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Cork is the second-largest city in Ireland, but for me, Cork is also the food capital of Ireland. Most of the things to do in Cork City revolve around food, as you’ll see immediately. Cork city center sits on an island formed by the River Lee, which makes it quite unique.
Where is Cork and how to get there
Cork is about 300 km southwest of Dublin. You can get from Dublin to Cork by train on the Cork/Mallow service in about 2 hours and 45 minutes. Cork also has an airport, linking the city to a lot of European destinations.
Things to do in Cork City
If you only have one day in Cork, you can still see a lot of the city as the center is quite compact and walkable. As I said before, food is an important part of the city’s attraction. But, there are also beautiful cathedrals to visit, street art to be discovered, boutique shops, and parks to relax in. Here are the best things you can do in one or two days in Cork city.
The English Market in Cork
The English Market has been operating in Cork city for more than 200 years. It’s an amazing covered market, the best on the island of Ireland, and it has also become Cork’s main attraction. You can buy everything here, fresh meat products, fish, bread, fruit, and vegetables. It’s a foodie’s paradise. Even if you can’t cook while in Cork, you can still buy some smoked salmon, cheeses, and bread for a delicious picnic.
If you just want a snack, go with the Cork boi from O’Flynn’s Gourmet Sausage stand. You can’t go wrong with a sausage sandwich with fried onions.
Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral
On the south side of River Lee, St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral dominates the skyline. The first monastery was built here at the beginning of the 7th century. Today, the impressive three-spire cathedral is worth visiting for its red marble interior and also for its stained glass work.
A ticket for visiting St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral costs 6€.
Cork Pubs
Pubs are everywhere in Cork city and locals like going out a lot. One great pub you shouldn’t miss in Cork is the Franciscan Well. They are brewing some good beer, and I can recommend the Chieftan IPA. You can also book a tour of the brewery before trying their beers. In addition, they serve some great pizza on the terrace to go with that beer too.
Street Art in Cork City
Street Art has been blooming recently in Cork. Large murals are appearing in several areas of Cork city. Discovering street art is one of my favorite things to do in a new city, and Cork was no exception. Here are the Migrant Woman mural by Fintan Magee and the space mural outside Cornmarket Street shopping center by Shane Sutton.
Restaurants in Cork – The best things to do in Cork City
As I mentioned before, food is an important part of Cork city. Visiting restaurants is one of the best things you can do in Cork. As always in Ireland, go for the fresh seafood and for the beef. Because Cork is one of the friendliest cities in the world, a lot of immigrants have made it their home and brought their culinary traditions with them. You can taste a lot of typical cuisines in Cork, from Italian to Vietnamese, with many other options in between.
If I were to recommend the best restaurant I tried in Cork, it would have to be Quinlan’s Seafood Bar on Princes Street. The food is excellent, and they have the good habit of serving drinks if you have to queue waiting for a table.
Trinity Presbyterian Church
I didn’t find this church in any city guide, but it’s a beautiful church with a simple and elegant interior. It is worth a stroll uphill for a short visit, in my opinion.
Harley’s Streat
A new street food area is open in the Victorian Quarter. It’s open Thursday to Sunday from 9 AM to 9 PM. Apart from street food, beer, and gelato, you can also admire the street art here.
The Butter Museum
This might seem an unusual theme for a museum, but, given the diary quality and tradition in Ireland, it makes perfect sense here. You can learn about making butter as well as link the story with Ireland’s very history.
The butter museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 4 PM, with Sunday opening at 11 AM.
An adult ticket costs 5 €.
Fitzgerald Park
If you just want to walk around or relax for a little while, you should visit Fitzgerald Park, close to the University College in Cork. Grab some stuff for a picnic and enjoy an hour outside on a sunny day, if the Irish weather allows it.
A walking tour of Cork City
If your time in Cork is limited, taking a walking tour of the main attractions in Cork is always a good idea. You can see the most important sights in a short time and also learn about the city in the process.
Where to stay in Cork
If you want to spend at least one night in Cork City, I recommend The Montenotte Hotel. You can read all about my experience at Montenotte Hotel in Cork in my post about it.
If you want to explore the area further, you can also take some amazing day trips from Cork City.
Did you find anything you’d like to do in Cork? Did I miss anything? Tell me all about it in the comments below.
Disclosure
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