Cork has become one of the premier festival cities in Ireland, hosting a collection of international events annually including the Cork Jazz Festival, one of the biggest and most exciting dates on the jazz calendar world-wide, the Cork International Film Festival, which offers an inspired programme of screenings over 8 days and the renowned Cork International Choral Festival, running annually since 1954, takes advantage of the magnificent city cathedral and church venues. The more recent Cork Arts Fest, brings an explosion of local entertainment, exhibitions, poetry, music and art across city centre venues and throughout the county of Cork.

Cork also has its permanent sites of established museums, art galleries and specialist themed attractions :
Crawford Art Gallery, Butter Museum, Firkin Crane Centre, Triskel Arts Centre, the Cork Public Museum, Cork City Gaol, the Cork Vision Centre, Blackrock Castle Heritage Park and the Ballincollig Gunpowder Mills.

The city centre offers a wonderful range of shops, restaurants and pubs, primarily located off the central shopping area of Patrick Street. In addition to local retailers, Cork has attracted outlets from Europe, giving a sophisticated and cosmopolitan feel to the city. The colourful English Markets provide a smorgasbord of fresh local produce and foods from around the world. Stylish boutique shopping centres have emerged in the suburbs of Cork including Douglas, Ballincollig and Wilton, providing excellent local amenities, restaurants and business services. The city centre also hosts a vibrant St Patricks Day Parade annually on March 14th.

Buildings of architectural and historical note are: the City Hall, the Courthouse on Washington Street, the splendid Shandon Church , St Finbarr's striking Cathedral and the magnificent tree lined campus an quadrangle of University College Cork, on the banks of the River Lee.

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