Holiday in Cork

What makes Cork special as a destination?

Cork is Ireland's secret capital and the culinary metropolis of the Emerald Isle — a vibrant university city on the River Lee, which proudly refers to itself with a wink as The Real Capital of Ireland. The second-largest city in the Republic is located on an island between two arms of the Lee and spreads over steep hills, from which colorful Georgian terraced houses overlook narrow streets. The English Market, founded in 1788, is one of the oldest covered markets in Europe and the gastronomic heart of Cork: Under the Victorian glass roof, stalls line up with Irish farmhouse cheese, fresh oysters from West Cork, black pudding, handmade bread, and the legendary tripe and drisheen — tripe with blood sausage, a dish that has survived only in Cork. Queen Elizabeth II visited the market in 2011 and made it internationally famous. Blarney Castle, just 8 kilometers north of the city, houses the Blarney Stone: According to legend, a kiss on the stone embedded in the castle wall grants the gift of eloquence (Gift of the Gab). To kiss it, one must lean backward over the parapet — a test of courage at dizzying heights. The gardens and the Poison Garden around the castle are worth a visit on their own. The Shandon Church (St. Anne's Church) with its two-colored tower of red sandstone and white limestone is Cork's landmark: Visitors are allowed to ring the famous Shandon Bells and enjoy a 360-degree panorama of the city from the tower. The Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's 2,500-kilometer-long coastal road, begins in Kinsale (25 km south of Cork) and leads along dramatic cliffs, secluded coves, and picturesque fishing villages to the north. Kinsale itself is Ireland's gourmet capital with dozens of award-winning restaurants.