Cork, on Ireland's south east coast has its centre on an island in the River Lee. It is connected to the huge Cork Harbour and there are waterways and bridges . This compact university city can be easily explored on foot. There are sweeping views of the harbour and churches, cafes, pubs and restaurants to explore.
Visit the Shandon district and walk up to the Church of St. Anne. Built of sandstone and limestone in 1722 this is a colourful, red and white sanctuary. Climb up the tower's stone stairs for a spectacular view of the city. There is a charge of about 6 euros. There are bells along the way that can be rung to tell the city of your arrival. The Franciscan Well Brewery is a microbrewery and pub built on the site of a Franciscan monastery where lit is said that the well water was a miraculous curative. Try a full Irish breakfast with bacon, sausage and blood pudding on wholesome grain bread. Visit ancient markets and shop for fresh and smoked meats, fish, cheeses and breads.
Cork is one of the sunniest cities in Ireland. Winters are mild and because of the closeness to the sea, temperatures rarely reach 0°C. The weather is generally mild with frequent rain. The Cork Midsummer Festival is in mid-June when for one month the Arts are celebrated. The Cork Folk Festival takes place in October with top Irish musicians and sessions. During the last week of October there is a Jazz Festival and the Film Festival is at the beginning of November.
Cork city centre is on an island on the River Lee. Parking charges apply and cost 2EUR for one hour during the day. The cost of living is generally cheaper than in London. A basic meal pub or restaurant meal costs about 12EUR. A beer costs approximately 3EUR.
Enjoy local specialities such as drisheen, a kind of black pudding and regional sheep's cheeses.
The city centre is small enough to walk around. Single tickets for local buses are available for around EUR2 and day travelcards cost about EUR5. Buy tickets on the bus. Buses also run to the suburbs. Taxis are easy to find throughout town, they are metered and have standard fares.