Cork International Airport is located approximately 8 miles south of Cork city on the Kinsale road. If you have not booked a private transfer with us, then you have a few options. Sky Link (tel. 021/432-1020) provides a shuttle service from Cork airport to the city center. The journey takes 10 to 15 minutes and costs €5 one-way and €8 round-trip. Its bright yellow buses depart every 30 minutes from outside the arrivals hall; you can buy tickets from the driver on board. Bus Éireann (tel. 021/450-8188) provides bus service from the airport to Parnell Place Bus Station in the city center, 3 blocks from St. Patrick Street, about every 30 minutes. The journey takes between 18 and 24 minutes and the fares are €4.10 one-way and €7 round-trip. Alternately, you will find taxi stands outside the arrivals hall of the airport. A journey to the city center should cost around €15.

Shannon International Airport is located approximately 76 miles north of Cork in Shannon, Co. Clare, and is the point of arrival for many transatlantic flights. Bus Éireann operates express buses from Shannon Airport to Parnell Place Bus Station, in Cork city center, 3 blocks from St. Patrick Street. Likewise, Iarnród Éireann - Irish Rail (tel. 01/836-6222) train services from Limerick and other parts of Ireland arrive at Kent Station, Lower Glanmire Road, Cork (tel. 021/455-7277), on the city's eastern edge.

Iarnród Éireann - Irish Rail (tel. 01/836-6222) trains from Dublin, Limerick, and other parts of Ireland arrive at Kent Station, Lower Glanmire Road, Cork (tel. 021/455-7277), on the city's eastern edge. Direct hourly trains from Dublin Heuston Station to Cork's Kent Station take just under three hours. From here, taxis are readily available throughout Cork or you can call ABC Taxis (tel. 021/496-1961), Cork Taxi Co-Op (tel. 021/427-2222), or Satellite Taxis (tel. 1890/202020).

Bus Éireann operates regularly scheduled bus service to Parnell Place Bus Station (tel. 021/450-8188), Cork city, from all parts of Ireland.Travel nonstop from Dublin to Cork with Bus Éireann, using their GoBe service, which takes three hours and has Wi-Fi, charging stations and onboard toilets. From the bus station, taxis are readily available or you can phone for a taxi from ABC Taxis (tel. 021/496-1961), Cork Taxi Co-Op (tel. 021/427-2222), or Satellite Taxis (tel. 1890/202020).

Getting around Cork is fairly easy and the best way to explore the city is on foot or by public transport. Bus Éireann operates bus service from Parnell Place Bus Station (tel. 021/450-8188) to all parts of the city, its suburbs and nearby towns. A local journey within Cork costs around €1.10, a round-trip ticket to Blarney costs €5.60, and to Kinsale €11. City buses run frequently from 7am to 11pm Monday to Saturday, with shorter hours on Sunday. As a general rule, the smaller and more remote the town, the less frequent its bus service. Additionally, taxis are readily available throughout Cork. The main taxi ranks are along St. Patrick Street, along the South Mall, and outside major hotels.

Walking is usually the best way to get around Cork, but you can rent a bike at Cyclescene, 396 Blarney St. (tel. 021/430-1183); open Monday to Saturday, 8:30am to 5:45pm. It costs €15 to €20 per day or €80 per week, plus a refundable deposit of €100.

Taxis are readily available throughout Cork with the main taxi ranks located along St. Patrick Street, the South Mall, and outside major hotels. To call for a taxi, try ABC Taxis (tel. 021/496-1961), Cork Taxi Co-Op (tel. 021/427-2222), or Satellite Taxis (tel. 1890/202020). In Kinsale, try Kinsale Cabs (tel. 021/477-2642), or Cab 3000 (tel. 021/477-3000). In Cobh, try Island Taxis (tel. 021/481-1111). In general, taxis are not cheap in Ireland and can quickly become an expensive luxury so try to find out the price of a journey beforehand.

Note: Not all cabs are equipped to accept credit cards so make sure you ask BEFORE you get in.

A car is the ideal way to explore County Cork, abundant as it is with scenic beauty and remote villages. Driving in Ireland might seem a daunting prospect at first, but provided you take appropriate care your trips will be safe and result in enormous pleasure. If you plan to do a lot of exploring, keep in mind that narrow winding roads (as well as flocks of sheep) can often mean that journey times are longer than might be expected from distances calculated from a map. Plan your itinerary in advance to avoid spending excessive amounts of time behind the wheel.

Unless your hotel has a parking lot, it can be a hassle to find street parking. It costs around €2 per hour if you have to park in public areas, whether you park on the street or in one of the city's two multistory parking lots, at Lavitt's Quay and Merchant's Quay. We recommend you leave your car in one of these lots unless you're heading out to Blarney Castle, the Beara Peninsula or Bantry Bay and Glengariff.

The best way to explore Cork is on foot, but don't try to do it all in a day. The South Bank and the flat, or central part, of the city can easily take a day to explore; save the Cork Hills and the North Bank for another day (time permitting). You can follow the signs for the Tourist Trail to guide you to the major sights. Brochures, maps, and other information, can be found at the Cork Tourist Office, Tourist House, 42 Grand Parade, Cork (tel. 021/425-5100). Hours are Monday to Saturday, 9:15am to 5:30pm year round.

The currency of Ireland is the Euro. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for euros upon arrival. Currency exchange desks and ATM's can be found at the airport and many locations throughout the city. For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in Ireland by clicking here.

Traditionally, Irish food was plain but hearty. However, in one generation Irish cooking has changed beyond all recognition. Warm fare, excellent drinks, and freshness form the base of Irish food. While most think of Ireland as a meat and potatoes country, there's much more to Irish cuisine than that (although the meat and potatoes dishes are excellent). Cork is renowned for its vibrant restaurant culture. Known for its own unique Irish delicacies, Cork is enjoying something of a renaissance in artisan foods. On a trip to Ireland, you won't go hungry and you won't have to spend a lot if you check out pubs, local markets (especially Cork's English Market), and take-away restaurants.

In Cork try Murphy's Pharmacy, 48 North Main St. (tel. 021/427-4121) or Marian Pharmacy on Friar's Walk (tel. 021/496-3821). In Kinsale try John Collins, Market Place (tel. 021/477-2077).

Cork is Ireland's second largest city so there are plenty of attractions and things to do around town. Its small town atmosphere is a friendly place where visitors are welcome to stop and linger.

As Ireland's largest county, Cork has a rich history and an abundance of scenic beauty that can be found not only in the Beara Peninsula, but also in Bantry Bay and Glengariff. Blarney Castle is the most well known attraction, but there are many other castles as well as quaint towns and villages. Visits to the Jameson Distillery, Fota House, the Dromberg Stone Circle and the West Cork Garden Trail are also recommended. In southern Cork, the town of Kinsale is not only Ireland's culinary capital, but also home to Charles Fort, one of Europe's largest and best preserved star forts. Whenever you visit Ireland it's wise to come prepared for wet and/or windy conditions; and, although beautiful in all seasons, the best time to visit Cork depends on your own preference.

Cork has no shortage of shopping opportunities. Cork's best department store is Brown Thomas, 18 St. Patrick St. Patrick Street is the main shopping street, and many stores can be found throughout the city on side streets. Winthrop Arcade, off Winthrop Street, offers the best of a small handful of covered shops while, the main full-size shopping mall is Merchant's Quay Shopping Centre, Merchant's Quay and St. Patrick Street. Shopping hours are typically Monday through Saturday, 9:30am to 6pm. In the summer, many stores stay open until 9:30pm and some are open on Sunday.