Things to do in  Cork

Dating from 1788, The English Market is among Ireland’s finest foodie destinations. Set inside a Victorian heritage building with a vaulted ceiling, the market is filled with vendors selling the finest and freshest of local produce, from grass-fed beef and smoked salmon to homemade jam, duck eggs, and fresh fruit and vegetables.

The Blarney Castle and Gardens is most famous as the home of the Blarney Stone. Legend states that if you kiss the stone, you will never be at a loss for words. While people travel from all over the world to kiss the mystical stone (which involves hanging upside down from the castle’s tower), this 600-year-old fortress is also a draw for its lovely gardens and ancient stone formations called Rock Close.

At the Midleton Distillery Experience (formerly the Jameson Distillery Midleton), travelers can enjoy the Jameson Experience Tour—this includes a look into the distillery in East Cork, where the well-known whiskey was produced until the 1970s. In the company of a guide, visitors explore the preserved distillery interior, and view old kilns, mills, and distilling equipment, as well as a restored 19th-century warehouse.

With intricate tracery, pointed spires, stone gargoyles, and a trumpet-playing golden angel on top, St. Fin Barre's Cathedral boasts an extravagant neo-Gothic design. The interior features marble mosaics, stained glass, ornate sculptures, and a cannonball from the 17th-century Siege of Cork.

Visitors flock to the ruined 15th-century Blarney Castle to bend over backwards from the battlements and lay their lips on the famous Blarney Stone (Stone of Eloquence). According to local legend, the stone, which is embedded high in the castle walls, imparts those who kiss it with the “gift of the gab,” making them more eloquent, articulate, and convincing.

Built in the 17th century, the vast star-shaped Charles Fort was designed to guard Kinsale Harbour. The site of fierce fighting during the 1690 Williamite War, Charles Fort was ceded by the British during the War of Independence in 1921, only to be extensively damaged during the Irish Civil War. The fort is now a designated National Monument.

Built by the British in 1601 and expanded to its present star-shaped form in the 1620s, Elizabeth Fort has stood witness to many turbulent periods of Cork history. Originally serving as a military barracks, this fort later functioned as a police station before 2014 when the city embarked on a plan to turn it into a tourist attraction.

Ninety minutes from Kenmare and Cork, Gougane Barra National Forest Park is a popular day trip for time in Ireland’s nature—and history. Beyond the 339 acres of balding mountains, lush valleys, and the River Lee, visitors will find 300-year-old monastic ruins and a 19th-century church on a small island in a lake, one of the most photographed churches in the country.

Built in 1722, Cork's St. Anne's Church is known for its large golden fish weathervane, which stands atop its bell tower and can be seen from much of the city. Visitors can climb the tower and try to play a tune on the church's eight bells, which were immortalized in the 19th-century poem, “The Bells of Shandon.”

Also known as the Druid's Altar, Drombeg Stone Circle is one of the most impressive prehistoric monuments in Ireland. Dating back to 1,100 BC, the megalithic site consists of 17 standing stones, which tower 6 feet (2 meters) above ground, and is thought to have been used as a burial or sacrifice site.

At the tip of a peninsula where Atlantic waves crash ceaselessly into sea cliffs, Mizen Head is one of Ireland’s most spectacular headlands. Mizen Head offers a visitor center and walking trails to explore, and it is home to the 1909-built Mizen Head Signal Station, which sits atop a rock connected to the mainland by a narrow footbridge.

Two ruined fortresses stand watch over the harbor of this pretty-as-a-postcard fishing town. Though it’s got beaches, coastal walks, and a handful of historic sites including two forts and a Norman church, Kinsale’s big draw is its reputation for gastronomic greatness; its seafood restaurants are said to be among Ireland’s finest.

Dating from the 19th century, Cork City Gaol is a historic prison-turned-museum, which offers visitors a glimpse into the life of the imprisoned people who were incarcerated there. A visit to this attraction includes the chance to explore the grounds and the jail's interiors: If you’re feeling brave, you can even get locked in a cell.

Paying homage to the great golden spread, Cork’s Butter Museum shines the spotlight on one of Ireland’s greatest trade stories. Displays and audio-visual guides here trace the history of butter production in Cork and its impact on Ireland’s social and agricultural development. Expect to hear offbeat facts and leave with a craving for bread slathered in the stuff.

Gin, vodka, and absinthe are made at Rebel City Distillery, which opened in 2020 in a restored Cork factory. Today, this landmark is a working distillery and a local attraction offering tours, tastings, and cocktail classes. Reserve a spot for everything from absinthe tasting to spirit school to a straightforward distillery tour, which includes a gin and tonic.