Cork travel: Must-see sights on a short-break to Poznan, Gdansk, Salzburg or Faro

We owe the Poles who have come to live in Cork in recent years a debt of gratitude.

Their presence here undoubtedly led to an increased demand for flights to and from Cork connecting some of Poland’s finest cities - thus putting some great weekend break and holiday destinations firmly on our radar.

In the final part of our Cork Airport Getaways series, we highlight two such Polish cities, as well as the Alpine city of Salzburg in Austria, famed for its musical connection to Mozart and the Von Trapps. The series wraps up with a final visit to a sunshine getaway - Faro in Portugal.

Poznan, Poland

Ryanair flights from Cork, Mondays and Fridays

A city on the Warta River in western Poland, Poznan is a pretty university town oozing in history and culture.

Its Renaissance-style buildings in the Old Market Square are a great tourist attraction, and the Town Hall here houses the Historical Museum of Poznan, with exhibits on the city.

The town hall clock features mechanical goats that butt heads at noon, so make sure you’re there on time to see that!

To stretch your legs, head to Citadel Park a 15-minute walk from the square

One of the world’s more unusual museums is based in Poznan - the Croissant Museum! It’s been billed as part cooking demo, part comedy show, and part history lesson. Perhaps it could be twinned with Cork’s Butter Museum?!

Almost as unusual is the HistoryLand museum, which tells the story of Polish history through the medium of... Lego bricks.

This interactive journey includes the world’s oldest map of the sky and great medieval battles, all told via more than a million Lego bricks. Don’t stand on any in your bare feet...

You’re never too far from religion in Poland, and the Gothic and baroque Poznan Cathedral Of St Peter And Paul is built on an island called Ostrów Tumski.

It is the oldest such building in Poland, dating back to the 10th century and the beginnings of the Polish State. Here you will find the burial place of the first rulers of Poland - Mieszko I and his son Boleslaw Chrobry - as well as the mysterious vaults.

Meanwhile, the Parish Church of St Stanislaus is known for its magnificent Baroque ornamentation in the chapels of the Holy Cross, which feature a 16th-century crucifix and the Virgin Mary.

Or check out the Gallery of Paintings and Sculpture, one of the largest and oldest art venues in Poland. It houses rich collections of art from antiquity to Polish avant-garde art, and exhibits include The Beach In Pourville by the Impressionist Claude Monet.

Shoppers may be surprised to find there’s a Penneys in Poznan, girl! Though it is called Primark over there - still, never a bad time to grab a bargain.

Gdansk, Poland

Ryanair flights from Cork, Mondays and Saturdays

Banish any misconceptions you may have of Gdansk as a war-damaged industrial port city - it’s actually vibrant and cosmopolitan, a wonderful blend of old and new - and with a reputation for being one of the more affordable European cities

Like Cork, it’s compact too, making it a great place for a weekend break.

There are some great museums in Gdansk, many with a war theme - and the Museum Of The Second World War has a reputation as one of the finest in Europe. You can literally spend hours immersed here, with exhibits including authentic 1930s Polish streets, a Soviet tank, a German Junkers plane, and a British Enigma cipher machine.

The Europejskie Centrum Solidarnosci tells the story of Poland’s more recent history, its road to freedom from Soviet oppression and embracing the Solidarity movement.

On a lighter note, Gdansk Old Town is charm personified, with an array of street markets, shops, pubs, bars, and restaurants. The nightlife is great, with guided pub crawls popular.

Ambitious diners might want to try the local lunch specialty - a hollowed-out round of bread filled with soup made from pickled cabbage and white sausage.

The ‘milk bars’ are actually affordable eateries that offer hearty dumplings and thick stews, while more extravagant restaurants offer venison and wild boar from the forests of Pomerania.

Mariacka (St Mary’s Street) is lined with artisan retailers selling Baltic amber jewellery. The Amber Museum tells the story of this remarkable natural local resource.

Don’t miss a boat ride from the Gdansk quayside - there are water taxis and short cruises aplenty.

There are also lovely seaside resorts on the city’s doorstep. The Baltic Riviera is popular for sunbathing and people-watching in the summer.

Both Sopot and Gdynia are close by via train and tram.

Salzburg, Austria

Topflight flights from Cork, Saturdays

The city is fairytale-like, with its turreted buildings and cobbled streets.

Salzburg is divided by the Salzach River, with medieval and baroque buildings of the Old City on its left bank, facing the 19th-century ‘New City’ on its right.

There is so much to see and do in and around Salzburg for all the family, including river cruises, tours, and even forest bathing.

Hohensalzburg Fortress is a must-see. The biggest fully preserved castle in central Europe, it dates back to 1077 and offers a 360-degree view of the city and its surroundings.

The Getreidegasse is Salzburg’s most famous shopping street, the location of numerous traditional businesses, clothing stores and souvenir shops.

The city is the birthplace of famed composer Mozart, and his memory is preserved in various museums, including one displaying his childhood instruments.

The other musical claim to fame here is that it was the setting for The Sound Of Music. The Fraulein Maria’s Bicycle tour takes in some of the iconic film’s locations.

If you’re heading for a ski break, Ski Amadé is one of the largest such networks in Europe. With one ticket, you can ski 760km of slopes over five regions in the Austrian Alps. If you have kids in tow, the Söll resort offers gentle nursery slopes.

Or take a 25 minute bus ride to Untersberg in the Alps, to experience incredible scenery as a cable car ascends to a breath-taking 1800m.

Bad Gastein is a thermal spa town, 90 minutes from Salzburg, that people have been flocking to for ‘the cure’ for generations.

Faro: Discover the Treasures of the Algarve

Ryanair flights from Cork, Fridays and Sundays

Located in Portugal’s famously sun-drenched Algarve region, Faro is often seen as a gateway to golden beaches, writes Kelly O’Brien.

While this is undoubtedly accurate, the destination is also rich in history, natural beauty, and unforgettable experiences.

As with most mainland European city breaks, the Old Town is the best place to start your journey.

Encircled by medieval walls, these quaint, cobblestoned, orange-tree-lined streets will quickly transport you back in time.

At the heart of it all lies Faro’s cathedral with its striking blend of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. Climb to the roof for amazing views over the city and its many terracotta-tiled rooftops.

Nearby, you’ll find one of Faro’s most unique (yet most macabre) attractions - the Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos). Featuring the skeletal remains of more than 1,000 monks, this eerie yet fascinating site isn’t for the faint of heart. Yet those daring enough to enter will not soon forget it.

Nature lover? Head to the Ria Formosa Natural Park - a sprawling network of lagoons and islands which is a paradise for bird-watchers - or embark on a dolphin-watching boat tour (just make sure it’s an ethical one - always read the reviews before booking!).

As sunset falls, assuming you haven’t yet had your fill of rooftop views, head to the bar at the top of the Eva Senses Hotel, which overlooks Faro Marina - it’s the second-best vantage point in the city, after the rooftop of the aforementioned cathedral.

While Faro does indeed have more to offer than sun, sea, and sand, one cannot deny the allure of the amazing beaches here.

Just a short ferry or drive away, Ilha de Faro offers a stretch of golden sand perfect for sunbathing, swimming, or simply soaking in the tranquil ocean views.

For a more secluded escape, head to Ilha Deserta, a pristine island accessible by boat where you can enjoy serene landscapes and crystal-clear waters almost entirely to yourself.

Nearby Ilha da Culatra, a charming fishing village, offers a more local vibe and is ideal for a leisurely seafood lunch by the sea.

If you have a bit more time and are in the mood for further exploration, consider a day trip or two.

The nearby town of Olhão charms visitors with its bustling fish market and picturesque streets, while Tavira enchants with its Roman bridge, historic churches, and laid-back atmosphere.