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.
