself to wander amongst it.
Our wondering took us to nearby St Fin Barre’s Cathedral. The cathedral was built on the grounds of an old medieval Cathedral which had fallen into disrepair and was consequently was demolished in 1785. The current church was built in a French Neo-Gothic style with lots of attractive arches and spires. The cost of visiting is rather steep at €6, but worth it of you enjoy visiting attractive churches. Cork has another lovely Gothic church, the Holy Trinity Church & Capuchin Friary at 7 Father Mathew Quay.
If you enjoy historic sites, then nearby St Fin Barre is Elizabeth Fort which was originally built in 1601. Much later, a Garda (Police) station was built within the fort and only relocated in 2013. Entry is free, but you can pay a small fee for a guided tour.
We continued our walk to visit the picturesque Quadrangle at Cork University where we found a beautiful ivy covered stone building set amongst lush green lawns. To get to Fitzgerald Park we crossed the river on the Gaol Walk bridge which is front of the imposing old County Jail. If you are interested in historic penitentiaries, then nearby is the old Cork City Gaol which is now a museum open to visitors. People who committed crimes within the old city boundary were sent to Cork City Gaol, and those that committed them outside these boundaries were sent to the old County Jail.
It was a lovely warm sunny summers day, so we enjoyed a stroll around Fitzgerald park which has very well maintained park and gardens, and then visited The Cork Public Museum which is located within the park in an old Georgian house and tells the history of Cork. The museum is free to enter (donations welcome) and was really enjoyable, I really recommend it.
We spent some time exploring the streets of Cork before moving on to our final attraction of the day, the Crawford Art Gallery, another free site. The gallery is housed in a beautiful old building and has a permanent collection of Greek and Roman statues by Antonio Canova which were bought from the Vatican in 1818. There was also a collection of paintings from both national and international artists. The building is also stunning and is something worth seeing it its own right.
We finished our day enjoying the gourmet burgers at CoqBull (5 French Church St, Centre, Cork, Ireland) before jumping back on the bust to head home to Dublin. I really recommend you visit the vibrant city of Cork.
Attractions in Cork
- English Market Princes St, Centre, Cork, T12 RW26, Ireland. A famous 18th century market place.
- St Fin Barres Cathedral Bishop St, The Lough, Cork, Ireland. Attractive French Neo-Gothic style cathedral with lots of attractive arches and spires.
- Holy Trinity Church & Capuchin Friary 7 Father Mathew Quay, Centre, Cork, T12 CYR9, Ireland. Worth visiting if you enjoy admiring attractive churches.
- Elizabeth Fort Barrack St, The Lough, Cork, Ireland. Take a stroll around the fort and learn about Corks history.
- Cork University The Quadrangle. A very picturesque historic building worth admiring on your way to Fitzgerald’s Park.
- Fitzgerald’s Park A peaceful, well maintained park in the city, worth taking a stroll around on a sunny day and also visiting the Cork Public Museum located in the park.
- Cork Public Museum Mardyke, Cork, Ireland. Free museum the tells Cork’s history.
- Cork City Gaol Convent Ave, Sunday’s Well, Cork, Ireland. This old city gaol is now a museum.
- Crawford Art Gallery Emmett Pl, Centre, Cork, Ireland. View their collection of Greek and Roman and paintings from both national and international artists for free.
- Butter Museum O’Connell Square, Shandon, Cork, Ireland. This museum celebrates Cork’s butter making history and also houses historic butter making equipment. Alongside the exhibition, they regularly carry out butter making demonstrations. There is a small fee for admission.
- The Glucksman University College, Cork, Ireland. Free modern art gallery.
Practical Tips for Visiting Cork
- How to get there from Dublin: GoBe run a very affordable and regular direct express bus that runs from Dublin airport, to Dublin city then on to Cork and back.
- Getting around Cork: Cork is flat and quite compact, so we managed everything on foot, however, there are city buses available to use as well as the city bikes which you can hire for the day.
- Language: English
- Currency: Euro
- Tipping: Not required, but people usually round up.
- Electricity: The electrical current is 220 volts AC. Wall outlets take a three pronged plug only used in Ireland and the United Kingdom. However, you are better off purchasing a
worldwide adaptor with USB ports that can be used in the Ireland as well other countries. At least then you can potentially get some further use out of it on future vacations. - Driving: In Ireland they drive on the left hand side of the road with speed signs in kilometres per hour. Read my post on How to Drive Around Ireland. If you are planning on renting a vehicle, then read What to Expect When Renting a Vehicle in Ireland.
- Navigating: We used Google’s free Offline Maps. Google Offline Maps allows you to access free maps for navigating that can be used offline i.e. you don’t need WIFI, data, or roaming to be able to use them. Follow this detailed guide on how to use Googles Offline Maps. Warning: Both phone reception and mobile networks can be patchy. Even if you do have a data plan in Ireland, DON’T rely on being able to access the mobile networks to access Google online maps. Make sure you download a map to use when you find yourself without internet.
- Using your phone as a GPS will drain your battery quickly, so use a portable charger which you can use to charge your phone and any other chargeable devices.
- And finally, you could also purchase an Irish road map. At least it’s reliable and won’t run out of battery or malfunction like the electronic options!
- Wondering what to pack? This is a list of essential items that I packed for my trip around Ireland.
Accommodation Options in Cork
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Claire Gallagher
My paternal grandparents were from Cork as well as my ex-husband’s family that I still get along with.