Day 1: Explore Cork City, the English Market, Shandon and the waterfront.
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County guide
Cork
Ireland’s largest county combines a vibrant city, colourful harbour towns and a spectacular Atlantic coastline.
Gougane Barra
ExploreCork City, West Cork and the Beara Peninsula
Best timeApril to October
Time needed3–5 days
Perfect forFood lovers, families, coastal explorers and road trippers
Plan your visit
Why visit Cork?
Ireland’s largest county combines a vibrant city, colourful harbour towns and a spectacular Atlantic coastline.
Don’t miss
Top 20 landmarks and attractions
A curated starting point for planning your time in the county.
- 01Blarney Castle
- 02The English Market
- 03Mizen Head Signal Station
- 04Fastnet Lighthouse
- 05Kinsale
- 06Charles Fort
- 07Gougane Barra
- 08Glengarriff
- 09Garnish Island
- 10Dursey Island Cable Car
- 11Allihies
- 12Beara Peninsula
- 13Fota Wildlife Park
- 14Spike Island
- 15Cork City Gaol
- 16St Fin Barre’s Cathedral
- 17Elizabeth Fort
- 18Ballycotton Cliff Walk
- 19Cape Clear Island
- 20Inchydoney Beach
Suggested route
A simple three-day itinerary
3 daysSuggested county driving route
View route details
Day 2: Visit Kinsale, Charles Fort and the Old Head coastline.
Day 3: Continue west through Glengarriff, Allihies and the Beara Peninsula.
Build your own Cork itinerary
Add your preferred landmarks and download a personal route.
Stay and explore
Plan more of your time in Cork.
Useful places to stay and island guides connected directly to this county.
Stay in the county
Glamping & Camping in Cork.
Find an overnight base for the places in this guide. Check property details and contact the operator for current availability.
Browse Cork staysPlan a memorable stop
Experiences for your Cork trip.
Start with experiences in Cork, then consider a clearly labelled outing further afield. Check the actual departure point: some tours start outside the county they visit.
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City walk
County Cork
Cork stories, sites and secrets
Begin a city break with a guided introduction to Cork's streets and stories, then return to favourite places at your own pace.
Start / arrival pointCork city centre
Distillery visit
County Cork
Jameson experience in Midleton
Add whiskey-making heritage to an east-Cork day. Check the selected tour's inclusions and plan transport if joining a tasting.
Start / arrival pointMidleton Distillery, County Cork — outside Cork city
Lake cruise
Out-of-county option · Kerry
Lakes of Killarney cruise
Pair a Ross Castle visit with time on Lough Leane. Check sailing times and allow time to reach the pier.
Start / arrival pointRoss Castle, Killarney
Booking links open on GetYourGuide in a new tab. Prices, dates, inclusions, accessibility and cancellation terms depend on the selected option. Check the operator's current details; a listing here does not guarantee availability.
Planning your arrival
Cork Airport (ORK) transfers
Plan your onward journey from Cork Airport. Enter your exact accommodation address for a quote. Compare with public transport or local taxis to choose what suits your trip.
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Keep exploring
Discover another part of Ireland.
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