Title: Exploring Cork: 4 Convenient Ways to Get Around as a Tourist
Cork, often referred to as the “Rebel City,” is a vibrant and picturesque destination in Ireland known for its rich history, friendly locals, and stunning landscapes. If you’re visiting for a short time and have plans to see as much as you can, you’re going to need to know the most convenient ways to get around. In this week’s blog post, we tell you the 4 best ways to get around Cork city and county to make your trip as seamless as possible!
Public Transit: Buses for City Exploration
Cork boasts an efficient and extensive bus network that can help you get around the city and nearby attractions with ease. Depending on where you’re looking to go, a city or county bus could be your best bet. We would say that the busses are best for when you’re staying in the suburbs or you’re looking to visit tourist attractions that are too far to cycle to when you’re in the city. You can, for example take the 215 city bus to Blarney to visit Blarney Castle and Gardens, or you could get the 226 bus to Kinsale to visit Charles Fort.
You can pay in cash on all busses in Cork and buy a ticket when you get on, or you could buy a ticket beforehand at the bus station. The third option, and the one we would recommend is buying a leap card in a post office in the city centre that you can top up by any amount you like and tap on and off busses.
These cards will work for TFI Leap bikes, and even most short trip trains so we would really recommend getting one of these. You can get an adult card for €5 and top it up in the post office, or you can download the TFI leap card app and top it up using your card, here’s a google maps link for the closest post office to Cork English College that sells the Leap card.
For other cards like the childrens, student or young adult cards you go to the TFI Leap Card website to register for them online here, and
Top Tip- Cork City Sightseeing Tour: The hop-on-hop-off bus tour is an excellent way to see the city’s major attractions. With informative commentary, you’ll get to explore places like St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, University College Cork, and more. You can see the stops and book a ticket by clicking here.
Explore the City on Two Wheels: Biking
Cork is a bike-friendly city with numerous cycling paths and lanes, making it an excellent choice for those who enjoy exploring at a leisurely pace. If you’re staying in the city centre or a close suburb and like to be active, a bike is your easiest and cheapest option for transport.
You can rent one of the TFI leap card push bikes in at spots all around the city, you can find out how to rent one of these bikes using your Leap card and see a map of all of their locations around the city by clicking here.
You can also rent electric bikes in some local bike shops, we know Cork Bike Hire down by the Marina have them on offer, you can click here to see those.
Pro Tip- Take a well-known cycle route: There are a few well-established cycle routes in the city and county that allow you to see our beautiful landscape at its best, Cork Bike Hire has amazingly put them all in one place for you so you can see those on their website by clicking here, and plan your next cycling adventure.
Traveling Beyond Cork: Trains
If you’re planning to explore beyond Cork City and venture into the beautiful Irish countryside, the train could be a good option for you. We will recommend using the train if you want to go to Cobh to see the Titanic Experience, or if you want to take a visit to Fota Wildlife Park which is one of the stops on that route.
Your local train station here is Cork Kent and that’s where most trains depart from, it’s a short 10-minute walk away from to city centre and you can book tickets on their website in advance of your journey by clicking here, or you can book a ticket on the ticket machine when you get there. You can also tap on and off with your leap card for certain places.
Top Tip: Take a full day trip to Cobh and do the Titanic Museum and Fota all in one day!
Freedom of the Road: Renting a Car
For travellers who prefer flexibility and independence, renting a car in Cork is an excellent choice. We will recommend doing this if you’d like to go on a longer road trip, camp or stay in accommodations in more rural areas or explore other counties. For this option, you need to Ensure you have the necessary documentation, including an international driving permit if required, to legally drive in Ireland. Enterprise car rental has a few different locations in Cork, check them out by clicking here. You can also rent a car at Cork or Dublin Airport if you want to get one right off the flight, the desk will usually look like the one below.
Top Tip: Don’t miss the chance to explore the iconic Ring of Kerry or the scenic drive along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Cork is a city teeming with culture, history, and natural beauty, and there are several convenient ways to get around as a tourist. Whether you prefer the eco-friendly option of biking, the convenience of buses, the scenic train journeys, or the freedom of renting a car, Cork has transportation options to suit your travel style. Whichever method you choose, you’re sure to have an amazing time exploring the Rebel County! If you found this helpful, please tell us on our socials @CorkEnglishCollege.