Best Things To Do in Cork

Cork is an Irish city that breaks away from traditional patterns. For years it was the perfect hideaway for secret lodges and mansions of the old monarchies. But over the years it has become the culinary capital of Ireland with its variety of sweet and savoury dishes.

And, as in other Irish cities, the distillery boom is predominant. So during your visit you have to try good Irish whiskey and gin. And if you're staying for a couple of days, you could take advantage of the excursions to nearby villages, cliffs and castles. Ready to get to know Cork? Here's everything you should know.

If you want to experience a quirky side of Cork you could start with the dazzling Tuckey Street Grand Lodge. Today you can see collections of evidence of the existence of Freemasonry in Cork. In fact, it is considered the second oldest Masonic building in the world.

You'll pass through the Masonic Hall, where you'll find furniture over 300 years old and art collections. You'll even see some aprons, which are the compulsory robes that the masters needed to enter the halls and could not be worn outside the lodge under any circumstances.

Each room has a mysterious aura that leads you through the clues that this secret society surely left behind. They served their purpose because much of their history remains a mystery, although many claim that the meeting rooms were occupied by people from different professions and social classes, where they discussed the future of the world and performed rituals.

Other Cork landmarks

To visit the lodge and learn more about its history, book a guided tour of Cork. This way, you can also meander through the streets and get to know other tourist attractions:

• Main Street, you can't leave Cork without checking out its quaint shops and walking down St. Patrick's Street, where the annual Christmas parade passes through.
• Opera Lane, another important thoroughfare, is home to fashion and international chain shops.
• Crawford Art Gallery is an Irish art gallery, where you can see permanent and temporary exhibitions.

The flavours of Irish cuisine are a complete sensory spectacle. Walking through the streets of Cork you'll be tempted by the fresh smells that permeate the atmosphere. A classic is the English Market, which takes you through the local produce and specialities of the city. It's roofed and colourful with stalls offering artisan cheeses, Irish breads and steaming O'Flynns sausages.

Cork is considered the foodie capital of Ireland and there are plenty of places to connect with the culture through your taste buds. In Cork's Coal Quay district, culinary heritage awaits and you've got a date with cheap street food. For example, you can order an assorted box of seafood from €20, with enough fish for the whole family. Meanwhile, sausages are available for €5 and crêpes from €4.

To enjoy several tastings in different places, I suggest booking a food tour of Cork. This way, all you have to do is eat and enjoy yourself. Besides the typical sausages there are other dishes that you should try, here are my favourites.

Typical dishes in Cork

• Irish Stew: the typical Irish beef stew that is a must at important events.
• Irish breakfast: the Irish love breakfast and, above all, a big breakfast. This dish is served until midday and can include bacon, sausages, fried eggs and vegetables in various forms.
• Cottage Pie: This is another must-try of the local gastronomy and consists of a meat pie au gratin with mashed potatoes.

Typical desserts in Cork

• Whiskey Chocolate Cake: a moist dessert that melts in your mouth.
• Rhubarb Crumble: your teeth will rattle as you chew the crunchy, fresh rhubarb-based crumble.
• Scones: crispy cakes served with butter and jam, ideal for a tea party.

Typical drinks in Cork

• Guinness: the Irish stout beer characterised by its black colour and dry taste.
• Irish whiskey: a drink that is drunk in Cork at all times, as it has a smooth taste.
• Black tea: Ireland is believed to be the second largest tea-drinking country in the world, surpassing even the UK. Irish tea has a soothing aroma, has milk in it and is the best companion for a gossip.
• Cork Dry Gin: Irish gin is macerated and made with a blend of juniper, lemon and secret spices.

Cork is a city that looks like something out of a period film, and its historic mansions are an important part of its heritage. Fota House Arboretum & Gardens is a 19th century estate that belonged to the aristocratic Smith-Barry family. It was used as a centre for hunting and fishing activities, but is now a museum where you can spy on the lives of the royal families who passed through Ireland.

It' s divided into three sections, which makes it easy to explore. Here is what you can see:

• Fota House, this is the mansion itself and is a sample of the regency style architecture of Ireland. You'll see art collections, elegant rooms and what life was like for the family and servants.
• Arboretum, be prepared to see all sorts of rather strange shrubs and trees.
• Victorian Gardens, you could spend hours walking among the paths with native plants, ponds and even a greenhouse.

Buying tickets for Fota House Arboretum & Gardens online allows you to save time at the ticket office and enjoy all the areas for as long as you like, as well as taking advantage of informative commentary from a guide.

Ireland was one of the pioneers of spirits in Europe and the tradition has been carried on. In Cork, a stop at the most popular distilleries is a must, where you can get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Irish gin and whiskey.

The most famous are the Jameson Distillery and the Rebel City Distillery, and I'll tell you briefly why.

Jameson Distillery

Booking a guided tour of the Jameson Distillery in Cork is the best way to become an Irish whiskey expert. You'll learn the process behind a prestigious brand that came to Ireland in 1780 and whose whiskies are easily distinguished by their delicate flavour.

When you book a tour, a guide will take you around the factory premises in Cork, where you'll see how the grains are ground and all the stages until the perfect flavour is achieved. In other parts of the world, the ideal Whiskey should be aged for a maximum of two years, however, Irish Whiskey must be macerated for a minimum of three years.

After touring the premises, you will be rewarded with a well-deserved treat and can taste different types of Jameson Irish Whiskey. The idea is to first let your nose take in the flavour, and then give way to the smoky, smooth notes.

Rebel City Distillery

Booking a guided tour of the Rebel City Distillery in Cork takes you on a journey through Ireland's exceptional spirits. Their speciality is Irish gin and they handle an artisanal process that you can witness during the tour. Specifically, this distillery uses traditional methods and fuses them with innovative techniques.

In addition to the legendary Irish gin, they make innovative gin from Indian ingredients and spirits such as absinthe, which has a high alcohol content and a traditional herbal flavour.

If you're passing through the city or want to take in the sights in a short time, you could hop on the Cork Sightseeing Bus. It's a double-decker open-top bus that allows you to take advantage of the free stop system and explore at your own pace.

When booking tickets for the Cork Sightseeing Bus, once activated, you will have a maximum of 24 hours to use your pass. Activation is automatic when you first board a bus.

To help you organise your itinerary, the frequency between buses is approximately 30 minutes. In addition, the whole tour can take an hour and a half and you will be able to enjoy an informative audio guide on board.

Main bus stops

• English Market.
• Grand Parade.
• St. Patrick's Street.
• Wellington Bridge.

Relive the stories of former prisoners from the 19th century and delve into the mysteries of Cork Gaol. Its construction was intended to displace another prison in the city, which was in poor condition. Initially a mixed prison for local crime, it eventually became a women's prison.

It was later demolished and transformed into a popular radio station in Cork. The grounds were reclaimed and it is now a museum with interactive exhibits. In the corridors you can witness some restored cells and wax figures recreating historical scenes.

When you buy tickets to Cork Prison you can enjoy a guided tour and take part in recreational activities. For example, you could become a prisoner for a few minutes and experience life behind bars with special effects that add to the realism.

Finbar Cathedral is a former monastery that fuses culture, history and spirituality. Its Victorian Gothic style is impressive and the stained glass windows of biblical scenes are especially worth a look.

Did you know that this is the place where the Apocalypse will be announced? Or at least that's what some locals say. Legend has it that the angel appointed to blow the final trumpet is petrified here and will come to life to fulfil his mission.

During St Finbarr's feast days, the church is filled with joy and you can enjoy various choral mass ceremonies, which are usually booked for Sundays at 11.15am.

Get ready to experience a journey through 400 years of history at Fort Elizabeth. It is a historical landmark that protected Cork during the wars and was destroyed as a result. However, it has always been a sacred place for the locals and soon after was rebuilt.

The external and internal façade attempts to emulate the original and arguably succeeds as the ramparts are impressive. It also offers panoramic views of the city, the River Lee and the Irish Sea. The best part is that it's free to enter, although I suggest you go with a guide to get a better understanding of its history.

Butter is a very special ingredient in Cork's cuisine, which is why the city has been a centre of production since the 18th century. In addition, many Irish people learn to make butter from a young age and during the war it was one of the few foods they had unrestricted access to.

The Irish love of butter is such that the Cork Butter Museum is a must-see. Here you can see every stage of production, learn about its history and take advantage of tastings of different types of Irish butter.

What sets Irish butter apart is its creamy, melt-in-the-mouth taste. And the best thing is that you can buy real artisan butter at the museum shop and take it home with you, although remember that each country and airline has its own restrictions.

Cork is a city with fairly traditional facades, but with an innate rebelliousness and exciting surprises. From here, it's easy to access other Irish tourist destinations that are a dream for those with an appreciation of culture and history. For example, you could make your way to the Ring of Kerry or explore castles and cliffs that will leave you speechless - I'll tell you more!

Ring of Kerry Tour

If you're planning a trip to Cork in the near future, you could book a trip to the Ring of Kerry. It's a famous nature trail that takes you through beaches, lakes, mountains and postcard-perfect scenery. Typical of this type of walk is a stop at the traditional village of Sneem Village, famous for its farms and sheep-winding hills.

Cliffs of Moher tour

Another typical getaway is to book a trip to the Cliffs of Moher. Ireland's cool breeze is at its most pleasant here, where you'll have the Irish Sea at your feet. Not only will you feel the adrenaline rush of standing on the edge of this natural viewpoint, but you'll also pass through the karst plain of the Burren.

You'll also have the chance to see the nearby villages, as well as Limerick Castle, St John's Cathedral and the medieval castle of Bunratty.

Excursion to Kinsale

If I had a couple of days to spare, I would definitely go for a few hours to Kinsale. This Irish town is a beauty fifty minutes from Cork, famous for its colourful houses stacked on cliffs. Here you'll be greeted by the joy of the locals who accompany the routine with Celtic street music. The food scene is also one of the most popular in Ireland.