Late last year we were lucky enough to do a road trip through Ireland and Northern Ireland. We were planning on staying for 2 weeks, but loved it so much we stayed for an extra week and that still wasnt enough. We took the ferry from Spain, which arrived at Cork, which was our first taste of Ireland. It was a lovely smaller city with enough things to do to fill in a day, before we continued on our trip in Ireland.
As you will start to see, Ireland has a bit of a difference in architecthure from mainland Europe. It may be subtle, but it became more obvious the longer we were there. One of the bigger attractions in Cork is Charles Fort - an ancient fort suspected to have been built around 1600. Although we didnt go inside, it was still cool to see it from the outside!
From one fort to another - on to Elizabeth fort. In my opinion this one was much more enjoyable, and has over the years been a barracks and prison. What I liked about Elizabeth fort is that you can walk around the walls, and there has been some effort to remake in in a fun and interactive way for tourists. There are also some great views of the surrounding areas of Cork from here!
After visiting two forts, it seems like time for coffee! We found an amazing little coffee shop here called Cork Coffee roasters. It was a lovely surprise after coming from Spain where (in my opinion) it is hard to come by good coffee!
One of the joys of travelling is exploring food and the many markets that are on offer. We found a lovely small market here called the English Market. As Cork is a fairly small city, the market was a great size where we could find something for lunch and also explore and do some taste testing!
Although we arent into art, it is worth a mention that there is a free art museum in Cork (probably why we visited!), called Crawford art gallery. Unsure if we were aloud photos so I wont share any on here.. There is a gallery with Roman sculptures which was pretty cool if you are into that type of thing and cant make it to the Vatican... I will instead share a picture of the Murphys we found in Cork, because the stereotype is that Irish like to drink!
It wouldnt be a European city without a cathedral! The cathedral we visited in Cork was called St Fin Barres cathedral. We didnt go inside this one, and by this stage we had seen so many it was hard to impress us. If you have a particular interest in architecture then it is probably work checking out though?
Don't Forget: Get Travel Health Insurance!
To make your trip a worry-free experience, TravelFeed recommends SafetyWing Nomad Insurance. It provides comprehensive health coverage while you travel, so you can focus on exploring, not the unexpected. Get a quote here
Overall, Cork was a great place to spend a day and a great introduction to Ireland! Stay safe everyone wherever you are in the world at the moment!
All photos taken by me
Travel Resources for your trip to Ireland
Recommended by TravelFeed
Flights: We recommend checking Kiwi.com to find the best and cheapest flights to Ireland.
Accomodation: Explore the best places to stay in Ireland on Booking.com, Agoda and Hostelworld.
Travel Insurance: Medical emergencies abroad can be pricey, but travel health insurance is not. We always use SafetyWing for affordable and reliable coverage.
Car Rental: For hassle-free car hiring, DiscoverCars is our trusted choice with a wide selection of vehicles.
Internet: Got an eSIM compatible phone? Airalo is perfect for reliable internet access during your trip. Just install it before you go, and you're set!
Day Trips & Tours: We recommend GetYourGuide for a variety of well-organized and enjoyable activities.
Travel Planner: Need a hand planning? Our free travel planner chatbot is your personal guide to Ireland. Chat now.
Disclosure: Posts on TravelFeed may contain affiliate links. See affiliate disclosure.
