Fly from Nice to Cork

There are two ways to organise your holiday in Cork. You can go as a couple for a few days for a romantic city break. Your trip will be made up of strolling hand in hand along the banks of the Lee, the river that divides the city, and intimate evenings over a glass of whiskey or a pint in one (or many!) of those infamous Irish pubs. To these cosy moments is added touring around the sights that made Cork the European Capital of Culture in 2005.

The second way? Heading there for a week or more with the whole family. Bring history to life for your brood by taking them into an ancient prison, an age-old castle, or even getting a first-hand look at the history of the Titanic. Even better, take them outside the city and discover the southern tip of Ireland, one of the most beautiful coastlines in the country. There you’ll find unforgettable peninsulas, vertigo-inducing cliffs, golden coves, enchanted manors, and beautifully untamed islands. A big breath of fresh air with a touch of salt and euphoria coming from off the Atlantic!

• Wander around the historic centre. Stroll down St Patrick Street, the main artery, twice dubbed the best street for shopping in Ireland. Even more picturesque is Paul Street, a pedestrian-only colourful lane that many a craftsman calls home.
• Experience castle life. Cork and its surroundings have some great ones. Blackrock Castle, which would have fit right in on Game of Thrones, is today a family-friendly observatory. Blarney Castle and the legendary Blarney Stone are also worth a visit.
• Go directly to jail (and don’t pass go!). With its realistic mannequins of prisoners and jailers, its cells and dark hallways, the Cork City Gaol, a former prison that closed in 1923, will show you just how severe the penal system was before Irish Independence
• Go in search of a little treat - for your eye and your palate! - at the English Market. It’s the most opulent food market on the island, and the best place to get a taste of true Irish cuisine. To the point that Queen Elisabeth herself couldn’t resist a visit.
• Discover the secrets of the making of Irish whiskey by visiting the Midleton Distillery, the largest in Ireland. This is where Jameson - Ireland’s most popular whiskey - is made (among other beverages).
• Visit a zoo unlike any other. Situated on a peninsula surrounded by Loch Machain, the Fota Wildlife Park has 80 different species of animals including zebras, big cats, kangaroos, red pandas, and more. And most of them wander the grounds in semi or total freedom!
• Get an insider's look at one of the century’s greatest sagas: the Titanic. It was at Cobh, a port near Cork, that the transatlantic ship made its last stop before heading out to sea to meet its fate. A museum, The Titanic Experience, will plunge you into the heart of the story.
• Take in some breathtaking scenery on the cliffs of Mizen Head. Descend the 99 steps, follow the trail to the tip of the promontory, and cross a small bridge suspended over the sea to get to a small island, and its beacon and museum.
• Stop off in the small fishing village of Kinsale. Tourists come in droves to visit Charles Fort, an immense fortress that looks out over the sea, and also to wander its charming sloped streets lined with colourful houses - and for the renowned cuisine of its restaurants.
• Visit a deserted island. Cross the ocean hanging by a thread - a cable car connects the cost to Dursey Island. Visit the thousand year old Skellig Michael monastery, with its fiendish stairways and flat stone domes that were the setting for Star Wars Episode VII.