County Cork

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Ireland
County Cork

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About County Cork

Many visitors to Cork don't realise how big this county is, and how beautiful its dairy-green hinterland is. They're more interested in the dramatic, wind buffeted coastline, with its fork of peninsulas reaching out into the Atlantic, and their colourful little fishing villages with their pubs, warm with music, as well as hearty food and drink. There are calmer stretches of coastline too, long sandy miles, and pretty secluded covers, and many of these are backed by seaside holiday towns, or wonderful old forts or castles. These are obviously some of the best places to stay in County Cork if you’re here for the coastline.

And then of course there’s Cork city, a rival to Dublin for Ireland’s capital — in terms of culture, of cuisine and of lifestyle, a city full of traditional Irish charm, but of youthful energy too, with great music and markets. This is one of the best places to stay in County Cork if you’re looking for an Irish city break. And then there’s the rocky hills and smooth, green dales of the hinterland: perfect if you’re looking for an Irish escape.

Where to Stay? Which Part of County Cork?

Cork city’s rivalry with Dublin is legend, with locals calling it the 'real capital of Ireland', or, from those with a more mischievous air, 'The People's Republic of Cork'. So we’re picking Cork as the best place to stay in County Cork if you’re coming for the music or the culture, or to experience Ireland with the Irish! St Fin Barre's Cathedral is one of County Cork's most iconic spots, but Cork city also has an incredible Old Town, which holds a lot of appeal for visitors. Cobh in Cork Harbour is also worth a visit.
Just outside Cork city, on the coast, is Kinsale, which is a wonderful spot if you want to spend quite a bit of time in Cork city but you also want to see more of the county. Kinsale’s harbour is picturesque and it's got some great old forts that will help tell you the story of this region’s dramatic history. The narrow cobbled streets of the town have some great bars and restaurants, along with nice boutiques. Kinsale is also one of the best places to stay in Country Cork if you want to play some golf, or do some surfing.
Blarney, with its castle and famous kissable stone, is also just outside Cork city. Most visitors to County Cork will spend at least an afternoon visiting the historic castle and kissing the stone — legend has it that this will endow the kisser with the gift of the gab! The castle’s extensive gardens are also a super spot in which to enjoy a picnic afterwards, but you can also stay in the pretty, largely 19th century built village, and there are some charming B&Bs and guesthouses here.
If you’re travelling to Ireland for its beaches and dramatic coastline, then the west coast is the best place to stay in County Cork. Kinsale is probably the starting point, but Baltimore, which is at the other end of the coast, is probably more popular if it's a seaside resort type town you’re looking for. Clonakilty, Schull and Skibbereen are also pretty seaside ports, or for a quieter stretch of beach try the wilder islands of Clear or Sherkin, which you can reach by ferry from Baltimore.
The Beara Peninsula is another of Country Cork’s spectacular coastlines, and a famous driving route known for its mountains with exposed and contorted strata. You can drive it in a day if you set out early. But the most spectacular bit is the section around Adrigole. Adrigole, the fishing port of Castletownbere, and 19th century resort village Glengarriff are our recommendations for the best places to stay in County Cork if you want to see the peninsula.
Eastern County Cork is also known for its dairy farms, but there’s more than just cheese and butter here. If one part of Cork could be said to be the county’s farm then this is it. Fresh local produce from East Cork has inspired Cork city's culinary success, and there are some excellent cookery schools in this part of the county, so it’s one of the best places to stay in County Cork for foodies. Fota Island and the 70 acres of Fota Wildlife Park is also in East Cork.
If you’re here to do some angling or fishing in beautiful, green surrounds, North Cork is the best place to stay in County Cork, around Mallow, which is about 35kms north of Cork city.

Don't forget that the best places to stay in County Cork are very busy during the peak summer months, so you'll need to book well ahead if you're planning to visit in July or August.

The Best Places to Stay in County Cork

In Cork City

The Montenotte is a chic hotel close to the harbour, with fantastic views from its many panoramic windows. The largest windows are in the rather glamorous Panorama Bistro and Terrace, which is also known for its seafood, but many of the 126 rooms and suites have wonderful views too. The decor is traditional, but not: think patterned carpets and confidently patterned fabrics, in elegant colour schemes.
Converted from a tobacco factory built during the Edwardian period, the Hotel Isaacs is now an elegant hotel, with a multi-award winning restaurant that serves Modern Irish cuisine. Inside there are a choice of rooms, suites and apartments, which are decorated in a fairly simple, contemporary fashion, and you’re in a fabulous spot for sightseeing in Cork.
The River Lee Hotel is a large, contemporary hotel, right on the river, as the name suggests, with a welcoming feel and 182 spacious and similarly decorated rooms and suites, all with large windows overlooking the water. The facilities are notable, and include a large indoor pool, and a spa and fitness centre, and it has the feel of an especially tasteful business hotel. It's pretty good value too.
Hayfield Manor is almost as central, yet feels a world away: a country house hotel in its own secluded grounds, but right by University College Cork. There's gourmet meals available in a choice of two different restaurants, plus a spa and gym, and family suites — making this a great place to treat yourself, or your whole family.

For a complete escape

Longueville House is a family-run estate offering old fashioned country luxury and a friendly welcome. Expect spacious rooms with log fires, large windows and beautiful decor. There are 20 guest rooms and suites, and the excellent farm-to-fork restaurant has a number of elegant seating areas. Fly fish in the grounds and walk miles through the picturesque surrounding countryside.
Ballyvolane House has been a country house hotel for a long time, and you can really tell: the service is superlative and warm and there’s a fantastic range of pursuits on offer to tempt you outdoors. The house has only six guest rooms, but quite a number of public spaces, so it feels quite large. It’s also extremely beautiful, if you love a traditional country house. The dining is laid back and delicious and there’s a cooking school onsite.
Ballymaloe House is another country house hotel known for its cooking school and an excellent restaurant. There are 29 rooms and suites, decorated in a traditional manner, but all differently, plus a heated outdoor pool, tennis courts and a golf course. This is the place to learn to make Irish soda bread, if that’s on your bucket list.
The Garryvoe, in a spectacular spot in Ballycotton, just a short walk from the coast and surrounded by green fields and expansive views, is a family-run hotel with 85 rooms and suites. The reception and public rooms are elegant spaces with beautiful antiques and roaring fires, while the rooms and suites are contemporary and comfortable — the best ones have views over the five miles of golden sand of Garryvoe Beach.
Casey’s of Baltimore is a traditional seafood restaurant and pub with 14 rooms and suites, in a fantastic spot with views of the coast. Great for fishermen and sailors too, our Gurus are also calling this one of the best places to stay in County Cork for foodies.

For a beach hotel

Dunmore House is a white building in a spectacular spot, right on the edge of a low cliff overlooking the ocean. Almost every room in the hotel has a sea view, and every one of the 30 bedrooms and suites does — just not all the bathrooms. The decor is contemporary and muted, with simple, pale wood furniture and soft hues, and the best rooms have private terraces. Dunmore House has its own golf course, as well as being close to a number of sandy beaches and coves, and the hotel has horses too, and a stable in case you want to bring your own!
The Bayview Hotel is an elegant, cliffside hotel that could easily slot into several of our categories, including the best value hotels in County Cork, the most romantic, and the best hotel escapes, but because of its location, on an incredibly picturesque peninsula, we’re including it in the coastal category. There are just 35 rooms and suites, arranged within an elegant, white low-rise building that has the look of a grand house about it. The important thing is that there are lots of windows! Inside are smart rooms decorated in a traditional style, and a formal restaurant that specialises in local produce.

The Most Romantic Hotels in County Cork

The Castle, near Skibbereen, is an impressive, family-owned castle in a spectacular spot overlooking Castletownshend Harbour. This is an elegant, traditionally decorated hotel, with oak panelling, heavy antique furnishings, four-posters in the best of the 11 rooms and suites, and heavy fabrics. It’s luxurious and a good size, with an elegant breakfast room.
Glenlohane is a traditional, pretty, three room B&B close to Mallow, set on a bucolic country estate. With only three rooms there’s a feeling of peace and seclusion, with log fires to curl up beside and welcoming hosts to help you get the most out of your visit.
The Imperial Hotel in Cork is elegant and central, with 125 contemporary rooms and suites upstairs and a collection of glamorous dining and socialising rooms downstairs. There’s a fine dining restaurant, tea rooms, and a tapas bar, plus a spa that really spoils. This is the sort of hotel that gives you the feeling of really being treated and looked after.

For Families

If it’s a family escape to the country you’re looking for try Castlemartyr Resort, a luxurious estate east of Cork, with 220 acres of sprawling grounds that include an 18 hole golf course. Inside are 103 spacious rooms and suites, with some great family options, plus a spa with ten treatment rooms, and a choice bars and restaurants onsite.
Liss Ard House and Lodge is one of the best places to stay in County Cork if you want a rural hideaway that's both luxurious and family friendly. Here you'll find contemporary rooms, superb, slow-food cuisine and countless activities, including a kids club in the summer, to keep everyone happy. The accommodation is split between three different locations, the Country House, the Gardens Mews or the Lake Lodge, so no-one has to worry about intruding on the peace and tranquilly of others.

County Cork’s Best B&Bs

Perryville House in Kinsale is a charming townhouse B&B, with a wonderful facade, complete with wrought iron balconies and pillars. Inside are 26 rooms, some with mahogany four-poster beds, and all with beautiful antiques, beautiful bathrooms and large windows. But it’s not too fussy for families, and the charming tearooms and gardens are perfect for kids, as is the location, close to the marina, the port and the pretty town centre.
Knockeven House is in Cobh, which is on the coast just outside Cork city. It’s a heritage property, with just five spacious rooms, all with nice details like Victorian cornice ceilings and fireplaces. The public areas are very elegant, with more fireplaces, antiques and a grand staircase.
For a quirky country escape try the Botanical B&B in Glangarriff, a four bedroom B&B in a secluded spot surrounded by idyllic countryside. The decor gives a feeling of rural chic, with warm, cosy communal areas with beamed ceilings and roaring fires. They serve a superb breakfast of local produce.

Prefer an Apartment or Holiday Cottage?

If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or self-catering option we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.

Travel Information

Visitors can fly into Cork International Airport, 3 miles south of Cork city centre. From the airport, you can reach the city centre by bus, arriving at Parnell Place Bus Station. The service runs every half an hour between 5am until midnight.
If you’re thinking about hiring a car we recommend checking what our online partners, Rentalcars have to offer.
It's best to visit Cork in the summer months, with July (the hottest month) experiencing an average temperature of 16°C and also being the month of the least rainfall. However, this is peak season and so expect there to be more tourists than if you were visiting at another time of the year. Be sure to book ahead as the best places to stay in Cork will get filled up pretty quickly!

Still not sure?

You could refine your search to just the best places to stay in Cork, or the best places to stay in Kinsale.
Or you could expand your search to include the best places to stay in County Kerry.
Alternatively, you might like to contact one of our friendly gurus for personalised advice.

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The best hotels in County Cork

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Hotel Isaacs

Cork

Originally an Edwardian tobacco factory, now a boutique hotel, set in the heart of Cork. A collection of rooms and apartments mix contemporary and traditional styles resulting in a clean and simple aesthetic. The multi-award-winning restaurant Greene's is the real draw and worthy of a visit alone.

Foodies - The multi-award winning Greene's restaurant is the real draw serving up modern Irish cuisine
Local exploring - A boutique base in the heart of Cork's theatre district
Local markets - Make a stop at the English Market, Ireland's most famous covered food market
Sights nearby - Visit one (or both) of the Gothic cathedrals in the city

from AU$144 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees