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

Should you visit Cork or Naples?

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 Naples 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 cultural, seaside, and youthful city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Naples

Naples is a historic, authentic, and gritty city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Cork and Naples: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cork or Naples?

You'll generally find more things to do in Naples than Cork. Naples is bigger than Cork, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Cork is well known for its friendly personality, its thriving art scene and its local craft beer. Naples is well known for its colorful atmosphere, long running history, and influence on world cuisine as the birthplace of pizza. Also, Naples is famous for Piazza del Plebiscito.

How is Cork different from Naples?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Naples 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 Naples?

Both Cork and Naples have high quality landmarks and museums for visitors.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Cork. 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.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Naples. Most of the sights are concentrated in the city's historic center. The Naples Harbor is a gateway to the Mediterranean. Also worth visiting are the National Archeological Museum, Capodimonte Royal Palace, Castel Nuovo, and the Catacombs of San Gennaro.

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

Naples 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 Naples have been singled out for their culinary prowess. As the birthplace of pizza, the city has a well known food reputation. Many local dishes, including an authentic Napoli pizza, use simple flavors such as olive oil, garlic, and tomatoes. The dishes are lighter than their northern counterparts and tomatoes are a very popular ingredient. In addition to the pizza, you should try Lasagna Al Forno Napoletana and Spaghetti Alla Vognole. Also check out a pizza making class.

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 Naples Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are high quality in both Cork and Naples.

Cork has plenty to do after the sun goes down. 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.

Naples has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. The nightlife scene includes small bars, wineries, and dance clubs, but much of the energy and activity is actually focused on being outdoors. There is plenty of live music and many nightclubs are actually "disco bars" that are found tucked away in the city's historic center.

Is Cork or Naples Better for its Old Town?

Naples is notable for its historic old town. However, Cork does not have a historic old town.

Naples is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. Most of the city's tourist attractions are found in the historic center, which includes beautiful fountains, grand churches, and an impressive network of catacombs and caves.

Cork does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Cork or Naples?

Both Cork and Naples are high quality shopping destinations.

Cork is an extremely popular place for shoppers. 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.

Naples is well-known for its shopping. There are shopping streets and districts that have boutique clothing vendors, high end brands, and major chains. There's plenty of diversity in the shopping scene and some of the best shopping areas include Via Toledo, the Chiaia District, and Poggioreale Market.

Is Cork or Naples Better for Families?

Both Cork and Naples are notable to visit with kids.

Cork is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Naples is a family-friendly city. Despite its rough-around-the-edges reputation, the city actually has some fun kid-friendly activities. As the birthplace of pizza, a childhood favorite, eating is a kid approved activity. You can even try your hand at pizza making classes. Other fun kid-friendly activities include exploring the underground city, going to The Science Centre of Citta della Scienza, and running around Parco di Capodimonte.

Is Cork or Naples Better for Couples?

Both Cork and Naples are high quality destinations for a couple's getaway.

Cork is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Naples makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Dining on pizza, wine tasting, or taking a cruise on the Gulf of Naples all make this city a great couples destination. There are also many romantic day trips in the area, so many couples use Naples as a base for exploring the region.

Is Cork or Naples Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Naples 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 Naples. It's more affordable than most of northern Italy, and it has plenty of hostels to choose from. The city makes a great stop for backpackers who want to see a different part of Italy. While not completely off the backpacker trail, Naples is not inundated with tourists the way some other Italian cities are.

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

Is Cork or Naples Better for Students?

Cork is well known for students. Also, Naples is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

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.

It's common for students to visit Naples. It's a large city with a lot to see and do. Students also appreciate the many day trips that are available in the area.

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

Naples is notable for its public transit. However, Cork is a mediocre city for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Naples can move around easily with public transportation. There's a metro with two metro lines as well as four suburban train lines. There are also funiculars, regional trains, and ferries to the surrounding areas.

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 Naples a more walkable city?

Naples 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.

Naples is very walkable. The historic center is flat and easy to explore on foot.

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 Naples Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Naples or Cork?

How long in Cork or Naples?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Cork and Naples. In our opinion, Naples has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Naples than Cork. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Naples 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 Naples.

One day in Cork or Naples?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Cork. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Naples is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Cork or Naples?

Cork is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Naples is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the food. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Naples?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cork. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the authentic big city of Naples. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Cork or Naples?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the seaside destination of Cork. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The fascinating city of Naples offers nightlife and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 in Italy, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cork and Naples, we can see that Naples 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 Naples would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Naples 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 Naples Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cork or Naples?

Naples has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Cork. When comparing the sizes of Cork and Naples, 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 Naples?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Cork or Naples in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cork and Naples. Most visitors come to Cork for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Naples because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Cork is generally cooler than Naples. Daily temperatures in Cork average around 16°C (60°F), and Naples fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Naples this time of the year. Cork usually receives less sunshine than Naples during summer. Cork gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Naples receives 313 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Cork usually receives more rain than Naples. Cork gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Naples receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Cork or Naples in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Cork as well as Naples. The autumn months attract visitors to Cork because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Additionally, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Naples this time of year.

Cork is much colder than Naples in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cork averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Naples fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In the autumn, Cork often gets less sunshine than Naples. Cork gets 90 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Naples receives 189 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Naples. Cork usually gets less rain in October than Naples. Cork gets 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Naples receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cork or Naples in the Winter?

Both Naples and Cork are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Cork this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Naples for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Cork is cooler than Naples. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cork in January average around 6°C (43°F), and Naples averages at about 8°C (47°F).

Cork usually receives less sunshine than Naples during winter. Cork gets 60 hours of sunny skies, while Naples receives 115 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Naples. It's quite rainy in Cork. In January, Cork usually receives around the same amount of rain as Naples. Cork gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Naples receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Cork or Naples in the Spring?

Both Naples and Cork during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Cork for the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to Naples in the spring for the activities around the city.

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

In the spring, Cork often gets less sunshine than Naples. Cork gets 157 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Naples receives 189 hours of full sun.

Cork usually gets less rain in April than Naples. Cork gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Naples receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Naples and Cork