By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 19th January 2024 | Updated: 18th November 2024
We have visited Ireland a few times over the years but have not ventured further than Dublin, (which we hope to rectify soon!). So we reached out to fellow travel bloggers Daphne and Larry who have recently visited Ireland and asked, ‘Dublin Vs Cork, which is better?’. Here is what Our French Travels had to say;
When considering visiting Ireland, Dublin is the primary place that comes to mind. However, Dublin is not the only large city that is worth visiting when in Ireland. On our road trip through Southern Ireland we got to explore Cork as well. This leads to the question of Cork vs Dublin; how do you know which one to visit? Or will you do like us and visit both?
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About Cork & Dublin
Cork has over 200,000 residents, which gives the city a small-town feeling. It is very walkable with narrow streets and a small downtown area. Additionally, it has the second-largest natural harbor in the world.
Cork is also known as “Rebel City” due to its history. It has been involved in many rebellions dating back to the 9th century. Locals in Cork destroyed a Viking Castle and killed the Norse leader.
Cork is also home to the University College Cork. This adds to the fun atmosphere and vibrant nightlife. Of course, Cork also has many cafes, pubs, shopping options, and live music. Finally, Cork is known as Ireland’s “real Capital” by the locals.
Dublin is the actual capital of Ireland. It is a larger city than Cork. Dublin is where most international tourists stay when visiting Ireland. Additionally, Dublin is more expensive than Cork.
Dublin vs Cork: Food & Drinks
Dublin
Dublin is known for its pub life! Along with all the delicious, traditional Pub food, there is plenty to drink, especially if you like beer. We also learned that Dubliners love their hot chocolate, so definitely get some hot chocolate here. Our favorite place was The Sweetest Thing.
Along with drinks, Dublin has tons of good food. As the capital of Ireland, the city is bursting with restaurants. The downside is that it is incredibly touristy, so it can be hard to find more authentic or affordable restaurants. We particularly liked The Boxty House.
Cork
Cork is known as Ireland’s “foodie capital”. Given this name, it’s quite easy to find delicious food and fun drinks anywhere in Cork. Cork additionally has many of the country’s oldest restaurants and bars.
Some great places to check out in Cork would include O’Conaill Chocolate Factory. The chocolate factory allows you to learn all about how chocolate is made, try the chocolate, and find a bakery to enjoy after your tour. Additionally, there’s the Glass Curtain and several breweries to check out.
📍 Winner: Cork
Dublin vs Cork: History
Dublin
Dublin is the older of these two cities, making it steeped in history. Since 140 AD, there have been human settlements in Dublin. This leads to many, many older buildings and museums. Like Cork, Dublin was settled by Vikings who had a deep Viking tradition.
In Dublin, you’ll find many museums, including the Little Museum of Dublin, Dublina, EPIC Museum, and Kilmainham Gaol. Additionally, there are many national museums in Dublin; these are free to enter. The national museums include the National Museum of Ireland and the National Gallery of Ireland.
One of the best options for visiting Dublin attractions is to get a Dublin Go City Pass with up to 50% discounted entry, unlimited times, into many attractions plus a Hop on Hop off bus ticket too.
Cork
Cork, not to be outdone by Dublin, has plenty of museums as well. One of my favorites is the Butter Museum. It is definitely one of the more unique museums in Ireland. Most notably, Blarney Castle is in Cork with the majority of its history. There is also St. Fin Barre’s Castle and the Cork Public Museum to add to the history.
📍 Winner: Dublin
Dublin vs Cork: Culture
Dublin
Dublin has its own castle, the General Post office, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Christchurch Cathedral. These are just some of the many important cultural activities in Dublin. Additionally, Dublin has Trinity College, which includes the Book of Kells exhibit. This incredible illuminated manuscript dates back to the 9th century, and it is totally worth seeing.
The river that bisects Dublin really helps to shape the city’s culture. The city is divided into north and south, with many different bridges connecting the sides of the city. Laffey River helps demarcate the different parts of the city with their distinct vibes. It helps all visitors get orientated quickly.
Cork
Cork is also jam-packed when it comes to culture. The narrow winding streets with Georgian or Victorian terraces are one of the lovely historical features that Cork shares with Dublin. Additionally, Cork has its own historical prison and Cathedrals. St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral and St. Anne’s church are beautiful churches worth visiting.
Cork is also close to Blarney Castle, with all its history and beautiful town experience. Cork is smaller than Dublin, which gives the whole city culture a smaller-town feel. Being on the water adds to the culture of how the city was built around the harbor.
📍 Winner: Dublin
Dublin vs Cork: Shopping
Dublin
Both cities are pretty neck and neck when it comes to shopping. Dublin has a large shopping area around Grafton Street or near Stephen’s Green area. Grafton Street is pedestrian-only, which makes it even more fun to walk around and window shop. Powerscourt Center is an 18th-century restored townhouse that’s now a shopping center.
Cork
Cork has its own shopping centers and streets. St. Patrick’s Street, also known as Pana to the locals, is the main shopping street in Cork. It is one of the best shopping streets in Ireland. Of course, as a less expensive city, it makes shopping a lot more affordable and fun. Also, check out Opera Lane and Oliver Plunkett Street.
📍 Winner: Tie!
Dublin vs Cork: Activities
Dublin
There is so much to see and do in Dublin. Especially in the summer, things can get so crowded so you’ll want to start early. Some fun activities include Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Writers Museum, Dublin Zoo, and the National Botanical Gardens.
Head over to Phoenix Park and enjoy a picnic in the warm summer weather. Another fun activity is to take the Afternoon Tea Tour. Another idea is to watch a game of hurling or Gaelic Football. Head over to Croke Park to check these out.
Cork
Attractions and activities are incredibly important for travel, and they are a key component of deciding if Dublin or Cork are worth visiting. There are many must-see attractions in Cork.
Of course, my personal favorite is the butter museum, as we mentioned above! But there is also Elizabeth Fort as well as the Lewis Gluckman Gallery. Cork has its own university that is worth visiting as well. If you head slightly out of the city of Cork, there is Blarney Castle, which has its own poison garden along with the famous Blarney Stone.
If you’re in town for some festivals, Cork has plenty! The Midsummer Festival in June and July has art, poetry, and drama (clearly something for everyone). They also boast a Film Festival that has been around for over 50 years. Here you’ll see both Irish and International films. Finally, there is a Jazz Festival every Fall, which is the largest in all of Europe.
📍 Winner: Dublin
Dublin vs Cork: Family Friendliness
Dublin
If you’re traveling with children, it is important to consider if your destination is suitable for the whole family. It’s important to weigh Dublin vs Cork on how many activities and areas are family-friendly. I’m happy to report that Dublin is incredibly family-friendly.
Dublin has many fun, interactive museums. You can explore the waterways with the Viking Splash and keep learning about Vikings at Dublina. There are also fun family-friendly shows at the Gaiety.
As a personal anecdote and why we highly recommend the Big Bus in Dublin is due to how accommodating and family-friendly they were. We bought the 2-day pass for Big Bus, which included a Night Tour. This is a 1-hour tour of Dublin at sunset.
The tour took a different route than the normal day bus. Well, a family with young children was on board, and after a long day of sightseeing, the kids fell asleep. Since our tour passed near their hotel, the bus driver was kind enough to let them off the bus mid-tour to make it easier for the sleeping kids. It is truly a kid-friendly experience! Plus, the tour guides were hilarious.
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Cork
Cork is also incredibly family-friendly! There are many activities for kids to do, such as the Fota Wildlife Park, Regional Park Ballincollig, or Inchydoney Beach. There is also a Toy Soldier factory that you can tour as a family. As a smaller city, it is easier to navigate with children. You’ll see many families walking around town.
📍 Winner: Dublin
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Dublin vs Cork: Budget Friendliness
Dublin
Dublin is very touristy. There are many areas that are not even frequented by locals because of how touristy they are. This makes it even easier for shops to be more expensive. They expect tourists to spend more money. There are areas where the locals frequent that are cheaper, but as a whole, Dublin has a higher cost of living than Cork, and it is noticeable.
That being said, there are a number of hostels around town that are popular with backpackers. Pubs are also less expensive places for dinner.
Cork
Since Cork is less famous, it sees significantly fewer international tourists. This helps keep the costs down. Cork also has a large student population due to the university, which keeps pub and restaurant prices very reasonable.
When considering Cork vs. Dublin, Cork has a much lower cost of living, which translates to activities, hotels, and restaurants. There are also plenty of hostels for backpackers in Cork.
📍 Winner: Cork
Dublin vs Cork: Nightlife
Dublin
Dublin is famous for its Temple Bar nightlife. It is loud, boisterous, and goes all night. Temple Bar has the highest concentration of pubs and nightlife. It is an incredibly friendly and welcoming city that will keep you up all night! Many pubs will feature live music to keep the party going. It is important to note that while the pub is open, the kitchens close around 9/10 pm so make sure to eat before staying out all night.
Cork
Cork can be described as a college town for nightlife. While both Dublin and Cork boast colleges, Dublin has more stuff to dilute the student life. Cork, on the other hand, does not. So there are many pubs, bars, clubs, and tons of cheap beer. Just like Dublin, Cork’s many pubs feature live music with everything from rock to Irish folk music.
📍 Winner: Dublin
Dublin Vs Cork: How To Pick Your Next Destination FAQs
How is Dublin different from Cork?
Dublin is different from Cork in so many ways. While both Cork and Dublin are worth visiting, Dublin offers a lot more for first-time visitors. Dublin has more history, a busier nightlife, tons of restaurants, and plenty of museums. Dublin even has its own castle within the city limits. As a bigger city and the capital of Ireland, Dublin is the hub and main entryway into Ireland.
Dublin vs Cork Which Is Better for Public Transportation? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?
Dublin is a city with many good options for public transportation. Cork, however, has fewer options for public transportation compared to Dublin. I swear you couldn’t look at the street in Dublin without seeing multiple different buses driving around.
Dublin has a comprehensive bus system along with a trolley that will take you basically everywhere. The Irish Railway will take you from Dublin to Cork, so you don’t even need to drive. Cork has public transportation, but it is mainly centered around the more populated downtown areas.
Is Dublin or Cork a more walkable city?
They are both incredibly walkable! That’s the best perk. Neither city requires a rental car. Both have ample public transportation as well.
Should I spend more time in Cork or Dublin?
That is a very personal decision. Dublin is a larger city with plenty to do. Cork is less touristy and also offers plenty to do. Personally, we spent more time in Dublin.
How long in Dublin or Cork?
We stayed in Dublin longer than in Cork. We really got to enjoy Dublin way more while we only had a brief stay in Cork. Since Dublin is larger than Cork, you need at least one more day in Dublin than you would for Cork. The bare minimum would be three days in Dublin and two in Cork.
Is it cheaper to fly into Dublin or Cork?
Dublin has the largest international airport in Ireland. This makes the Dublin airport the easiest to fly into and the most accessible. Especially if you are flying into Ireland internationally, Dublin will be cheaper and easier to access. From there there are many buses and trains to get you to the rest of the country.
Conclusion: Dublin Vs Cork: How To Pick Your Next Destination
We absolutely loved both Dublin and Cork when we visited. By doing a road trip, we were easily able to explore these two wonderful cities. While the discussion about Dublin vs Cork is important when time is limited for a trip, know that you cannot go wrong.
Both cities have so much to offer for all travelers who are interested in all things. Both cities have their own unique vibes, which help each person learn even more about Ireland and its deep, rich culture and history. You really can’t go wrong with this decision.
Daphne and Larry have been traveling for many years and love sharing their stories. They enjoyed a fun road trip through the south of Ireland to see all the popular tourist destinations as well as explore hidden gems. They strongly believe that Ireland is a great destination for both first-time international travelers and well-seasoned travelers as the Emerald Isle has so much to offer to all.
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.