Sleeping in Airports

Cork Airport Guide

Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or are just quickly passing through, our Cork Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit.  Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.

tried to sleep on the floor on the sleeping pads, but security guys had a problem with that. -namche

ORK Airport Overview

To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Cork Airport.

What to Expect

Cork Airport (code: ORK) is a clean, modern, single-terminal, two-level international airport. There are a few shops and restaurants, but they close around 10:00 PM or after the airport’s last departure. Vending machines are scattered around the airport if you need snacks and beverages after hours.

There are plenty of power outlets for mobile charging, and unlimited free WiFi is available throughout the airport. And for added comfort while you wait, there is a first class lounge that you can pay to access. See Airport Lounges in the guide below for locations and access information.

Sleeping in Cork Airport

cork airport guideReviewers have reported having a generally positive experience while sleeping at Cork. There are comfortable padded benches or couches in the upstairs cafe/ lounge, the food court, and the bar on the 2nd floor. Although airport security may ask you to present a boarding pass or flight ticket for proof of onward travel, several reviewers have remarked that no one bothered them throughout the night. They have also reported that the airport remained generally quiet until the first passengers arrive around 4:00 AM. Have a sleep mask, earplugs, or noise-cancelling headphones handy to block out the bright lights and airport noise. For uninterrupted sleep, there are hotels near the airport. See the Airport Hotels section below for more info, or read some traveller airport reviews for more tips.

Good to Know

There’s a Bus Éireann station right outside the terminal, which is handy if you need to take reasonably priced transportation to or from Dublin or Cork’s city center. See our Airport Transportation in the guide below.

To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. You can also visit the airport’s website for current information. For more airport information, scroll down to explore more in our Cork Airport Guide.

In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.  For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.

airport hoursAirport Hours

The airport is open 24 hours.

airport hotelsAirport Hotels

If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Cork Airport:

  • Cork Airport HotelTemporarily Closed – You can walk or take the hotel’s free 24-hour airport shuttle.  Use the courtesy phone at the airport to call the hotel for pick-up.  » Check Rates
  • Cork International Airport Hotel –  Airport shuttle and day rooms are available. » Check Rates
  • Travelodge Cork Airport – No airport shuttle.  » Check Rates

For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Cork Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.

airport loungeAirport Lounges

Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships

Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there is a lounge that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and to also find out how you can gain lounge access with just an economy class ticket!

  • Aspire Lounge – Location: Airside, opposite Gate 8. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door • Prepaid lounge passes • Lounge membership programs.

Related Pages: Cork Airport Lounges

rest zonesRest & Relaxation Zones

There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.

more airport infoMore Airport Information

More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover

ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: Ground floor and departures hall first floor.

Children’s Play Areas -When you want to ensure your kids burn off all their energy before their flight, take them to the children’s play area in the departure area adjacent to AMT coffee. Amusement rides for children are located throughout the terminal (Landside and Airside).

Currency Exchange – Not available.

Drinking Water – Information is unavailable. Does the airport have water fountains or water bottle refill stations? Click here to update this guide.

Food & Drinks – Food concessions throughout the airport operate with varying schedules. At the time of this update, there are no 24-hour dining options. Dining options include:

  • Landside: Blue Bird Cafe • Lemon Pepper • WH Smith.
  • Airside: Food Republic • Craft Lane • AMT Coffee • WH Smith.
  • Vending Machines: snack vending machines are located throughout the terminal.

Information Desk – Location: landside, on the Arrivals Level, between the Car Hire Desks and Londis store.

Luggage Storage & Lockers – Not available.

Mobile Charging – Charge your mobile devices at power outlets throughout the terminal.

Printing Services – Did you forget to print a document for your trip? Printing kiosks are available.

Prayer Room – Situated behind the Car Parks Office which is located on the ground floor of the multistory short-term car park. Open 24 hours a day.

Shopping – Newspapers, magazines, snacks, travel goods, and more are sold at WHSmith shops on the landside and airside. The Loop offers a variety of luxury brand items, liquors, and wines at “20% off downtown prices”.

Showers – Not available.

SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this guide.

WiFi/Internet – Free WiFi is available at Cork Airport. Additionally, internet kiosks are located on the landside, on the lower level, adjacent to the escalators.

Airlines
Cork airport is served by the following airlines: Aer Lingus • Air France • KLM • Ryanair • Swiss • Lufthansa.
Airport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport

Bus

Bus 226 links the airport to the city center in a 20-minute journey. Buses stop at Kent Station (for local and intercity train connections), Parnell Place Bus Station (for local and long-distance bus connections) and the city center. For route maps, schedules, fares and ticket sales, visit the Bus Éireann website.

Direct bus service is available from Cork Airport to Galway and Limerick. For service details, fares and ticket sales, visit the CityLink website.

Car Rentals

The following car rental agencies are located in the Arrivals Hall: Avis • Budget/Payless • Enterprise • Europcar • Hertz • Sixt.

Hotel Shuttles

Cork International Airport Hotel offers a transportation service for its guests. See also Airport Hotels above.

Taxis

Taxis are available outside of the terminal during airport hours of operation. All taxis are metered. At the time of this update, the estimated one-way fare between the airport and city center, bus station or train station is about €20.

Train

The nearest train station to the airport is Kent Station, a 10-minute walking distance from Parnell Place Bus Station. Kent Station can be reached by bus or taxi from the airport. For routes, schedules and fare information for Irish trains, visit the Irish Rail website.

Last updated: 2024-01-30

This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning.  All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice.   The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or  write a review.