Bus Éireann's 2 bus lines stop directly outside the terminal, connecting the airport with Cork city centre and other nearby towns.

However, most tourists rent a car at the airport and set off on a road-trip around Ireland.

Show prices for hotels in Cork city centre

Car rental

For trips to the Irish countryside, we definitely recommend renting a car directly at the airport.

Public transport in Ireland only works well between the big cities, but you'll struggle to get to the countryside by bus or train.

There are branches of many large rental companies in the arrivals hall.

You can sort out all the essentials here and then find your own car in the car park about 250 metres to the left of the airport concourse.

Prices for a week's rental in high season start at 150 eur.

If you want to travel around Ireland, we recommend you consider returning your car at another airport - for example, Kerry or Shannon. While you can't avoid the extra charges for returning it elsewhere, Irish rental companies don't charge that much (they're around 100 eur per booking, which is what you'd normally spend on a coach ticket for a coach for 3 people, for example).

Buses to Cork city centre

Bus routes 225 and 226 take you to Parnell Place central bus station and Kent train station in Cork city centre.

Timetables and information at buseireann.ie.

Both lines run between the airport and Cork city centre on virtually the same route.

• Fares - 2,20 eur / 1,35 eur with Leap card or TFIGo mobile app
• Journey time - 25 minutes
• Frequency - 30 minutes (each line runs once per hour)
• Last bus from the airport - 0:12
• First bus to airport (Kent Railway) - 5:20
• Tip for a cheap hotel in the centre - Premier Inn Cork City Centre ***

On the other side from Cork city centre, the following lines continue in the following directions:

• 225 - direction Cork Harbour, Haulbowline, Carrigaline (once per hour)
• 226 - direction Kinsale (1x per hour)

Tickets and Leap Card

The cheapest way to buy standard fares is via the TFIGo mobile app. For the regular price of €2.20 you can buy a ticket from a machine inside the arrivals hall or from the driver.

If you'll be travelling around Cork and the rest of Ireland more often, it's definitely worth buying a Leap Card. Detailed information can be found at leapcard.ie.

Where can I buy a Leap Card at the airport?

• WHSmith - Arrivals Hall (open 5:00-22:00)

Pay a deposit 5 eur, which will be refunded if you return the card. You must load a minimum credit 5 eur onto the Leap Card (at any of the points of sale or via the mobile app, or at the vending machines at stations or tram stops).

The fare is then charged when you attach it to the reader on the bus or any other means of transport. In the case of bus travel, you only need to attach the card when you board. You do not need to "beep" when you get off.

Buses - Limerick, Galway

Citylink's long-distance bus service 251 also runs directly from the airport in the direction of Limerick and Galway.

Timetables and information at citylink.ie/timetables/251.

Tickets are always slightly cheaper when bought online at citylink.ie/fares.

• Limerick - 18 eur / 21 eur from the driver
• Galway - 22 eur / 26 eur from the driver

Buses run at intervals of 60-120 minutes along the route.

Taxi or Uber?

Taxis to the city centre cost around €20 according to the meter. At peak times, the price can go up to 26 eur. The taxi rank is right at the exit of the arrivals hall.

Often a significantly cheaper ride is offered by the Uber app, which works well in Cork.

Off-peak you can also go to the centre under 15 eur. The car rank via the Uber app is in the second row outside the arrivals hall.