5 Great Ways to Spend a Day in Cork City

Are you wondering how to spend a day in Cork City? Well, you have come to the right spot, as we have the 5 best things to do.

Located in the South of Ireland, Cork is famously called Ireland’s “real capital” and “foodie capital”. When you think of County Cork, your mind may wander to the song “The Banks of my lovely Lee” or the Cork saying, “How are ya Boi?” Although these are synonymous with Cork, that is not all the capital city of Rebel County has to offer.

In this article, we will look at

• How to Get to Cork City
• Spend a Day in Cork City: Activities
• Take a trip to the English Market
• Go Shopping on Opera Lane
• Art and Culture in Cork City
• Spend a Day in Cork City: Food & Drink

How to Get to Cork City

Before you look at things to do in Cork City, you must ensure you know how to get there. Cork City is easily accessible by train and bus. You can take the train from Heuston Station in Dublin to Kent Station in Cork in just over 2:30 hrs.

From Galway Ceannt Station, it can take roughly over 4 hrs to get to Cork by train as you have to make stops in Limerick Junction and Colbert station en route. Kent Station in Cork City is a short walk from the city centre. Bus Eireann also runs expressway buses that will take you straight into the city. It is quite easy to get around this bustling city on foot, by bike, bus or car.

1. Spend a Day in Cork City: Activities

If having fun and playing games is how you want to spend a day in Cork City, then why not try out one of the city’s amazing entertainment centres?

Go Bowling in the Leisurplex

If you are looking for a place to spend a few hours with friends or children, the Leisurplex is the perfect spot. Here you can enjoy bowling with your family and playing snooker or swimming in the pool with your friends. The Leisurplex also has a fantastic arcade centre with old and new games. There is also a soft play area for younger kids.

Spend an evening at the Mardyke

The Mardyke Entertainment Centre is similar to the Leisurplex but more suited to older groups. You and your friends can enjoy ping pong, bowling, darts, pool and snooker here. There are also pub quizzes here; you can enjoy food and drink. This is a fun way to spend a day in Cork City.

Have a walk in Fitzgerald Park

If you like to get out in nature and walk with fabulous scenery, why not head over to Fitzgerald Park? You can also view Dermot Gavin’s impressive Sky Garden structure on display in the park. When you leave the park, why not cross the water on the Shakey Bridge to bring you back into the city? During the Summer, this public park is vibrant, with people playing in the green, having picnics with friends and walking with their pets.

2. Take a trip to the English Market

If it was worth the visit by the Queen of England, it would certainly be worth a visit from you. If you have ever watched the Cork TV show “Young Offenders”, you may recognise the English Market as the place that Conor and his mam worked at. Here, you will see fishmongers, butchers, greengrocers and more. The English Market is one of the best-covered markets in Ireland. This charming and unique market is steeped in culture, and it is a must when you spend a day in Cork City.

3. Go Shopping on Opera Lane

If shopping is how you want to spend a day in Cork City, you will not be disappointed. Opera Lane in Cork has many high-street stores from which you can choose. Shops such as H&M, Tommy Hilfiger, Office, River Island and Next will allow you to shop and browse for hours. Brown Thomas, Superdry, Primark (Penney’s) and other stores are also close by, making it the perfect place to do all types of shopping.

4. Art and Culture in Cork City

If you want to soak in Cork culture for the day and visit the artistic experiences the Rebel County offers, we have a few options.

See a performance at the Opera House

The Opera House is a fabulous place to go see a performance. Whether a pantomime, comedy act or musical act is what you fancy, you will not be disappointed. The Opera House hosts many amazing acts each year. Watching a show surrounded by the gorgeous interiors of the Opera House is something special and will surely be an experience everyone enjoys. This is a great way to spend a day in Cork City, and after the show, you can simply walk across to the beautiful Italian restaurant Luigi Malones to try some delicious food.

Go to the Cork City Gaol

If you are interested in history, we recommend visiting Cork City Gaol. This prison once held hundreds of 19th-century prisoners. You can walk and explore the wings and corridors of the Gaol with a tour guide who will give you the history behind everything you see. Tour guides will also tell you about all the famous prisoners who once stayed at Cork City Gaol and the story behind their arrest. You will see life-like statues of prisoners in their cells. The Cork City Gaol is also child-friendly, and we think it is an exciting and fun way to spend a day in Cork City.

Shandon Bells Tower

The Shandon Bells Tower is definitely worth a visit when you are in Cork City. Not only is the tower iconic to Cork, but it also offers a beautiful viewpoint of the city from the tower’s balcony. What’s even better? You can ring the bells and hear them chime through the church and tower. Although you do have to climb 135 steps, every step is worth it.

Crawford Art Gallery

If you want to spend a day in Cork City appreciating art, heading to Crawford Art Gallery is a must. This art gallery exceeds expectations with its beautiful collections and unique sculptures. This Gallery holds many different exhibitions throughout the year, so look at their website to see what kind of exhibitions are in place during your visit. This is a place for all ages to enjoy, as there are fun activities held for children and art lovers alike. It is also free to enter the Crawford Art Gallery as they work on donations only.

5. Spend a Day in Cork City: Food & Drink

Cork is well known for being the “Food capital” of Ireland, and when you visit Cork, you will see precisely why. Whether it is breakfast, lunch, brunch or dinner, Cork City has a restaurant or café to suit your needs and wants.

Crawford and Co.

It is a must for any lovers of bottomless brunch. If you plan on doing Crawford and Co.’s bottomless brunch, then make sure you don’t have any necessary plans for the afternoon and eat a hearty breakfast because trust me, when they say ” endless “prosecco” they mean endless prosecco. For €25, you get endless prosecco with orange juice for two hours. You can then add a delicious brunch dish to satisfy you while you sip on bubbles. The staff here are very attentive and chatty, which adds to the atmosphere of the restaurant.

Dwyer’s of Cork

Dwyer’s is a fabulous vintage-style restaurant with fantastic music and a bottomless brunch. The food and cocktails at O’Dwyer’s will have your mouth watering. You will come to Dwyer’s for the food but stay for the bubbly atmosphere created by the friendly staff.

Eat at the Marina Market

We must recommend the Marina Market if you are looking for a place to grab food and drink. Cork’s largest indoor market is located by the marina in Cork and is home to many different vendors offering a variety of food and drinks. Some examples of vendors you will find in the Marina market are Hansum, Dinky Donuts, Oak Fire Pizza, No Sin, Prataí and White Rabbit. The Marina market is also pet friendly, so bring your furry friends as you pass away some time with friends and family.

An indoor karting circuit is nearby, which is great fun regardless of age. Live out your Formula One driver dreams of racing around the track, then go to the Marina Market to fuel up after the race.

Sophie’s Rooftop

Located right beside Kent Station, Sophie’s Rooftop is the gorgeous rooftop bar of the Dean Hotel. This restaurant is worth a visit no matter what time of the day. The interiors of Sophie Rooftop are classy and elegant, from the table you sit to even the bathroom! You must get a classic picture of one of Sophie’s rooftop swings when you visit just to prove you were there.

Now that you have many ways to spend a day in Cork City, why not book your flight, train, or bus and visit Rebel County?