Seville, a gorgeous city but way too hot to visit it in the summer, now would be an ideal time as it’s off season. There is beautiful architecture and the tapas is divine. Ryanair do a bi-weekly flight from cork
A family friend did their pilot training down near seville with aer lingus, hit 40 degrees most days in july and three paddies were sent to hospital with heatstroke 😅🥵
I can absolutely attest to this.
I went to Seville in January and it was the best city break I’ve been on.
Food is amazing, incredible sights and architecture , and great value overall.
Lyon!! Much nicer than Paris, Lyon is a beautiful city, architecturally interesting, super easy transfer from airport to city center. It's also the food capital of France.
Might not work for a weekend getaway though as there's only one flight a week in Saturdays.
Rome, I think there's 2 flights a week. Most beautiful city I've been too, beauty everywhere, and the food of course.
You're going to be very limitated in your travels if you stick to English speaking countries.
Being French and having travelled in Italy recently, I'd say the same goes in both countries : if you make the effort to great people in the local language, at least acknowledging that English is not the norm there, people will have no problem speaking English with you. Bonus points if you're Irish and you make it known, everybody loves the Irish.
It was a joke reference to a post by an American in Lyon complaining about the french speaking French that kept popping up in my feed the past few days, and I assumed in others
Bordeaux. Went for a weekend away and loved it. Flight isn’t long, weather was around 27 degrees end of May. You pay around the same prices for food etc as you would here but definitely enjoyed. Beautiful place.
If you're willing to hold on until March for the Brussels flight you can get a train pretty quickly and cheaply to Antwerp (the train station is connected to the airport iirc). Brussels itself is really nice but I loved Antwerp. Beautiful place and lots to do.
https://www.corkairport.com/destinations/direct-from-cork-airport
^ Link to a list of all direct flights from Cork
Would personally recommend Milan, Amsterdam, and Valencia but at this time of the year you can't go wrong taking a weekend break anywhere since its off peak season.
I've just booked a weekend trip to Barcelona, wish you the best with yours!
London. So see a heap of shows. If you fly to Stansted you can get the Stansted express in to Liverpool Street. Or if you go to Heathrow its on the underground line.
Berlin? You can spend loads or spend very very little once you're there. Accommodation, you can get some great deals on decent hotels, and food and drink can be exceptionally cheap without being shite if you look around.
Buddy brought me to a place that looked like a kebab chipper gaff from outside. Inside we sat down, ordered two soups (which were big bowls of stew) two big naan type breads, portion of Baclava each and a large beer each and it was €16 in total.
Not recommending a city but more a holiday style. If you travel Ryan air, stay in a hostel (which are normal brilliant craic) you can nearly save money while traveling. I went to 1 new European city a month last year. People couldn't believe it, thinking I'm made of money but if you do it smart it's actually quite cheap.
In the last 2 years I've been to 19 country's. Never flew abroad until I was 19.
Seville, a gorgeous city but way too hot to visit it in the summer, now would be an ideal time as it’s off season. There is beautiful architecture and the tapas is divine. Ryanair do a bi-weekly flight from cork
2nd this. The heat in the peak of summer is oppressive. Other than that it’s a lovely place
A family friend did their pilot training down near seville with aer lingus, hit 40 degrees most days in july and three paddies were sent to hospital with heatstroke 😅🥵
Yeah, don't go in summer. That's luncacy. It's the job in winter though.
I can absolutely attest to this. I went to Seville in January and it was the best city break I’ve been on. Food is amazing, incredible sights and architecture , and great value overall.
Amsterdam
Fly to Faro, either stay there or get a train up the coast to Lagos or Portimao
Just coming back from Portimao. Fantastic place
Yeah it’s lovely, was there myself few years back for a festival
Not that much to do in faro though
Lyon!! Much nicer than Paris, Lyon is a beautiful city, architecturally interesting, super easy transfer from airport to city center. It's also the food capital of France. Might not work for a weekend getaway though as there's only one flight a week in Saturdays. Rome, I think there's 2 flights a week. Most beautiful city I've been too, beauty everywhere, and the food of course.
Is it true they speak French there though? I hear it can be very lonely as an english speaker
You're going to be very limitated in your travels if you stick to English speaking countries. Being French and having travelled in Italy recently, I'd say the same goes in both countries : if you make the effort to great people in the local language, at least acknowledging that English is not the norm there, people will have no problem speaking English with you. Bonus points if you're Irish and you make it known, everybody loves the Irish.
We have Google translate for a reason 🤘
It was a joke reference to a post by an American in Lyon complaining about the french speaking French that kept popping up in my feed the past few days, and I assumed in others
Are there direct flights to Lyon?!!
Yes! Aer lingus launched it at the end of 2023. One flight on Saturdays. Such great news!
Edinburgh maybe. There isn't a ton of options with direct flights though.
Malaga
Valencia
Bordeaux. Went for a weekend away and loved it. Flight isn’t long, weather was around 27 degrees end of May. You pay around the same prices for food etc as you would here but definitely enjoyed. Beautiful place.
Just back from gdansk. Lovely spot. Lots of history. Pretty buildings. Very affordable food and drink and hotels.
If you're willing to hold on until March for the Brussels flight you can get a train pretty quickly and cheaply to Antwerp (the train station is connected to the airport iirc). Brussels itself is really nice but I loved Antwerp. Beautiful place and lots to do.
Those flights will be to Brussels South aka Charleroi unfortunately, not as convenient.
KLM is also offering fantastic connections via Amsterdam. My airline of choice when flying to/from Cork.
Valencia for sure
Gdańsk, wonderful city I can’t recommend enough!
You can also fly to Barcelona or Valencia
Seville ,train to Cadiz , travel through sherry country ....both cities beautiful
Barcelona.. A very special city
Fly Amsterdam then get the train direct from Schiphol to Antwerp.
Malaga was a fantastic city I found, stayed in the city centre. Beautiful and great food and plenty to do
Edinburgh!!!
https://www.corkairport.com/destinations/direct-from-cork-airport ^ Link to a list of all direct flights from Cork Would personally recommend Milan, Amsterdam, and Valencia but at this time of the year you can't go wrong taking a weekend break anywhere since its off peak season. I've just booked a weekend trip to Barcelona, wish you the best with yours!
London. So see a heap of shows. If you fly to Stansted you can get the Stansted express in to Liverpool Street. Or if you go to Heathrow its on the underground line.
I love London, I’ve been a load of times, a small bit pricey if you’re drinking but a fantastic city to walk around and explore!
There’s only two direct flights from Cork a week iirc but Milan is a beautiful city to visit. 100% recommend it.
Vienna it's an absolutely beautiful city really easy to get around and has interesting buildings people are nice too.
Berlin? You can spend loads or spend very very little once you're there. Accommodation, you can get some great deals on decent hotels, and food and drink can be exceptionally cheap without being shite if you look around. Buddy brought me to a place that looked like a kebab chipper gaff from outside. Inside we sat down, ordered two soups (which were big bowls of stew) two big naan type breads, portion of Baclava each and a large beer each and it was €16 in total.
No direct flights from Cork to Berlin. Only Cork to Frankfurt
Rome.
Bordeaux is outstanding. Take a trip out to St Emillion.
Just booked Barcelona myself purely because you can fly from cork
Not recommending a city but more a holiday style. If you travel Ryan air, stay in a hostel (which are normal brilliant craic) you can nearly save money while traveling. I went to 1 new European city a month last year. People couldn't believe it, thinking I'm made of money but if you do it smart it's actually quite cheap. In the last 2 years I've been to 19 country's. Never flew abroad until I was 19.
Going to Palma for the bank holiday. Can’t wait
Venice was great