Getting to Cork and around it

Getting to Cork

By air

Cork Airport is about eight kilometres south of the city, with flights from the UK and a spread of European cities. It's a small, easy airport to get through. The 225 and 226 buses run from right outside the terminal into the city centre and on to Kent Station in roughly twenty-five minutes, several times an hour; a taxi into town is quick and usually around €20 to €25.

By train

Trains run into Kent Station on the east side of the centre. Dublin to Cork is the main line and takes about two and a half hours, running roughly hourly; there are also services from Limerick, Killarney, Tralee and Mallow. From Kent Station it's about a ten-minute walk over the river into the heart of town, or a short bus or taxi if you've luggage. Kent is also the station for the Cobh and Fota trains, so it's your springboard for those day trips too.

By bus

The coach is the budget option and drops you right in the middle of town at Parnell Place bus station. Bus Éireann runs from Dublin and around the country, and private operators run frequent, comfortable services from Dublin city and Dublin Airport. Journey time from Dublin is around three hours. It's cheaper than the train and often just as handy for the city centre.

By car

From Dublin it's about two and a half to three hours down the M8 motorway, and Cork is well connected by road to Kerry, Limerick and the west. One thing to know: the city-centre streets are old, narrow and heavily one-way, so don't plan on driving around town. Head straight for a car park or a park-and-ride and walk from there.

Getting around the city

On foot. This is how you'll do most of it. The centre is compact and flat, and the walking tour itself covers only two to three kilometres, which tells you how close everything is. As a rough guide, Kent Station to the Grand Parade is about twelve minutes, the English Market to the Shandon Bells about twelve minutes uphill, and the centre to Fitzgerald Park about fifteen minutes west.

Buses. Bus Éireann runs the city routes, handy for the few things that sit outside the core, Cork City Gaol at Sunday's Well, Blackrock on the harbour, or the university out west. Pay with a Leap card or the TFI Go app, or contactless on board.

Bikes. Cork has a public bike-share, TFI Bikes, good for the river and the Marina. The scheme is being upgraded through 2026, so check the app for what's currently running before you rely on it.

Taxis. Easy to find at ranks around the centre or through the FreeNow app, and cheap for the short hops, like up the hill to the City Gaol on a wet day.

Accessibility

The core of the city is flat and walkable, and the main streets, the market and most attractions are accessible. A few of the highlights sit on hills, Shandon, the City Gaol and the ground around St Fin Barre's, so a taxi is the sensible way up to those if walking uphill is difficult. If you're travelling with specific access needs and plan to do the tour, get in touch beforehand and we'll advise on the route.

Where to park

The reliable multi-storey car parks are Paul Street, Grand Parade and North Main Street, all right in the centre and signposted as you come in. There's on-street pay-and-display too, but the car parks are simpler for a day. If you'd rather not bring the car into town at all, the Black Ash park-and-ride on the south side lets you leave it and bus in cheaply.

Finding the walk

Our tour meets at The Counting House on South Main Street, in the old Beamish & Crawford brewery quarter, about five minutes' walk from the English Market. The Eircode is T12 T2XV if you're using maps or a taxi.

Any doubt on the day? Our guides know the buses, the shortcuts and the walking times, so ask us. There's more on the city itself in our Cork history library and the things-to-do guide. See the walk and times.