General Travel Information
Accommodation
You can find a wide range of accommodation in the County of Cork. For more information and the best deals, please see our accommodation directory.
For accommodation in Cork City, please visit http://www.cork.ie/wheretostay/
Tipping
Most restaurants add a discretionary service charge to the bill for parties of six people or more. If this charge is added to your bill, tipping is not necessary. If a service charge is not included, it is customary to tip 10-15%.
Shopping
Many shops open at 9am and close at 6pm from Monday to Friday. Some may operate late night shopping hours (until 9pm) on Thursdays and Fridays. Sunday opening is very common for shopping centres, from 12pm to 6pm mostly.
Banking
The Euro is the currency used in Ireland. Check the current exchange rate before travelling.
Most banks are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and most offer ATMs which can be accessed 24/7. While most ATMs will accept credit cards for cash withdrawal is a good idea to check the fees with your credit card company first to avoid surprises. ATMs can also be found in shopping centres and in many cases at special event venues.
Credit cards are widely accepted everywhere in Ireland with Visa and Mastercard being the most popular. If using Traveler’s checks, a word of caution as they might not actually be accepted outside the major tourist centres.
Communications
The international code for Ireland is 00 followed by 353. The local prefix is preceded by a zero, which is dropped when calling from abroad but has to be dialled when calling within Ireland.
The number for emergency services is 999 (or 112 if calling from a mobile)
Most hotels offer Internet and Wi-Fi access or will be able to provide information on where to get Wi-Fi access.
The national postal service is provided by An Post and most large towns have a post office branch. Branches are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm. For more information, dial CallSave 1850 57 58 59
Smoking
In Ireland, and therefore throughout the County of Cork, smoking has been banned in all workplaces and enclosed public spaces. This includes restaurants, hotels bars, pubs or any other such public building. These places normally provide dedicated smoking areas.
The ban also includes public transport, taxis, trains, etc.
To avoid fines and if you’re unsure whether you can smoke or not, take a look around for potential signs or ask a member of staff.
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