Things to do in Cork

UCC Summer Beds is the perfect location for you to base yourself while staying in Cork during the Summer months. 

We are open from June 1st to August 24th, 2024.

This video will give you a flavour of what Cork has to offer!

UCC Summer Beds is the ideal base to explore everything Cork has to offer, the gateway to The Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East.

Cork City Tours

Take the Hop on Hop Off bus and explore the city’s streets and attractions. Cork City Tours is a popular Cork City sightseeing tour taking in some of the best attractions in Cork with visits to the English Market Cork, Cork City Goal, the Shandon Bells, UCC and other top Cork City attractions. Passengers on our hop-on hop-off bus do their sightseeing in Cork from our red double-decker bus making light work of Cork’s famous hills while seeing all this city has to offer on our city tour. Tours depart from the Tourist Office at Grand Parade.

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The English Market

Make sure to take in the sights, sounds and smells of The English Market, Ireland’s most famous covered food market, in the heard of Cork City Centre. With restaurants and cafes, stalls and shops it’s a food lover’s delight and well worth a visit!

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Fitzgerald Park

Fitzgerald Park is just minutes away from UCC Campus Accommodation and Cork City centre and is situated on the picturesque bank of the river Lee. The park spans approximately eighteen acres with a new state of the art playground, manicured gardens and Cork Public Museum located at its centre.

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Shandon Bells

St. Anne’s church and steeple, built in 1722 reaches 37m high into the Cork skyline and is a much loved local landmark and tourist attraction. Try your hand at playing the world famous Shandon bells. The panoramic view of the city is well worth the climb.

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Cork City Gaol

A visit to Cork City Gaol is a must! This former prison, located in Cork City, gives visitors a true insight into the life of prisoners in early 19th and 20th Century Cork. It is one of Cork’s most memorable attractions and is sure to open your eyes to some of Ireland’s forgotten history.

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Lifetime Lab

Lifetime Lab, on the banks of the River Lee, is a unique attraction for visitors of all ages with attraction for visitors of all ages with its modern interactive exhibition, themed playground, beautifully restored buildings and equipment and scenic views over the River Lee. Lifetime Lab is located at the old Cork City Waterworks which was responsible for supplying water to the city of Cork over the past 3 centuries. The Waterworks is the best preserved of its kind in Ireland. The old buildings and machinery have been carefully restored and are now being used to tell the story of how water was supplied to Cork City in the past.

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Cork Vision Centre

Call into Cork Vision Centre at St. Peters – voted 2nd top free Cork visitor attraction for 2014. It’s located on the North Main Street and offers visitors an opportunity to appreciate a fine example of conservation in action, and to explore Cork’s evolution from past, through present, and onwards to future development. Exhibitions held throughout the year.

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Saint Finbarr’s Catherdral

Saint Finbarr’s Cathedral was built between 1867 and 1879 in the French Gothic style. The cathedral is a well known landmark in Cork City and welcomes thousands of visitors each year.

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Fota Wildlife Park

Fota Wildlife Park is Ireland’s premier Wildlife attraction and a must see for all visitors to Cork – families, kids and gown-ups alike! Its only 15 minutes from Cork City and you’ll come face to face with a vast array of animals as they roam around the park. They have recently welcomed some of the world’s most endangered species including Sumatran Tigers, Visayan Spotted Deer, Visayan Warty Pigs, Lion Tailed Macaques and the park’s latest arrival Jamil a two-year-old Indian Rhino.

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Cork Harbour

Experience the second largest natural harbour in the world by taking a gentle boat trip with Whale of a Time, or an exhilarating boat trip with Cork Sea Safari. Both offer fun and informative harbour and dolphin watching tours of Cork Harbour. You can explore the city’s many river channels and bridges with Atlantic Sea Kayaking.

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Blarney Castle

A visit to Blarney Castle is a lovely way to spend a day out with the family. Explore the castle ruins and appreciate the beauty and history of the stunning rooms and battlements and stroll through the castle’s vast landscapes and gardens. Kiss the Blarney Stone for the ever-lasting gift of eloquence – you’ll never again be lost for words!

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Titanic Experience Cobh

Titanic Experience Cobh is a new permanent visitor attraction which opened on February 1st 2012 in Cobh. Situated in the original offices of The White Star Line, the location marks the departure point for the last 123 passengers who boarded the Titanic on its fateful maiden voyage to America. The story is told using innovative audio visual technology bringing our characters to life through cinematic shows, scene sets, holographic imagery and touch screen technology.

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Doneraile Wildlife Park

Visit Doneraile Wildlife Park in North Cork – voted winner of the top free Cork visitor attraction for 2014. The Park comprises approximately 166 hectares and is an outstanding example of an 18th century landscaped park in the ‘Capability Brown’ style. Mature groves of deciduous trees, several restored water features and a number of deer herds can be viewed along the many pathways within the Park.

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Blackrock Castle & Observatory

Blackrock Castle and Observatory is on the banks of the River Lee. The venue has a unique location and ambiance with a magnificent courtyard and fully restored buildings.

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We look forward to welcoming you to Cork!