Move Over Dublin! This Lesser Known Irish City Has More Authentic Culture & Cheaper Prices

Planning a trip to Ireland in the near future? We’ll take a wild guess and say a trendy Dublin is probably high on your bucket list, are we right?

Home to the Guinness Storehouse, a vibrant pub scene, and the scenic River Liffey, Ireland’s capital is often the first stop for travelers touching down in the Emerald Isle.

But as we’ve said time and time again here at Travel Off Path, Dublin isn’t the only place worthy of your time. Sure, a weekend in the capital sounds fun, until you’re shelling out more for a pint in Temple Bar than you would in central London.

No joke.

If it’s your first time in Ireland, by all means, spend a day exploring Dublin’s sights. But before you stretch it any further, you might want to consider heading to Ireland’s southernmost metropolis, the arguably more authentic and far more affordable Cork.

Who Would Have Thought Ireland’s Second City Has This Much To Offer?

The second-largest city in the Republic of Ireland, with a population standing at over 224,000 in 2025, Cork is one of the country’s major cultural centers, up there with Dublin itself, Galway, and Limerick.

Similarly to the capital, Cork’s origins can be traced to a medieval Viking settlement: once upon a time, the fearsome Nordic warriors made landfall in Ireland and founded a number of cities along its rugged coast.

It’s also known as Ireland’s ‘Rebel City‘ for a reason: amidst the Wars of the Roses, Cork residents famously backed the Yorkist cause, going against expectations at the time, and it’s a moniker they’ve held on to proudly over the centuries.

Back in medieval times, Cork used to be completely walled, and though there are now only remnants of these medieval fortifications, especially around the Old Town, and specifically just off the North Main street, Cork’s true charm lies in its laid-back atmosphere and eclectic townscape:

How To Make The Most Out Of Your Cork Visit

While Dublin has the Liffey, however, it’s the River Lee that cuts through the heart of Cork. It’s lined with charming Victorian-era public buildings, and a string of townhouses, either in red brick, or painted in decorative pastel tones.

On the south bank of River Lee, St. Fin Barre is a Gothic Revival marvel of a cathedral, topped with soaring spires and gargoyles, and if we’re being honest, we’re yet to see a more beautiful display of stained glass in any other church around Ireland.

This is Europe, after all, and of course there are countless more gorgeous churches to explore around Cork.

If we were to pick a complimentary one, it would definitely be St. Anne’s, the oldest still standing in Cork: tourists can climb the limestone clocktower, and even ring the bells!

Can’t get enough of the stunning architecture? We’d highly recommend you spend a few hours strollinbg the grounds of University College Cork (UCC), housed in a landmark campus dotted with Tudor Gothic edifices.

Alternatively, you can swing by Blackrock Castle, a rare example of a Corkonian fortification that survived the city’s 20th-century makeover, now converted into an observatory and science center.

The star-shaped Elizabeth Fort, first built in 1601 during Cromwell’s conquest of Ireland, just off Barrack Street, is yet another must-see for culture buffs, and for the odd dark tourism enthusiast, Cork City Gaol is a historic prison housing an immersive museum.

An Underrated Foodie Destination

Now, if you’re a foodie like us, don’t forget to pay the English Market a visit: housed in a Victorian-style covered structure with a vaulted ceiling, it’s an attraction in itself, as well as the best spot in town to try local eats.

From Pat O’Connel’s siganture seafood pies, to Cork’s specialty tripe and drisheen, served in nearly every other food stall in sight (and a myriad of Irish farmhouse cheeses and bakery goods), you’ll find it all in here.

The best part is, the average price of a takeout meal in the English Market is a surprisingly-affordable $11.70–$17.55, based on estimates provided by Wanderlog.

In general, food costs are slightly cheaper in Cork than Dublin. More precisely, when you’re sitting down for a pub meal in downtown Cork, you’ll be spending 7.9% less than in the capital.

How More Affordable Than Dublin Is Cork?

A meal in an inexpensive eatery in Cork will set you back $21.12 on average, versus $23.47 in Dublin, and when ordering those foamy pints of delicious, night-colored Guiness, the median price is $7.04, against Dublin’s $8.21.

It’s not like it’s a significant price drop, but when you’re visiting one of Europe’s most expensive destinations, every dollar (or in this case, euro cent) you can save makes a huge difference once the bills start stacking up.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the average overnight rate is $140, as per estimates provided by Budget Your Trip. Again, that’s less expensive than Dublin’s average $159.

This summer, a double room at the Ashley Hotel, in the middle of the Victorian Quarter, and only 400 meters from the center, costs $196-a-night for 2 adults, or only $98 each.

From the hotel, it’s a quaint half-hour walk along the River Lee to both Cork City Gaol and Fitzgerald’s Park, the city’s lush green escape, 20 minutes to the cathedral, and a much-shorter 7 minutes to St. Patrick’s Street, one of the main shopping hubs.

What Nobody Tells You About Cork

If you look up Cork on Google, chances are this is the postcard view you’ll see: a row of colorful houses bestriding a hill, with a majestic Gothic church in the background.

Well, this isn’t in Cork proper, so before you book your trip and get angry with us when you get there and you can’t find this exact spot, you should know it’s actually located in Cobh (pronounced corr).

Similar name, but a 26-minute drive out of the city. Thankfully, there are regular buses every 20 to 30 minutes, taking you from St. Patrick’s Quay, right on the Lee, straight to O’Neill’s Place in Cobh.

From O’Neill’s, it’s a further 5 minutes on foot to St. Colman’s Cathedral. You know, the one you see on the pictures.

Oh, and if we may add, Cobh (then known as Queestown in 1912) was the Titanic’s final port of call in Europe before its tragic demise in Atlantic waters, and at the exact point where the ship sailed from, you’ll now find a Memorial Garden.