Cork, Ireland: Must-See Attractions, Best Food Spots And Top Activities
Cork, in the south west of Ireland, sits on the River Lee which leads to the second largest natural harbor in the world (after Sydney, Australia). The river makes for a pleasant backdrop to a city that offers an appealing combination of historic landmarks, bustling markets and scenic coastal beauty nearby. One of the first things you'll discover when visiting Cork is the rivalry with Dublin. Anyone you meet is fiercely proud of their city and will often tell visitors that Cork is 'the real capital of Ireland.' And everyone is so friendly, even on public transport where our bus fare was happily paid by a stranger when we found you couldn't pay by card.
St Patrick's Quay on the north channel of river Lee. Cork, Ireland
In addition to Cork's key role during the Irish War of Independence (1919-21), in recent years, Ireland's second-largest city has attracted big business which has in turn boosted the hospitality offering for visitors. Apple's European headquarters is based in Cork while pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and Johnson & Johnson all have major operations there. Cork has an appealing edge: it feels like a proper working city with a lively atmosphere and burgeoning food scene.
Frederick Douglass mural
Start with a city walking tour organised by the tourist office. The 'Cork City Ramble' takes you around the fascinating city center which was once a series of canals. It explores the monastic origins, the merchant trade and the architecture of Ireland's second city. You'll see the 18th-century Huguenot Quarter and landmarks like St Peter and Paul's church founded by a priest who was also a Native Canadian chief and the art deco Savoy cinema which was the largest in Ireland when it opened in 1932. It hosted the Cork International film festival for years as well as gigs by Tom Jones, the Bee Gees and the Rolling Stones in the 1960s. Also fascinating nearby is a large mural of American abolitionist Frederick Douglas who took refuge in Cork for a month in 1845, after fleeing America following the publication of his autobiography.
The English Market, Cork, Ireland
After the tour, head to The English Market that's been trading since 1788 making it one of the oldest markets in Europe. The range of meats and fish, herbs and spices, jams, fruit and vegetables, sauces and oils, chocolates, cakes and cheeses is impressive.
Bunker Vinyl, Cork
Nearby, vinyl junkies can enjoy a proper coffee while browsing the shelves at Plugd Records which specialises in independent Irish releases. You'll also find international punk, funk, techno and jazz. On the other side of the river is the well-stocked Bunker Vinyl on Camden Quay, owned by DJ John Dwyer, selling used and new vinyl in hip-hop, punk, indie, world music and jazz.
The Glucksman, Cork, Ireland
No trip to Cork is complete without a visit to The Glucksman art gallery, on the undulating grounds of University College Cork. The stunning contemporary art museum is in a RIBA award-winning building of limestone clad concrete, steel and timber that blends seamlessly into the wooded grounds of the university. Housed over three floors is work from the university's collection and temporary exhibitions. The current show Labour of Love presents Irish and international artists who explore the responsibility and reality of labour in contemporary society (until 6 July).
Woodland Suite Nestled within the Trees, Montenotte
The Montenotte, high above the city, has long been a popular choice for visitors. And last summer, the hotel significantly upped its offering by adding nine luxurious, self-contained suites with an exclusive Clubhouse in the woods, just below the hotel. Five 'Woodland Suites' are almost fully surrounded by trees while four 'River Suites' cantilever out from the landscape surrounded by Irish wildflowers. The Woodland Suite Experience at The Montenotte won the European award in the 'Lodges, Cabins' category at AHEAD Europe 2024. Minimalist Scandinavian architecture and modern Japanese design elements provide a zen stay. Attractive features include solid American Oak timber veneer king beds with a concealed television miraculously rising up from the footboard, free-standing baths with a view and private terraces and a lovely 2-metre high Red Japanese Maple, created from recycled natural wood trunks and branches.
The Glass Curtain, Cork
Dinner at The Glass Curtain is a real treat. One of the most highly rated restaurants in Cork, the food and atmosphere are both excellent. If you sit at the bar, you'll see why Cork deserves the reputation as such a friendly place. It's quite easy to engage in lively conversation with the bar manager and fellow diners. A 5-course tasting menu (€85 pp) offers a superb taste of seasonal produce from local farmers, growers, butchers, cheesemakers, fishmongers, brewers and distillers of Cork (and beyond). The eclectic current menu includes: tempura mushroom; scallop crudo; and glazed rib with jerusalem artichokes.
Goldie, helmed by young chef Aishling Moore, is another hot ticket (book well in advance). This Michelin Bib Gourmand awarded fish restaurant has a focus on local fish and seafood. The menu changes daily, reflecting the availability of quality fish and the no-waste policy means every part of the fish is used. A recent menu included Hake tail Schnitzel, and pan-fried plaice and cod.
The Panorama at the Montenotte offers wonderful views high above the river and a seasonal Modern European menu that uses local Irish produce. Highlights include seared Irish scallops, braised beef ravioli and market fish of the day. As a member of Real Bread Ireland and Euro-Toques Ireland, Chef Janice Casey Bracken's culinary philosophy focuses on sustainability, zero-waste practices and championing Irish food heritage. At dinner, a live jazz pianist is a nice touch.
Farmgate Cork cafe enables visitors to survey the bustling market stalls below. This cute upstairs cafe at the English Market is a great choice for tea, cakes or lunch. The carrot cake is understandably a popular choice.
Lea's at The Glucksman art museum has a lovely view of the university grounds and is great for lunch, speciality coffee, fresh juices and delicious sweet treats.
Kinsale harbor
For a lovely daytrip, Kinsale, a charming coastal town on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, about 30 minutes south of Cork, is an obvious choice. A pretty harbor, colorful buildings and excellent seafood make the town an appealing place to amble around. Take a tour with friendly and knowledgable guide Siobhan of Kinsale Food Tours. Once exclusively a fishing town, over decades Kinsale has evolved as a world class gourmand's delight with many top-notch restaurants and cafes. Harry's Bar is a must for drinks, Cosy Cafe is excellent for brunch and the White House hotel and pub is great for fish and chips and chowder.
Prim bookshop and bar
Kinsale is filled with other gems like Prim's bookshop, which also doubles as a and sherry bar with regular events. And at Koko Kinsale, you'll find artisan chocolate from Frank Keane who expertly creates his handmade chocolates upstairs. He creates small batches of varying chocolate types and flavors, including Whiskey and Champagne Truffles, Hazelnut Praline or Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel. After indulging in all this delicious food and drink, burn off some calories walking along the pretty coastal country path to a 17th- century fort with great views over the harbor – Charlesfort.
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Ayala sent Cañizares, the pilot, with 10 men in a launch to explore and chart the bay. They went north and east taking soundings and mapping the shore. They went as far as Carquinez Strait, which they named for the Karquin people they met, and into Suisun Bay. Another pilot, Juan Aguirre, went south toward what became San Jose. The chart they made became the first accurate map of the bay region. Juan Manuel de Ayala was born in Andalusia and was a graduate of the Spanish naval academy. By the time he was assigned to Mexico he was 29, and after 15 years in the service was still a lieutenant. But he had a good reputation and was one of five officers hand picked by the viceroy to explore the north coast on three ships. The Spanish knew about San Francisco Bay and wanted more information. Ayala must have been disappointed when he got to San Blas, a small base near Puerto Vallarta, to be given command of the schooner Sonora, only 36 feet long and designed for inshore work. 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How to avoid expensive airport ‘kiss and fly' charges
If you're giving someone a lift to the airport this summer, watch out for 'kiss and fly' fees – the charges airports impose for dropping passengers near the terminal. More than half of UK airports have increased these fees since last July, with some now demanding as much as £7 for a 10-minute stop, according to research by the RAC. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid these charges, or at least keep them to a minimum – but you may need to be prepared to walk a little further with their luggage. Here, Telegraph Money explains how kiss and fly fees work, why they have been introduced and what you can do to keep costs down. What are 'kiss and fly' fees? Why have so many airports introduced kiss and fly fees? Who pays kiss and fly fees and how much do they cost? How can you avoid kiss and fly fees? What are 'kiss and fly' fees? 'Kiss and fly' fees refer to the charges that airports apply when someone drops off a passenger outside the terminal, typically in a designated short-stay or drop-off zone. In most cases, you'll be charged a flat fee simply for stopping outside the airport for five to 10 minutes. Stay longer, and you'll likely be charged even more. On top of this, many airports are now switching to a barrier-less drop-off and pick-up system to help traffic flow more freely and reduce waiting times. However, this means that instead of paying there and then, drivers must remember to pay for parking either online or by phone once they are home. Failing to do so could result in penalty fees of up to £100. Why have so many airports introduced kiss and fly fees? One of the reasons airports say they have introduced these fees is to reduce congestion at terminal entrances. However, the charges also serve as a significant source of revenue, helping airports to cover rising operational costs. Patrick Bettle, from the aviation team at law firm Burges Salmon, said: 'Ultimately airports are businesses like any other. 'Kiss and fly' fees provide them with another valuable revenue stream, something that has become increasingly important in the wake of the disruption caused to the travel industry by the Covid-19 pandemic. 'Airports, particularly those that are subject to economic regulation by the Civil Aviation Authority, are limited in the amount of revenue they can generate through things like landing charges; 'kiss and fly' fees provide a useful non-aeronautical supplement to that.' But the disappearance of free drop-offs at UK airports is in sharp contrast to other major European airports, says the RAC analysis. Of the top 10 airports in the EU by passenger numbers, eight airports still permit free drop-offs, including Paris Charles de Gaulle, Madrid, Frankfurt, Barcelona and Rome. Who pays kiss and fly fees and how much do they cost? Kiss and fly fees must be paid by anyone dropping off a passenger outside the airport terminal. This includes friends and family members, as well as taxi and private hire drivers. Taxi drivers often incorporate the fee into the overall taxi fare but be sure to check. Drop-off charges can range anywhere from £3 to £7 for a five-to-30-minute stay. The table below outlines how these fees can vary, depending on the airport. Note that if you exceed the time allowed, you'll often be charged extra for each minute you stay. You'll also need to check how and when the payments need to be made – whether that's on-site or within 24 hours online or by phone. Missing this deadline could result in penalty charges. For drivers carrying out regular drop-offs, it may be worth setting up an auto pay account. How can you avoid kiss and fly fees? Some airports, including Heathrow, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Birmingham, waive drop-off fees altogether for Blue Badge holders. For everyone else, the best tip is to plan ahead, according to Nicholas Smith, holidays digital director at Thomas Cook online travel agency. He said: 'Ask someone to drop you off at a long-stay car park – many airports offer free or cheaper short-term access there – and then take the shuttle to the terminal.' Most airports outline their parking options on their websites. But if you're parking further away, remember to factor in the extra time it will take to get to the terminal – either by foot or shuttle bus. This won't always be practical for those with mobility issues, lots of luggage, or anyone rushing for their flight. Here are a number of free parking options available at some UK airports: London Heathrow: Free parking is available for up to 29 minutes in one of Heathrow's 'park and ride' car parks (previously called long stay parking). A free shuttle bus will transfer passengers to the terminal. London Gatwick: You can park for free in the long stay car park, provided your stay doesn't exceed two hours. The shuttle bus takes five to 10 minutes for the South Terminal and seven to 12 minutes for the North Terminal. London Stansted: There's a free drop-off or pick-up option at the mid stay car park for up to 60 minutes. The shuttle bus takes seven minutes to get to the terminal. Luton: You can park at Luton airport's mid stay car park for up to 15 minutes free of charge. It's then a 10-minute walk to the terminal or a five-minute shuttle bus ride. Alternatively, you can park for up to an hour free of charge at the long stay car park. From there, the free shuttle bus takes 10 minutes to get to the terminal. Birmingham: Instead of paying to drop-off at Birmingham airport's Premium Set Down area, you can park for free at the Drop-Off zone for up to 10 minutes. It's a five- to 10-minute walk to the terminal or there is a free bus service. Manchester: There's a free drop-off area which, according to the airport's website is clearly signposted from the M56, where passengers can take a six-minute shuttle bus ride to the terminal. Edinburgh: You can park in the long stay car park for 30 minutes free of charge. The walk to the terminal is 10 minutes. Cardiff: Free parking is available for the first 20 minutes in Car Park 2. It's a short walk to the terminal, or there is a special assistance vehicle for those with reduced mobility. Belfast International: You can park free of charge for up to 15 minutes in the long stay car park. There is a six-minute walk to the terminal. Although you may be tempted to park on a road just outside the airport, this is not advisable. As well as potentially being unsafe, many airports enforce no-stopping zones and have CCTV to catch those who don't follow the rules. Mr Smith added: 'If you really have to drop someone off at the terminal, do so as quickly as possible to avoid racking up per-minute costs.' Of course, you can avoid drop-off fees altogether by using public transport. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Solve the daily Crossword
