A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cork vs. Como for Food, Couples, Attractions, and Nightlife

Should you visit Cork or Como?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cork and Como can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Cork

Cork is a energetic, cultural, and seaside city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Como

Como is a scenic, trendy, and fun lake area. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches.

Cork and Como: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cork or Como?

You'll generally find more things to do in Cork than Como. Cork is bigger than Como, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Cork is better known for its museums, nightlife, and big city activities, while Como is more popular for its food, beaches, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty. Como is more touristy than Cork and is popular for its long-running history as a resort retreat for upscale travelers. Cork is well known for its friendly personality, its thriving art scene and its local craft beer. Also, Cork is famous for The Blarney Castle and Stone.

How is Cork different from Como?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Como and Cork. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Cork or Como?

Cork is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Como is lacking in options for its museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Cork can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is filled with historic sights and landmarks. Most notable is the Blarney Castle and Blarney Stone, but also make sure you check out St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, the Cork Public Museum, Cork City Gaol Heritage Centre, and St. Anne's Church.

Como offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. Most people visit for the lakeside setting, but there's history throughout, with notable buildings including the Duomo, Museo Civico, and Basilica di Sant'Abbondio.

Is the Food Better in Cork or Como? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Como is a must-visit destination for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Cork is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Many restaurants in Como have been singled out for their culinary prowess. The area has its own style of Italian food. Polenta is one of the most popular dishes and it's usually served with meat, fish, or cheese. You can also enjoy several different types of fish such as misultitt (dried fish), salmon trout, pike, bleak, lavarello, and perch.

Cork has a huge number of terrific restaurants. You'll find charming seaside cafes and award winning restaurants. Also make sure you check out the English Market, which is among the best in Ireland.

Is Cork or Como Better for Nightlife?

Cork is an excellent place to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Como is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

Cork has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. It's a university city, so you'll find plenty of students, bars, clubs, and cheap beer. Many pubs also have live music with everything from rock to Irish folk music.

Como has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. It is more known for its glamour and sophistication than its raging party scene. There are fine dining restaurants where you can sip wine and enjoy the view. There are also theaters and jazz clubs that offer a relaxing vibe and a nice night out.

Is Cork or Como Better for Beaches?

Como is a lake area with good options for its beaches. However, Cork is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Como. You'll find lakeside beaches where you can relax, sunbath, or swim. Many are affiliated with clubs and the atmosphere is often trendy and upscale. Don't expect a secluded and natural setting, but there are often nice restaurants nearby.

Cork is not a beach destination.

Is Cork or Como Better for Hiking?

Como is notable for the nearby hiking options. However, Cork is not a hiking destination.

Como is a popular spot for hiking. There's a wide variety of hiking trails in the area that take you through the mountains or along the water's edge. One of the most popular trails is the Greenway del Lago di Como.

Cork is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cork or Como?

Como is a must-visit destination for shopping. Also, Cork is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Como is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. The shopping is comparable to major cities, with everything from high end boutiques to outlets and local markets. There are clothing shops, jewelry stores, and places to pick up local souvenirs. Shopping is a favorite activity for many visitors to Lake Como.

Cork is well-known for its shopping. It offers a mix of high street shops and boutique vendors. Head to St. Patrick’s Street for some of the city's best shopping. Also check out Opera Lane and Oliver Plunkett Street.

Is Cork or Como Better for Families?

Como is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Cork is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Como is a very family-friendly place to visit. It has parks and gardens to explore, as well as Vezio Castle and many nice walking trails. A highlight for many kids is a visit to Lake Como Adventure Park.

Cork is a family-friendly city. For a bit of outside time, head to Fota Wildlife Park, Regional Park Ballincollig, or Inchydoney Beach. Kids will also enjoy exploring Cork City Gaol which is a heritage museum, or the Toy Soldier Factory. And of course, there's the Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone.

Is Cork or Como Better for Couples?

Como is a must-visit destination for romance. Also, Cork is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Como is a great lake area for couples, as it has plenty to offer. Its beautiful walks, charming towns, and surrounding natural setting make this a great honeymoon and couple's getaway destination. Dine on Italian cuisine as you sip wine and look out on the pristine waters of Lake Como.

Cork makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Visiting Blarney Castle is a highlight, but you can also wander along the river or do the Ballycotton Cliff Walk. There are also several gardens to explore or small theaters where you can see a play.

Is Cork or Como Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Como is notable for backpackers. Also, Cork is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Como. It's a popular destination with all types of travelers, so you'll find a decent selection of hostels to choose from, and a number of other backpackers around to hang out with.

Plenty of backpackers visit Cork. There are plenty of hostels as well as a large student population and an active nightlife.

Is Cork or Como Better for Students?

Cork is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Como is not popular with students.

Cork is a great city to visit as a student. It's a university town with many students and plenty to do. The city plays host to many international students.

Como is not popular with students.

Is Cork or Como Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Como is a lake area with good options for its public transit. However, Cork is a mediocre city for times when you don't have a car.

Como has a few public transit options. There are buses, ferries, and a funicular that travel to different towns around the lake.

Public transit is mostly limited in Cork. In town you'll find bus service but if you want to explore anywhere else in the county you really need your own vehicle.

Is Cork or Como a more walkable city?

Como is notable for its walkability. Also, Cork is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

Como is very walkable. The entire area is very walkable and you'll enjoy many great views during your stroll.

Cork is a somewhat walkable place. The city center is compact and easy enough to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Cork Worth Visiting? and Is Como Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Como or Cork?

How long in Cork or Como?

It's fun to spend time in either Cork or Como. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Como due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Cork, and 2-4 days is enough time in Como.

Families should spend more time in Como than Cork. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Como, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Como than Cork. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Como that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Como than Cork if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Como.

One day in Cork or Como?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Cork. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Como. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Cork or Como?

Cork is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Como is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Cork or Como?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural destination of Cork. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

You'll find food and shopping around the trendy destination of Como. This lake area offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Cork or Como?

The cultural city of Cork offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

The trendy lake area of Como offers shopping and nightlife. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ireland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ireland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rome, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Rome.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cork and Como, we can see that Como is more expensive. And not only is Cork much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cork would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cork and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Como would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Como than you might in Cork.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cork Expensive? and Is Como Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cork or Como?

Cork has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Como. When comparing the sizes of Cork and Como, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Cork or Como?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Cork or Como in the Summer?

Both Como and Cork during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Cork for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Como because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Cork is generally cooler than Como. Daily temperatures in Cork average around 16°C (60°F), and Como fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In Como, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Cork often gets less sunshine than Como. Cork gets 178 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Como receives 250 hours of full sun.

Cork usually gets less rain in July than Como. Cork gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Como receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cork or Como in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cork and Como. The autumn months attract visitors to Cork because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Como this time of year.

Cork is cooler than Como in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cork averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Como fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

Cork usually receives less sunshine than Como during autumn. Cork gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Como receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Como receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Cork usually receives around the same amount of rain as Como. Cork gets 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Como receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Cork or Como in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Cork as well as Como. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Cork this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Como for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Como. In the winter, Cork is a little warmer than Como. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cork in January average around 6°C (43°F), and Como averages at about 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Cork often gets less sunshine than Como. Cork gets 60 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Como receives 119 hours of full sun.

Cork receives a lot of rain in the winter. Cork usually gets more rain in January than Como. Cork gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Como receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cork or Como in the Spring?

Both Como and Cork are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Cork for the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to Como in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Cork is generally cooler than Como. Daily temperatures in Cork average around 9°C (48°F), and Como fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Cork usually receives less sunshine than Como during spring. Cork gets 157 hours of sunny skies, while Como receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Cork usually receives less rain than Como. Cork gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Como receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Como and Cork