Book Cheap Flights to Cork

About Cork

Situated on the River Lee, the beautiful city of Cork is the second largest city in Ireland. More than 126,620 residents often call it the “real” capital of the country, and with its spectacular views and rich Irish heritage, you can see why. Famous tourist attractions include the English Market, Fota Wildlife Park and Cork City Gaol.

Cheap flights to Cork are now available for a limited period of time, so get ready to be intrigued by this authentically Irish city! Cork is home to Cork Airport (ORK), situated on a 16-minute car drive or 34-minute scenic bus ride from the city centre. Cork Airport serves a multitude of airlines, including Aer Lingus, and regional carriers Flybe and Ryanair. Popular connecting flights are available from Johannesburg and Cape Town. The flight duration is approximately 14 hours and 40 minutes.

Popular flights to Cork

Flight Route Airline Trip Type Travel Dates Searched Price From
* Please note that the prices are subject to availability and block out dates do apply over peak season.

Why visit Cork

wildlife-fota-cork

Wildlife

Just a few minutes out of the city is where you’ll find Fota Wildlife Park. Here, the animals are encouraged to roam freely – offering a unique experience for visitors.

irish-castle-cork

Irish Castles

Blackrock Castle and Blarney Castle both offer spectacular views, one of the River Lee and the other of the surrounding lush green gardens.

cork-river-lee

River Lee

Splitting the city into two channels, River Lee runs through the city of Cork. There are bridges all across the city, allowing visitors to stroll and take in the scenery.

General information

Essential details you need to know before your trip

Country Ireland
Currency Euro (EUR)
Exchange Rate 1 ZAR = 0.07 EUR
Language English
Hub Airport Cork Airport (ORK)
Airline Aer Lingus
Time Zone GMT+ 1
Travel Adaptor Type G

Best time to visit Cork

The weather in Cork is pleasant all year long, with peaks of 19°C in the summer time and never reaching below freezing point in winter. Peak tourist season falls between June and August. During this time you’ll be able to enjoy a fair amount of sunshine as you navigate along River Lee. However, over this period it does get very crowded and the prices of accommodation and flights do tend to increase too. The best time to visit Cork would therefore be in spring (March to May), or just after summer, between the end of August and November. This way you won’t have to stand in any long queues at famous tourist attractions like the English Market or Blarney Castle. For a truly authentic Irish vacation, consider visiting over winter, between December and February. It’s not too chilly but it does rain quite a bit, giving you extra reasons to spend more time in the pubs, enjoying some live music. The cheapest flights to Cork are also available over this time.

Weather & Climate in Cork

Average temperature (°C) & rainfall levels (mm) per month

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Low °C 3°C 3°C 4°C 5°C 7°C 10°C 12°C 12°C 10°C 8°C 6°C 5°C
High °C 7°C 7°C 9°C 11°C 14°C 16°C 19°C 18°C 16°C 13°C 10°C 8°C
Rainfall (mm) 130 130 120 60 70 90 60 90 100 140 110 150

The city of Cork is filled with great Irish traditions, meandering waterways on the River Lee, wonderful cuisine found in cosy pubs, and plenty to see and do. Known by locals as the “real capital” of Ireland, Cork has played its part in the history of the country and has some of the battle scars to show for it. These are in the form of old castles, such as Blarney Castle, and an old city prison that once housed rebels and is now a major tourist destination, Cork City Gaol.

History aside, Cork is really a beauty, as it was built along the River Lee. So wherever you are in the city, you can always hear the flow of the water as it moves between the two channels that joins the city with such tranquillity.

There is also a wonderful wildlife park, Fota, which houses animals that are given the freedom to move around as much as they please, as nature intended. Animals include lemurs, cheetahs, giraffes, macaws and many more animal species.

Compare several airlines, and book your cheap flights to Cork online at Travelstart!

South Africans who wish to visit Cork in Ireland will need a visa to do so. You can apply for it online and it will take about eight weeks to be processed. You will need to submit two passport photos, proof of flight tickets, at least two blank pages in your passport, and your passport needs to valid for at least 30 days from the date of departure.

For more information, please contact the Embassy of Ireland:

Parkdev Building - Brooklyn Bridge Office Park 570 Fehrsen Street 2nd Floor Brooklyn 0181 Pretoria South Africa Tel: (+27) 12 452 1000 Fax: (+27) 12 342 4752

The levels of crime in Cork are very low and there is very little to be concerned about planning a trip to this destination. You can leave your car doors open and rest assured that it will not be burgled or stolen on your return. As with all big cities though, just make sure to always be aware of your surroundings, and always make sure you tell someone where you are traveling to, if you’re on your own.

It is always important to have your vaccines up to date when you are travelling. When visiting Ireland, it is suggested to get a vaccination for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and rabies. These shots will protect you from unfamiliar food, contaminated water, animal bites and various other bacteria found in the soil. Please consult your doctor about this before your trip.

Item Johannesburg Cape Town Cork
Meal inexpensive restaurant R 90.00 R 100.00 R 185.04
Domestic beer (0.5 litre draught) R 22.00 R 20.00 R 68.30
Cappuccino (Regular) R 19.00 R 20.00 R 38.50
Taxi 1km (Normal tariff) R 10.00 R 12.00 R 22.00
Pack of cigarettes (Marlboro) R 35.00 R 35.00 R 149.50
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