Cork：A Scenic Seaport City in the Republic of Ireland Attracting Tourists with Its Charm and History

Cork is the second biggest city in the Republic of Ireland and the third biggest on the island of Ireland, after Dublin and Belfast. Cork is on the Celtic Sea coast and has a long, rich history. Cork is an exciting city with lots to discover on every corner. Read on for our recommendation on Cork’s top ten sightseeing destinations.

1. Cork City Gaol

Cork City Gaol is a nineteenth century prison, housed in a building reminding of a medieval castle. The Cork attraction is a fascinating place and highly recommended for its enticing history. Tourists can sightsee on their own or join one of the informative guided sightseeing tours, which are available in 13 languages. The old prison cells are furnished like they would have been back in the nineteenth century and there are wax figures to help sightseeing tourist understand this place better. There is also a small Radio Museum inside Cork City Gaol.

2. Ballycotton Cliff Walk

Ballycotton Cliff Walk is a beautiful path along the top of the cliffs in Ballycotton, overlooking the Celtic Sea. It is a popular destination with tourists and Cork residents alike. It is just few kilometers out of Cork city. This destination will be enjoyable for any tourists who love nature and scenic views. Tourists visiting Cork in Autumn can enjoy picking blackberries on their walk at Ballycotton Cliff. The trail is 10 kilometers long and is easy. Sightseeing tourists can follow one of the side paths down the cliffs to the beaches and the coves at the bottom.

3. Spike Island

Spike Island is in Cork Harbor off the coast of Cobh Island. In the summer there are hourly ferries to Spike Island from Cobh, which sightseeing tourists can reach from Cork by a short train. On Spike Island there’s Fort Mitchel, which used to be a huge prison and which now houses an interesting museum. Guided tours are available. It is also possible to go sightseeing after dark on a special tour. Sightseeing tourists are advised that during winter Spike Island is only open to organized tours of 15 people or more, so if you plan to go sightseeing in this Cork destination on your own, it is recommended you visit in the summer months.

4. Fota Wildlife Park

Fota Wildlife Park is an excellent place to see all sorts of animals while in Cork. The park is huge and the animal exposures are very spacious. Giraffes, cheetahs, and pink flamingos are particularly popular with tourists. If you visit the park at feeding time you will be able to see the animals enjoy their food. We also recommend seeing the tapirs in the special heated terrarium and lions with cubs in the jungle enclosure. This sightseeing destination is as good to visit in the summer as in the winter. Kids will particularly enjoy sightseeing this wildlife park in Cork. There are also cafes and food outlets serving delicious food here.

5. Blarney Castle

Blarney Castle is a world-famous, beautiful, six-hundred-year-old castle in Cork. The castle is most famous for its Blarney Stone, also called the Eloquence Stone. Legend says that if a person kisses the Blarney Stone in Cork they will never have trouble speaking their mind again. The castle and its gardens are charming in all seasons – in spring the flowers in the gardens are in full bloom, in summer there are many fun events going on, in autumn the leaves on the castle’s trees change color and look magical and in winter the castle gets decorated for Christmas. We highly recommend sightseeing Blarney Castle in Cork.

6. St Anne’s Church

St Anne’s Church is a landmark of Cork. It is a Church of Ireland church with an impressive nineteenth-century spire. Sightseeing tourists can go up to the first floor of the church and have a go at ringing the Bells of Shannon – the bells of St Anne’s Church. The Church of St Anne was built in 1722 in Cork. Tourists can also climb the many steps up to the top of the clock tower and admire the panoramic views of Cork. The Church is open all year long and entrance is €5 per adult.

7. Cobh Cathedral

Cobh Cathedral, also called St Colman’s Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral overlooking Cork Harbor. It is worth sightseeing as it is an impressive building, with long history, located in beautiful surroundings. The cathedral has big, intricate stained-glass windows. Inside the cathedral there are many beautiful statues and mosaics depicting biblical figures. Tourists who decide to go for mass at the cathedral will get a chance to hear the historic organs being played. Tourists interested in sightseeing the cathedral can visit the official website and have a look at the virtual tour to help them plan their visit.

8. CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory

CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory combines the marvels of modern technology with historic beauty. CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory is an observatory in Cork which opened in 2007 in a medieval stone castle dating back to 1582. Whether you are interested in space exploration or maritime history CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory is well worth sightseeing. The Castle Observatory organizes daily tours of the castle, called “Journeys of Exploration” and video shows in the Planetarium, called “Cosmos at the Castle”. It is a great place to expand knowledge. The CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory houses permanent exhibitions and regularly updated visiting exhibitions. Don’t miss out this destination when sightseeing Cork.

9. Cork Butter Museum

Butter is one of Ireland’s most important export products and Cork was once at the heart of this trade. The Cork Butter Museum is a museum dedicated to butter production in Cork and the international butter trade in the nineteenth century. The museum’s building dates to 1849. The museum is particularly proud of its thousand-year-old container of bog butter. A sightseeing tourist will also be able to learn more about the Irish Kerrygold Butter brand here. We especially advise sightseeing the museum in the summer when the museum organizes butter making demonstrations.

10. Old English Market

The Old English Market is the best place in Cork to go shopping for local produce. The market is bustling, and many vendors run family stalls passed on from generation to generation. This covered market in Cork is one of Europe’s best. Sightseeing tourists will be able to produce fresh fruit, vegetables, and other food stuffs, but also all shorts of merchandise, like t-shirts, crockery and art pieces. We also recommend having a snack while at the market in one of the many delis, cafes or stalls selling handmade finger food.

◎ Closing

Cork has so much to offer for sightseeing tourists. Museums, castles, beautiful nature trails, spectacular views, old churches, bell ringing and bustling markets are just some of the many attractions of Cork. To experience Irish hospitality and the charm of a coastal Irish city plan a sightseeing visit to Cork.