Visitors to Kinsale will most likely be entering Ireland via Cork Airport (IATA code ORK), located south of Cork City and about 13 miles north of Kinsale. With 2.3 million passengers served in 2017, it is the second-busiest airport in the Republic of Ireland. Aer Lingus, Aer Lingus Regional, Air France, Flybe, and Ryanair fly year-round to and from Cork Airport, and a handful of other airlines fly seasonally.

Directions from Cork Airport: At the airport entrance roundabout, take the third exit which will have you staying right onto the R600 motorway. Keep on for 13 miles until you reach Kinsale. The R600 motorway runs right into town and changes names to the R605, which in Kinsale will be called Pearse Street.

There is a taxi rank outside the arrivals terminal, and depending on the time of day, a taxi from Cork Airport to Kinsale should cost in the neighborhood of €30-€40.

Kinsale is not served by a railway; the closest train stations are located in Cork and in Cobh. There is a taxi rank outside Cork Kent train station and one outside Lower Road/Westbourne Place near Cobh train station. Expect to pay somewhere around €35-€50 for a taxi, depending on the time of day, how many people are in your party, and how many pieces of baggage you have. Kinsale`s bus stop (Local Link Cork and Bus Eireann) is located at Pier Road near Long Quay; you can walk from the bus stop to most accommodations close by in central Kinsale.

Kinsale`s public transportation system is limited, and is served by the main bus company for the rural portions of County Cork, Local Link Cork (www.locallinkcork.ie). Bus service leaves multiple times daily from Pier Road`s bus stop in Kinsale, traveling to Clonakilty, Garretstown, Garrylucas, the Old Head of Kinsale, and Charles Fort. One-way tickets from Kinsale to Clonakilty cost €6. There is also an evening bus on Fridays and Saturdays. There is a basic shuttle for tourists leaving from Pier Road traveling directly to Charles Fort, it costs €2 for a one-way ticket and €3 for a return. For timetables specific to your journey, visit www.locallinkcork.ie/timetables.

Kinsale is small and does not have its own taxi rank, so it is best to reserve your taxis in advance. In theory, cabs can be hailed from the street, but it is not common. Taxi fares in Kinsale will be similar to those in Cork City, with flagfall at approximately €4 and €2.25 extra for each mile traveled. The main taxi company in Kinsale is Kinsale Cabs (Market Square, +353 21 470 6853, www.kinsalecabs.com), which offers taxi services, tours, and limousine services. You can book online and inquire about specific prices via e-mail or by telephone.

Parking can be found easily in Kinsale. Whether or not you want to pay for the privilege is another point of contention entirely. There is a free parking lot on New Road just to the northeast of town, between the SuperValu supermarket and Kinsale`s fire station. There is a parking garage which charges €4 for two hours, more centrally located off Pier Road at Denis Quay. There are also pay parking spots all over central Kinsale, where you pay at a machine and leave the ticket in a prominent position on your dashboard. Finally, inquire during the booking process about parking at your accommodations; you may very well just decide to keep your car there while you are exploring Kinsale on foot.

Kinsale has received a very well-deserved reputation for being one of the new `gourmet food capitals` of Ireland. To drive the point home, five restaurants in Kinsale are listed in the 2019 Michelin Guide on Ireland, a major compliment considering the town`s relatively small population. The five restaurants listed in the 2019 Michelin Guide are:

-Bastion (5 Guard Well, +353 21 470 9696)
-Finns` Table (6 Main Street, +353 21 470 9636)
-The Bulman & Toddies Restaurant (Summercove, +353 21 477 2131)
-Max`s Seafood (48 Main Street, +353 21 477 2443)
-Fishy Fishy (Pier Road at Crowleys Quay, +353 21 470 0415)

All of the listed restaurants serve seafood, the specialty of Kinsale, in some capacity. The Bulman is known for its homey public house vibe; Finns` Table is certified farm-to-table, with everything homemade and sourced from the chef`s family farm; and Bastion is a bistro that serves Irish favorites with Mediterranean influences. For other delicious restaurants, focus on the area in and around Market Square.

The currency of Ireland is the euro (€). U.S. 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. ATMs can be found at many locations in Kinsale and in most towns on the southern coast.

Central Kinsale is filled with mom-and-pop clothing, crafts, and ceramics stores. Focus on Guard Well and Main Street, between Higher O`Connell Street and the Harbor, for local handicrafts and souvenirs. Also make a note to look around Market Square, in particular the Irish goods store Weavers of Ireland, located on 15 Market Street.

The main bike rental shop in Kinsale is called Wild Atlantic Sports (+353 71 103 2317, www.wildatlanticsports.com), which offers a half-day rental for around €20 and a full day rental for around €30. We recommend a few biking routes: Scilly Walk; Central Kinsale down to the Old Head of Kinsale; and from Kinsale to Clonakilty.