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There are a lot of reason why one should visit Cork.  With its rich geographical features farmlands, river, valleys, wild sandstone hill, and great bays facing the Atlantic among others, one can’t simply overlook the beauty of nature that Cork has to offer plus the added hospitality of the Irish locals.

Cork is the second-largest city of the Republic of Ireland.  It is situated on River Lee’s banks in the southern part of the county.  Its Irish name corcach has something to do with its situation on the River Lee, which means “marshy place.”  It’s already been one thousand years now since the saint named Finbarre founded the humble beginnings of this small merchant town.  Today it is now a bustling cosmopolitan and a lively city second to Dublin.  Cork also serves as a major Irish seaport.  River Lee’s broad waterway contains the quays and dock on the city’s east side.  No wonder why Cork’s coat of arms marks “Statio Bene Fide Carinis,” which translates “a safe harbor for ships.” A lot of areas of attraction are commemorative of Cork’s colorful history from its foundation by St. Finbarre right up to the twentieth century. The ancient monastery of Cork, areas of the Viking settlement, the medieval streets of the Norman-walled city among others would suggest a rich history that shaped the city.

Among the things that the locals of Cork City can truly be proud of is the architecture that they have.  The church tower of Shandon dominating the city’s north side is Cork’s famous building.  One can even ring the bells of the tower as this is open to the public.  The splendid three spires of the cathedral became one of the city’s landmarks.  The structure stands as one of Cork’s medieval heritage.  The Cork City Hall which illuminates at night is also a delight to anyone’s sight.

Culture has a vital role in Cork as evidenced with the prominence of music, theater, dance, and film in the city life.  One can see recent growth of Chinese and Thai restaurants, and more recently Indian buffets, Middle Eastern kebab houses, and French patisseries, a clear indication that Cork is gaining cultural diversity.

For those who love getting around, Cork have a small city center where they can likely eat, drink, stay, and tour around.  Transportation is not a problem because taxis are plenty except for late Friday and Saturday nights.  On the other hand, buses that leave from the Patrick Street or the Parnell Place bus station nearby transports them to the residential suburbs.

Nightlife lovers can always find their place here in Cork since they have a lot of nightlife activities to offer.  Live music fanatics can find their way in Cyprus Avenue, Charlies, An Cruisin Lan, and Sober Lane.  Havana Browns, the Qube, Redz, Instinct, and the Savoy are among the local nightclubs.

Cork has also the best food and drink to offer.  Various restaurants that suit whatever taste are flooding along the city. Cafe Paradiso is perfect place for vegetarians with their gourmet vegetable delights.  International foods can be found at Luigi Malones.  The Ivory Tower, which already became one of Cork’s institutions, offers eclectic and eccentric foods. They offer famous dish of swordfish with banana ketchup.  The city is also flooded with different pubs.

The rich cultural scene is indeed thriving in Cork as evidenced by the international acknowledgment given to the city on 2005 as the European Capital of Culture.  Annual festivals such as Midsummer Festival, Film Festival, and Jazz Festival are held to showcase film, theater, as well as music celebration.  A bunch of poetry, art, theater, and a whole lot more are featured in Midsummer Festival.  Cork boasts of their jazz festival’s biggest gathering in Europe showcasing top acts from all over the world.  Their fifty-year-old Film Festival offers visitors a chance to experience a wide feature of impressive selection of Irish and international films.

One of Ireland’s main airports is the Cork International Airport.  This second-busiest airport in Ireland after Dublin have ten scheduled airlines flying to over fifty destinations with over fifty flights a day. Bus Eireann provides the city’s public transportation.  If you are in Cork, you would likely ride this bus to reach the principal suburbs, shopping centers, colleges, and other places of interest if you are in the city center. Cork City has also a total of eight railway stations making them one of Ireland’s most rail-oriented cities.
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