30 Unique Things to do in Cork City + County: A Local’s Guide

Posted On Oct 21, 2019 By admin With Comments Off

Wondering what to do in Cork? Let us give you the local’s tour.

To some, it’s’ the maverick county’ and to us Corkonians it’s’ the real capital of Ireland’( no hard feelings, Dublin !). Whatever name you take for it, Cork is brilliant.

Visiting Baltimore Beacon& Sherkin Island is amongst our favourite things to do in Cork( province ).

At virtually 7,500 square km, it’s the biggest county in Ireland in terms of size.

Cork City is a hive of cosy taverns, live music venues, high street shopping, student life, and inventive culture. Meanwhile, the countryside is home to heather-coated mountains, farmland, and some of the country’s most stupefying southerly coastline.

For an outdoor sweetheart, it’s a total dream( as long as the weather’s on your place ).

For those of you planning on offsetting the trip over — and those of you who are already here — make us make you through our favourite things to do in Cork City and province.

We’ll share our take on the best places to visit, things to see, popular pulls, and our favourite underrated gems — from adventurous outdoor activities to the best saloons to hole up in when the condition turns nasty.

If you like this post and you’re keen to know more, manager over to our epic directory of 50 outdoorsy things to do in West Cork for specific tips-off on towns like Bantry, Skibbereen, Kinsale, Castletownbere, Baltimore, and more!

Things to do in Cork City

Grab chocolate in Gulp’d

If you don’t know it’s there, this spectacular hidey hole of a cafe is all too easy to miss; but sneak down the alley next to Soho on Grand Parade and you’ll find the doorway to Gulp’d.

Head inside for a gourmet sandwich substance with neighbourhood cheeses and parks or for a slap up breakfast of shakshuka. Top it off with a bangin’ cup of chocolate( if the sunlight is out, grasp your goblet and take it out to the garden and sit on the lawn outside the Triskel Christchurch ).

‘Obsessed’ isn’t even the word — this is the loveliest little coffeehouse in Cork City by a number of countries mile.

Visit the Triskel Arts Centre

Once you’ve slurped down your coffee, president within the Triskel Arts Centre( it’s attached to the cafe below ). The proselytized religiou emcees a variety of art exhibitions and art house cinema screenings; invariably interesting and ever worth the visit.

Grab a ticket for one of their daily cinema screenings and watch the show from your seat in a school pew.

Speaking of which, we once went to see that outrageous Lars von Trier’ Nymphomaniac’ film in here — fairly ludicrous to watch what can only be described as soft core porn in a place of worship( while I imagine some might find this offensive, I were simply guess that those people have never seen Shia Labeouf in the nibble ). But umm, I guess that’s a fib for a different upright?

Peruse the Crawford Art Gallery

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We love this beautiful moment from a group of South Korean tourists who recently expended their judgement day in Cork soaking up some last chips of Irish culture in our shows.( We also desire this’ parlour hang’ of decorates in THE GIBSON BEQUEST !)* What do you enjoy most about your hall?* #crawfordartgallery #gibsonbequest #corkcity #cork #ireland #irelandsancienteast #purecork #mickeymouse

A post shared by Crawford Art Gallery (@ crawfordartgallery) on Jul 28, 2019 at 1:03 am PDT

Cork’s inventive spirit races late, and if you want to check out my very best of the city’s visual arts you can’t miss out the Crawford Gallery. The sprawling brick build sets just behind Patrick’s Street — the biggest retail street in the city. With a focus on Irish art, the gallery houses a permanent collect of contemporary and traditional creations as well as rotating exhibitions.

Go to the theatre

Between the Opera House, the Everyman Theatre, and the Cork Arts Theatre, there’s always a evidence to see in Cork City.

With a ability of 1,000 people in their prime auditorium, the Opera House is the largest theatre; followed by the 650 -seater Victorian Everyman Theatre, and the intimate Cork Arts Theatre which accommodates only 100.

Between them, they picture a huge range of represents, pantos, comedy, dance achievements, opu, musicals, and live music acts of all kinds.

Catch a show in City Limits Comedy Club

Cork’s iconic comedy team has been leading since the 1990 ’s and has played host to tons of stand-up acts over the years. From Irish lores like Dara O’Briain, Tommy Tiernan, and Jason Byrne to international humorists like Eddie Brill, City Limits is one of our favourite sits to visit in Cork City when we’re looking forward to a laugh and a few beers.

Check out upcoming acts on City Limits’ website.

Discover the English Market

There isn’t a single respectable roster of things to do in Cork City that doesn’t include a see to the English Market — and for the right reasons.

The bustling indoor marketplace is one of the most vibrant lieu to visit in Cork, whether you’re there to do the week’s shopping, seizure a cheeky bottle of organic wine-colored, or simply ogle at all the wares.

Local cheeses, fleshes, fish, artisan dough, and fresh display are all on the menu here; with plenty of grab-and-go food stallings to boot. For the carnivorous amongst you, don’t miss O’Flynn’s Gourmet Sausage Company’s sandwiches, while veggos should look out for the incredible spread offered by The Real Olive Company.

Psst: you can visit the English Market as part of a self-guided audio tour of Cork City! It’s very affordable, and a great way of getting to know the highlights of Cork for first-time visitors.

See George Boole’s House

One of the best things to do in Cork for biography buffs, touring George Boole’s house is a brilliant way of familiarising yourself with some of the lesser-known parts of the city’s heritage( for those that might not be familiar, Boole is the founder of Boolean logic which underpinned the development of the first digital computer hardware and is still crucial to today’s computer sciences ).

During the 19 th Century, the famous mathematician was a lecturer at University College Cork( Queen’s University, as it was back then) and lived in a house on the banks of the River Lee — which is where he originated some of his seminal works.

The Irish government has put an enormous amount of money into an ambitious renovation of George Boole’s house in recent years — in itself a true testament to his importance to the city.

Get a position of Cork City& reverberating the Bells of Shandon

Leave the hum of the urban centres behind you and cross the footbridge over the River Lee to reach Shandon Street, home of St. Anne’s Church and the Bells of Shandon. Climb up the 130 -something stairs for the best panoramic view of the city — and for an opportunity to pealing the buzzers yourself.

It costs EUR5 to enter the church and present’ em a echo, the continues of which go to maintaining the historic site. You can also include this activity as part of a self-guided audio tour of Cork City, which includes a visit to the English Market and Patrick’s Street.

Pizza+ jars in the Franciscan Well Brewery

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It’s certainly a epoch for the beer garden !! #Beer #Pizza #BeerGarden #Cocktails #TGIF

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By far one of my favourite places in Cork City to go for a few scoops! It may be a microbrewery, but the opening itself is abundance large-hearted, with a massive beer garden out the back. There’s an genuine lumber burnt pizza oven out there too, and confidence me when I say to you there’s no better pizza+ brew combo in Cork than one of the following options newborns and a jug of Rebel Red. Yum.

Live music in Crane Lane( plus cheese+ wine-coloured in Arthur Mayne’s)

Slip down the side streets by the GPO on Oliver Plunkett Street and you’ll reaching Crane Lane, one of Cork’s best live music venues. They host a regular lineup of musicians — many of whom are neighbourhood up-and-comers — performing anything from electro fluctuating to acoustic guitar.

The pub has a brilliant selection of craft beers, but if it’s a really good glass of wine-coloured you’re craving simply pop over the alley to their sister business, Arthur Mayne’s. Set in an old-time apothecary( with all the fascinating remnants of bygone years still on display ), the menu is all mouthwatering cheese timbers and vino. All the vino.

Tour Saint Finbarre’s Cathedral

Sitting at the top of town neglecting Grand Parade, St. Finbarre’s Cathedral is a real landmark of the City of Cork — and seeing is a must when you’re in town for the first time. The colossal Gothic pillars and affecting design belies an even more opulent interior. Though there is a EUR6 entry fee, there are steers available inside who are happy to show you around the complex interior and share the fascinating history of St. Fin Barre, so plenty of bang for your buck.

Things to do in Cork County

Baltimore Beacon

The Boo passions the Beacon.

Visiting Baltimore Beacon is one of our all-time favourite things to do in Cork on a pleasant date( though admittedly it’s still mega impressive on a crabby period as well ). The beings futuristic-looking structure was originally built to act the route a lighthouse does( minus the ignite, that is ); its grey quality and prominence is enough to warn oncoming sends of the approaching coastline.

The Beacon is surrounded by grass, gorse, and heather coated slopes offering an stupid idea of the coast of Sherkin Island( more on that below !). It’s merely a short scramble up a slope from a small car park below, which is free to use.

Once you’re all tuckered out, construct your mode back to Baltimore proper and treat yourself to a beer of Moretti from Jacob’s Bar and an genuine reduce crust pizza from La Jolie Brise next door. So. Damn. Good.

Kayaking& SUPing on Loch Hyne

Set just outside the lovely small town of Baltimore, Loch Hyne is a lake where you can go fishing, kayaking, and paddle boarding. The crew at Atlantic Sea Kayaking give all kinds of awful jaunts here, including a really unique starlight kayaking event at night.

Psst: they too do kayaking and SUP excursions in Cork City! If you’re not into going this far into the countryside, emphatically check out their website and insure what’s on in the city.

Sherkin Island

Two friends standing on the coastline overlooking Horseshoe Bay, Sherkin Island, County Cork at sunset.

Cork is home to a remarkable regalium of islands, all of which quality a visit in one way or another, though our personal favourite( because countryside, beer, and music) is Sherkin Island. It’s simply a 10 minute ferrying journey over from Baltimore harbour( tickets is feasible to bought on the ferrying and cost EUR1 2 return — a little steep but it what it is ).

As soon as you step off the boat it feels as though time has slowed down. The island is host to 100 -odd parties, a few ruined palaces, a got a couple of pubs, and not much else. Simply set, it’s utterly f’ing delightful.

The Jolly Roger is our go-to for a good pint and bit of chow( the Stonewell Cider, brewed in Kinsale, is a winner; as is the draft jars of Sherkin Lass, the regional Baltimore brew ). Keep an nose on their Facebook page for gig leanings; they get absolutely amazing musicians in there — from homegrown is acting as the Jukebox Gyspys to international fictions like Natty Wailer.

Jameson Whiskey Experience

Visiting the Jameson Distillery is by far one of the most popular things to do in Cork for first-time visitors to Ireland. Located in Middleton, you can visit the microbrewery and learn the ins and outs of the production of one of Ireland’s most famous whiskeys.

Snag yourself a blot on the Jameson Whiskey Experience and in addition to the guided tour, you’ll too be able to take part in a whiskey perceiving seminar( and become a characterized taster while you’re at it !), visit the world’s largest pot still, and experience a complimentary Jameson for yourself at the end.

Visit The Donkey Sanctuary

Set on the outskirts of Mallow in the small town of Liscarroll, visiting The Donkey Sanctuary is one of the loveliest things to do in Cork if you’re an animal lover.

They have four locatings, though Knockardbane Farm is the only one that’s open to public tourists. At that raise alone, they have something like 150 mules in their attention — though it’s a staggering 5,600 that they’ve extricated and cared for since they opened in 1987.

There’s no entering reward( though gifts are appreciated) and guests are welcome to make their age strolling through the farm, getting to know the animals, and acquiring call of the picnic area.

Walk the Blackwater Way

The Blackwater Way is a 180km network of treading routes that run by Mallow, Fermoy, and into South Tipperary. The waymarked footpath combines the two much-loved ambles of the Avondhu Way and the Duhallow Way, comprised of heatherland, morass, boreens, creeks, lakes, mountains, and a smattering of farms.

Thanks to the trailheads, it’s an easy one to take on logistically. Those looking for a challenge can test their hiking knowledge on some of the steeper neighbourhoods, like the Paps Mountains and the Nagle Hills, where you’ll score unreal views of the sprawling countryside.

Wakeboarding at Ballyhass Wake Park

If you’ve been following along with Extreme Nomads for a while, it’ll come as no surprise that we scouted out Cork’s one and only cable ballpark as soon as we got back( lies, Jim actually had it pegged before we even arrived in the country !). Ballyhass is located really north of Cork City, and is home to the province’s exclusively 2 tower cable wakeboarding park.

Serving up sauciness for both beginners and advanced shredders, Ballyhass Wake Park boasts a 2 pillar organization with a combination of kickers and rails. They regularly host events, meet-ups, and going hearings at the ballpark( including an breathtaking ladies-only morning sesh !) — a magnificent course to go out on the liquid and in with the neighbourhood action plays crew.

Go-karting

Just north of the city, Adventure Park on Watergrass Hill is one of the most fun places in cork to visit with kids( or if you’re a bit of a big kid yourself ). Not simply do they furnish some of my very best croak karting ordeals in Ireland, they’ve also recently expanded the roster to include laser tag, laser clay filming, archery, and human bubble football.

Zorbing& paintball at Funmanway

The West Cork town of Dunmanway is, quite accidentally, home to Ireland’s largest zorbing move. Yup, you can head to Funmanway and fling yourself and your friends down a hill in a monstrous translucent bubble, and if “youre asking me” that doesn’t sound like fun you’re almost definitely lying. Funmanway also offers paintballing experiences on the country’s largest outdoor paintball area, kayaking, and mountain boarding.

Cork- Gougane Barra- Beara cycling route

For those of you with a blaze for outdoor adventure, this is one of the most extreme outdoor suffers you can find in Cork. The road cycling itinerary will consist of over 300km of waymarked paths, making you from the Mardyke in Cork City all the way down to the farthest end of the Beara Peninsula. Cyclists can also choose to stop off in Gougane Barra( details below !) which we most recommend.

Explore Gougane Barra

vertical image of mystical looking forest with a moss covered floor and super tall skinny trees (captured in the forest park behind Gougane Barra, West Cork) Fairy land at its finest

We’ve dubbed Gougane Barra as Cork’s most mystical woodland and as soon as you step out of the car it’s pretty easy to see why. The forest ballpark is home to towering spruce and larch trees, an emerald park mossy storey, and miles of hiking lines through the forest. It’s also the inception of Cork’s iconic River Lee, which begins here in the Shehy Mountains as little more than a stream.

Psst: Gougane Barra is one of our favourite sits to hike in the country! Check out our terminated template to hiking in Ireland for more gratuities on where to find awesome mountains.

Gougane Barra is also dwelling to a breathtaking little chapel which convenes out in a serene pond, policed by ridges behind. Hushed, allay, and drenched in autobiography, a call to Gougane Barra is one of our favourite things to do in Cork’s country by far.

MTB at the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails

The largest structure of bicycle trails in Ireland, the Ballyhoura MTB routes are comprised of nearly 100 km of single road, boardwalks, mountains, and technical rock gardens. Some of the easier exiting trails are great for beginners, like the Greenwood Loop( 6km ); while those looking for a real challenge could take on the epic 50 km Castlepook Loop.

There’s a EUR5 entry fee to the park( or you can pay EUR4 0 for the purposes of an annual pass) and bikes is feasible to hired locally from Ballyhoura Trail Riders.

Surf+ promenade at Inchydoney Beach

Surf travellers will already know that Ireland’s coasts receive some of the biggest and best increase in the nations of the world. The patrol of Atlantic blizzards combined with a coastline rampant with item infringes attains it a motion seeker’s dream.

Inchydoney beach in West Cork is arguably the best spot in the county to catch some channel-surf; or for the less intrepid, to take a seriously nice stroll on the sea and slurp down some yummy handwriting cooked coffee, should you luck out and have The Wandering Bean parked up there.

Kiss the Blarney Stone

Kissing the Blarney Stone is kinda, sorta a freedom of verse for sightseers coming to Ireland, so in fairness we couldn’t certainly leave it off our register of top things to do in Cork. Blarney Castle baby-sit just north of the city and is pretty easily reachable by modes of public transport, if you don’t have your own designated of pedals.

You are also welcome to call Blarney Castle, kiss the Blarney stone, and check Cobh as part of a steered day trip from Cork, which saves you the hassle of trying to plan your style with modes of public transport. Handy!

Though you likely don’t need much preface( it’s one of the most documented lieu to visit in Cork by far) I’ll just say this: the garden-varieties are standard for an easy saunter, the castling itself is gorgeous, and descending to the top with the sole purpose of lying upside down over the leading edge while a stranger holds your legs so that you can kiss a freaking stone is as memorable as it is ridiculous. Gotta cherished that sh* t.

Trawl the regional marketplaces

people milling around the market stall in Bantry, West Cork The Bantry market starts in the car park and lopes all through town.

Cork, like much of Ireland, is abounding with clevernes — and the regional business are where it all convenes. Craft creators, jewellers, creators, chefs, producers and farmers all get together to castigate their wares on a regular basis in markets like Bantry( every Friday ), Skibbereen( every Saturday ), and Castletownroche( every other Sunday ). Well usefulnes a stay — especially for all you veggies in search of awesome plant-based food.

See wildlife on Fota Island

Those of you visiting Cork with kids, as a duet, and all ye animal fans have got to head to Fota during your stand. It’s far from what you’d expect at your norm zoo; no nasty encloses or minuscule enclosures. The swine have massive grasslands while some of the tamest wildlife wanders free. The ape even have their own island! Trust me, inspecting those little rapscallions alone is one of our favourite things to do in Cork.

There are consignments of pathways operating through the park as well as all the usual equipment — a cafe, restrooms, and parking. The majority of the common is out in the open, so you’ll want to pick a period when the brave is playing ball, really.

Inspect Charles Fort

Kinsale is such a special town; the convergence of Ireland’s Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way. As such, you’ve went embroiling coastal their opinions and certainly, really cool ancient organizes in one place. Charles Fort is the pinnacle of’ em all in these places; its massive pentagonal design is something quite unique. Culture, design, and biography buffs is certainly “ve been thinking about” including Charles Fort on their directory of things to do in Cork.

Walk through Glengarriff Woods

Calm scene of a river that's barely flowing alongside a walkway in glengarriff woods, west cork. One of dozens of walkways through the groves

Glengarriff is a lovely, single street hamlet with a handful of craftsmanship shops, inns, and situates to eat. Beyond it lies the woodlands. There are dozens of picturesque pathways through the forest, guiding along creeks and series, and rhododendron-lined pathways. Most are loop walks with little to no lower so they’re reasonably clear sailing and suitable for children, if you’re travelling with a clutch.

When you finish your walking, induce your route back to the village and stop off for a jar of the black stuff in The Blue Loo or a distinguish of lunch at Casey’s Hotel.

Explore Cobh

Cobh is historically known as the Titanic’s last point of departure before it set sail on its fateful excursion( though more recently the town has earned itself some Insta-fame for its charming colorful sequences of rooms ). Visit the gorgeous St. Colman’s Cathedral on its perch overlooking the shelter; tread along the waterside; and take a peek in the Cobh Heritage Centre and get to know more about Ireland’s Ancient East.

You can blend your tour to Cobh with a journey to the iconic Barley Castle and kiss the Blarney stone with a guided tour. Super handy for those of your travelling without a rental vehicle, as the steers pick you up right from your inn in Cork.

Still stumped on what to do in Cork, Ireland? Or d’ya reckon our list is missing something crucial ?! Drop a comment down there and cause us know, or join our FREE adventure travel Facebook group — where we rebuttal all questions.

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