londonderry tourist information

15 Fun Things To Do In Londonderry, Ireland (For 2024)

Categories Londonderry , Things To Do

Londonderry , also popularly known as “Derry”, is the second-largest city in Northern Ireland.

Overall, it is the fourth largest city in the country. Derry is derived from an Old Irish name which means “oak grove” but aside from that, it is also known as the walled city.

READ MORE: Best Hotels In Londonderry.

In fact, it is the only remaining intact walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples in Europe.

Londonderry is engulfed with a lot of history that is why you should not skip it when in Ireland. To give you an idea, here are 15 things to do in Londonderry

Things you'll find in this article

1.  Walkthrough Irish history in the Walls of Derry

2. understand the story of derry in the tower museum, 3. get to know more of the free derry museum, 4. learn the history of the siege of londonderry in the siege museum, 5. cross through the peace bridge, 6. see the beautiful guildhall building, 7. hear a story of romance and tragedy in the prehen house, 8. pay respect to st eugene’s cathedral, 9. visit the internationally recognized st columb’s cathedral, 10. take a walk in st columb’s park, 11. take a quick trip to ness country park, 12. snap a pic with the bogside murals, 13. add the free derry corner in your ‘gram, 14. rediscover the charm of the craft village, 15. travel through the derry-coleraine railway.

The Walls of Derry is one of the most iconic spots in Londonderry. After all, these walls made the city known as the only walled city in Ireland that survived through time. These diamond-shaped defensive walls were built in the 1610s to protect the city from the English and Scottish colonists.

It also stood strong amidst the 105-day siege during the Williamite War in 1689. The walls can be stretched 1.6 kilometers in total, is 26 feet high, and approximately 30 feet wide. It can be seen straddling a hill.

Walking through the middle of the wall shows a clear division of the countryside and the Inner City. Before, the walls were closed to the public for decades mainly because it is one of the best spots for snipers.

However, after the city has regained peace, this walled city has become one of the top tourist attractions in Londonderry and one of the best day trips from Belfast. 

Opening Hours

Monday- Saturday – 11:30 am- 1am

Sunday- 12pm -12 am

Contact Information

Address: Bishop St, Londonderry BT48 6PR, UK

Phone: +44 28 7126 7284

Email:  [email protected]

The Tower Museum is located within the historic walls specifically in Union Hall Palace. It is a historic tower which presents the history of Derry through award-winning exhibits from the prehistoric time until the 1960s.

It also has an exhibit of a local shipwreck in 1588 located in a separate gallery. In this gallery, you can see artifacts from a Spanish Armada ship known as La Trinidad Valencera.

The Museum also has a cinema where you can continue learning the history of Derry during the second half of the 20th century. The presentation talks about the causes and outcomes of the Troubles.

Monday- Sunday- 10 am-4;30 pm

Address: Tower Museum Union Hall Place Derry  BT48 6LU

Phone:  028 7137 2411

Email: [email protected]

As stated earlier, Derry is engulfed with a lot of history and more of it can be seen from the Free Derry Museum.

With over 25,000 artifacts in its exhibits, the Free Derry Museum aims to send a message supporting civil rights and equality. It tells the story about the Battle of the Bogside, Operation Motorman, and Bloody Sunday.

These stories are being supported with letters, posters, photographs and actual footage. The museum opened in 2006 and it has become one of the major resources for schools and colleges all over Ireland and beyond.

The museum also draws visitors from Unionist and Nationalist communities but more importantly, it welcomes everyone who is interested in the history of the city of Derry and its civil rights movement.

Monday – Friday 9.30am – 4.30pm (All year, excluding Christmas and New Year)

Saturday 1.00pm – 4.00pm (All year, excluding Christmas and New Year)

Sunday 1.00pm – 4 pm ( July – Sept)

Last admission 30 minutes before stated closing time.

Admission Fee

Adult £6.00 / Concessionary/Senior £5.00 / Groups (10+) £4.00

Address: Museum of Free Derry,  55 Glenfada Park, Bogside, Derry, BT48

Phone: 028 71 360880

Email: [email protected]

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The Siege of Londonderry is another historical event in Ireland that is worth to know. In fact, an extension to the Apprentice Boys of Derry Memorial Hall was completed in 2016 to exhibit this 1688 Siege.

Today, it is now called the Siege Museum and Exhibition where you can find exhibitions about the Apprentice Boys of Derry, Orange Order, Women’s Orange, and The Royal Black Institution.

Each of these orders is located in separate rooms where you can find artifacts, videos, and interactive media.

Monday – Saturday

10am – 5pm (last entry 4:30pm)

Closed (Group tours available by request)

£4 per person

Under 12 – Free

Address: 13 Society Street Londonderry BT48 6PJ

Phone: 028 71261219

Email: [email protected]

The Peace Bridge is another symbolic spot in Derry which connects the Unionists and Nationalists as it literally crosses between the waterside and cityside communities in Derry.

As for those who have not known, the Waterside community generally belongs to the Unionists while the Cityside to the Nationalists. The 235-meter bridge was completed in 2011 as a collaboration between AECOM and Wilkinson Eyre Architects.

Today, it is a popular scene to celebrate New Year in Londonderry.

This beautiful neo-gothic style building is located just outside the city walls and near the Peace Bridge and is totally worth the visit.

Originally built in 1887 by the Honourable Irish Society, the Guildhall is embellished with a beautiful stained glass window, a grand staircase, the main hall organ, and a corridor which altogether adds up to the building’s alluring charm.

Aside from its intriguing history, the Guildhall also faced a major restoration in June 2013 which now results in a multifaceted tourism experience for anyone who wishes to visit the building.

Visiting the Guildhall will introduce you to an exhibit which presents the history of the city during the colonization in the 17th century- also known as the Plantation of Ulster. Because of this, this promising tourist hub has been awarded and recognized by several professional bodies, heritage groups, and construction organizations.

            View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by Nicolas & Charlotte Horsch (@horschinteriors) on Dec 30, 2017 at 2:28pm PST

Home of Ireland’s greatest love story, the Prehen House is an 18th century Irish Georgian house located in Prehen, County Londonderry . The house was built in 1740 for Andrew Knox after he married Honoria Tomkins, heiress of Prehen.

Much more of this, the Prehen House is also tied to the story of Mary Ann Knox. Her story was both romance and tragedy where she was accidentally killed during an attempted elopement by John MacNaghten, the landowner.

As a punishment for this accident, MacNaghten was executed and hanged for his crime. Although the house is still privately owned, tourists and visitors are also welcome to visit to hear this tale and appreciate the views of Derry and the Foyle River.

Address: Prehen Park, Derry, Londonderry, BT47 2PB

Phone: (028) 7134 2829

Email:  [email protected]

The Mother Church of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Derry is no other than St. Eugene’s Cathedral. This Roman Catholic church was built in the second half of the 19th century with a Gothic Revival style.

The enchanting outcome of this project was made possible by the brilliance of its architect, James Joseph McCarthy. The tower of the cathedral is visible in the northwest of the city kissing the edge of Brooke Park.

In the upper section of the bell tower, you can also see a statue of St. Eugene from 1873. McCarthy used a Sardinian granite on the sanctuary floor while the altar is bedazzled with Carrara marbles.

Monday to Friday:   

8.00 am, 10.00 am and 7.30 pm

Saturday:   

Address: St. Eugene’s Cathedral Derry City BT48 9AP

Phone: 028 7126 2894/ 028 7136 5712

Email: [email protected]

It is dedicated to St. Columba, an Irish monk who established a Christian settlement in Derry before he was exiled from the country. Parts of this cathedral is recognized as one of the oldest standing monuments in Derry.

The chancel and spire, on the other hand, does not belong to it because it only came in the 19th and 20th century.

            View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by 10kgnamochila (@10kgnamochila) on Apr 27, 2019 at 10:12am PDT

If you’re looking for a place to just chill or maybe have a picnic with your family, the St. Columb’s Park right at the bank of the River Foyle is the perfect hangout spot for you.

You can also go straight to this park if you’re coming from the Peace Bridge. Aside from the greenery and landscape of the park, you can also find a manor house which was built in the 18th century.

This manor house is currently being used for accommodation and conference center. There is also a small cafe on the ground floor for visitors who wants to take some refreshments.

March to October – Monday to Saturday 9 am – 5 pm

November to February (incl) Monday to Saturday 10 am – 2 pm

​ Open for Services: Sunday 8am-9am, 11am – 12.30pm, 4pm-5pm

Address: 17 London Street Londonderry BT48 6RQ

Phone: 028 7126 7313

Email: [email protected]

            View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by J Stewart (@jps_79) on Nov 5, 2016 at 4:04am PDT

Ness Country Park, a 55 hectares of greenery, is located on the Banks of River Burntollet just outside the walled city. It consists of seven kilometers of forest and riverside and a vast meadow.

If you dig deep into the heart of the forest, you will be taken to the enchanting Ness waterfall and its set of rapids. Locals advise that the best time to walk in the park is during the spring season where bluebells and wood anemones paint the forest floor with lovely hues.

Ness Country Park is the perfect countryside getaway if you want to take a break from the walled city.

Monday – Sunday -9 am – 4pm

Address: 50 Oughtagh Rd, Killaloo, Londonderry BT47 3TR

Email:   [email protected]

The Bogside Murals do not only serve as a tourist attraction in Derry but it is also a reminder of its difficult past. This set of 12 large paintings are located in the neighborhood where the Bloody Saturday took place. This historical event resulted in these paintings which aim to champion civil rights.

You can take a guided tour to know the deeper context of these paintings which depicts the Battle of Bogside in 1969, Operation Motorman in 1972, the victims of the Bloody Sunday, and a dove of peace.

Still located in the Bogside Neighborhood, the Free Derry Corner is a single standing wall which was once the entrance to a self-declared autonomous Nationalist area in Derry.

The message which says “You are now entering Free Derry” was painted by a local activist in 1969 during the early phases of the Troubles.

The wall used to have rows of terrace houses at the background. However, these houses were demolished later on which leaves the wall independently standing as a dual carriageway in the present time.

Beside the wall is a memorial for the victims of the Irish Hunger Strike.

            View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by Jessica (@journeys.of.rhiannon) on May 6, 2019 at 11:24am PDT

If you have an eye for arts, crafts, and little trinkets, the Craft Village deserves a quick trip. Most of the finds here are of Irish references like Irish dancing costumes, glassware, knitwear, crystal home decorations, candles, and a lot more.

Aside from these, the Craft Village also hosts live performances. To watch these performances, just spot the Canopy and the large iron and glass structure which shelters the stage.

The Derry-Coleraine Railway is a 50-kilometer train ride offering one of the most beautiful views in the world. The ride passes through a green landscape of dry-stone walls and basalt hills.

It continues heading towards the coast of Benone Strand before reaching Castlerock. From there, you’ll experience the longest railway tunnels in Ireland which were dug in the 1850s.

The ride ends at Causeway Coast where you’ll most likely recognize several scenes from Game of Thrones .

Planning to visit soon? Here are our recommended best hotels in Londonderry . 

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Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries for the past 8 years. I also lived in 3 continents – from the Caribbean, South East Asia to Africa. But despite living in several countries, my love for Ireland remains the same. A country that had been a part of my life since I was 14 because of my love for Irish music and bands. Ireland Travel Guides was born because of this passion and hopefully, in some little ways, this website will be able to help you on your next trip to Ireland.

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Thanks for the ideas of things to do in Londonderry

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Derry (Londonderry)

Northern Ireland's second-largest city continues to flourish as an artistic and cultural hub. Derry's city centre was given a striking makeover for its year as the UK City of Culture 2013, with the construction of the Peace Bridge, Ebrington Sq, and the redevelopment of the waterfront and Guildhall area making the most of the city's splendid riverside setting.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

People's Gallery Murals

The 12 murals that decorate the gable ends of houses along Rossville St, near Free Derry Corner, are popularly referred to as the People's Gallery. They…

Derry's City Walls

The best way to get a feel for Derry's layout and history is to walk the 1.5km circumference of the city's walls. Completed in 1619, Derry's city walls…

Standing just outside the city walls, the neo-Gothic Guildhall was originally built in 1890, then rebuilt after a fire in 1908. Its fine stained-glass…

Tower Museum

Head straight to the 5th floor of this award-winning museum inside a replica 16th-century tower house for a view from the top. Then work your way down…

St Columb's Cathedral

Built between 1628 and 1633 from the same grey-green schist as the city walls, this was the first post-Reformation church to be erected in Britain and…

Museum of Free Derry

Just off Rossville St, this excellent museum chronicles the history of the Bogside, the Civil Rights Movement and the events of Bloody Sunday through…

Hands Across the Divide

As you enter the city across Craigavon Bridge, the first thing you see is the Hands Across the Divide monument. This striking bronze sculpture of two men…

St Columba's Church

Outside the city walls to the southwest is Long Tower Church, Derry’s first post-Reformation Catholic church. Built in 1784 in neo-Renaissance style, it…

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Let a local expert craft your dream trip.

Latest stories from Derry (Londonderry)

Apr 18, 2018 • 5 min read

Northern Ireland’s charms draw more and more visitors each year. First timers head straight for the Giant’s Causeway, a worthy destination but only one…

Mar 16, 2016 • 6 min read

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Explore Derry~ Londonderry

Derry-Londonderry

Derry~Londonderry and beyond

• #NorthernIrelandEmbraceAGiantSpirit
• #CityBreaks

Where the Causeway Coastal Route meets the Wild Atlantic Way

Check out the buzzing city of Derry~Londonderry, then use it as your base to explore the coastal charm and remote rocky coves of the Causeway Coastal Route and the Wild Atlantic Way.

For such a small city, there’s an awful lot to see and do in Derry~Londonderry. Take in the sights, stroll through centuries of history and indulge in some fantastic food.

The Walled City

17th century walls, Derry~Londonderry

Derry~Londonderry is one of the best preserved walled cities in Europe, and a walk along the top of the beautiful 17th century walls, past the preserved cannons, will give a bird’s eye view across the Renaissance-style street plan and over to the River Foyle. Passionate in their storytelling, the guides from the Unlocking the Walled City tour mix humour and history while telling tales of the city from its 6th century origins to the present day.

Derry Guided Tours

Derry~Londonderry

The sweep of history

The Guildhall, Derry~Londonderry city

Derry~Londonderry’s extraordinary history is told in several museums that dot the city. The Tower Museum will take you from earliest prehistory, from the ancient tribes of Ireland through to today, by way of the Spanish Armada and the Derry Girls Exhibition. The Siege Museum tells the story of the Apprentice Boys and the siege of Derry~Londonderry in 1688, when the English king found the walls of the city barred to him – an incident that shaped the history of Ireland. The Museum of Free Derry in the Bogside tells the story of the modern city (or at least the last century) and the birth of its civil rights movement. Drop into the neo-Gothic Guildhall for a coffee and a peek at the permanent exhibition on the history of the region. If you have more time, book a walking tour of the murals of the Bogside. You can meet the artists and hear their stories as you look at these pieces of living history.

Tower Museum

The Siege Museum

Culture and cuisine.

Street food, Derry~Londonderry city

Street food

For all this rich history, there’s a busy and thriving cultural scene in Derry~Londonderry that looks to the future. Check out the work of modern artists, some of whom are local, some from further afield, at the Centre for Contemporary Art and the Warehouse gallery. It’s not just artists but artisans who have been drawn to the city. You’ll find you’re in foodie heaven here, with chefs using wonderful local produce to create some of the most innovative and exciting cooking in the country. There’s also a thriving local craft beer scene – keep an eye peeled for quirkily named beers at the Walled City Brewery, and distinctive hand-crafted local brews from Northbound Brewery in the city's many friendly pubs. If you have more time visit the Walled City Market in Guildhall Square, where local producers sell their wares on the first Saturday of every month

Head along the Causeway Coastal Route, where the views are breathtaking and the welcome is warm. Your furthest point is the vertigo-inducing Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, with plenty of jewels along the way.

Fruits of the sea

Portstewart Strand, County Londonderry

Portstewart Strand

Set sail from Portstewart on a Catch and Sea food experience. It’s a breakfast tour, which means a very early start for all, but even the bleary-eyed will find it’s well worth it. Your crew and guide have a passion for the sea and are full of local knowledge and stories, however, you are all here to catch your breakfast, so enjoy reeling in the fish – most likely mackerel or pollock. Once the bucket is full, a local chef is waiting to prepare a home-cooked breakfast to match your appetite, with your own freshly caught fish as the main ingredient. Portstewart Golf Club is nearby, and is rightly proud of its stunning setting among the dunes. A close neighbour is the famous Royal Portrush Golf Club, host to The Open in 2019.

Portstewart Strand and Barmouth

Portstewart

Epic isolation

Dunluce Castle, County Antrim

Between Portstewart and Carrick-a-Rede there is so much to see, you could pack a few days with stops and wanders along the way. The craggy, mysterious ruin of Dunluce Castle crops up first: it is perched right on the cliff edge and looks like something straight out of a medieval epic. From here, it’s just six minutes in the car to the village of Bushmills, home to the oldest working whiskey distillery on the island of Ireland. Take a tour and sample the product (if you’re not driving!). Stop for lunch in Bushmills at The French Rooms before continuing east to tackle the Giant's Causeway Cliff-Top Experience Walk, with local guides led by Eimear Flanagan. The five-mile walk takes you along quiet routes that allow the best views of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Giant’s Causeway. If you have more time book in advance for trips to the Giant’s Causeway or to cross the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.

Old Bushmills Distillery

Accommodation

The Bushmills Inn

Fantasy and fairy tales.

Mussenden Temple, County Londonderry

It’s a short hop to Ballintoy Harbour, one of the many breathtaking Game of Thrones® filming locations dotted along the Causeway Coast. If you’re a big fan of the HBO series, then you’ll adore Giant Tours Ireland. Flip, your local guide and driver was a stand-in actor for Hodor, so has wonderful stories and anecdotes from his experience, as well as being able to show you the superstar looks of the local landscapes. On the way back to the Walled City, keep watch for the stunning Mussenden Temple, a neo-classical folly perched on high above the beach. It’s an extraordinarily isolated and romantic spot – it's no surprise that it’s very popular for weddings. During November, two very special festivals arrive to these shores. Atlantic Sessions brings 50 musicians and music to everyone’s ears, while Taste Causeway is a delight for the senses with a memorable foodie experience between Limavady and Cushendall.

Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne

An island adventure.

Rathlin Island, County Antrim

Add an extra day onto your adventure with a trip to the wonderful Rathlin Island. Cars aren’t allowed, so go for walking, birdwatching, the slow pace and Ireland's only upside-down lighthouse. Legends thrive here, too, with Robert the Bruce seemingly inspired by watching the dogged determination of a tiny spider weaving his web – just ask the locals to tell you the tale. Ferries take 25-40 minutes from Ballycastle, so book your ticket early during summer months.

Rathlin Sound

Ballycastle

RSPB Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre

Rathlin Island

Rathlin Walking Tours

To the north-west of Derry~Londonderry you'll find the Inishowen Peninsula – a remote, rocky and spectacularly beautiful place and the start of the mighty Wild Atlantic Way.

The start of a journey

Malin Head, County Donegal

Just over an hour north of Derry~Londonderry at the far tip of the Inishowen Peninsula, lies Malin Head. It is not only a spectacular spot, untamed and rugged in any weather, but it marks the start (or end, depending on your viewpoint) of the Wild Atlantic Way. Walk up to Banba’s Crown, at the northernmost tip of the whole island of Ireland, and keep an eye out for basking sharks.

Take to the sea

Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal

If you're a lover of the sea and all its wonderful creatures, be sure to take a boat tour from Inishowen's Bunagee Pier. You never know what may breach the surface as you glide across the deep blue Atlantic waves, but if luck is on your side you could be greeted by minke whales, common and bottlenose dolphins, porpoises, basking sharks and sunfish. Always wanted to see the Northern Lights? Due to its northerly position and lack of light pollution, County Donegal's Inishowen Peninsula is the perfect place to see this amazing natural phenomenon.

Ancient and modern

Grianán of Aileach, County Donegal

As you head south, just as you’re leaving the peninsula, stop and enjoy spectacular views of Lough Foyle and Lough Swilly from the 250-metre high prehistoric stone fort of Grianán of Aileach. Its fame has spread far and wide, and was even mentioned by Ptolemy, the ancient Greek mathematician. The fort is also said to be the inspiration behind the curved lines and stone walls of the nearby Church of St Aengus in Burt – regarded as a masterpiece of design. At the top of the next headland is Fanad Head Lighthouse. You can take the tour or even stay in the lighthouse and soak up the magic of this remote spot.

An Grianan Hotel

Seaside slumbers.

Fanad Lighthouse, County Donegal

At the top of the next headland is Fanad Head Lighthouse, which has safeguarded seafarers since 1817. Climb to the top of this seaside beacon for awesome ocean views as the wind whirls around you and the crashing waves pummel the rocks below. You can take the tour or even stay the night and soak up the magic of this remote spot. Who could resist playing lightkeeper by staying in one of its beautiful self-catering cottages? All you have to do is sleep easy on the edge of the world.

Into the wild woods

Glenveagh National Park, County Donegal

It's time to head inland for a complete contrast. This is just one of the highlights of this region, that you can travel from wild and craggy coast deep into the silence of the mountains in less than an hour. The Derryveagh Mountains are home to Glenveagh Castle and National Park. The park is a huge conservation area filled with lakes, waterfalls and ancient oak woodlands. In the heart of it lies the castle, built in the 19th century. Take a tour and hear of the Hollywood legends who have stayed here.

Glenveagh National Park and Castle

Look to the west.

Bloody Foreland, County Donegal

Journey along the coast beyond the natural beauty of Glenveagh to experience a kaleidoscope of colours during a sunset never to be forgotten at our final stop: the gorily named Bloody Foreland in County Donegal. But don’t fret, records do not show that anything awful has actually happened here – the name was coined in response to the light. Find yourself a good spot and watch as the westering sun’s rays bring out a reddish glow over the rocks and sea. If you have more time, add another day to your trip and catch a ferry from Magheraroarty to Tory Island. This tiny isle is home to many artists, who love the light and the views.

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23 Best Things To Do In Derry City And Beyond

By Author Keith O'Hara

Posted on Last updated: December 29, 2023

There are plenty of things to do in Derry, once you give it a chance.

However, many people exploring this corner of Ireland often pass it by.

County Derry is home to countless historical sites, walks and a glorious stretch of coastline.

In the guide below, you’ll discover what to do in Derry City, first, before seeing the wider county’s main attractions.

Table of Contents

The best things to do in Derry City

Photos via Shutterstock

We’re going to tackle the various things to do in Derry City first. The city is home to an absolute wealth of things to do and places to see.

There are also some great spots for food that we’ll be recommending you nip into.

1. Derry City Walls

Derry is officially the only completely walled city in Ireland and it’s one of the finest examples of a walled city in Europe.

The walls, which were built between 1613-1618, were used to defend the city against early 17th century settlers.

Still beautifully intact, they now form a walkway around Derry’s inner city and offer a unique promenade to check out the layout of the original town.

Standing at an impressive 19-20 feet high, the mile-long oval comes complete with watchtowers, battlements, gates, bastions, and big aul cannons.

2. Bloody Sunday and Bogside Tour

Photos via Google Maps

If you’re wondering what to do in Derry that’ll give you a good insight into the city’s past, this tour (affiliate link) is worth considering.

Over the course of 1.5 hours you’ll learn about what happened on Bloody Sunday . You’ll also be taken to Derry’s most prominent murals in the Bogside area.

You’ll be given an insight into the partition of Ireland , the seperation of the 6 counties of Northern Ireland and plenty more.

3. The Peace Bridge 

The now-iconic Peace Bridge is one of the more popular places to visit in Derry. It opened in 2011 and has won a clatter of awards since.

The bridge connects the old army Barracks in Ebrington to the city centre and was intended to end a 400-year-old physical and political gap by bringing the largely unionist east side of Derry closer to the largely nationalist west.

You can take a wander across it and get a good eyeful of both sides of the city’s ‘skyline’ or you can admire it from afar from either side of the river.

4. The Museum of Free Derry

Photo left courtesy of Visit Derry. Others via Museum of Free Derry on FB

If you’re looking for places to visit in Derry that’ll educate and enlighten, then this should tickle your fancy.

The Museum of Free Derry opened back in 2007. It exists to tell the turbulent story of what happened in Derry from 1968 to 1972.

The story is told from the point of view of the people that were most involved in and affected by the events that took place.

For those of you with little to no familiarity with the city’s past, you’re in for an enlightening experience.

This is one of the more popular things to do in Derry when it rains for good reason!

5. The Guildhall

The Guildhall tends to conquer many guides on what to do in Derry, and it’s not hard to see why.

This beautiful neo-gothic style building was built in 1887 and can be found just outside the city walls, near the Peace Bridge.

In 2013, a £9.5m restoration was completed which introduced a new multifaceted tourism experience to the building.

Those that visit the Guildhall can expect:

• An interactive Tourist Information Point
• A new dedicated exhibition exploring how the Plantation shaped our history
• Cultural spaces
• A cafe area
• Interpretation panels that bring the buildings features to life

6. The Derry Girls mural

Derry Girls is one of the most popular Irish shows to hit our screens in years.

In a nutshell, it’s a show set in Derry during the Troubles in the 1990s that follows a group of friends (4 girls and one English lad) as they get themselves into all kinds of mad situations.

The mural is painted on one of the walls of Badger’s Bar in Derry. The owner was contacted by the creators of the show and asked whether they could use the wall at the back of the pub.

The mural depicts the main cast members and was masterfully created by UV Arts, a group that uses street art as a tool for social change.

7. Trad music at Peadar’s

Photos courtesy of Tourism Northern Ireland

Peadar O’Donnell’s is arguably one of the best pubs in Ireland . It’s my favourite in Derry (and probably in Northern Ireland) for good reason.

This is, in my opinion, what every great Irish pub should strive to be like – it has a beautifully maintained old-school interior, it holds regular trad sessions and they do a solid pint of Guinness.

If you’re in the city and you’re looking to chill after a busy day exploring, you won’t go wrong here.

8. St. Columb’s Cathedral

St. Columb’s Cathedral is one of Derry’s oldest buildings.

This beautiful cathedral dominates the city’s skyline from many an angle and dates back to 1633.

Standing at an impressive 221 feet, St. Columb’s current tower and main building are that of the original Cathedral.

The spire was added later in 1821. Interestingly enough, the building is constructed from the same stone as the city’s walls and boasts an ample number of artefacts for you to check out during your visit.

9. Tower Museum

It’s from the top of the Tower Museum that you’ll get access to the only open-air viewing facility in Derry City.

Translation: there’s a pretty damn good view from the top of this place.

There are also some excellent exhibitions inside:

• The Story of Derry : This exhibition takes visitors through the dramatic history of the city, from the earliest prehistory to the present.
• An Armada Shipwreck : The second exhibition tells the story of one of the largest ships in the Spanish Armada, ‘La Trinidad Valencera’. This ship sank off the Donegal Coast in 1588 and was only discovered by divers from the City of Derry Sub-Aqua Club in 1971.

What to do in Derry County

The next section of our guide looks at what to do in Derry across the wider county.

Derry’s coastline in particular often gets missed. You’ll discover why it’s well worth exploring below.

1. Benone Strand

Benone Strand in Limavady is a peach of a beach. Here you’ll have a massive 7 miles of golden beach to saunter along while soaking up a mixture of interesting sights.

On a clear day, you’ll see everywhere from Lough Foyle and Benevenagh to he mighty Mussenden Temple.

It’s around a 50-minute spin from Derry City and it’s the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle for a while.

2. The Benevenagh hike

The Binevenagh hike is one of my favourite things to do in Northern Ireland . This is a tough trail that can take 4.5 – 5 hours to complete, but it’s well worth it.

The trail begins near Limavady, around a 45-minute drive from the city, and there are several start points, depending on which direction you come from.

This is a relatively strenuous hike but, when the weather’s clear, you’ll be treated to glorious views of Lough Foyle and the surrounding countryside.

If you’re looking for active things to do in Derry, this is well worth tackling!

3. Ness Country park

One of the more unique things to do in Derry is to head to Ness Country Park in Killaloo, a short 25-minute spin from the city.

This is one of those places to visit in Derry that people tend to miss. You’ll find Ness Country Park in the wooded Glen of the Burntollet River, south-east of Derry.

This park boasts 55 hectares of woodland, open parkland, and riverside walks. Oh, and the biggest waterfall in Ulster.

4. Mussenden Temple

The Mussenden Temple is one of those places that looks like it’s been whipped from a movie.

Located in the stunning surroundings of Downhill Demesne in Derry, the temple is perched dramatically on a 120-foot high cliff overlooking the ocean.

Bizarrely enough, the temple was originally built to act as a summer library for those that owned the estate that temple sits within.

It was constructed in 1785 and its architecture was inspired by the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, near Rome.

Make sure this is on your list of places to see in Derry during your visit.

5. Portstewart Strand

Nestled between the town of Portstewart and the River Bann lies the golden sands of Portstewart Strand.

It’s around a 50-minute drive from the city and it’s a good stop-off for those of you doing the Causeway Coastal Route .

Arguably one of the best beaches in Northern Ireland, Portstewart Strand is the perfect spot for a long ramble without any inclines.

It’s also one of the few beaches that you can still drive onto.

6. Seamus Heaney HomePlace

Photos via Ireland’s Content Pool

Now, it’s time for a bit of culture. A visit to the Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy (50-minute drive from the city) will take you on a journey through the life and literature of Seamus Heaney, the renowned poet and Nobel Laureate.

You’ll find everything from personal stories and artefacts to dozens of family photographs and video recordings over a packed two floors.

If you’re in search of things to do in Derry when it’s raining, then this indoor attraction is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon.

7. Mountsandel Wood

Photos by Gareth Wray © Tourism Ireland

Our next stop is very interesting altogether. I’d never heard of Mountsandel Wood up until recently.

Which is crazy as it’s here that the earliest known settlement of man in Ireland was based between 7600 and 7900BC.

Flint tools were found on the grounds of Mountsandel, which indicates that Stone Age hunters camped here and fished for salmon in the nearby weir (a low dam built across a river).

You can head off on a forest walk here that’ll take you around this historic little chunk of Derry.

8. Roe Valley Country Park

This tranquil park offers stunning riverside views and woodland walks to those that chisel out some time in their itinerary to visit.

The river in Roe Valley Country Park plunges through stunning gorges and its banks are clothed in mature lush woodland.

Grab a cup of coffee in Ritters Tea Room (located on the left bank upriver of the Dogleap Centre) and head off for a stroll.

Fancy learning about the industrial and natural heritage of the area? Nip into the museum on-site.

Things to do near Derry City

Now that we have the various things to do in Derry out of the way, it’s time to explore some of the best things to do near Derry.

And there’s some stiff competition! Derry is close to  endless  things to see and do, as you’ll discover below!

1. Grianan of Aileach (20-minute drive)

Grianan of Aileach in Donegal is a hillfort that sits right at the beginning of the glorious Inishowen Peninsula.

Now, although it sits on top of a mountain (Greenan Mountain) you can drive very close to the top and it’s a short walk from there.

On a clear day you’ll be treated to magnificent views of the surrounding countryside and peninsulas. 

2. Inishowen Peninsula (25-minute drive)

The Inishowen Peninsula is arguably one of Ireland’s finest. If you follow the Inishowen 100 Drive, you’ll be taken to its best bits.

Some of the highlights along the route include Malin Head , Mamore Gap and some of the best beaches in Ireland .

3. The Causeway Coast (1-hour drive)

The Causeway Coastal Route is a great way to spend a day (although 2 days would be ideal, if you have the time!).

Over the course of this spin, you’ll see the likes of:

• Dunluce Castle
• Giant’s Causeway
• Old Bushmills Distillery
• Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge

4. Glenveagh National Park (55-minute drive)

A visit to Glenveagh National Park is another of the more popular things to do near Derry.

You can rent a bike and peddle around it, saunter along one of its many trails or take a tour of Glenveagh Castle.

What places to visit in Derry have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant things to do in Derry from the guide above.

If you have a place that you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below and I’ll check it out!

FAQs about things to see in Derry

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What to do in Derry when it rains?’ to ‘Where’s best for a stroll?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What are the best things to do in Derry?

In our opinion, it’s hard to beat Ness Country park, the Benevenagh hike, Benone Strand, Tower Museum and Derry City Walls.

What is there to do in Derry City?

There’s endless things to do in Derry City, from the mural tours and the City Walls to the Guildhall, St. Columb’s Cathedral, the Walled City Brewery and much more.

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries . Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Vincent Harkin

Tuesday 29th of August 2023

Brilliant guide to the county, another thing worth mentioning is the Sperrin mountains and the Carntogher hike! 👍🏻

Friday 8th of May 2020

Keith, Absolutely wonderful guides of Ireland.

I have returned to Ireland after time in Australia,

I am looking forward to when it lifts so i can explore some of your hidden gems!!

Website is fantastic!!!

Keith O'Hara

Saturday 9th of May 2020

Cheers Kiera! Appreciate you taking the time to comment! I'm sure coming back home now must be a bit strange given everything that's going on! mind yourself!

Home » Travel Guides » United Kingdom » Northern Ireland » 15 Best Things to Do in Derry (Northern Ireland)

15 Best Things to Do in Derry (Northern Ireland)

A beautiful city with a tumultuous history, even Derry’s name is a bone of contention.

The official name is Londonderry, but for obvious reasons Derry was always preferred by the city’s Republican communities, and is used more often today.

One flashpoint in Derry’s past was the Siege of 1689 by the Jacobites against the Williamites, which put the 1.6-kilometre wall system to the test.

These defences held strong, and remain in excellent condition today.

Derry had long been a divided city with a protestant minority, and in the face of discrimination by the Unionist government the Catholic community in Derry came to symbolise the civil rights movement.

It was here that the infamous Bloody Sunday took place in 1972, and the healing process continues today.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Derry :

1. Walls of Derry

As Ireland’s first planned city Derry was given a set of diamond-shaped defensive walls in the 1610s to protect its newly-arrived English and Scottish colonists (planters). The Walls of Derry have the distinction of never being breached, and stood up to a 105-day siege in 1689 during the Williamite War.

Derry is an outstanding example of a walled city and was also the very last city in Europe to be given defences.

They measure 1.6 kilometres in total, and you can walk along the ramparts to view the countryside from the gun embrasures and check out the Inner City, which still has its Renaissance grid layout.

Those gun positions are armed with 24 cannons, many of which were fired during the 17th century and are all traceable to their foundries.

The most storied of these is the newly restored “Roaring Meg”.

2. Guildhall

Completed in 1890 the Guildhall was commissioned by the Honourable Irish Society and has neo-Gothic and Tudor Revival architecture.

The Derry and Strabane District Council sits in this red sandstone monument, easy to identify for its traceried windows and clock tower with carved jambs and archivolts on its portal.

The first stages of the Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday took place in the Guildhall in the early 2000s and the building doubles as a cultural venue and sight for tourists.

Go in to view the stained glass, including one work commemorating Bloody Sunday, and to see an exhibition about the history of the city going back to colonisation during the 17th-century Plantation of Ulster.

3. Bogside Murals

A poignant reminder of Derry and Northern Ireland’s difficult recent past, the Bogside Murals are 12 large paintings in the Bogside neighbourhood.

It was in this part of the city that Bloody Sunday took place, and in 1993 two brothers Tom and William Kelly, and their friend Kevin Gasson, collaborated to record this events, champion civil rights and express their hope for peace.

Together the works are known as the People’s Gallery, and depict the Battle of the Bogside in 1969, the 14 victims of Bloody Sunday, Operation Motorman in 1972, a dove of peace and an anti-sectarian message from 2004. For added context you can take a guided tour around the Bogside.

4. St Columb’s Cathedral

In a Northern Irish style known as Planter Gothic, St Columb’s Cathedral was built within the walls for the Honourable Irish Society in the early-1630s.

The nave and tower are from the earliest phase of construction, making this the oldest standing monument in Derry, while the chancel, spire and chapter house came in the 19th and 20th centuries.

In the porch is a foundation stone that originates from the earlier Big Church dating to the 1100s and town down to build Derry’s ramparts.

Here there’s an inscription from the new church’s dedication in the 17th century.

Within are portraits of William of Orange, Derry’s city keys and a number of artefacts from the siege of 1689.

5. Tower Museum

In a historic tower in Derry’s City Walls, this museum goes into depth on the history of the city.

The award-winning exhibition begins in prehistory a takes you up to the 1960s.

In a separate gallery you can see artefacts from La Trinidad Valencera, a Spanish Armada ship that was wrecked off the Donegal coast in 1588. You’ll then continue the journey through the eventful second half of the 20th century at the cinema, explaining the story, causes and outcome of the Troubles.

At Level 5 the tower also has the best vantage point of Derry’s Inner City and the River Foyle.

6. Peace Bridge

A 21st-century landmark for Derry, the Peace Bridge spans the Foyle River between Ebrington Square and the remainder of the city centre.

The location is more than symbolic as the crossing is a literal bridge between the Waterside and Cityside communities, which are generally Unionist and Nationalist respectively.

Completed in 2011 the serpentine pedestrian bridge is 235 metres long and was a collaboration between AECOM and Wilkinson Eyre Architects, the firm behind the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

Derry has taken the Peace Bridge to heart and it sets the scene for the celebrations at New Year.

7. Free Derry Museum

Derry’s turbulent years from the 60s to the 90s are neatly summed up at this museum that opened in 2006. The Free Derry Museum tells you everything you need to know about the Battle of the Bogside, Bloody Sunday and Operation Motorman, complementing its exhibitions with more than 25,000 artefacts.

Along with letters, posters and personal effects there are also photographs and archive footage.

Key to understanding these events is learning about the oppression of this working class community and the internment that helped raise tensions.

The museum strikes a conciliatory note, establishing the concept of Free Derry as a universal push for civil rights and equality.

8. Free Derry Corner

Back in the Bogside neighbourhood there’s a monument at the junction of Rossville Street, Lecky Road and Fahan Street.

The message “You Are Now Entering Free Derry” was painted in 1969 by a local activist and marks the entrance to what was a self-declared autonomous Nationalist part of the city in the early stages of the Troubles.

Initially this was part of a row of terrace houses, but those have been demolished, leaving a single standing wall in the central reservation of Lecky Road, which is today a dual carriageway.

On the green beside the gable wall is a memorial to those who died in the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike, and a monument for the members of the IRA’s Derry Brigade that died fighting in the Troubles.

9. St Columb’s Park

At Waterside on the right bank of the River Foyle is a rolling park that was once a noble estate before being bought for the people of Derry by the Londonderry Corporation in 1845. Tucked into the riverbend, it’s a serene place to stroll or go for a summer picnic, and can be visited on a river walk after crossing the Peace Bridge.

The manor house at St Columb’s Park House was built in the 18th century and is today used for accommodation and as a conference centre, with a cafe on the ground floor.

10. Siege Museum

In 2016 an extension to the Apprentice Boys of Derry Memorial Hall was completed with a new exhibition about the 1688 Siege of Derry.

There are artefacts and firsthand accounts from within the city during the siege, as well as details of archaeological digs around the city which have brought to light tools, ceramics and weapons.

You can also catch up on the history of the Associated Clubs of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, and on a guided tour you’ll be shown around the meeting room for this order, as well as the Orange Order, Women’s Orange and the Royal Black Institution.

11. St Eugene’s Cathedral

The seat for Derry’s Roman Catholic Diocese, St Eugene’s Cathedral is was built in the Gothic Revival style in the second half of the 19th century.

You’ll see the tower in the northwest of the city on the edge of Brooke Park and with clusters of Georgian houses at its foot.

The architect was James Joseph McCarthy, and funding was raised both in Derry and Ireland, but also in America.

In a niche in the bell-tower, above the portal is a statue of St Eugene dating to 1873, while the sanctuary floor is laid with Sardinian granite and the altar is fashioned from Carrara marble.

12. Ness Country Park

Derry’s a pocket-sized city, and in a matter of seconds you’ll be out in the countryside.

A lovely spot for a wander is Ness Country Park, 55 hectares of woodland and meadows on the Banks of the Burntollet River.

You can explore seven kilometres of forest and riverside walks, leading you to the delightful Ness Waterfall and a set of rapids.

If there’s an ideal time to come it’s early spring when the bluebells and wood anemone’s carpet the mossy forest floor with colour.

13. Craft Village

In the old centre of Derry a street and square from the 18th and 19th centuries have rediscovered their old-time charm.

This small quarter deserves a wander for its artisan craft shops, cafes and restaurants.

There are quaint Georgian houses, staircases, gas lamps and wrought-iron footbridges, and a host of businesses within a couple of minutes on foot.

These specialise in Irish dancing costumes, glassware, knitwear, candles, crystal home designed and more besides.

The focal point is the Canopy and large iron and glass structure sheltering an outdoor stage for live music.

14. Derry-Coleraine Railway

The 50-kilometre train ride east to Coleraine has been described by comedian/travel writer Michael Palin as one of the most beautiful in the world.

It’s a justified claim, because the railway weaves through a green landscape of dry-stone walls and forbidding basalt hills before hitting the coast at the endless golden sands of Benone Strand.

Soon after you’ll be at Castlerock, which has its original station from 1873 from there you’ll enter the two longest railway tunnels in Ireland, both dug in the 1850s.

After arriving in Coleraine you’ll have the Causeway Coast at your fingertips, named after the world-famous UNESCO site and with several Game of Thrones filming locations close by.

15. Prehen House

A couple of miles upriver from the centre of Derry you’ll find this Irish Georgian country house constructed in 1740 for the MP for Donegal Andrew Knox.

Prehen House is tied to the tale of Mary Ann Knox.

She was accidentally killed during an attempted abduction and elopement (common in the day), by the landowner John MacNaghten, who was subsequently hanged for the crime.

His execution had to be carried out twice as he broke the rope by hurling himself from the gallows the first time.

Prehen House is still privately owned, but opens up for tours, during which you’ll hear about this tale and admire the magnificent views of Derry and the Foyle River.

15 Best Things to Do in Derry (Northern Ireland):

• Walls of Derry
• Bogside Murals
• St Columb's Cathedral
• Tower Museum
• Peace Bridge
• Free Derry Museum
• Free Derry Corner
• St Columb's Park
• Siege Museum
• St Eugene's Cathedral
• Ness Country Park
• Craft Village
• Derry-Coleraine Railway
• Prehen House

• 2.1 By plane
• 2.2 By train
• 3 Get around
• 4.1 Walled city
• 4.2 Bogside
• 4.3 Elsewhere
• 8.2 Mid-range
• 8.3 Splurge
• 10.1 Budget
• 10.2 Mid-range
• 10.3 Splurge
• 11 Stay safe

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Derry or Londonderry (Irish: Doire ) is the second city of Northern Ireland , with a population of 85,000 in 2021. It's on the estuary of the River Foyle and historically within County Londonderry , which has been abolished as a unit of governance so the city is now part of Derry and Strabane District. It's on the border with County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland, and its city walls reflect its frontier status. Derry is a fascinating destination with in-your-face history.

Accept at the outset that you will occasionally use the wrong name, or rather a right name in the wrong company, and be thunderously corrected. The multiple names of this city reflect its deep layers of history.

Doire is Irish for "oak grove". Glaciers gouged out the fjord of Lough Foyle, and as they retreated the Atlantic lowlands became carpeted in oak forest. Oak was essential so it's a common place-name element: Edenderry, Durrow, Kildare, Adare, and so on. Oak timber was needed for ships, carts, houses, furniture, fences . . . but even more it was needed to make charcoal to fire furnaces for metal-working and glass-blowing. (Coal was too dirty, and coke hadn't been invented.) A monastic settlement grew up at Doire at the head of the lough, while the forests were felled at a rate worthy of a Brazilian cattle tycoon. Meanwhile this northwest region of Ireland remained under Gaelic rule, rebuffing the Vikings, the Normans and the Tudors, until in 1603 Gaelic power was broken by the Nine Years War - almost. But in 1608 a diehard Gaelic noble rebelled, and the city was burned. The rebels were soon hunted down but the government were determined to prevent any repeat. Their astonishing solution was to outsource the place to a London business consortium - how come Nicosia or Sarajevo never thought of this?

Londonderry is the city they ringed with stout walls, soon put to the test. The consortium, "The Honourable The Irish Society", divvied up the area between their twelve leading merchant companies, and colonised it with loyal Protestant settlers mostly from Scotland. The walls were first tested in 1641 in the Civil Wars when Gaelic insurgents were repulsed. In 1649 Londonderry supported Cromwell and parliament, and withstood a siege by the Royalists. In "The Glorious Revolution" the city supported the Protestant King William but was attacked by Jacobites: on 7 Dec 1688 thirteen Apprentice Boys famously locked shut the city gates with a slam that echoes yet throughout Northern Ireland. On 18 April 1689 King James and his army began a siege that lasted 105 terrible days - "No Surrender!" - until relief ships broke through up the Foyle. And thus Londonderry was "the maiden city", never taken, and with an uncompromising tradition to uphold.

Derry remained in common use, and was the name of its Protestant and RC bishoprics. The big sectarian divide came in 1921, when Ireland was partitioned - six counties including Londonderry remained in the UK, while 26 including Donegal became part of the Republic. A "hard" border suddenly appeared at the west edge of the city, blighting both sides, while cultural borders hardened within it. "The Troubles" escalated in the 1970s, especially after the massacre of Bloody Sunday. In 1984 the city changed its name back to Derry, insofar as it was empowered to do so, but its Royal Charter of 1662 trumps this. The name you uttered became a badge of allegiance.

Stroke City was one mocking term for the hybrid "Derry / Londonderry", as used on transport and other facilities that were trying to be even-handed; it was also a nod towards Ulster's unhealthy lifestyle. Really, is this the most important thing for this city to obsess about? Unemployment, rust-belt industry, paramilitary crime, dysfunctional politics, drug misuse... The turning point was the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. Peace and investment gradually returned and Derry, like Belfast, was able to relaunch itself as a tourist destination. "Splodgederry" is the place you might approach by road, as "London-" is often daubed out on signs. To avoid ambiguity these pages mostly use "Derry" for the city and "Londonderry" for the county, but note the opening sentence above. The county name was never changed, and since these have been abolished as units of governance it must remain County Londonderry.

Derry Girls (2018-2022, available on Channel 4/Netflix) is a dark coming-of-age sitcom set in 1990s Derry during the late Troubles and Good Friday referendum. Following the lives and families of five teenagers, who all attend a Catholic girls' school, it intersperses teen chaos and '90s nostalgia with poignant historical moments.

You could also fly into Belfast City or International Airport, or Dublin, all with car hire and public transport. The Airporter bus runs hourly from Derry bus station direct to International then City Airport. The bus from Dublin to Derry stops at Dublin Airport, but there are only 3 per day.

Another option is Donegal airport, in the Republic of Ireland, which has regular flights to Dublin and Glasgow. Driving will take 1.5 hours.

Finally, if time is on your side and you don't mind a strenuous and complicated journey through the Irish countryside, Knock/Ireland West airport in County Mayo is an option. There is a bus (line 64) that connects the airport to Derry, but it takes nearly 4 hr. Driving takes roughly 2 hr 30 min.

Trains run hourly, daily between 7AM and 9PM from Belfast Great Victoria Street via Lanyon Place and other Belfast stations, Antrim (for International Airport), Ballymena , Coleraine , Castlerock and Bellarena, taking two hours to Derry; an adult single might be £13. The last stretch of line along the coast from Castlerock is very scenic. Change at Coleraine for trains to Ulster University and Portrush , and for buses along the Antrim coast to Bushmills , Giant's Causeway and Ballycastle .

From Belfast the direct route is M2 / A6, but there are several scenic alternatives depending on how much of the Antrim Coast you want to take in.

From Dublin take M1 to the N33 for Ardee, then N2 north via Monaghan to the border, then A5 via Omagh and Strabane.

Road signs south of the border read "Derry". Those north of the border call it "Londonderry" but are often vandalised. It's as much mischief as political, so don't be surprised to encounter a sign for London Zoo.

Ulsterbus Goldline 212 runs from Belfast Europa station to Derry every 30-60 min daily, taking two hours. Bus 273 takes a longer route south of Lough Neagh via Dungannon , Omagh and Strabane .

Goldline 234 runs from Coleraine , taking 75 min via Limavady , Ballykelly and Eglinton (for LDY airport). There are 7 M-F, 4 Sa and 2 Su.

Bus X3 / X4 runs 3 times a day from Dublin Busáras and Airport, taking 3 hr 30 min either via Monaghan and Omagh or via Armagh , Dungannon and Cookstown .

Expressway 64 runs every two hours from Galway via Tuam , Knock , Sligo , Ballyshannon , Donegal Town and Letterkenny (the transport hub for County Donegal), then another 30 min brings it into Derry.

The bus station is 54.997 -7.318 3 Foyle Street Buscentre at the foot of city centre.

East of the River Foyle is the district of Waterside, predominantly Unionist. The railway station is here and to reach city centre you either take the hourly Bus 2d, or walk across Craigavon Bridge which carries the main road, or take a longer walk via the Peace Bridge downstream.

The main city, bus station and areas of most interest are Cityside, west of the Foyle and mostly nationalist. The city has some steep streets but is compact and walkable; burbs and industry stretch out beyond.

Taxis wait at the bus and railway stations but you're unlikely to need one. You need your own wheels to explore the countryside, such as Grianan of Aileach prehistoric fort or the Donegal coast of Lough Foyle.

Walled city

Londonderry is the only city in Ireland with its walls intact, and one of the finest examples in Europe. They were built 1613-1618 by "The Honourable the Irish Society" to defend settlers from England and Scotland. They're 1.325   km (0.823   mi) in circumference, ranged over the crag that rises from Guildhall to St Columb's. They're mostly over 12   ft (3.7   m) high and wide, with a walkway giving great views over the city, free to stroll with multiple access points. Originally there were four gates: Bishop’s Gate, Ferryquay Gate, Butcher Gate and Shipquay Gate, with Magazine Gate, Castle Gate and New Gate added later.

• 54.99742 -7.3209 1 Tower Museum , Union Hall Place BT48 6LU ( At foot of walled city ), ☏ +44 28 7137-2411 . Daily 11AM–4PM . The city's main museum covers prehistory, the 6th-century monastery, the Spanish Armada and siege of 1689, the Great Famine, the partition of Ireland, the Troubles of 1969-1994, and present times. Adult £4, student £2.60, child £2 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 54.99543 -7.32394 2 Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall ( Siege Museum ), 13 Society Street BT48 6PJ , ☏ +44 28 7126-1219 . M-Sa 10AM–5PM . This is primarily the fraternity house of Apprentice Boy societies worldwide. Since 2015 it's also housed the Siege Museum detailing the history of the Boys and their prominent role in the 1689 Siege. Adult £5, conc £4 . ( updated Aug 2021 )
• First Derry Presbyterian Church is an imposing building by the Memorial Hall.
• 54.9951 -7.3192 4 Derry Girls Mural , 18 Orchard Street, BT48 6EG ( on the gable end of Badgers Bar ). 24 hours daily . Large and colourful wall painting of the five protagonists from hit sitcom Derry Girls - from right: Clare, Orla, Erin, Michelle and James. Free . ( updated Mar 2024 )

This is the valley immediately west of the heights of the walled city, then the ground rises again onto the Creggan estate. A couple of miles further across the fields is the Irish border. Night after night during the Troubles the Bogside was the stuff of newsreels, with protests, vehicles on fire, shootings, and makeshift barricades against police and army trucks. It's an essential part of visiting Derry and the area of interest is within a short walk of the centre, and safe in daylight.

• 54.997 -7.326 5 Museum of Free Derry , 55 Glenfada Park BT48 9DR , ☏ +44 28 7136-0880 . Th-Sa 10AM–4PM . Excellent museum of the Northern Ireland conflict, the march of civil rights, Bloody Sunday and its long aftermath from the republican side. Takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour to go through the exhibit. Three different tour groups start their tours of the Bogside from here. Adult £8, student £7, conc £6 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 54.996 -7.327 6 Free Derry Corner is the junction of Rossville Rd / Lecky St with Creggan Rd. A monument marks the bounds of "Free Derry", the fiercely nationalist quarter of town during the height of the Troubles. Building gable-ends around are painted with the "Bogside Murals" of political art, and another monument commemorates the peaceful protestors gunned down by the British army on Bloody Sunday. Today, it is co-opted for various political movements and memorials via permit at various times of the year, such as for LGBTQ2+ rights and Palestinian solidarity.
• 55.02 -7.502 11 Burt Castle is a Z-plan turret built in the 16th century, a stronghold of the O'Doherty clan. In 1608 it was the seat of the rebellion that led to the burning of Derry. It's on private farmland and in 2021 there was no access.
• Millennium Forum has the city's largest auditorium, with music, theatre and panto.
• The Playhouse by St Columb's Cathedral has theatre and music.
• Waterside Theatre and Arts Centre is on Glendermott Rd near the railway station. They host theatre, film and an art gallery.
• Cinema: Omniplex is in Quayside Shopping Centre.
• Institute FC also play soccer at Ryan McBride Stadium. They were relegated in 2020 and now play in the NIFL (Blue Fin Sport) Championship, the game's second tier in Northern Ireland, playing Sep-Apr.

• Gaelic games: Derry GAA play Gaelic football and hurling. Their usual home ground is Celtic Park (capacity 18,000) on Lone Moor Rd but home games are also played at other grounds.
• Golf: nearby courses are Faughan Valley on A2 northeast, City of Derry on A5 south, and Foyle on A2 north along the west river bank.
• St Patrick's Day is celebrated on 17 March whenever that falls in the week. It's a public holiday, with parades and general hoop-de-hoop.
• Foyle Film Festival is held throughout April, but dates for 2023 are tbc.
• City of Derry Jazz Festival is in late April.
• Celtronic is a dance festival in late June. but tbc.
• Foyle Maritime Festival has tall ships, clipper races and shore events, in July.
• Maiden City Festival commemorates the siege of 1688, after the Protestant apprentice boys slammed the city doors against James II. It is held in mid-Aug.
• Halloween Carnival is on the last weekend of October when the clocks change.
• Magee College is a campus of the University of Ulster in the city. The main campus is just north of Coleraine .

• Foyleside is the large retail mall just south of the bus station, and Richmond Centre is a block northwest.
• Walled City Market is held in Guildhall Square 11AM–5PM on the first Saturday of the month.
• Cross-border shopping is sometimes a feature, whenever pound/euro rates or sales tax differences draw shoppers from the Republic.
• 55.000978 -7.32278 1 Fiorentini's , 67-69 Strand Rd, BT48 7BW , ☏ +44 28 7126-0653 . M–Sa 9:15AM–5:15PM, Su 11AM–5:15PM . Popular Italian cafe serves great value meals and ice-cream. Try the Knickerbocker Glory. Helpful friendly staff. ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 55.001125 -7.322412 2 Guapo , 69 Strand Rd BT48 7AD ( next to Fiorentini's ), ☏ +44 28 7136-5585 . M–Sa noon–9PM, Su 2–9PM . Burrito bar with great selection of tasty and affordable Mexican food. Takeaway or small sit in area available. £4 – £8 . ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 55.000902 -7.322539 3 Saffron ( between Fiorentini's and Guapo ). Tu-Su 4:30-10PM . serves Indian food  
• 54.997785 -7.322628 4 Doherty's Home Bakery , 23 William St, BT48 6EP , ☏ +44 28 7126-9376 . M–Sa 7AM–5:30PM, closed Su . A true greasy spoon cafe, there are a number of bakeries around the town all run by this local chain, but their cafe on William Street is the best place to go after walking around the walls and Bogside area for a cheap and tasty lunch. The cafe is located in the back behind the main bakery. ( updated Dec 2020 )

• 55.000885 -7.321508 5 Danano Forno , 4 Lower Clarendon St, BT48 7AH , ☏ +44 28 7127-7500 , [email protected] . Daily 4–10:30PM . A really nice Italian that is relatively cheap but great food. £4 – £11 . ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 55.000944 -7.32114 6 Mandarin Palace , Lower Clarendon Street BT48 7AW ( next to Danano Forno ), ☏ +44 28 7137-3656 , [email protected] . M–Th 4–11PM, F Sa 4PM–midnight, Su 1–11PM . Long-established Chinese restaurant with excellent service and value. Mains £15 . ( updated Aug 2021 )
• 54.995253 -7.319134 7 Badgers Bar and Restaurant , 18 Orchard St, BT48 6EG , ☏ +44 28 7136-3306 . Daily midnight–1AM . A great port of call for lunch while shopping. Can be crowded and cramped at busy times. ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 55.002895 -7.321404 8 Quaywest , 20A Queens Quay, BT48 7AS ( off Strand Rd ). By the Waterfront, quite near the Mandarin Palace. Serves light and sumptuous cuisine with an array of alcoholic drinks. Relatively cheap. £6 – £18 . ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 54.998363 -7.320222 9 The Exchange , Queens Quay, BT48 7AY , ☏ +44 28 7127-3990 , [email protected] . M–F noon–2:30PM & 5–10PM, Sa noon–10PM, Su 3–9PM . The best restaurant in Derry in the opinion of many, try the duck. £8 – £20 . ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 54.996358 -7.321043 10 Siam Thai , 12A Shipquay St, BT48 6DN , ☏ +44 28 7128-1111 . F–W 4:30–9:30PM, closed Th . Traditional Thai restaurant in the city centre, dishes are prepared by authentic Thai chefs and are packed with flavour. ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 54.993233 -7.319736 11 Cedar , 32 Carlisle Rd, BT48 6JW , ☏ +44 28 7137-3868 . W–Sa 5–9PM . Lebanese restaurant run by a local lady and her Lebanese chef husband. Great selection of fresh, Lebanese cuisine (good for vegetarians). Very small restaurant so booking is advised. It is also bring your own alcohol (£2 corkage charge) as they do not sell wine or beer themselves. £15 – £30 . ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 54.99786 -7.310747 12 Walled City Brewery , 70 Ebrington St, BT47 6FA , ☏ +44 28 7134-3336 , [email protected] . Th 5–8PM, F 1–3PM & 5–9:30PM, Sa 1–3PM & 5–10PM, Su 1–4PM & 5–7:45PM, M–W closed . Microbrewery with attached restaurant. Fantastic food. £3 – £20 . ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 55.005916 -7.320078 13 Timberquay Restaurant & Wine Bar , 100 Strand Rd BT48 7NR , ☏ +44 28 7137-0020 . M–Th noon–2:30PM & 5–9PM, F Sa noon-8PM, Su 1–9PM . Pleasant modern restaurant on the quay. ( updated Aug 2021 )
• 54.993221 -7.311853 14 Brown's Bonds Hill , 1 Bonds Hill, BT47 6DW , ☏ +044 028 7134 5180 , [email protected] . Tu 5–9PM, W Th noon–2:30PM & 5–9PM, F noon–2:30PM & 5–10PM, Sa 5–10PM, Su M closed . Now under new management, with multi-award winning chef Ian Orr. Certainly one of the North West's finest restaurants and first champagne lounge. Also has a sister restaurant in the city centre, Browns in Town. £4 – £45 . ( updated Dec 2020 )

• 54.9962 -7.3175 1 Sandinos , Water St, BT48 6BQ ( near the bus terminal ), ☏ +44 28 7130-9297 , [email protected] . M–Th 12:30PM–1AM, F Sa 12:30PM–1:15AM, Su 1PM–12:30AM . Perhaps the most interesting bar in Derry. Named after Augusto C. Sandino, the bar has very strong Central/South American vibe. The walls are decorated with posters and paraphernalia of leftist movements form Cuba and Nicaragua amongst others. There are also images from the city's own past and struggle through the Troubles, including the battle of the Bogside. This is where you will find Derry's intelligentsia and one or two local celebs, a must for a pint when in the Walled City. Decent selection of bottled beers. ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 54.9965 -7.3183 2 Blackbird , 24 Foyle St, BT48 6AL , ☏ +44 28 7136-2111 . M–Sa 11:30AM–1AM, Su noon–midnight . Very popular city centre bar, has a great selection of craft beer and cocktails, also serves pub food. Live music on most evenings. ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 54.997858 -7.320005 3 Guildhall Taphouse ( Dopey Dick Brewing Co. ), 4 Custom House St BT48 6AA ( north side of Guildhall ), ☏ +44 28 7136-4888 , [email protected] . M–Th noon–1AM, F Sa noon–1:30AM, Su noon–12:30AM . Gastropub and craft beer bar in Guildhall. DJ sets or live music on the weekends. ( updated Aug 2021 )
• 54.9975 -7.3218 4 Peadar O'Donnell's , 63 Waterloo St, BT48 6HD , ☏ +44 28 7137-2318 . M–Sa 11:30AM–1:30AM, Su 12:30PM–12:30AM . If you are looking for traditional Irish folk music sessions, this is the best place in Derry. Such sessions are held nearly every day of the week, and both locals and visitors create a nice atmosphere. Drinkers can access Gweedore Bar through an interior door. ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 54.997466 -7.321745 5 Gweedore Bar , 61 Waterloo St, BT48 6HD ( next to Peadar O'Donnells ). M–F 6:30PM–1:30AM, Sa 11:30AM–1:30AM, Su 12:30PM–12:30AM . Geared purely to live music but with a more contemporary band nature than Peadar O'Donnells. Here you can listen to line ups of all ages strutting their stuff giving their interpretations of all the favourites and some original self penned music. Upstairs is in a nightclub-style, with disco nights. ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 54.9967 -7.3195 6 The Metro , 3-4 Bank Pl, BT48 6EA , ☏ +44 28 7126-7401 . You'll find this charming bar in the shadow of the imposing city walls. The décor is interesting, with intriguing bric-a-brac collected from around the world, and lots of alcoves provide an intimate atmosphere. The pub grub here is of a high standard and features every thing from soup and sandwiches to a hearty beef stew in Guinness. A night the upper level transforms into ad hoc dance area, filled with a young crowd. Complete with a roof-top smoking area, great on a sunny day. ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 54.992 -7.3262 7 Oakgrove Bar , 88 Bishop St, BT48 6QE , ☏ +44 28 7126-0856 , [email protected] . M–F 11:30AM–1AM, Sa 11:30AM–2AM, Su 12:30PM–1AM . Located close to the Brandywell Stadium, this bar is busiest on Derry City FC matchdays. ( updated Dec 2020 )
• The Quiet Man Whiskey is blended on Rossdowney Road on Waterside, but construction of their own distillery was abandoned in 2018.
• Northbound Brewery is on Campsie Industrial Estate next to the airport, no tours. You can buy online but they only deliver within the city area.
• Otterbank Brewery is on the border at Muff, no tours.

• 55.014002 -7.376389 1 Groarty House And Manor , 62 Groarty Rd, BT48 0JY , ☏ +44 28 7126-1403 . Check-in: 17:00–20:00 , check-out: 8–10:30AM . Bed & Breakfast with pitches for 3 tents or motorhomes. Groarty Manor is a newly built house, set in its own one acre site surrounded by trees, and is tastefully furnished in warm relaxing colours. Has disabled access and disabled bathroom facilities on the ground floor. It offers a great base for touring County Londonderry, Donegal, and Derry City itself with its historic walls, museums and various other tourist attractions. £48–64 . ( updated May 2021 )
• 55.001265 -7.324155 2 The Merchant's House , 16 Queen St, BT48 7EQ , ☏ +44 28 7126-9691 . A wonderful old house with B&B. Nice and clean, good breakfast. No en suite bathrooms. Closed in 2021 . ( updated Aug 2021 )
• 54.99598 -7.32266 3 Maldron Hotel , Butcher Street, BT48 6HL , ☏ +44 28 7137-1000 , [email protected] . Check-in: 15:00 , check-out: noon . Modern four-star hotel, centrally located inside the city walls, 200   m (660   ft) from Guildhall. Underground parking provided. £66–124 . ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 55.014544 -7.312471 4 Da Vinci's Hotel , 15 Culmore Road, BT48 8JB , ☏ +44 28 7127-9111 , [email protected] . Check-in: 15:00 , check-out: 11AM . Modern 4-star hotel. 65 spacious bedrooms, award winning traditional Irish bar, grillroom restaurant, Spirit Bar night club, Style Bar function space and meeting rooms. All guests can avail of complimentary car parking, unlimited wi-fi and weekend entertainment. £56 – £114 . ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 55.010022 -7.279741 5 Waterfoot Hotel , Caw Roundabout, BT47 6TB , ☏ +44 28 7134-5500 , [email protected] . Check-in: 14:00 , check-out: noon . 5   km (3.1   mi) north of the city centre on the east bank of the river (Waterside). Free car parking. £58 – £99 . ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 54.999283 -7.320386 6 City Hotel Derry , Queens Quay BT48 7AS , ☏ +44 28 7136-5800 , [email protected] . Slick modern hotel on the quay with spacious guest rooms, conference and event venues and dining. B&B double £120 . ( updated Aug 2021 )
• 55.03 -7.219 7 Best Western Plus White Horse Hotel , 68 Clooney Rd, Campsey BT47 3PA ( 2 miles west of airport ), ☏ +44 28 7186-0606 . Comfy efficient hotel on A2 near airport. B&B double £80 . ( updated Aug 2021 )
• 54.994777 -7.323044 8 Bishop's Gate Hotel , 24 Bishop Street, BT48 6PP , ☏ +44 28 7114-0300 . Check-in: 16:00 , check-out: 11AM . A boutique hotel in the city centre. Nice bar and restaurant on site as well. £99–165 . ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 54.981874 -7.336996 9 Everglades Hotel , 41-53 Prehen Road, BT47 2NH , ☏ +44 28 7132-1066 , [email protected] . Check-in: 15:00 , check-out: 11AM . Four-star hotel, 2 km south of the city centre on the east bank of the river (Waterside). Free car parking. £76–120 . ( updated Dec 2020 )
• 54.969229 -7.270137 10 Beech Hill Country House Hotel , 32 Ardmore Road, BT47 3QP , ☏ +44 28 7134-9279 , [email protected] . Five-star hotel that Bill and Hilary Clinton stayed in. Small hotel in a converted country house, in large grounds 5 km east of the city centre on the east bank of the river (Waterside). Free parking. £85–154 . ( updated Dec 2020 )

Derry was scarred by the late 20th century Troubles, and it remains an "interface area" where Republican and Loyalist communities co-exist and occasionally kick off. But it's become a normal city by British and Irish standards, and hasn't seen the need for the kind of "Peace Wall" that still separates neighbourhoods in Belfast. There are down-at-heel districts where you have no reason to go, and aggressive drunks whose politics you need not debate, same as anywhere else. Safeguard your valuables and vehicle, beware traffic, and use your commonsense, you'll do fine.

To call a number in Northern Ireland from the Republic, use area code 048 with no country code. The +44 28 versions given above will work but incur international rates.

As of Aug 2021, Derry has 4G from all UK carriers, which extends some miles into the Republic, especially along Lough Foyle west shore.

It also picks up an Irish 4G signal from Eir and Three, and a mobile signal from Vodafone. Neither side has 5G.

• The County Londonderry coast is scenic: Castlerock has the ruin of an eccentric mansion and "temple". Portstewart is the main beach resort.
• The Antrim coast east of Portrush has the big attractions of Bushmills Distillery, Giant's Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Bridge. It's very touristy on summer weekends.
• County Donegal has a rugged coastline and marks the start of the Wild Atlantic Way : you pick up the signposts for this as you cross the border at Muff.

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The Best Things to Do in Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Derry-Londonderry is steeped in history and a popular destination for visitors to the country. More recently, it has reached newfound levels of intrigue thanks to the show Derry Girls , but happily, there’s plenty more to do here than just chase dogs that look like Toto. Whether you’re here on a stopover or have a few days to explore, you’ll find something fun to do in the second-largest city in Northern Ireland.

The siege museum.

In 1689, King James II and a Jacobian army besieged Derry -Londonderry for 105 days. It’s one of the most significant touchstones in the city’s history, and you can learn all about it at the Siege Museum. Located just a 10-minute walk from the Craigavon Bridge, it’s filled with artefacts from the siege, as well as first-hand accounts.

Derry City:The troubles Bogside walking tour

Historical Landmark

Visit Derry’s Bogside neighborhood for a walking tour exploring the violence of the Troubles. From the site of the Bloody Sunday Massacre to the Civil Rights Association, Battle of the Bogside, Internment, Free Derry, and the eventual peace process, you’ll learn the city’s difficult history. The shared tour is tailored to you, ensuring a more personal experience and time to discuss the events with a local activist for justice.

A street-art walking tour

Derry has a rich cultural history, much of which harkens back to the height of the Troubles in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. There are murals across the city that depict and comment on this dark chapter in Northern Irish history. Walking tours are available online and at tourist information centres, and you can experience the great art all while learning more about the events that birthed it.

Private Guided Walking Tour in Derry City

This private tour gives you an insider’s perspective on Derry’s history and most important sights. Go on a guided walk with a guide who has been involved in many projects relating to the peace process in Derry. Along the way, stop at Free Derry Corner, the Bloody Sunday Memorial, the Republican Murals in the Bogside area, the Loyalist Murals at the Fountain Estate, and the Peace Bridge.

The Craft Village

If you want a real taste of how the city looked in the 18th century, the Craft Village is the place for you. An actual reconstruction of a street from that time, it plays host to a string of shops selling traditional food, books, handmade items and more. The Craft Village is on Sackville Street, next to the Peace Bridge. It’s easy to get to, and on a good day, you might even be able to catch an event.

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Walled City Brewery

It could be tempting (if not particularly healthy) to spend an entire day hopping between the city’s many pubs, but why not learn something while you’re at it? Based in Ebrington Square, the Walled City Brewery offers brewing masterclasses where you can learn (and drink) your way through the 9,000-year history of beer. Those who indulge in the tour will get to taste 10 different beers during a one-and-a-half-hour masterclass, as well as dine in the award-winning restaurant.

The Derry Walls

Derry is the only completely walled city anywhere in Ireland, flanked by stone walls that were built to keep invaders out during the 17th century (such as during the siege). Standing approximately 6m (20ft) high, they are still largely intact, and you’ll get excellent views of the city at large while walking across them. Across the length of the route, you’ll encounter cannons, battlements, watchtowers and more, and you can join it from a variety of places, such as next to St Columb’s Cathedral.

Derry Girls Mural and Locations

Movie Theater, Cinema

Created and written by Lisa McGee, ‘Derry Girls’ is the hit Channel 4 and Netflix comedy TV series that’s captured the hearts of fans across the world. On this tour, follow your guide through the streets of Derry and visit sites made famous in the show. Along the way, hear tales and stories from behind the scenes, and gain insight into the filming and production of the popular show.

Take a paddleboard tour

Why just experience Derry-Londonderry from the ground when you can also experience it from the water? A paddleboard tour offers a unique view of the city, taking in monuments old and new in the process. There are several companies based in the city centre that offer this experience, and the tours themselves usually last around two hours.

Derry Halloween

Having grown in popularity in recent years, the annual Halloween extravaganza in Derry is now one of the biggest parties in Europe. The local population swells in number as thousands of visitors join a week-long celebration of everything spooky. Halloween as we know it can trace its origins back to Ireland, and the mix of modern American paraphernalia and authentic Irish folklore make this an unforgettable event. This is the place to be at the end of October, and more than 100,000 people agree!

Peace Bridge

Stand at either end of this 235-metre bridge and you’ll get a glorious view of the River Foyle running through Derry, plus a view of the opposite city side. The curved shape on the footbridge was built to flow with the river below and enhance the landscape surrounding it – new and old combined – making it a great memory from Northern Ireland to take home. – Recommended by Naimh McGovern

St Columb’s Cathedral

This Cathedral was the first of its kind to be erected in Ireland, after the ‘Planter’s Gothic’ period. The building is adored for its history; it was built by the finest masons in the city immediately following the Plantation of Ulster, 1613. Today, it is paramount to the beach building process in Derry, and in Northern Ireland. – Recommended by Naimh McGovern

River Foyle

The Central Sperrins are at the heart of County Derry – you can get some great shots of them at Strabane and Dunamanagh, on the River Foyle. The entire span of the River Foyle is a great place to get a panoramic photographs and the Sperrin mountains have some fantastic reservoir spots to explore. You can also visit Glenelly Valley , an area formed by the Ice Age, now home to cycle routes, and nearby attraction, Glenroan Portal Tomb. – Recommended by Naimh McGovern

This area in the Southside of The Sperrins is famed for its lakes and sandy eskers, situated in one of Northern Ireland’s OANB’s (Outstanding Area of Natual Beauty). The glaciated surroundings, spring colours and Sawel Mountain point – Northern Ireland’s highest point at 678 metres – make this a must-visit for budding photographers. – Recommended by Naimh McGovern

The Best of Northern Ireland

A convenient option for time-tight travelers who want to see as much of Northern Ireland as possible in a single day, this tour encompasses the country’s highlights as well as some lesser-known sights. Explore Belfast city with a guide and travel along the Antrim Coast, stopping at the Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, and the waterfalls of Glenariff Nature Reserve without the hassle of navigation. Perfect if you want to see many of the famous tourist attractions close to Derry in one go.

The Best Hotels in Derry/Londonderry for Every Traveller

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