Things to See & Do
Cork
9°C
Light rain
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Best Bar: Soho Bar (77 Grand Parade) is a sports bar by day with contemporary DJ's playing music late into the night.
Best Restaurant: The menu at The Cornstore (Coal Quay,Cork) has huge variety. You ’ll have to book if you want a table here.
Best Shop: Home to the cream of Irish and international brands, Brown Thomas (Patrick Street,Cork) has everything from fashion and accessories to cosmetics and homewares.
Best Kept Secret: The English Market has various stalls selling fresh food with a café upstairs on Saturdays.
Best Restaurant: The menu at The Cornstore (Coal Quay,Cork) has huge variety. You ’ll have to book if you want a table here.
Best Shop: Home to the cream of Irish and international brands, Brown Thomas (Patrick Street,Cork) has everything from fashion and accessories to cosmetics and homewares.
Best Kept Secret: The English Market has various stalls selling fresh food with a café upstairs on Saturdays.
Things To See & Do
Whale Watching West Cork
Experience whales, dolphins and other sea-life up close on a Whale Watch West Cork boat tour. Visit the Whale Watch West Cork website for more details.
Butter Museum
The fascinating story of the trade and its impact on the development of the city is told in the adjacent Butter Museum (May–Sept daily 10am–1pm & 2–5pm; €3). The museum begins with dairy culture in early Ireland, as illustrated by a keg of bog butter. To this day, such kegs are often turned over by peat-cutters, who'll swear the butter is still edible!
Cork City Gaol
Within walking distance from hotel. Admission: €5 for adults and €3 for children. Family Special: €14. Open October-March 10am-4pm, March-October 9.30am-5pm. Step back in time to see what the 19th/early 20th century was like in Cork both inside and outside the prison walls.
English Market
A two-minute walk from hotel. No admission charge. Times: Monday to Saturday 9-5.30pm. Enclosed market, long tradition of fine foods and wines that are on offer from 42 traders.
Shandon Church and Steeple
Within walking distance of the hotel. Admission charge is €3.50 for adults and free for children. Times: Monday to Sunday 9am-5.30pm April - Sept. October to March 10am-4pm. The tower contains the famous Shandon Bells that visitors may ring. Shandon Church also contains a selection of rare literature.
St Fin Barre's Cathedral
Within walking distance from hotel. No admission charge. Times: April to September 10am-5.30pm. October to March 10am-5pm. The cathedral is filled with beautiful, highly ornate mosaics, rich carvings and fine stained glass.
Blarney Castle
Situated 10 miles from the hotel. Taxi fare costs about €15 and there is a regular bus service provided on Bus 8 at €5.50 per person. Admission to the castle is €10 for adults, €8 for senior citizens, €8 for students, €3.50 for children (aged 8-14). Family special (2 adults and 2 children) costs €23.50. Open daily all year 9am-5.30pm (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). Blarney Castle is located in the village of Blarney, where the world-famous Blarney Stone is located. Legend has it that the Blarney Stone has the power to confer eloquence on all who kiss it. For more information please visit http://www.blarneycastle.ie/
Old Midelton Distillery
Situated 15 miles from the hotel. Taxi costs about €15. The Midleton Express Bus provides a regular service. Admission costs €7 for adults, €3 for children. Times: November to February noon-3pm, March to October 9.30am-6pm. A visit to the Old Midleton Distillery will give you an insight into the cherished whiskey-making tradition.
Fota Wildlife Park
Situated 10 miles from the hotel. Taxi costs about €17 and there is no bus service available. Admission costs €8 for adults and €3.50 for children. Times: April to October 10am-6pm. Fota Wildlife Park has more than 70 species of wildlife in open, natural surroundings. Facilities include tour trains, a gift shop, coffee shop and picnic benches.
Kinsale
Situated 20 miles from the hotel. Taxi costs about €20 and the Kinsale Express offers a regular bus service. Kinsale is one of the most cosmopolitan and charming ports of Ireland. It boasts a great atmosphere and is now seen as Ireland's culinary capital. It is also one of the most picturesque and fashionable resorts on the south-west coast of Ireland.
Cobh (East Cork)
Situated 22 miles from the hotel. Taxi costs €20 and train and bus services are also provided. Cobh offers panoramic views of one of the finest natural harbours in the world while its land mark cathedral clings miraculously to the town's steep slopes as they sweep down to the sea. Cobh is noted and renowned for being the last port of call for millions emigrating across the oceans in the last century.
Ballymaloe Cookery School and Gardens
Situated 18 miles from the hotel. Taxi costs about €17 and there is no bus or train service. Admission costs €5 for adults with children getting in for free. Ballymaloe Gardens surround Ballymaloe Cookery School which is run by celebrity chef Darina Allen.
Santa's Christmas Palace and Ice Skating Arena
A perfect activity for all the family, this fully indoor and heated event is unique to Cork, and offers a vast array of fun family activities, catering for kids and adults alike. Open from Friday 7th to Monday 24th December 2007. http://www.santaspalace.ie/index.html
Cork Christmas Fest 2007
Experience the Magic of Christmas in Cork, with traditional festivities, carols and pantos, new ice rinks, great shopping and markets, renowned food, unrivalled restaurants and pubs, all the Christmas traditions of Cork. For more information visit www.christmasincork.ie
West Coast Surf School
The West Cork Surf School is Cork's premier surf school on the south coast, situated on the pristine blue flag sandy beach of Inchydoney and located two miles from Clonakilty in the heart of West Cork, Ireland. They are the first established Surf School in Cork and are recognised by the Irish Surfing Association (ISA). http://www.westcorksurfing.com/
Royal Cork Yacht Club
Royal Cork Yacht Club is located in Crosshavan and according to the club, it hosts "one of the best regattas in the world". To check out the Royal Cork Yacht Club please click here
Cork Film Festival
Established in 1956, Cork's film festival is one of Ireland's premier cultural events. The festival programme offers a mix of films and documentaries from all over the world as well as providing a showcase for the best of Irish film production. Visit the Cork Film Festival website for more details.
Cork Jazz Festival
For 26 years, Cork has been host to Europe's 'friendliest' jazz event. Every October, around 40,000 fans travel to Cork to experience what is undeniably Ireland's biggest and most prestigious jazz event. Visit the Cork Jazz Festival website for more information.
Ireland For Visitors
For more information on things to see and do in Cork, visit the Ireland For Visitors website.
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