If you are looking for the best free walking tour Cork has to offer, you have come to the right place!
This your local’s guide to 15 free things to do in Cork.
With this free, mobile map of Cork, Ireland, you can do a self-guided tour and check out the city center at your own pace.
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After living in Cork for two years, I wanted to write a local guide for you to get the inside scoop.
I want you to explore Cork City without breaking the bank.
Here is my guide to free things to do in Cork, the second-largest city in Ireland!
15 Free Things To Do In Cork
1. St. Patrick’s Hill / Richmond Hill / Audley Place / Bell’s Field
This first place goes by many names. Most locals will call it Patrick’s Hill, though it has a lot of others listed on google maps.
Patrick’s Hill is a great location depending on the weather.
In the summer, you can find people having a picnic, sunbathing, playing football/soccer, listening to music, reading, etc.
If you happen to be visiting in colder weather, you can get a hot coffee or tea and go up to see the city lights in the evening since it gets dark around 3 or 4PM.
This is where they filmed the opening scene of Young Offenders, a film that has gained a lot of traction in Ireland since it shows local life of two Cork City lads.
Personally, I love this movie and if you plan to visit Cork City, you should watch it.
Just make sure to have the subtitles on or you might not understand their accents!
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2. Walk Around The Historic Centre Of Cork City
On the map of Cork, Ireland, one of the historic areas is located on the northside of the city.
It primarily means the area with the Butter Museum, Shandon Tower, and St Anne’s Church.
The area is filled with little alleyways and nice views of the city since it is on a hill.
The butter museum does have an entrance fee and the Shandon tower charges a fee to climb the tower but not to enter the church.
St. Anne’s church is also accessible without a fee.
Looking for accommodation for your trip? Check out How To Find The Best Local Accommodation
3. Shandon Street
I wouldn’t say you should go out of your way to go here but if you are in the historic area and want to head back into the city, make sure walk back in on Shandon Street.
This street is a snapshot of what local life is like in Cork city.
There are some pubs, pharmacies, convenience stores, cafes, and fast food.
The Shandon area has gone through some hard times and it is obvious to see. Chances are you will hear some thick Cork accents too.
4. Cork Public Museum
Even if you aren’t a history buff, stopping by the Cork Public museum is a must for your free walking tour Cork itinerary.
It is one of the great free things to do in Cork since there is no entrance fee and you can learn a lot about local history.
There are a lot of artifacts from when Cork was first settled by the Vikings which I found really interesting, especially since I watched the show ‘Vikings’.
Other topics covered are the Irish famine, the World Wars, and Ireland gaining independence from British occupation.
Keep in mind that it is about 20-minute walk from the city centre in case you are on a time limit.
You can find more information here.
5. Fitzgerald Park & Shaky Bridge
If you are already at the Public museum, stroll through Fitzgerald Park.
In my opinion, it is the best garden in the city because it is kept so well.
Depending on the weather, you can sit by the river or climb one of the massive trees.
The park has a stage where you can sometimes find people performing for free.
There is a bridge at the end of the park that is shaky, hence the name ‘Shaky Bridge’.
It was opened in 1927 and is the only suspension bridge in Cork.
If there is rough weather, the bridge can be closed due to safety concerns.
6. University College Cork Campus & Glucksman Art museum
It might seem weird to suggest a university campus, but it is included on the free walking tour Cork itinerary for good reason.
The grounds are well kept and there is a free art museum called the Glucksman.
The main reason to go is for the architecture since they have some of the nicest buildings in Cork.
They are old and regal; ivy covered walls and Harry Potter vibes.
Once you get to the ‘Quadrangle’, you’ll know you are in the main part of UCC campus.
If you would like to know more about UCC, click here and for the Glucksman, you can find it here.
7. Cork Lough
A 15-minute walk from campus is the Cork Lough.
The lough is a fed from a freshwater spring and has been a designated area for waterfowl since 1881.
You will probably see duck, geese, and swans, along with different types of fish, such as carp, eel, tench, rudd and perch.
If you are looking for recreational area on the map of Cork, Ireland, this place is great for a stroll or a picnic lunch.
Interested in being immersed into a culture when traveling? Check out How To Find The Best Local Experiences
8. Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral
Probably one of my favorite places in Cork is this gothic style cathedral with three spires.
The church itself was completed in 1879, though to me it looks much older!
The site of the church has been used as a place of worship since 7th century; when Saint Fin Barre, the patron saint of Cork, founded a monastery.
I still remember the first time I saw it and how surprised I was.
Maybe I wasn’t expecting it when I turned the corner.
Maybe it was the sun making the grass look intensely green and the blue sky used as a backdrop.
I walked around the grounds for a while before realizing that there is an entrance fee.
I would suggest you still go even if you do not plan on going inside.
I still consider it one of the best free things to do in Cork because walking around outside is beautiful.
If you are keen to get inside but don’t want to pay, you should visit on a Friday night as they are open to the public for a special hymn service where the church choir sings.
It is called Choral Evensong and it is sung by the Lay Vicars Choral.
It is every Friday at 6:15PM. The singing is really amazing so even if you are not into religion, you might like it still.
9. Elizabeth Fort
Only a stone’s throw away (literally a two-minute walk) is this five-point star shaped medieval fort.
It was named after Queen Elizabeth 1 and was built to defend Cork City in 1601.
It has been used actively for the last 400 years as a military barracks, prison and most recently, a police station.
If you would like to visit, there is no entrance fee.
You can see a nice view of the city, learn more of the history, and even pose in the stocks or with soldier statues. You can find more information here.
10. Nano Nagle Place
The Nano Nagle Place is a campus that honors the memory of Nano Nagle, a woman that is known for basically being the Irish version of Mother Theresea.
If you are a history lover, this has to be a stop on your free walking tour Cork itinerary.
The campus includes museum, heritage rooms, gardens, a deli/cafe, a design shop, gift shop, and a Cork focused book shop.
The museum does have an entrance fee, but it is still worth wandering around the campus if you have time since it is free.
You read more about Nano Nagle and the campus here.
11. Red Abbey Tower
The Red Abbey Tower was built sometime between 1270 AD and 1288 AD as a bell tower of an Augustinian abbey.
A few hundred year later in 1690, the English used the tower to shoot cannon balls when attacking the city in hopes of stifling the Gaelic Irish uprising.
Though there isn’t any information provided on location, it is important to note that it is one of the only medieval structures in Cork City that has lasted to our time.
12. The Atlantic Pond
If you are looking to escape the chaos of the city but not stray too far, this park is the perfect distance.
You can find the same birds here as at the Cork Lough, but it is a much smaller body of water.
The best part would be that it is right next to the river.
There is a designated walkway so you can walk as far as you want and stop wherever you fancy since there are benches and grassy areas.
13. English Market
Another filming location for Young Offenders, the English Market stands as Cork City’s finest gems and ‘Ireland’s most famous covered market’.
It was founded in 1788 and named the ‘English’ market because the city was controlled by the English at the time.
They used the market to stockpile food that was confiscated from around Ireland, before sending it to England.
The English Market has mid-19th century architecture and takes up a large area between Princess street and Grand Parade in Cork City centre.
Walking around and seeing foods from all over the world is one of my favorite free things to do in Cork.
They have wonderful locally produced artisan foods too!
The market is known for having excellent, fresh fish and meat; the quality is so stellar that it is where the best restaurants in Cork source their ingredients.
It is a great place to find some of these local specialties: drisheen, spiced beef, and buttered eggs.
Though it was already considered ‘touristy’, after the Queen visited in May 2011, the popularity among tourists grew.
It is important to remember that it is first and foremost a place of trade, so please be respectful of the normal customers and business operations when visiting.
You can find more information here.
14. Penney’s
Yes, Penneys is a department store and yes, it is included in this list.
I like to think of it as one of the best places to people watch.
You can see all sorts of people doing all sorts of things.
It is always so hectic and chaotic; you have to be in the right frame of mind before going in.
If you want to see a true piece of Cork, walk through Penneys, you might even find something you want to buy!
15. Crawford Art Gallery
The Crawford Art Gallery should definitely be on your free walking tour Cork itinerary.
It is in a historic 18th century building located in the city centre and attracts about 200,000 visitors a year.
It boasts of having 4,000 works of Irish and European paintings, sculptures, contemporary video installations, etc.
It is free to enter, and they have a small gift shop as well.
It is a nice stop in case the weather turns bad suddenly, which is highly likely.
You can find out more information here.
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