Things to do in Cork

Activities, attractions and tours
Cork
Cork
Cork
Cork
Cork

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Top places to visit

1. University College Cork

Cork University College is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland and was founded in 1845 as one of three Queen’s colleges located in Belfast, Galway and Cork. The university won international acclaim when it was named Irish University of the Year by the Sunday Times in 2011.
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Situated by the banks of the River Lee, University College Cork is a gorgeous, ornate gothic structure with a rich reputation for academic excellence.

2. English Market

Visit Cork’s English Market to encounter the infectious sights, sounds and smells of a centuries-old food market. Discover everything from organic fruits and vegetables to artisanal ice cream, fresh seafood and locally produced cheeses. Try typical Cork fare while watching the bustling market activity from the comfort of a café or restaurant. The English Market dates back to 1788. Today its more than 50 traders form an integral part of Cork’s culinary scene.
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English Market which includes interior views, markets and food

3. Blackrock Castle

At Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) Blackrock Castle Observatory, you can step 400 years into the past and see light years into the distant corners of the cosmos.
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Blackrock Castle featuring a river or creek, heritage elements and chateau or palace

4. Cork City Gaol

Visit Cork City Gaol, where prisoners were held in gruesome conditions for almost a century during the 1800s and 1900s. Learn about this historic prison’s famous inmates, their crimes, escapes and executions while walking between the well-preserved cells. Cork City Goal opened in 1824 and became an all-female prison in 1878. It held a mix of well-known prisoners and poor citizens, many convicted of petty crimes such as stealing clothes and food.
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Cork City Gaol showing interior views, a statue or sculpture and heritage architecture

5. St. Patrick's Bridge

Visit St. Patrick’s Bridge, a centuries-old structure spanning the River Lee. It has played a key role in Cork’s trading heritage. First opened in 1789 but destroyed by flooding that year and again in 1853, the 167-foot-long (51-meter) bridge reopened in 1859. The idea behind St. Patrick’s Bridge was to provide the butter merchants with a convenient link from the north side of the river to the docks and warehouses of the city center.
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St. Patrick\'s Bridge featuring heritage architecture, a river or creek and heritage elements

6. Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral

Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral is a landmark blessed with inspiring artistic features and a centuries-old history. It stands on the site of a 7th-century monastery established by Saint Fin Barre, the patron saint of Cork. Today’s Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral is the church’s third edition and dates back to 1863. See this impressive work of the celebrated English architect William Burges, who won the right to build it in a competition with over 60 architects.
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St. Finbarr\'s Cathedral which includes religious aspects, heritage architecture and a church or cathedral

What to do in Cork

Popular places to visit

University College Cork

University College Cork

5/5(19 reviews)

Situated by the banks of the River Lee, University College Cork is a gorgeous, ornate gothic structure with a rich reputation for academic excellence.

University College Cork
English Market which includes interior views, markets and food

English Market

4.5/5(70 reviews)

Shop for fresh produce from around the world and sample traditional Cork dishes at this historic food market inside a grand Victorian building.

English Market
Cork Opera House

Cork Opera House

4.5/5(7 reviews)

Get tickets for a show at Cork Opera House, a popular theatre in Cork. Discover the top-notch restaurants in this walkable area or seek out the local tours.

Cork Opera House
Blackrock Castle featuring a river or creek, heritage elements and chateau or palace

Blackrock Castle

4/5(12 reviews)

Throughout Ireland you can see impressive sites where the ancient and the modern go hand in hand. Nowhere is this combination more striking than at Blackrock Castle, home to Ireland’s first interactive astronomy centre.

Blackrock Castle
Cork City Gaol showing interior views, a statue or sculpture and heritage architecture

Cork City Gaol

4.5/5(19 reviews)

Experience the harshness of Irish penal life in the 19th century as you wander amid the cells of this architecturally impressive former prison.

Cork City Gaol
St. Patrick\'s Bridge featuring heritage architecture, a river or creek and heritage elements

St. Patrick's Bridge

4/5(12 reviews)

Take in views of the River Lee from this 18th-century bridge and wander through Cork’s city center via one of the city’s most historic streets.

St. Patrick's Bridge
St. Finbarr\'s Cathedral which includes religious aspects, heritage architecture and a church or cathedral

Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral

4.5/5(21 reviews)

With its richly decorated façade and opulent interior designs, this mid-19th century cathedral is one of Cork’s most instantly recognizable monuments.

Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral
Ireland showing a bridge as well as a couple

St. Patrick's Street

You can find the perfect gifts to bring home at St. Patrick's Street during your trip to Cork. Visit the shops and lively bars in this family-friendly area.

St. Patrick's Street
Fitzgerald Park which includes a statue or sculpture

Fitzgerald Park

4/5(22 reviews)

Enjoy picnics on landscaped lawns, visit a city history museum and attend free summer concerts at this attractive riverfront park.

Fitzgerald Park

Areas of Cork

English Market showing markets, food and interior views

Cork City Centre

4/5(22 area reviews)

Travellers come to Cork City Centre for its abundant dining options, and you can see top attractions like St. Patrick's Street and Cork Opera House while you're in town.

Cork City Centre
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Victorian Quarter

4/5(33 area reviews)

Victorian Quarter is known for its abundant dining options, and you can plan a trip to Everyman Palace Theatre and Leisureplex while you're in town.

Victorian Quarter
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Wilton

When in Wilton, you can plan a visit to Musgrave Park and Turners Cross, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Wilton
St. Anne\'s Shandon Church featuring a city

Shandon

4/5(10 area reviews)

Shandon is popular for its abundant dining options, and if you're looking for more to see and do, you might think about a trip to Bells of Shandon or Murphy's Brewery.

Shandon
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Huguenot Quarter

While visiting Huguenot Quarter, you might make a stop by sights like St. Patrick's Street and Paul Street.

Huguenot Quarter
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Fairhill

When in Fairhill, you can plan a visit to Bells of Shandon and Murphy's Brewery, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Fairhill
Blarney Castle showing flowers, heritage elements and heritage architecture

Blarney

Fota Wildlife Park which includes zoo animals and cuddly or friendly animals

Fota

Photo by Adrian O'Brien

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