visit derry or belfast

Belfast vs. Derry: Which One Should I Visit?

Are you confused about which of these two Northern Ireland cities to visit? Well, you’re not alone. Belfast and Derry hold a great deal of history that will interest you, so whether you belong to the class of people who favor the old ways or those that love the renaissance and modern blend, one of these two places is for you.

Belfast’s rich maritime heritage is a source of charm that you can barely resist. Its food and drink hold great appeal, and not forgetting its people and their rich dialect. Derry prides itself on preserving its history in murals and museums containing relics from the old world.

Torn Between Belfast and Derry?

This Belfast vs. Derry quiz was designed by locals to remove all doubts…so you don’t blow your life savings on the wrong vacation!

Overview: Derry Vs. Belfast

Belfast is a city known for its design of the popular ship, the Titanic, and sewn into the fabric of its history are the old-fashioned lifestyle of coastal city dwellers, relics of the first world war, and diverse flora presentation.

Derry is home to the iconic 400 years old wall that is as tall as it is thick, and museums will bring you back in time with the aid of audio-visual presentations.

As we go on, we will consider the fascinations both tourist destinations possess and help you decide on where you should go.

Cost of Stay

Belfast is a city of mixed times, the old and modern. It is therefore expected that the classics will cost more. However, there are budget-friendly options for transportation, feeding, lodging, and many more. On average, it is estimated that a visit to Belfast will cost you $961 per week.

The timing of your visit is also important; more tourist presence comes from June to September. So, if you’re looking to avoid the high prices that come with huge demand, consider other months.

Derry is somewhat more affordable than Belfast, which is expected as the latter is the country’s capital.

Best Affordable Hotels

Places to stay while on vacation are abundant in both Belfast and Derry. You can choose from the luxurious hotels or the humble B&Bs and guesthouses that are around.

In Belfast, we recommend The Flint for its top-notch facilities and proximity to sites of interest. Another option is the Maldron Hotel , also within walking distance to attraction sites.

In Derry, the Phoenix B&B is an excellent option. You can equally choose the Bridge Bed & Breakfast Hotel located in the heart of Derry.

Main Attractions

Belfast hosts the biggest tribute to the popular Titanic. Being the spot where the infamous ship was built, Titanic Belfast attracts the most visitors to the city’s numerous attractions. Looking over the River Lagan is the Waterfront Hall , host to many concerts and exhibitions. Its impressive restaurant, The Arc Brasserie , is another reason it is often visited.

Many more attraction sites like the Ulster Museum hold the country’s troubled history, the Botanical Garden, an impressive display of tropical flora in a glasshouse, and many more.

Beginning at the City Walls of Derry , there is no shortage of sights and learning here. The walls are 8m high and 9m thick, and they are the only standing city walls in Europe. Right on the walls are 12 murals towards a place called Free Derry . These murals are called the People’s Gallery. Just outside the city walls is the Guildhall , a magnificent neo-Gothic building housing the exhibition of Ulster Plantation.

Activities for Kids

Both destinations offer interesting activities for toddlers and kids alike. You can take your kids to the Streamvale Open Farm, which is open to sheep, cows, ponies, and several smaller animals.

You can also visit the Belfast Zoo, one of the leading tourist attractions in Northern Ireland. Other places you can visit include the Ulster Museum, Vertigo Titanic Park, Botanic Gardens, Lost City Adventure Golf, and Aunt Sandra’s Candy Factory.

Derry has some places of attraction that will interest kids as well. Sperrin Fun Farm, an adventure site for kids, is one. You can also visit the Long Line Surf School with them to enjoy a surfing session. Other places include Kidz Ahoy, Roe Valley Country Park, and many more.

Food and Drink

The assortment of food to give pleasure to the palettes are numerous in Belfast. Starting from the Comber potato, a spud with a unique flavor, we consider the Abernethy butter, a wonder that melts in your mouth. Sausages and bacon, not forgetting Beef and Venison. St. George’s Market is one of the best places to grab breakfast.

There are plenty of restaurants in Derry. You’ll always find one to meet your needs, whether you’re looking for contemporary cuisine or a simple dining experience. The average restaurant menu has a lot of options that are hard to choose from.

One of the best restaurants in Derry is Lo & Slo . You can also visit the family-run Primrose on the Quay and the popular Mandarin Palace . We also recommend the Walled City Brewery for its different choices of locally brewed drinks and excellent homemade kimchi with curry aioli .

Derry and Belfast share similar weather patterns. There is hardly a distinct period of rainfall. Belfast has short winter days and long summer evenings, while Derry has cool summers and colder winters.

Considering the history of political tension between the communities, one would expect the violence rate to be high. However, that’s not the case. Belfast is one of the most peaceful in the UK. The city center, where there is always a big concentration of people, is also considered a safe place, even at night.

Derry is also a safe place for locals and tourists alike. However, just like every other tourist destination, you have to be careful and alert to your surroundings. Most importantly, never get yourself involved in political conversations or put on attire that shows affiliation toward a political community.

Transportation

Navigating Belfast is fairly easy. Tourists strolling their destinations are common, especially around the city center, where there is a lot to visit. For buses to move you around Belfast, look for Metro and Glider buses. Other buses might be going outside Belfast or connecting other parts of Northern Ireland. You can also book taxis for your sightseeing or use the train.

Getting around Derry is not difficult either. There are three options; public transport, car and coach hire, and taxis. You can visit most of the main attractions on foot. It may also be the best way to explore all the hidden gems in the city.

Key Takeaways: Belfast Vs. Derry

Northern Ireland is a country rich in history and culture. If your taste is in the culture and history of Northern Ireland, your destination should be the capital, Belfast. There, you will see and learn about the complicated past of the country. If you’re after the food, Belfast is your best destination.

But for drinks and breweries, we have to give it to Derry.

Ultimately, your decision will depend on your personal preferences. We hope we have made your decision easier with this detailed comparison between these two top destinations in Northern Ireland.

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7 Reasons Why You Should Visit Derry Before Belfast

While most tourists visit Northern Ireland for the UNESCO-listed Giant’s Causeway , or the famous Belfast Titanic shipyard, many miss out on the regions second-largest city, Derry (also named Londonderry by locals). This border city, between Northern Ireland and South of Ireland, has a beautiful skyline, a nearby university and the best festivals throughout the calendar year. Here’s why you should travel to Derry in 2017. Note: Derry/Londonderry is both the name of the City and County in Northern Ireland.

It’s a city of culture.

From the Irish: Doire, which means ‘oak grove’, Derry is a staple in the cultural hub that makes up Northern Ireland. The city was celebrated in 2013 as the UK’s very first City of Culture. The city celebrated in style, with music and fireworks lasting for days, and the photos were magical. This award also has a legacy of bringing together the Unionist and Nationalist communities within the city.

It has powerful murals

It’s full of history.

Derry was a city at the centre of the Plantation of Ulster, on behalf of King James I, during the seventeenth-century. In his attempt to anglicise the Irish language and end spoken Gaelic, James I added the prefix ‘London’ to the original Doire , or Derry, which was declared on a Royal Charter, 1613. The name remains contested by residents today; newspapers are named according to which community they identify with, using both Derry and Londonderry. This small tease of history is the tip of the iceberg in this wonderful city!

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It has a spectacular surrounding villages

County Londonderry, where Derry is situated, has some amazing villages, which have the best views of The Sperrins and surrounding rivers running throughout the county land. Among them, Park village is popular for the annual music festival it hosts. The nearby nature reserve, Roe Valley Country Park is one of the most beautiful natural locations in the UK, packed with wildlife and adventure. You can even go glamping in a unique, but sophisticated camping pod.

You can see Northern Ireland’s most beautiful bridge

The Peace Bridge was erected in 2011, quite literally bridging the two Nationalist and Unionist communities of the city together along this 235-metre footbridge, who traditionally live either side of the city. The bridge has hosted races, firework shows, parades and even a train of brave brides for a special charity event, aptly named Brides across the Bridge. Designed to naturally flow over the River Foyle , the bridge was a huge staple in the regeneration of the city as a tourist hot-spot for this decade.

It’s packed with events

The city of Derry is famous for its family-orientated Halloween festival, which lights up the October sky with hundreds of fireworks along the Peace Bridge, every year. The Halloween Carnival Parade is usually followed by a Haunted Harvest Market and interactive ghost tours to keep the crowds pouring in each year. Derry city was a previous host of BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend music festival and in 2013, welcomed Martin Luther King III , who unveiled the city’s Peace Flame Monument.

It lies on the Northern Irish border

If you’re planning an extensive trip of Northern Ireland, Derry should either be your first or last stop, depending on the final destination. If you extend your trip into the Republic of Ireland after visiting Northern Ireland, be sure to move West along the North Coast, stopping at Derry city and Roe Valley Country Park before you venture into the west of Ireland .

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8 Reasons Why You Should Include Derry In Your Northern Ireland Itinerary

Posted on Last updated: 23/02/2024

Categories IRELAND , NORTHERN IRELAND , UNITED KINGDOM

There is something about Derry (also known as Londonderry) that keeps me going back.

Maybe being so close to the Republic of Ireland’s border and having a recent troubled past gives it a bit of an edge, or maybe it’s the fact that it’s totally underrated and sometimes overlooked by visitors to the Emerald Isle.

There is definitely something special about the Walled City, so I’ve been giving it some thought and I’ve come up with a few reasons why everyone should include Derry in their Northern Ireland itinerary.

Table of Contents

• 1.1 Derry is one of the finest Walled Cities in Europe
• 1.2 Derry is a sustainable foodie destination
• 1.3 Derry has Northern Ireland’s Authentic Experience of the Year
• 1.4 There’s a whole street illustrating Derry’s recent history
• 1.5 Derry is the perfect base to explore Northern Ireland
• 1.6 And to explore the north of the Republic too
• 1.7 Derry is the Halloween Capital of the World
• 2.1 Bishops Gate Hotel
• 2.2 Maldron Hotel Derry
• 2.3 City Hotel
• 3 Tour ideas in Derry

Reasons to include Derry in your Northern Ireland itinerary

Derry is one of the finest walled cities in europe.

Derry is the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland, and it is these Walls that are the city’s most famous attraction.

They were built in the 17 th  century as a defence structure by the Irish Society for the English and Scottish settlers. You can imagine that these Walls hide an incredible amount of history.

Today you can imagine and relive a little bit of that history by following the walkway that the Walls form around the inner city. The best way to bring the Walls and the history of the city to life is by joining a city tour .

You will come across plenty of points of interest along the City Walls, including the cannons that were actually used in the famous Siege of Derry. Also, the promenade offers the best views of the original town and over the Bogside, outside of the City Walls.

Derry is a sustainable foodie destination

Believe it or not, Derry is one of the best places to visit in Northern Ireland if you are a foodie. I discovered this on my previous visit and it was a bit of a revelation.

Something that I loved was that local restaurants put a lot of emphasis in the quality of the ingredients used in their dishes. But not only that, there was a consistent focus on sourcing local ingredients as much as possible.

Some of the menus even gave details of what farm the meat and vegetables where coming from – something that every restaurant should aim for, in my opinion.

Some of my favourite restaurants in Derry  are Walled City Brewery and Brickworks for great food and a relaxed atmosphere, and Browns for more of a fine dining experience.

Derry has Northern Ireland’s Authentic Experience of the Year

For decades Derry was at the centre of the conflict known as The Troubles. The city has come a long way since then, and part of the healing process was to set up the Museum of Free Derry.

This museum is a must visit in the city, with its poignant exhibitions of Derry’s recent past. It tells the story of what happened in the city during the period of 1968-1972, popularly known as ‘Free Derry’, and it includes the civil rights era, Battle of the Bogside and Bloody Sunday.

It is by no means a political museum, but rather an educational project that very successfully puts Derry into a wider Irish and international context.

There’s a whole street illustrating Derry’s recent history

During the Troubles, there was one particular event that marked the city. In 1972 Bloody Sunday took place, when British soldiers shot 28 civilians during a peaceful civil rights march.

These events have been depicted on a total of twelve large-scale murals along the entire length of Rossville Street, in the Bogside. The murals were painted by the Bogside Artists, a group of three local mural painters. They called this collection of murals The People’s Gallery.

As well as illustrating the history of thirty years of conflict, The People’s Gallery also includes work that demonstrates how far the communities in Derry have come to build bridges. There is certainly an air of optimism about the future in the city.

The best way to explore The People’s Gallery and learn about the events and people represented on each of the murals is by taking a walking tour of the Bogside .

Derry is the perfect base to explore Northern Ireland

With a great choice of accommodation and plenty of things to do , Derry is the ideal base to explore Northern Ireland. It is only a drive away from popular sites such as the Giant’s Causeway, the Dark Hedges and Carrick-a-Rede, and Belfast is only one and half hours away.

But there are also plenty of options for day trips that are right in the city’s doorstep. One thing is for sure, you will not run out of places to go in Northern Ireland from Derry.

Derry is also the ideal point to start a Northern Ireland road trip that includes the spectacular Causeway Coastal Route, and other Game of Thrones filming locations. Here you can find some tips of how find GOT’s filming locations as well as other Ireland travel tips .

For the best car hire deals, I use a comparison site .

And to explore the north of the Republic too

If you have seen enough on your itinerary of Northern Ireland (is that even possible?), Derry offers the option to also explore a bit of Ireland.

Derry is located right by the border with Donegal, so there are plenty of day trips that you can do there too. From the Walled City you can easily reach Glenveagh National Park, with its castle, lough, and cycling and walking trails.

You can also visit places like Dunfanaghy, ideal for horse riding on the beach, and even Ardara and its beautiful surroundings.

One highlight less than an hour away is Malin Head, a truly breathtaking headland and the filming location of Star Wars Episode VIII. Malin Head is also the southbound starting point of the famous Wild Atlantic Way , so why not spend some time in Derry before setting off?

Compare the best car hire deals here .

Derry is the Halloween Capital of the World

Yes, you read that right. Halloween in Derry is a pretty big deal, and the world is now cottoning on to it. So don’t be left out.

Halloween is thought to originate from the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, when according to tradition, the spirits of the dead came back to walk the earth before the new Celtic year began on 1 st  November.

Fast-forward over 2,000 years and Derry has become the centre of Halloween celebrations. This is where the City Walls come to life with the Awakening of the Walls, a trail that follows the wall with supernatural installations and performances.

There are magic drummers that appear out of nowhere and entrance their audience, and the Return of the Ancients parade that snakes through the city. And absolutely everyone in Derry gets involved and dressed up – from the youngest to the oldest in every family.

It is for a reason that USA Today  voted Derry the Best Halloween Destination in the World.

READ MORE 6 Celtic Destinations To Visit In Ireland This Year

Where to stay in Derry

Bishops gate hotel.

Located within the historic city walls in the heart of Derry City’s Cathedral Quarter, Bishops Gate Hotel is ideal to explore Derry’s iconic tourist landmarks during Halloween. Read Tripadvisor reviews here.

Book Bishops Gate Hotel here

Maldron Hotel Derry

Maldron Hotel Derry is a 4-star hotel located within Derry’s historic city walls, and offers a luxurious stay and easy access to the city’s theatres, restaurants, shops and, of course, the Halloween celebrations. Read Tripadvisor Reviews here.

Book Maldron Hotel Derry here

On the banks of the River Foyle, City Hotel is perfectly located from the main Halloween celebrations, particularly the Return of the Ancients Parade and the Fireworks Finale. Read Tripadvisor reviews here.

Book City Hotel here

Tour ideas in Derry

• Derry: Walled City Private Tour
• Bloody Sunday and Bogside Murals Private Guided Walking Tour
• Derry Girls TV Show Filming Locations Tour

Do you have any questions about Derry? Ask me below!

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Disclosure:  A big thank you to Visit Derry and Tourism Ireland who hosted me on this trip. As always, all views are my own.

Teresa is an award-winning travel blogger based in London. She’s on a mission to explore the world through responsible cultural and adventure travel , and through deeper, more meaningful local experiences. She’s a lover of adventure, the outdoors and everything food related, and she’s always looking for ways to make a positive impact through sustainable travel .

Catherine’s Cultural Wednesdays

Tuesday 15th of January 2019

I did not know that you fly to Derry from London, hmmm nowhere is my travel planning hat

Saturday 9th of February 2019

Hehe. It’s so convenient! It’s a nice and easy hop across ?

Saturday 12th of January 2019

What a great post and very timely, too! I'll be traveling to Northern Ireland this summer. I haven't started fully researching the trip yet, but Derry sounds like an ideal location to spend a few nights and to explore as Giant's Causeway has been on my bucket list for far too long. And, great news about the flights from Stanstead. That would be so much more easier than dealing with Heathrow. Thanks for sharing!

I’m glad that this is coming handy. Derry is definitely a great base to explore Northern Ireland. Have a fabulous time this summer and let me know if you need any tips ?

the Curious Pixie

Didn't realise you could fly direct from London. Love to visit the Giant Causeway, this is the perfect base.

Yes, it’s a short and easy flight. And the Giant’s Causeway is not to far. There loads of things you can do nearby ?

It looks so lovely! I have yet to visit Norther Ireland! But you sold me at "it's a foodie town"

I hope you get to visit. The food there is unreal! You’d love it!

You've convinced me! I'll include Derry on my list when traveling to Northern Ireland :)

Fabulous! I hope you love it as much I did ?

Why you should visit Derry – Northern Ireland’s hidden gem.

What’s in a name? 

Why visit Derry? 

Derry might not be as popular as Belfast or the Giants Causeway, but it certainly shouldn’t be overlooked on a visit to Northern Ireland. Although smaller than Belfast, Derry is rich in history, culture and possesses bucketloads of charm. There is a reason that it was named the first UK City of Culture in 2013. 

T hings to do in Derry: 

1.walk the walls .

2. The Guildhall 

3. Museum of Free Derry 

4. The Peace Bridge 

5. Derry Craft Village 

6. Halloween in Derry 

Highlights included: 

1.the awakening of the walls .

2. Le Bal des Luminéoles

Illuminated floating creations from the French arts company Porté Par le Vent, which were seen dancing above St Columbs Cathedral on the city walls.

3. Museum of the moon 

4. The Halloween Parade and fireworks display 

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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.

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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!

Things to do in Derry the ultimate guide

Visiting Derry or Londonderry Northern Ireland as it’s “officially” known is something I do quite often. The historic walled city of Londonderry is often overlooked and extremely underrated for folks visiting Ireland and yet it is one of my favourite cities in the country. I’ve put together an itinerary for visiting Derry that you can do in one day and it includes 16 things to do in Derry (Londonderry) that you shouldn’t miss.

Derry is the second biggest city in Northern Ireland and is located in County Derry which borders Donegal and has close ties to the County. Its name Derry comes from the Irish word  Daire  which means oak forest. Derry is the only remaining intact walled city in Ireland. The old city which is walled is on the west bank of the Foyle River and is spanned by two bridges for vehicles and the pedestrian bridge named the Peace Bridge.

There is a lot to see and do in Londonderry Ireland, the city holds a lot of history from the ancient oak forests that were plundered by the British to the Troubles and Civil Rights marches and the best city walls in Ireland.

Is it Derry or Londonderry?

A brief derry history, derry tourist map, londonderry ireland, getting to derry (londonderry), touring the city of derry cemetery, free derry corner, bloody sunday memorial, free derry museum, derry city walls, visiting the guildhall in derry, the craft village of derry, the derry peace bridge, tower museum derry, check out the gold teapot, guildhall taphouse – artisan brewers of dopey dick beer, the story of dopey dick, siege museum of derry, the heritage tower – former derry gaol, derry girls mural, derry halloween events, tourist information centre londonderry, where to stay in derry.

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101 Landmarks in Northern Ireland

Is Derry worth visiting? Derry is one of those Northern Ireland cities that everyone should visit. Smaller than Belfast it is rich in history and culture and there is some mighty craic to be had in the pubs. From Derry you can also take the ferry across to the fabulous Inishowen Peninsula , Donegal’s wild untamed northern Wild Atlantic Way Coast .

Is Derry Catholic or Protestant? Although Derry was originally an almost exclusively Protestant city, it has become increasingly Catholic over recent centuries. The 1993 census of Derry said that nearly 70% of Derry’s citizens were Catholic.

Is Derry a friendly city? Derry has been named as the eighth friendliest city in the UK, with Newcastle coming in at number one. Thousands of tourists flock to Derry for events such as Halloween celebrations.

What are the top attractions to visit in Derry? Derry Attractions include the Derry City Medieval Walls, the Bloody Sunday Memorial, The Derry Murals, the Peace Bridge and of course the Derry Girls Mural.

What should I not miss in Londonderry? Take a guided tour of Bogside – which will include the Free Derry, Murals, and the Bloody Sunday Memorial. These tours will teach you a lot about the ‘Troubles’ and how the citizens of Derry are moving into a peaceful future.

I should say a word or two here about the Derry Londonderry naming issue. Nationalists favour Derry and Unionists use Londonderry. The name of the city didn’t use to be contentious but in the ’60s at the start of the Troubles, it was politicized by the Republicans to drive home the fact that Ireland should be united and not under the control of London .

The argument to change the official name from Londonderry to Derry has gone back and forth for years. Hopefully with a much younger voting group coming up and the Peace Accord going strong eventually the name will become in law Derry which is its original Irish name.

Derry is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in Ireland whose earliest records stretch back to the 6th century. A monastery was founded here by Saint Colmcille who came to Derry from Donegal to help convert the occupants to Christianity.

Derry is famous for its old intact city walls which surround the old city which lies on the banks of the River Foyle. This one mile of city walls are known as one of the best examples of a walled city in Europe.

1609-1613 : After the de-population following the Nine Years War and the Flight of the Earls, the Plantation of Ulster begins. Derry is renamed Londonderry due to the involvement of the Guilds of London in its development. With its imposing walls and new Protestant Cathedral (1633), Londonderry was intended to be a bastion of British power.

1688-1689 : Siege of Derry. Thirteen Protestant Apprentice Boys close the gates on the Catholic King James, with a bitter 105-day siege following. There is a great loss of life before the siege is lifted.

1968 onwards : Outbreak of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, with Derry at its centre. Civil Rights demands by the city’s Catholic majority lead to violence, with Bloody Sunday, on  30 Jan 1972 , seeing 14 unarmed Catholic civilians shot dead by British Paratroopers, an event which remains emotive to the present day. During this time, the city sees a great exodus of the Protestant population to the East of the river . In Your Pocket

60 Best Northern Ireland tourist attractions

Fancy a visit to Ireland? Well here is everything you need to know about visiting Ireland

If you are touring the Causeway Coast then your itinerary will probably end up in or near Derry. Visiting Derry is an easy trip from Belfast . The train takes about 2.5 hours, a bus via Translink is around 2 hours (that depends on stops) or by car which is around 90 minutes.

Getting to Londonderry from Dublin by driving takes around 3 hours. Translink UK operates a bus from Dublin to Derry every 3 hours.

You can also fly into Derry Ireland Airport from the UK  or into Belfast where you can rent a car. The George Best Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport both take flights from the UK and of course, the international airport takes flights from the US and other areas of the world. 

Since we live in Donegal we recommend flying into Donegal Airport, which has been voted as the most scenic landing in the world and it means that you can add Donegal to your itinerary.

We wanted to take the Derry Hop On Hop Off bus but when we made it to the visitor’s centre we learned that it only runs in season…sigh… from mid-March until the end of October. So, the Centre recommended a tour with a cab and arranged it for us right then and there. The cost was pretty much the same as the Hop on Hop off bus around £25 for the two of us. Our tour guide was Adrian Callan who was absolutely brilliant and made us forget everything about doing a bus tour.

Adrian was born in the Bogside and was an actual witness to events during the “troubles”, Bloody Sunday and all the horrific times that nearly destroyed this city. Adrian is an absolutely superb guide and raconteur – he knows his history and tells you stories that are not one-sided and cover the gamut from the good to the bad to the ridiculously funny.

Adrian Callan [email protected] or call 0044 (0) 7793525478 the best guide in Derry.

Things to do in Derry in 2 days

We began our tour of Derry with Adrian from the Londonderry Tourist Centre (which is very easy to find and located right across the road from where the Derry Peace Bridge begins) and we crossed the Foyle over to Waterside where we toured some of the Republican and Unionist areas. You can still see the markings on the curbs in the Unionist areas and on the telephone poles for the red, white and blue of the British flag. In the Republican areas, these painted curbs and poles are becoming less and less common and we rarely saw one.

I noticed that the flags all seemed to be at half-mast and asked Adrian why that was. Adrian in typical Irish fashion wove a tale of the flags being at half-mast because they couldn’t be picked out and destroyed by snipers. Laughingly he then told us the basic truth of the matter – the flags were at half-mast because that was how high the ladders could reach.

We spent around an hour and a half with Adrian and he provided us with insights and information on everything from the Spanish Armada, the division of Derry from Donegal, and the ancient civil wars and early days of the founding of Derry.

Adrian was by far the best guide we have ever met and we would highly recommend you give him a shout when you are in the area. He also does a wide range of tours into Donegal, the Causeway Coast , and the Glens of Antrim to name just a few. I can’t say enough good things about his experience and tours.

Crossing over to Waterside with Adrian we had a quick tour around the area and checked out the views from Eskaheen. Which gave some scope to the area with the Peace Bridge in the distance and Adrian gave us some great history lessons on how Derry came into being and how the divide was made between the north and south. He told us that Derry got its name from the fact that it was a huge swathe of oak trees that used to cover the area.

During Elizabethan times, Derry was a highly prized area for the London merchants who salivated over the oaks, which would be used to build the British naval fleets to defeat the Spanish for Queen Elizabeth. The biggest prize in Ireland was the ability to make money for the British from these magnificent and now long-gone forests.

From Waterside and the striking views of Derry from this higher vantage point, we then visited the Cemetery.

The cemetery is on a hill with views over the Foyle River and Derry city itself. There were IRA graves there, victims of Bloody Sunday, Hunger striker memorials and graves as well as just ordinary folk. We were very surprised to see graves belonging to Canadians from WWI and WWII decorated with little Canadian flags in memoriam. It was a really quiet, peaceful place to be with magnificent views over the city.

From the cemetery, we then took a drive back over the Foyle to visit and tour the Bogside area of Derry. Adrian our guide grew up in this area, was incredibly knowledgeable, and freely shared his experiences of growing up here.

A tour of Bogside – Free Derry, Murals, Bloody Sunday Memorial

We began by taking in some of the murals that are on the gable ends of houses in Bogside .  The Bogside Artists have painted all these murals and there are 12 of them in total over time these murals have become known as The People’s Gallery.

Painted between 1997 and 2001 the murals are a commemoration of the events of the troubles in the Bogside. The murals include Bloody Sunday, Battle of the Bogside, Operation Motorman, and the hunger strike that took place in 1981.

First painted by teenager John Caker Casey in 1969 on the gable end of terraced houses which have now gone. The name ‘Free Derry’ was given to those areas barricaded off from the security forces from 1969 -72. The barricades were removed during Operation Motorman. This street art is often added to with slogans relating to current events.

A simple granite obelisk is surrounded by a small cast iron fence and a plaque that explains the Bloody Sunday massacre that took place here in 1972. Piles of flowers are left daily in remembrance of the event and the victims.

We have all heard the U2 song but it just doesn’t capture the pathos of standing at that monument and realizing most of the killed were young boys aged between 16 and 21.

This was a civil rights march that started out peaceful and ended up with 14 dead and many more wounded. British soldiers were essentially told to gun down innocent civilians, the majority of those killed and wounded were shot while running away from the soldiers, and others were shot trying to help the wounded. Army vehicles ran down some protestors, others were hit with rubber bullets and even more beaten with batons.

My personal favourite was, however, the Che Guevara mural. Apparently, Che’s father, whose full name is Ernesto Guevara Lynch, was proud of his Irish roots and how his family built a business in Argentina after fleeing Ireland during Cromwell’s era.

Years later when Che was Cuba’s transport minister, he made an unscheduled stop off in Limerick and wrote a letter to his father, who he thought would be pleased to hear that he was visiting a country of his ancestry

Jim Fitzpatrick an Irish artist created the famous print of Che that appears around the world on t-shirts to posters. Jim was also the graphic designer for all of Thin Lizzy’s album covers. Recently Adrian told us that since Jim never received a penny for the Che graphic he has now copyrighted the graphics and created a fund that gives all the profits from the sale of the image back to Cuba.

This mural is dedicated to the Women of Derry. Countess Markievicz, carrying a flag of Cumann na mBan, and Ethel Lynch, carrying a flag of the Derry IRA. Markievicz is famous for her role in the Easter Rising of 1916 Lynch died in December 1974 of injuries sustained when a bomb exploded prematurely.

The Free Derry Museum concentrates on the Battle of Bogside, Bloody Sunday, and Operation Motorman which tells the story of the civil rights movement that began here. There are over 25,000 artefacts within the museum.

Derry City centre is surrounded by ancient walls that were completed in 1619. The Derry Walls are 8 metres high and 9 metres thick. These are the only walls in Ireland to survive virtually intact today. The walk around the walls is approximately 1.5 kilometres long.

Derry’s nickname, the Maiden City, derives from the fact that the walls have never been breached by an invader. However, as Adrian, our guide put it “these walls have divided us and will continue to do so until we deal with pulling down the parts that have been added to them”.

We learned from Adrian that a large part of the issue of division is down to the fact that kids from protestant and Catholic families still divide themselves educationally by these so-called loyalties.

An integrated education system is desperately needed in N. Ireland. Most citizens feel that with an integrated system, the old lines of Protestantism and Catholicism will be breached and overcome and peace will then be long-lasting and not as temporary as they feel it is now.

Adrian dropped us at the Guildhall and encouraged us to visit the building to learn about the Plantation of Ulster and the Guildhall’s history in Derry.

Standing just outside the city walls, the neo-Gothic Guildhall was originally built in 1890, then rebuilt after a fire in 1908. Its beautiful stained-glass windows were presented by the London livery companies, and its clock tower was modeled on London’s Big Ben.

You will see a statue of Queen Victoria in the entrance hall, notice the hands are missing and the marble base has some cracks and gouges this occurred during the bombings of the Guildhall in 1972.

Inside, there’s a historical exhibition on the Plantation of Ulster and a tourist information point. The organ in the Guildhall is absolutely magnificent it was built in 1912 and refurbished in the 2000s.  You can actually rent the main hall here for £1000 pounds for your wedding and get married on the stage where Liam Neeson had his first acting job.

This is a little haven in the centre of Derry, which is a reconstruction of an 18th-century street and square. There is a central canopy in the square and it provides a wonderful arena for local performers and displays. The village itself is full of eclectic little shops and cafes with over 100 crafters operating out of the various stores.

The Derry Peace Bridge has become an integral part of Derry City and has changed the way local people use and view their city with over 3 million people having crossed it so far and many of the locals using it daily. It is a universal symbol of peach that joins the two sides of a once terribly divided city.

The Derry Peace Bridge is a walking bridge over the River Foyle. It was built in 2011 to symbolize the unification of the Protestant Waterside and the Nationalist Bogside. The bridge was designed to symbolize the bridging of the 400-year-old political and physical gap between the two communities of Derry. It stretches from the Guild Hall to Ebrington Square and St Columb’s Park on the far side of the River Foyle. 

The Tower Museum houses two permanent exhibitions.

• “The Story of Derry,” tells the colourful and dramatic history of the city from its earliest prehistory to the present.
• “An Armada Shipwreck – La Trinidad Valencera,” tells the story of one of the largest ships in the Spanish Armada, La Trinidad Valencera, which sank off the Donegal Coast in 1588 and was rediscovered by divers from the City of Derry Sub-Aqua Club in 1971.

The top of the Tower Museum (level 5) provides the only open-air viewing facility in the heart of the city centre with stunning panoramic views of the inner city and river Foyle.

The gold teapot first appeared in 1866 and it advertised a new grocery business. This striking golden teapot apparently spouts steam every hour on the hour during the day. The teapot, itself weighs 74kg and it was previously hung in the city for over 100 years. It has had an eventful history and the fact that it has survived so long is remarkable

When visiting Derry you have to find some artisanal beer and the Guildhall Taphouse has one of the best. Housed in a wooden-beamed, 19th-century building brightened with fairy lights, the Taphouse is a cosy place to sample an excellent selection of local and international craft beers or a sophisticated cocktail.

There’s regular live music including trad sessions every Wednesday. The Guildhall brews its own artisanal beer in-house and the beers are called Dopey Dick after a rather unique story about a whale in the Foyle River. Oh and by the way the Dopey Dick beers are excellent.

In 1977 golfers, walkers, and those just watching the Foyle river flow by noticed a rather large beast swimming upriver. They could not believe their eyes when they figured out it was a whale that was over 20 feet in length.

The whale was identified as a “killer whale” and Operation Rescue was launched to herd the animal back out to the open water, but apparently, it didn’t want to go. Numerous efforts failed to encourage the whale and eventually Derry folk just got to calling it a “dopey Dick” the name stuck. Eventually, the whale tired of the Foyle and headed back to open waters on its own terms. In 2015 Dopey Dick was spotted off the coast of Scotland alive and well.

This new museum celebrates the role of the 13 apprentice boys who in December 1688 locked the city gates against the approaching Jacobite army. Derry was surrounded and during the 105-day siege, no supplies could reach the city, its starving citizens resorting to eating dogs and rats until English ships brought relief.

This is the last remaining tower of a former gaol, the remainder of which was demolished in 1973. While the original gaol was built in 1791, the towers were an 1824 addition with this one being a hanging tower.

The prison’s most famous inmate was Theobald Wolfe Tone, one of the leaders of the failed 1798 United Irishmen rebellion. Tone was imprisoned here prior to his trial and execution in Dublin. Also held here was, then rebel, Eamon de Valera, later to be President of Southern Ireland.

The tower now houses a small World War I museum, which is only open by appointment.

A worldwide hit TV series Derry Girls this sitcom has been an inspiration for a new generation of Irish folks that grew up during the Troubles. The reality of British Army checkpoints, bomb warnings and peace walls are all exposed in the show along with the Catholic nuns and schools attended. The Derry Girls make us laugh at the absolute absurdity of the past. 

A mural of the show in the tradition of Irish murals in Derry was commissioned by Channel 4 and designed by the Derry-based social enterprise group UV arts. You can find the mural on the side of Badger’s Bar and Restaurant right in the heart of Derry with perfect views from the City walls of Derry. The address is 18 Orchard Street and features the cast of the hit show. 

If you get the opportunity the best place in the world to spend Halloween is in Derry. USA Today voted Derry the Best Halloween Destination in the World and it is the truth. 

Halloween was invented by the Irish and originated in the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain – which is pronounced sow win. This is the time of year when the walls between the worlds are thin and the spirits of the dead come back to walk the earth. Derry is the centre of some phenomenal celebrations like the Awakening of the Walls which is a trail you can walk along the ancient Derry walls full of supernatural installations and some outstanding performances. There are drummers, magicians, giant puppets, and the Return of the Ancients Parade. Everyone in Derry gets dressed up and involved in the celebrations. 

We highly recommend that you stop by the Tourist Information Centre they were incredibly knowledgable and helpful and this was where we got the recommendation to book Adrian as our tour guide and we couldn’t have been happier. They also have a little gift shop there with some really interesting items to pick up and take home with you.

Don’t forget to visit the Glens of Antrim while you are touring N. Ireland – it’s a true don’t miss 

We had a fantastic two days in Derry and would go back again in a heartbeat. We had a brilliant dinner at the Quay West Winebar and because it was a Monday night, it was 30% off. Our total dinner bill with 4 Guinness, 1 cocktail, 2 steak dinners, 2 pasta dinners was a grand total of £44 now that can’t be beaten.

We discovered some lovely little cafes just up the road from our hotel and for breakfast, we paid around £4.50 for a full Irish with tea.

City Hotel Derry

We stayed in the ideally located City Hotel Derry which is very close to the Derry City Centre and we were very pleased with the location it was absolutely perfect for walking around Derry. The hotel has private parking below and we were able to leave our car there for the whole time we were there.

The hotel is a bit run down and in desperate need of some refurbishment, however, the staff were lovely and friendly and the place was immaculately clean. We can’t speak for the food because, to be honest, the reviews on that put us off so we didn’t eat there at all. But, for all of around £70 a night for the two of us it was great value.

Bishops Gate Hotel

If you want the ultimate in luxury take a look at the Bishop’s Gate Hotel the epitome of Edwardian elegance right in the Cathedral quarter. There is a lounge, fitness area, fine dining restaurant, and a Champagne bar.

Derry is a vibrant and historic city that offers visitors a wide range of activities and experiences. From exploring the ancient walls to enjoying traditional Irish music in local pubs, there is something for everyone in this charming town. Whether you’re interested in history, or culture, or simply want to relax and soak up the atmosphere,

Derry has it all. So why not plan your next trip to this beautiful part of Ireland and discover all that Derry has to offer? We guarantee you won’t be disappointed! All in all, it was an experience not to be missed and we can wholeheartedly recommend that you visit Derry – it’s a must-do when visiting Northern Ireland .

Here’s another not-to-be-missed experience – this is your guide to a self-drive Game of Thrones Tour you can even start in Derry.

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Faith was born in Ireland raised in Canada and has lived in over 10 countries in Europe including England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain, Northern Ireland, Wales, along with Mexico, Antigua, the US and has slow travelled to over 40 countries around the world. Graduating with a degree in Anthropology and Women's Studies Faith is a student of history, culture, community and food and has written about these topics for over 40 years.

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27 Cracking Things To Do in Derry Ireland

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Looking for the best things to do in Derry Ireland? Well you’re in the right place.

You see, despite being etched into the consciousness of most people that know anything about The Troubles , Derry Londonderry isn’t a particularly well known tourist destination. So we really had no idea what to expect before we arrived in this Northern Irish city. 

But there are some places that for no apparent reason, you make an instant connection with. As soon as we drove over the River Foyle and caught our first glimpse of the stunning Derry walls, we began to feel that magic.

Things To Do In Derry Ireland

We left with such a deeper understanding of the fascinating Derry history, an appreciation for the incredible city that it is today and a hankering to return as soon as we can.

And so we want to share with you all our recommendations for what to do in Derry Ireland, the best pubs in Derry, the best restaurants in Derry and Derry accommodation tips. 

Also, in the aim of being extra helpful with our Derry travel guide, we’ve plotted all of these Northern Ireland attractions on a map for you.

Just before we get going, I’m going to take a moment to address something that may be confusing to many people who aren’t familiar with the city, and a point of contention for those who are.

You see, it’s known by two names, Derry or Londonderry. Each with different connotations attached that involve distinct histories, different religious beliefs and opposed political values. 

We’ll be using them interchangeably throughout this blog post and will touch on the issue a little later on. But it’s an ongoing deep and complicated dispute . 

What To Do In Derry Ireland

Okay first up we’ll cover all our favourite things to do in Derry City. Because they are such an integral part of the Derry Londonderry identity, many things are centered around it’s traumatic history.

It’s a brutal narrative that this Northern Ireland city has in many ways very much moved on from and refuses to be defined by. But will never forget. 

Walk The City of Derry Walls

Despite being seriously old, having been built between 1613-1618, the Derry walls are still in great nick. The 20 feet high diamond shaped defence walls were built to protect Derry City Centre from the English and Scottish colonists.

The Derry walls stood up to a 105 day siege in 1689 during the Williamite War and hold the accolade of never being breached. And in fact, the City of Derry is the only completely walled city that remains in tact in Ireland.

But more than that you can walk the whole circumference, with the original 4 city gates, the watch towers and 24 huge cannons. It’s what to do in Londonderry Ireland 101.

Don’t miss Roaring Meg – well you can’t really actually! 

The walls are just under a mile round and are an incredible way to get an alternative view of the city, both within and outside of the historic boundaries.

During The Troubles it was closed to the public because it was a prime location for snipers.

For more context and to learn more about the history of the city of Derry walls we recommend taking a walking tour with Martin McCrossan City Tours . They are excellent and just £4 a pop.

Visit The Siege Museum

Speaking about the siege of 1689, if you’re interested in learning more about that specific event in Londonderry Ireland history, you should stop by the The Siege Museum.

During the siege, lead by converted catholic James II, thirteen protestant boys who would become known as The Apprentice Boys took the keys to the city and closed the gates. 

What resulted was a 105 day stand off during which over 10,000 people within the city walls perished from hunger and disease. You’ll find lots of artefacts and firsthand accounts about this period of Derry history in The Siege Museum . 

When it comes to Londonderry things to do, this should be high on your list. It’s open 10am – 5pm Monday to Saturday and the entrance fee is £4 per person. 

Stop by Free Derry Corner 

If you’ve seen any photographs of Derry Londonderry before they will likely have included this famous Derry landmark.

The graffiti first appeared on the gable end of a since demolished row of terrace houses in 1969. ‘You Are Now Entering Free Derry’ painted by a local teenage activist has since been reworked with different designs at frequent intervals.

Initially a two finger salute to the police and British rule, these days it has morphed into a beacon for civil rights and political liberty across the world.

Located in the Bogside neighbourhood, this part of the Derry City was witness to two other tragic events in Derry history, the Battle of the Bogside in 1969 and Bloody Sunday in 1972. 

In front of the Free Derry Mural you’ll also find a memorial to the 1981 Irish hunger strikes and another for members of the paramilitary IRA’s Derry Brigade that died fighting in the Troubles.

Visit The Museum of Free Derry 

The Museum of Free Derry is a highlight of Derry tourism. It focuses on Northern Ireland’s turbulent history and struggle for civil rights between the years of 1968 and 1972 and the central role that Derry played in it.

Poignantly located, it’s in the very heart of the Bogside area where the infamous 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre took place. The museum is very much part of an ongoing healing process from that day when British soldiers shot 28 civilians during a peaceful civil rights protest. 

The timeline of the events in the Museum of Free Derry are told from the point of view of the people that were most involved in and affected by that painful event in Derry history. 

Containing photographs, footage and more than 25,000 artefacts including hate mail sent to the families of the victims, it’s a powerful and disturbing experience but a must if you want to understand the culture of Derry and its history.

It’s open Monday to Friday 9.30am – 4.30pm and Saturday 1pm – 4pm year round, plus Sunday 1pm – 4pm July – September. The entrance fee is £6 for adults.

Take A Bogside Tour 

In accompaniment to visiting the Museum of Free Derry we recommend taking a tour of the surrounding streets in Bogside with a local guide. 

Most of the guides are family members of innocents who were killed on Bloody Sunday so you’ll receive a passionate and personal account – be prepared to laugh and cry. 

Our guide, John McKinney, is extremely knowledgeable about the area and the Bloody Sunday killings and Bogside Murals. This local input made the tour especially fascinating.

It wasn’t until the very end that we discovered his brother, Gerard McKinney, was one of the victims. It really brought home the lasting and devastating effect it had on normal people.

You can book a Free Derry Bogside Tour from The Free Derry Museum or alternatively to guarantee you have John as your guide you can book a private tour with him here .

We’ve heard Bogside History Tours also do a great tour for £6 each that includes the history of Bloody Sunday, Operation Motorman and the Battle of the Bogside.

Or alternatively you can take a tour with one of The Bogside Artists who between 1994 and 2006 painted the 12 large scale murals along Rossville Street, the site of Bloody Sunday.

The two brothers and their friend, Will Kelly, Tom Kelly and Kevin Hasson, created ‘The People’s Gallery’ to provide a window into The Troubles that this area witnessed.

Still trying to choose your backpack? Look no further! The Osprey Farpoint 70 Travel Backpack is perfect for big trips. It’s lightweight but durable, incredibly comfortable, super spacious and even has a detachable daypack.

Cross Over Peace Bridge 

There are three bridges in Derry that span the River Foyle, the pedestrianised Peace Bridge is the most impressive. Opened in 2011, it was funded by the European Peace Fund with the aim of quite literally bridging a 400 year old physical and political gap.

Designed as a ‘structural handshake’, the idea behind it was to connect the two communities that lie on the opposing banks. Bringing the largely unionist waterside of Derry and the largely nationalist cityside of Derry closer together. 

And though there was local opposition to it at first, it’s now an established part of Derry’s landscape. It’s got an unusual S-shaped design that winds its way across the river and looks great lit up at night. 

Taking a stroll along Peace Bridge is one of the top things to do in Londonderry Ireland. It’s also the main spot in Derry City to watch New Year’s Eve fireworks.

Take in The Guildhall 

Just outside the city walls, right next to Peace Bridge you’ll find this beautiful red bricked neo-gothic style building with it’s grand stained glass windows. 

Built in 1887, it was restored in 2013 and it now somewhat of a tourist hub with an interesting Plantation of Ulster exhibition. 

It’s open from 9am – 7:30pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 5:30pm Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free.

The Tower Museum 

In 1588, not far from the County Londonderry along the Donegal coast, the Spanish Armada’s fourth largest ship, La Trinidad Valencera was lost at sea. 

Four hundred years later, divers from the City of Derry Sub Aqua Club undertook an expedition to find it. And they did.

The Tower Museum in Derry Ireland covers the history and drama of the shipwreck and diving adventure in all their gruesome details with its audio visual exhibition. It’s one of the most fascinating things to do in Derry Ireland.

And as a bonus, from the 5th floor of the building, there’s some seriously impressive panoramic views of the walled City of Derry and the River Foyle. There’s also a small cinema showing a short film about the causes and outcomes of the The Troubles in Northern Ireland. 

Open daily 10am – 5.30pm, the entrance fee is £4 for adults. 

Explore Derry’s Craft Village

If you’re after some souvenirs from visiting Derry Ireland, then this is the perfect spot. Derry’s Craft Village is full of independent and quirky retailers selling all manner of arts and crafts.

It’s also one of the prettiest parts of this Northern Irish city, with reconstructed 18th century streets complete with quaint Georgian style houses and gas lamps. So even if you’re not after buying, it’s still well worth a walk around. 

Step in St.Columb’s Cathedral 

One of Derry’s oldest buildings, St Columb’s Cathedral dates back to 1633 and is a prominent figure on the Derry skyline. 

It was constructed from the same stone as the Derry walls, having been built for the Irish Society of London. Which was set up in 1613 colonise County Londonderry as part of the Plantation of Ulster with English and Scottish settlers. 

It’s open Monday to Saturday from 9am – 5pm throughout April to September and 10am – 2pm during October to March.

St Columb’s Park over the River Foyle is also worth having a wander around. There’s an 18th century manor house and a cafe set in the pretty green space. 

Take a Derry Girl’s Tour

A recent addition on the Derry tourism scene, if you’ve watched this Northern Irish comedy TV series set during the The Troubles of the 1990’s you’ll get this. If not you won’t.

The Derry Girls TV Show Filming Locations Tour does what it says on the tin. It also stops by the Derry Girls mural that is painted on the side of Badger’s Bar. It was created by UV Arts, which is a group in Derry that uses street art to promote social change.

More Things To Do In County Londonderry

If you have a little more time in Derry Londonderry Ireland there are some excellent spots to see out in the surrounding county. And because the city is rather compact most aren’t far away.

Call in on Mussenden Temple

Dramatically perched on a clifftop overlooking Downhill beach, astute Game of Thrones fans will recognise this as a filming location. Built as a summer library in 1785 for the family that owned the Downhill Demesne in which it sits, it’s an impressive structure.

The architect actually based the design on the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, near Rome.

A 45 minute drive from Derry City, along the Causeway Coastal route, the Downhill estate and Mussenden Temple is open all year. Adult tickets cost £4.70 each.

Hear the Legends of Prehen House

Synonymous with romance and tragedy, this 18th century Irish Georgian House is one of Derry’s most historic buildings. Records show it was first occupied in 1640 and in 1738 became owned by the Knox family, one of this Northern Irish city’s most prominent families.

There are lots of stories associated with the dwelling, but perhaps the most famous is that of the legend of Mary Ann Knox.

Fatally shot by her lover during a bungled elopement, he was hanged for her death. But twice, because the first time, the rope snapped, earning him the nickname ‘Half-Hanged McNaughten’.

It’s less than a 10 minute drive south of Derry Londonderry and although still privately owned, does run tours. You can contact them here . 

Go Walking in Derry’s Country Parks

Just a 15 minute drive from Londonderry City you’ll find Ness Country Park. Within it’s 55 hectares there are several charming forest and riverside walks. Plus nestled in the heart of the forest you’ll find the biggest waterfall in Ulster, Ness Waterfall. 

It’s free to enter and is open all year round. But the woodland is an extra delight to visit in Spring because it is covered in bluebells.

If you like your green adventures, Roe Valley Country Park a little further up the Coastal Causeway near Limavady is equally as enchanting and too has several well maintained paths.

Or if you’re after a little more history with your country walk, there’s Mountsandel Wood near Coleraine. The earliest known settlement of man in Ireland, flint tools indicating Stone Age hunters from 7600 and 7900BC have been found here.

Again both open year round and free to visit. 

We always travel with a filter water bottle. Not only does it stop us getting ill, but it means we’re not killing the planet or wasting money on plastic bottles. The GRAYL Geopress is hands down the best on the market & makes water from virtually any source safe to drink.

Check out County Derry Beaches

Driving along the Causeway Coastal route you’ll encounter many pristine county Derry beaches. We’ve mentioned Downhill beach, a must for GOT fans, but Portstewart Strand and Benone beach are also blissful.

If you don’t fancy the drive you can also take the picturesque 50km Derry-Coleraine railway line which passes through some seriously huge tunnels that were created in the 1850’s. 

Seamus Heaney HomePlace

If you’re a literature fan, stopping by the homeplace of Irish poet Seamus Heaney in rural County Derry will be a good addition to your things to do in Derry itinerary. 

In 1995 he received a Nobel Prize in Literature and is buried in St Mary’s village Church. The inscription on his headstone, “Walk on air against your better judgement,” is a line from his acclaimed poem The Gravel Walks.

The museum and exhibition centre is open 10am – 5pm Monday to Friday and 1pm – 5pm on Saturdays. The entrance fee is £7 per adult. 

Springhill House 

Nearby you’ll also find the National Trust property of Springhill House. A plantation house with walled gardens and beautiful lawns, it is known as the ‘prettiest house in Ulster’. And if that isn’t enough there’s a costume collection to explore and a ghost to get to know.

The entrance fee is £7 per adult. The grounds are open all year round from 11am – 5pm but the house and visitor centre are only open during the summer months. You can check here.

The Jungle NI

Still in need of more things to do in County Derry Ireland? At this huge adrenaline packed outdoor adventure centre in rural Londonderry is one of the top Northern Ireland attractions. 

You can try your hand at ziplining, zorbing, archery, paintball and even llama trekking – whatever that is!

You can check out the different activities here . They also do a near heart attack inducing Halloween event where ghoulish characters chase you around the woods in the dark. Sounds fun right? More on Halloween in Derry in a bit. 

Best Pubs In Derry

The craic in Derry is good, and like the rest of Ireland we found people to be extremely friendly. Undoubtedly the best place for Derry nightlife is Waterloo Street which runs alongside the city walls.

This road is packed with a number of the best pubs in Derry that run virtually the length of the street. Starting at Butcher Gate and heading down the gentle slope towards the river.

We were told when heading out for a few drinks that’s the way to do it as well, start at the top and make your way down, stopping at each establishment for a pint.

Makes perfect sense to be walking downhill when you think of it (walking uphill is much harder after a pint or two), and this pub crawl even has a name, the Waterloo Challenge. 

There was live music in all of the places we visited, our favourites were Peadar O’Donnells and The Gweedore Bar. Both of which had an amazing atmosphere despite it being a school night, and great Guinness. 

Another of the best pubs in Derry is the Walled City Brewery over the other side of the river Foyle. If you’re into your beer, you can take a beer masterclass that includes 10 taster beers and locally sourced snacks. 

Best Restaurants in Derry Ireland

The food scene in Derry has a great reputation for both quality and value. So much so that it was shortlisted for the ‘Foodie Destination of Ireland 2018’ award.

And what’s more, many of the best restaurants in Derry Ireland pride themselves on using local and sustainable ingredients. The details of the farms where their produce comes from often being listed on their menus. 

Here’s our pick of the bunch when it comes to the best Derry restaurants. 

Primrose On the Quay

This vintage style cafe bistro overlooking the river Foyle is a great place to head at any time of day, but especially for their breakfast and great value pre-theatre set menus. Everything is homemade and their deserts are out of this world.

Address: 110-114 Strand Road, Derry/Londonderry, Ireland, BT48 7NR

Pickled Duck Cafe

This place isn’t anything fancy but it does an absolutely cracking and reasonably priced full Irish breakfast. In fact everything on the menu is reasonably priced. They have two locations but the one close to Guildhall Square is the most central. 

Address: 2-3 Shipquay Place, Derry/Londonderry, Ireland, BT48 6AA

The Warehouse Café & Bistro

The cute and trendy Derry eatery has some delicious salads and open sandwiches. It’s also a pet friendly cafe and they have a dedicated ‘doggie menu’. For a more fine dining experience the bistro menu is served Thursday to Saturday from 6:30 – 9:30pm.

Address: 1 Guildhall Street, Derry/Londonderry, Ireland, BT48 6BB

Brown’s in Town 

One of the more chic and swanky Derry restaurants, the service here is exceptional and their 2 or 3 course dinner menu is a great price if you fancy a treat. If you can, take some of their Browns Guinness Bread Mix with you too.

Address: 21 Strand Rd, Derry/Londonderry, Ireland, BT48 7BJ

Brickwork 

This chilled place is one of the best locations in Derry to grab lunch. They have a daily ‘lunch box’ deal which you can either eat in or take out. But it’s also a great evening spot that serves yummy cocktails and has fab live music. 

Address: 12-14 Castle Street, Derry/Londonderry, Ireland, BT48 6HQ

Soda & Starch

Hearty and rustic, this lovely little spot in Derry’s Craft Village does old fashioned home cooking and baking and does it well. The seafood chowder with Guinness bread is an absolute delight, as are the sweet cured Irish bacon ribs. Yum. 

Address: 29 Shipquay Street, Derry/Londonderry, Ireland, BT48 6AR

Pyke ’N’ Pommes 

This trendy street food spot, now alongside the river Foyle, started life as a van in a disused car park. The configuration now includes a converted shipping container and a double decker bus. Sounds crazy right? But their burgers and tacos are freaking delish. 

Address: N124, Strand Road, Derry Londonderry, Ireland, BT48 7NS

Best Time To Go To Derry Ireland

Ireland notoriously has a bit of a shitty climate and Derry weather is no different. The best Derry Ireland weather happens between June and September. But that’s just when it’s warmer, not necessarily drier. On average it rains more days than it doesn’t in Londonderry Ireland.

One of the best times to visit Derry is undoubtedly at the end of October for Halloween. When this Northern Ireland city has the biggest Halloween celebration in Europe with a week long festival earning it the nickname ‘City of Bones’. 

Everyone gets dressed up, young and old, and the streets of Derry City are awash with performers. There’s over 100 different events but the best ones to get involved in are the Carnival Parade, the Gothic Ball, the Awakening of the Walls and the scare fest at Jungle NI.

How To Get To Derry 

You have a few different options for how to get to Derry, by plane, by ferry, by train, by car, or a combination. We’ll run you through them here.

Flight to Derry Ireland

The City of Derry airport is conveniently located just 8 miles from Derry City Centre. LoganAir fly between Derry Ireland airport and UK airports in London Southend, Glasgow and Manchester. Plus RyanAir from Edinburgh in Scotland and Liverpool in England. 

If you’re looking to arrive at City of Derry airport from anywhere other than the UK, you’ll need to take multiple flights and we recommend using a flight comparison site. We always use Kiwi.com . Because if you miss a connecting flight they guarantee to put you on the next one.

You could fly into the bigger international Belfast or Dublin airports and travel across to visit Derry from there. 

Ferry To Derry Ireland

From the UK mainland, the two closest ports to County Derry are in Belfast and Larne, just north of Belfast. There are two UK ports from which you can take a ferry to Belfast, there’s Liverpool Birkenhead in England and Cairnryan in Scotland. 

Both routes are serviced by Stena line. From Liverpool Birkenhead the sailing time is 8 hours and from Cairnryan just under 2.5 hours. 

The other route between Cairnryan, Scotland and Larne, Ireland is serviced by P&O ferries. The sailing time is 2 hours. 

Obviously taking a ferry to Ireland will take longer than flying. And then you’ll still have to get from Belfast or Larne to Derry.

From Belfast there’s a direct train multiple times per day that takes 1 hour 50 minutes.

Find and book trains from Belfast to Derry Londonderry here .

But taking the ferry is a good option if you want to take your car, your pets or a shit load of luggage. Neither Stena Line or P&O Ferries have any luggage restrictions. 

A travel adaptor that works anywhere in the world? Yes please. It’s one of the most useful things we own & an absolute essential for your trip. This one’s lightweight, durable & also has 1 USB-C port and 2 standard USBs. Get one in your bag.

How To Get Around Derry

Despite being the Northern Ireland’s second largest city and Ireland’s 4th largest city, Derry Londonderry is very compact. And because of this, it’s very easy to get around on foot. 

But in order to visit the rest of things to do in County Derry that we’ve mentioned, you’ll want to hire a car. This is also a good option for if you are arriving in Ireland by ferry or at another airport other than Derry Ireland airport. 

We always find that Auto Europe has great car rental deals with lots of different vehicle options. And you can pick them up either at the ports, airports or Derry City centre. 

Derry Accommodation

As an underrated but very much upcoming tourist destination, the best hotels in Derry City tend to get booked up quickly over the summer months. So if you have you rtravel dates already, it’s best to book your Derry accommodation as soon as possible.

Cheap & Cheerful: Hostel Connect

Situated in the heart of the city, close to all the Derry attractions, we got such a friendly and helpful welcome by the guys at Hostel Connect . It’s a well designed place with plenty of space and a chilled atmosphere. When it comes to hostels in Derry Ireland this is the one. 

There’s dorms, private rooms and a family room. We stayed in the Purple Rain room, which as a Prince fan was quite exciting. The room was bright with high ceilings, huge windows and was exceptionally clean and comfortable. 

There’s a large common area with large sofas and huge TV. A continental breakfast is provided with loads of bagels, cereals, cheeses and spreads. There’s WiFi throughout and plenty of electric showers with constant hot water. 

Mid-range: Amore Bed & Breakfast

This modern Derry Bed & Breakfast has some seriously excellent reviews. The owners Barry and Joan really know what they’re doing when it comes to hospitality. And the breakfast is renowned for being one of the best in Derry. 

Centrally located, just 2 minutes from Derry walls, the ensuite rooms are comfortable, spacious and spotlessly clean. There’s a cosy lounge area with TV to chill in and a 24hr reception. There’s also free parking available. It’s a gem of where to stay in Derry.

Affordable Luxury: Shipquay Boutique Hotel

Centrally located with views of the Derry City walls and various other landmarks, this is one of the best hotels in Derry Ireland. The service is impeccable and the decor modern and chic. There’s a top notch restaurant and wine bar plus another bar with an extensive cocktail menu.

Each room has a large TV, tea/coffee services and an en suite bathroom. In addition there’s also bathrobes, slippers and complimentary organic Irish toiletries. If you’re looking for a treat when considering places to stay in Derry, this is it. 

Recommended Ireland Guide Books

Travel insurance for derry ireland.

Even though Ireland is one of the safest countries in the world, we don’t recommend travelling anywhere without a good quality travel insurance in place.

Our go to travel insurance provider is World Nomads. They have a no bullshit approach to policy wording & you can buy a policy even if you’ve already set off on your travels.

Get a no obligation quote here:

More Awesome Places In Ireland

If you’re spending a while travelling around Ireland, you might find these blog posts helpful too:

• The Very Best Things To Do In Sligo
• Your Complete Guide To Killarney
• 33 Stellar Things To Do In Galway
• Guide To Dublin On A Budget

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Travel lover, professional writer and football (soccer) obsessive, James loves nothing more than getting outside and exploring little known corners of the globe. He’s also very partial to a drop of Guinness.

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Hi, we’re James & Sarah

Full time backpackers turned vanlifers.

We’re here to provide you with valuable travel tips, kickass destination guides & serious vanlife inspiration to help you get your travel adventures off the ground!

Things to do in Derry – Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Written By: The Planet D

Northern Ireland

Updated On: June 25, 2023

Looking for things to do in Derry? We have you covered. We have visited the city of Derry twice before, and finally had the chance to really dig into exploring Londonderry on our latest trip to Northern Ireland this past summer.

Located in County Derry, Londonderry always seemed to be a quick stopover on our Irish road trip as we were on our way to explore places like the Causeway Coastal route or Belfast . But after a stay this past summer we realized that we never gave this underrated Irish city the time that it deserved.

Table of Contents

Top Things to do in Derry

Officially, the city of Derry is named Londonderry. Derry Londonderry is often used to cover all bases. If you are British you most likely will use the official name of Londonderry. However,

After a beautiful day’s drive from Belfast, we arrived at our hotel The Hotel Maldran Derry which is located directly beside the walled city.

This was one of our favorite places we stayed in all of Ireland with a perfect view of the Peace Bridge and River Foyle. We were within walking distance to all the main attractions in the city of Derry, so after parking our car, we set out on foot to explore Derry.

The London Derry Attraction Pass is an excellent pass to purchase in advance of visiting Derry. It offers access to 10 derry attractions letting you see the best the city of Derry has to offer. The pass includes entrance to the Saint Columba Heritage Centre, Siege Museum, St Augustine’s Church, St Columb’s Cathedral, St Eugene’s Cathedral, The Guildhall, The Museum of Free Derry, and the Tower Museum plus a Bogside History Tour, or a Martin McCrossan City Walking Tour. See more details here .

1. Walk The Derry Walls

The City Walls date back to 1613 and surround the Old City. A walk along the Walls of Derry is a great way to start your stay in Derry as it offers views of the entire city from all angles. It is an easy walk around the walls and they are not to be missed. The still intact City Walls are one of the finest examples of Walled Cities in all of Europe and Derry is the only completely walled city in Ireland. https://youtu.be/08SMJ1ftBKQ

It is 1.5 km walk all around the entire inner city with seven gates in total. Take a stroll to see the cannons and beautiful lookout points. The Walls of Derry have never been breached which is astounding with all of the troubles they have seen. They were regularly under siege from 1649 – 1689, and during the troubles, they were used as a divider in the city. A great place to start you walk on the Derry Walls is at Butcher’s Gate, 6 Magazine Street Upper, Londonderry, Ireland.

This Highly Rated Private Walled City Tour takes you on a guided tour dating back six thousand years through Derry’s past. The 1.4 km walk goes along the walls where you’ll hear stories of how the walled city came to be, why the name Londonderry is still contested and you’ll learn about the Siege of Derry, The Apprentice Boys and more.

2. Peace Bridge

We had a beautiful view of the Peace Bridge spanning the River Foyle from our hotel room and couldn’t wait to get down to the waterfront to go for a stroll. Opened in 2011, the Peace Bridge is a pedestrian link between the city centre to the old army barracks at Ebrington Square on the Waterside. You can cycle across the Peace Bridge as well and during sunset, it is a bustling place with locals walking home.

On either side of the river, there is a lovely River Walk to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and it is just a short walk to the Manor House at St Columb’s Park from the Peace Bridge.

3. Bogside Murals

The People’s Gallery in Bogside is definitely one of the top things to do in Derry. A walk through the Bogside area takes you on a visual journey recounting the conflicts and injustices that took place during the troubles. Today, there are also murals of social injustices around the world.

Located by Free Derry Corner outside the walled city, the Bogside artists consist of brothers Thomas and William Kelly and their friend Kevin Hanson who spent a decade painting murals on walls of buildings in the Bogside area. The murals depict important moments from the civil unrest that took place across six counties in Northern Ireland for more than 30 years.

They not only pay tribute to the people of Derry City but other human rights activists like Nelson Mandella, Martin Luther King Jr, and Mother Theresa. It is a sobering display of just how difficult the times were with paintings depicting the horrors of war. The Derry Murals Tour gives a good overview on a guided tour sharing what the murals are about and the history of Derry.

4. Bloody Sunday Monument

One of the most significant events of the time was Bloody Sunday which took place on January 30, 1972, when British paratroopers opened fire on protesters. 14 civilians were killed that day by British Soldiers and more were injured. There is a monument dedicated to those who died where you can pay your respects.

One of the most significant murals depicts a young schoolgirl who was killed on that day. Anette McGavigan was only 14 years old when she was gunned down. She was still in her school uniform and the objects that she was collecting for a school project are at her feet. Her killing marked the 100th civilian death in The Troubles.

We highly recommend taking a Bloody Sunday Bogside Tour to learn of the modern history of Derry. There has been a lot of unrest and conflict from the separation of Ireland to the Battle of the Bogside, The Bloody Sunday massacre and the Civil Rights period. A tour gives insight to Derry’s history and how things are today.

5. Free Derry Corner

As you enter the Bogside Area, the first thing you will see is the mural stating, you are now entering Free Derry. This is Free Derry Corner. From 1969 to 1972, this area was a self-declared autonomous region that acted outside the government. It was the location for the Battle of Bogside and Bloody Sunday. While the troubles have settled, the walls and murals remain.

As you walk along Lecky Road you’ll come across many monuments depicting Derry’s turbulent history. There are photographs of activists that were shot showing how they had no way to survive and how they were left by the police to suffer with their wounds until their death. There is a monument dedicated to the hunger strike victims who died in jail. The Irish Republican Prisoners were protesting the fact that the British government struck down the provisionary status that they were not prisoners of war but criminals.

6. Hunger Strike Monument

One hunger striker was elected during his 66 days. Bobby Sands eventually died of starvation along with nine other protestors. To read the stories and see the photos from these times is truly astounding. We had heard very little about it in Canada at the time but to visit the memorials in Derry puts faces to those who suffered. Their stories are told and they will be remembered. I

We found that we could spend hours at the memorials and murals of Derry. As we read each memorial, we reflected on the times we are living in today and see that the human race has this uncontrollable pattern of repeating its cycle of hate and violence. I only hope that one day we will find our way.

7. Free Derry Museum

Once you have seen the murals of Bogside, The Free Derry Museum is a good place to make your way to next. The Museum opened in 2007 and focuses on the civil rights era of the 1960s and the Free Derry troubles of the 1970s. Located in the area where the  Battle of the Bogside, Internment, Bloody Sunday, and Operation Motorman took place. The Free Derry museum tells the story from the point of view of those who were there and lived through troubling times. Entry to the Free Derry Museum is included in a Londonderry Attraction Pass

8. Guildhall

Make sure to go inside Guildhall. We nearly didn’t as there was a private event the day we arrived. Luckily, we went back the next day and went upstairs as it is beautiful. But not only that, upstairs on the second floor is where the Bloody Sunday hearings took place.

I expected to walk through the hall and snap a few photographs of its rooms but it was while there that I learned this was where testimony was heard for four years from 2000 – 2004. I watched the videos of the hearings that took place so many years later. While the military was found to be at fault, nobody has been officially held accountable and to this day, the victim’s families have not seen justice.

Guildhall stands on Guildhall Square which is a lovely square in just outside the walled city. There is a lovely view looking down from the Derry Walls,

9. Siege Museum

We may know a lot about the IRA troubles between the Catholics and Protestants in Derry, but this city has had a long history of war and violence. The Siege Museum tells the story of the Siege of Derry in 1689. The siege lasted 105 days but they held their ground against the Jacobites who supported the deposed King James II. Entrance to the Siege Museum is included with your Londonderry Attraction Pass

10. Derry Girls Filming Locations

Derry Girls is a popular TV show about growing up in Derry in the 1990s which were the final years of The Troubles. It has gotten more attention since the premier of Bridgerton (at least that’s how it caught our eye) as it stars Nicola Coughlan who plays Penelope Featherington.

While most of the show is filmed in Belfast, exterior scenes are shot in Derry and of course, all of the locations referenced are located in Derry. You can take a walking tour of Derry to see such places like Bishop’s Gate, Long Tower Church, and Dennis Wee Shop. Don’t miss the Derry Girls Mural, they even have their own mural in Derry city.

The Derry Girls Tour to some of the show’s most iconic filming locations, such as Bishop’s Gate, Long Tower Church, Dennis Wee Shop, and the Derry Girls mural located on the side of Badger’s Bar.

11. Tower Museum

Located within the Derry City Walls, the Tower Museum cannot be missed. Meaning, that you literally can’t miss it. The museum has two permanent exhibits, The Story of Derry and An Armada Shipwreck – La Trinidad Valencera. The Spanish ship sank off the Donegal Coast in 1588.

The Tower Museum also has the only open-air viewing platform in the city located on the fifth floor. Entry to the Tower Museum is included in the Londonderry Attractions Pass

12. St. Columb’s Cathedral

No tour of an Irish city would be complete without mentioning its cathedrals. We sauntered into the grounds of St Columb’s Cathedral and when inside found a pleasant surprise. Volunteers welcomed us with open arms and told us the story of the cathedral pointing out interesting pieces within. It was the friendliest cathedral we’ve ever stepped foot in.

It is a must-see as it was the first protestant church built in Britain or Ireland following the Reformation. It is one of Derry’s oldest buildings dating back to 1633 which is saying a lot as it survived the Siege of Derry and The Troubles.

13. St Eugene’s Cathedral

We didn’t go inside St Eugene’s Cathedral, but we saw it at every turn from the city walls. It is a Roman Catholic cathedral dating back to 1873.

14. Craft Village

We had the hardest time finding the Craft Village and it was located just down the street from our hotel. But it is so well hidden. We finally had to ask someone where to sneak into the unassuming alleyway but once inside we were so glad we searched for it. When we left from the other side, we noticed it wasn’t hidden at all we just entered from the back.

Anyway, this lovely alley is filled with gift and craft shops leading to Village Square in Derry city centre. The village square is covered and a great place to pull up a seat and have a pint. There is an unmissable thatched cottage in the village that is very picturesque and perfect for your Instagram moments.

15. St Columb’s Park

If you are looking for a little greenspace or a spot to have a picnic, St Columb’s Park is located just across the Peace Bridge from the Old City on the right bank of the River Foyle. You can cycle or walk to it to see st Columb’s Park House, an 18th-century manor house and a walled garden. There’s a cafe, pathways, and even a running track.

Ness Country Park

Another tranquil park just outside of Derry Londonderry is Ness Country Park. Ness Country Park consists of 55 hectares of parkland where you can do some riverside walks and a hike to a waterfall.

16. Browns in Town

We ate at Browns in Town and it had a great ambiance. It is a trendy casual restaurant located in the heart of Derry. Prices are reasonable and besides being a wine bar, it has fantastic cocktails and serves local craft beer.

17. Walled City Brewery

If you are looking for something unique to do in Derry, make your way to the Walled City Brewery. The Walled City Brewery doesn’t offer tours, but you can enjoy an interactive experience where you will learn about the 9000 year olf history of brewing. All while tasting 10 craft beers that are paired with snacks. You can book tours and tastings on their website.

When looking for Derry Nightlife, make your way to Waterloo Street and go pub hopping. It runs along the Derry walls. We strolled from our hotel at Butchers Gate and followed the sound of live music down to the river.

18. Europe’s Biggest Halloween Celebration

Ireland is where Halloween originated and when visiting Londonderry Ireland during Halloween, you can count on the biggest Halloween celebration in Europe. When it originated, Halloween was not the celebration it is now. Instead it was a day that the ancient celts dressed up in animal skins to ward off evil spirits and avoid being taken away.

In late October get a chance to experience the country’s largest all hallow’s eve festival in Derry. The Londonderry Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival offers a spooktacular four-day celebration during the last week of October every year. It features parades, bonfires, and of course, people of all ages dressed as their favorite ghosts, ghouls, and monsters. Dublin still celebrates Samhain. Places to Visit For Halloween – Around the World

Where to Stay in Derry

We stayed at the Maldron Hotel right in the city centre. It had beautiful views of the River Foyle and is located right next to the Butchers Gate by the Derry City Walls. There is a fitness center with sauna and there is parking on site. For parking, make sure to arrive early as it is available on a first come first serve basis. There is a parking lot nearby if the hotel lot is full.

• Address Butcher St, Londonderry BT48 6HL, UK

How to Get to Derry

Derry Londonderry is located in County Derry and is just a three-hour drive from Dublin and just under two hours from Belfast.

When you visit Derry, chances are you will come touring from Dublin or Belfast on an Irish Road Trip so you will probably enter county Londonderry by car. Derry City does have an airport, The Derry Ireland Airport. Flights arrive from the UK but we drove from Belfast where we rented a car. We have also driven to Derry from Dublin and it is also a very nice scenic drive.

Day Trips from Derry

Derry-coleraine railway.

The Derry Colerain train journey is often touted as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. The Derry Colerain Railway travels between Derry~Londonderry and Coleraine passing long sandy beaches, mountains, and seacliffs. A highlight is most certainly the long sandy beach of Benone Strand. We actually crossed under the train tracks to walk along this beach which is considered one of Ireland’s most beautiful and unspoiled beaches.

The journey isn’t long, but during it, you’ll pass through two of Ireland’s longest tunnels and it ends at Colerain where you can carry on your journey through the Causeway Coast.

Causeway Coast

The Causeway Coast is a spectacular scenic drive with plenty of stops including the Giant’s Causeway, several Game of Thrones Filming Locations, The Dark Hedges, Bushmills Distillery and The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. This is much more than a day trip and even though it can all be driving in one day, we suggest at least 4 days to explore the Causeway Coast. It can be done on a bus tour if you aren’t ready to drive on the other side of the road.

Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne

Overlooking Benone Strand is Mussenden Temple. The temple is located on the cliffs of Castlerock also overlooking Downhill Strand. It is operated by The National Trust and you can tour its grounds including the manor house. Downhill House was once a grand Italian-inspired villa built by the Earl Bishop of Derry. It was devastated by fire in the 1800s but there are still remnants of its grandeur.

How to Get Derry

To get to Londonderry (also known as Derry City), you have several transportation options depending on your starting point. Londonderry is located in Northern Ireland and is well-connected to the rest of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Here are the most common ways to reach Londonderry.

By Air: The nearest airport to Londonderry is the City of Derry Airport (LDY). It is a small regional airport with limited flight options. If you can find a suitable flight, you can fly directly to City of Derry Airport from select cities in the UK or Ireland. From the airport, you can take a taxi or a bus to reach the city center. Alternatively, you can fly into Belfast International Airport (BFS) or George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. From there, you can take a bus or a train to Londonderry. The journey takes approximately two hours by road.

By Train: Londonderry is well-connected to the rail network in Northern Ireland. You can take a train from various locations in Northern Ireland, including Belfast, Coleraine, and Portrush, to Londonderry. The train journey offers scenic views of the countryside. The train station in Londonderry is called “Londonderry Waterside Station.”

By Bus: Several bus companies operate services to Londonderry from various cities in the UK and Ireland. You can check with providers like Translink or Bus Éireann for bus schedules and routes. The main bus station in Londonderry is located at Foyle Street.

By Car: If you prefer driving, you can reach Londonderry by car. The city is accessible via the A6 road from Belfast or the A5 road from Dublin. The journey time will depend on your starting point and traffic conditions.

It’s worth noting that there are different names for the city depending on the community. The Catholic and nationalist community generally refers to it as Derry, while the Protestant and unionist community typically uses the name Londonderry. Both names are commonly used, but you may notice a preference depending on the context.

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Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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15 Best Things To Do in Derry, Ireland

• By Stephen Smith
• July 11, 2020
• Category: Northern Ireland

The huge variety in the things to do in Derry make it somewhere all visitors will enjoy. Derry (Londonderry) is located in the province still part of the United Kingdom and its success in establishing peace after conflict is something that will surely impress every visitor.

Derry, like many Irish cities, benefits from the character of the Irish people and the way history has fashioned it into what visitors will experience today. 

By day, there is plenty to see in its main landmarks and by night its bars and restaurants will satisfy even the most discerning traveller.

Activities in Derry include visiting museums and cathedrals, admiring the great architecture and colourful murals — and more! History greeted me at every turn during my stay, while the countryside that surrounds the city was beautiful.

My background in history and politics led me to locations that illustrated the troubling times starkly indeed. However, the things to do in Derry go far beyond such matters and the genuine hospitality of locals during my time there made it difficult to imagine there was ever serious religious conflict .

Many of the best things to see in Derry are all within walkable distance of each other, and even if you just visit on a weekend , you’ll be able to experience much of the city. This post lists 15 things to do in Derry that you should not miss during your visit!

15 Best Things to Do in Derry

In This Post:

1. Walk the Impressive Walls of Derry

2. drink guinness while enjoying live music at peadar o’donnell’s, 3. learn more in the tower museum, 4. visit the beautiful guildhall , 5. admire derry’s oldest monument, 6. pay your respects at st. eugene’s catholic cathedral, 7. walk across the award-winning peace bridge, 8. understand the meaning of “free derry”, 9. check out the street art at people’s gallery, 10. see film locations of the derry girls  , 11. go for a walk in ness country park, 12. take a history lesson — with a hanging or two, 13. enjoy clifftop views at a game of thrones film site , 14. visit homeplace of poet seamus heaney, 15. eat at pyke ‘n’ pommes, now you know what to do in derry.

Derry’s Walls have never been breached in the four centuries that they have surrounded what is now the inner city. They were built to protect the city from English and Scottish ”invaders” and they even withstood a 105-day siege during the struggle between William’s supporters and the Jacobites.

The Walls stand around 5 metres high and stretch for 1.6 kilometres. I walked the walls past towers, cannons and bastions, looking down on the layout of the inner city.

It is a great way to start your visit to Derry because you can get your bearings before moving on.

You can walk the walls day and night for free although walking tours are available. Click here to learn more and to book online.

You should not leave sampling Ireland’s famous stout, Guinness to last. I had a pint as soon as I reached Ireland! Irish hospitality and friendliness are famous; forget the former problems in Derry while enjoying a pint.

The best place I found in Derry for a drop of the ”black stuff” while enjoying live entertainment was Peadar O’Donnell’s. Located in Waterloo Street, it offers both traditional and contemporary music and you will enjoy the classic, if fairly quirky, surroundings.

Having a pint of Guinness is one of the best things to do in Derry — and Ireland as a whole.

Even if you are only in Derry for a short time, it is likely to become your local as it did for me. Monday to Saturday, opening hours are 11:30am – 1:30am, while Sunday is 12:30pm – 12:30am. Click here to find Peadar O’Donnell’s on the map.

Whilst at the Walls, I got my first lesson about the origin of Derry, its history from the very early days. A separate galley houses artefacts from one of the Spanish Armada’s ships, La Trinidad Valencera which sunk off the Coast.

The Wreck was only found by divers 50 years ago and that was during the period of ”The Troubles.” The causes of  The Troubles, major events during that time, and the peace process are all explained within the Tower Museum.

On the top floor, level 5, there are further great views of Derry and the River Foyle. The Museum opens 7 days a week, 10:00 – 17:30 with adult tickets £3.50 ($4.50), children half price and family tickets £7.50 ($10). Click here to find the Tower Museum on the map.

The Guildhall, a red sandstone building finished towards the end of the 19th Century, acts as the Council Offices and it was the place that held the ”Bloody Sunday” Enquiry — more of that later.

It’s a tourist attraction in itself, built in a neo-Gothic and Tudor style.

This is Derry’s most recognised building with its stained-glass windows worth close inspection. One of them depicts Bloody Sunday when British troops fired on unarmed people in the Bogside area of Derry. 

Guildhall is open every day between 10:00 and 18:00 and while admission is free, booking in advance is advisable. 

Built just after the Reformation, St. Columb’s Cathedral was the first non-Catholic church to be built in Western Europe and one of the main things to see in Derry.

It is dedicated to an Irish monk who was exiled from Ireland before spreading Christianity into Scotland and Northern England. It was damaged and then destroyed before reconstruction in the 1630s.

It has a number of portraits, including William of Orange, valuable old documents and the original keys to the city. Taking the hop-on, hop-off bus tour is a great way to see it. And at just £12 ($16), it’s a good deal. Click here to reserve tickets online, and click here to find the cathedral on the map. 

This Cathedral was built after the 1829 Roman Catholic Relief Act permitted the construction of a catholic church. Eugene de Mazenod was a French Bishop was died in Marseille in 1861.

Fundraising for the work began in 1840 with money received from all over the world and continued for the rest of the century.

The Cathedral opened in 1873 but it took another 30 years before sufficient money allowed the stained-glass windows and the bell tower and the spire to be completed. 

There has been extensive restoration work here over the years and I was certainly impressed by what I saw during my visit. Definitely think of this as one of the places to see in Derry with the £12 ($16) bus tour a way to do it. Find St. Eugene’s on the map here .

The newest of the three bridges over the River Foyle, the Peace Bridge is strictly for pedestrians and cyclists. It was completed in 2011, linking the largely Unionist east bank of the river to the Republican west bank.

Sloping pillars at either end symbolise a ”coming together” of the communities.

Among those attending the opening were Peter Robinson, the Unionist leader and Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness who were First Minister and Deputy at the time, as well as the Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny. 

The Bridge is 235 metres long and 4 metres wide, it’s one of the free attractions in Derry you won’t want to miss. Find it on the map here .

Derry was very much a protestant city in its early days but today it is 70% catholic. Free Derry was a catholic neighbourhood that declared itself autonomous in 1969 with the name painted on the side of a terrace of houses in the Bogside. 

It existed as an area where the struggle between the British and local Republicans lasted for four years. Electoral reform allowed the catholic community to get control of the Council and the area has undergone redevelopment in recent decades.

The message still exists and a visit to the Museum of the same name is definitely one of the best things to do in Derry.

I enjoyed reading about the struggles between 1969 and 1973, ”Bloody Sunday”, the terrible event in 1972, and the reforms which were implemented allowing the possibility of peace. 

Join a walking tour to cover many of Derry’s attractions and to learn more about the history here. This tour is highly rated and includes the Free Derry wall and murals. And at just $25, it’s well worth the money.  Find the Free Derry museum on the map here .

Anyone enjoying street art is certain to love these murals in Rossville Street in the Bogside. The announcement of ”Free Derry” is plain but the quality of the visual art on walls in the Gallery in the now peaceful Bogside is stunning!

It’s the work of two brothers, Tom and William Kelly and their friend Kevin Hasson who began in 1994 to portray events, mostly between 1969 and 1973.

The Battle of the Bogside, Bloody Sunday and the 1981 Hunger Strike are prominent and ensure that people never forget the problems that Derry faced in its recent history.

This 1.5 hour, highly rated street art tour is informative and will help you make sense of the murals. It’s £20 ($25) per person and reserving in advance is advised.

It may seem strange to set a comedy programme at the time of so many problems but this TV series about teenage girls living in Londonderry became hugely popular.

I took a walking tour around many of the sites that were used in the filming and heard about how the show was planned and produced.

There is a mural depicting the stars of the show at Badger’s Bar & Restaurant in Orchard Street in the heart of the City. Channel 4 commissioned the mural as part of its promotional campaign for the show and every visitor looking for the best things to do in Derry should put the ”Derry Girls” on their list.

Book a £20($25) tour to see the filming locations and learn more about the hit TV series here . 

Those looking for a longer walk can venture to the waterfall, while if you’re wanting a leisurely stroll, you can enjoy the gentle path through the meadows. This park is one of the best places to visit in Derry if you’re looking for some relaxation.

Ness Country Park is just to the south-east of the Derry either side of the Burntollet River. It is a mixture of woodland and meadow covering 55 hectares. There are good tourist facilities including car parking, a children’s play area, refreshments and toilets as well as 7 kilometres of walks to enjoy. 

There is car parking with visitor facilities open between 10:00 and 17:00; entrance to the park is free. Click here to find Ness Country Park on the map. 

When it comes to ideas of what to do in Derry, visiting one of Ireland’s most historic homes – Prehen House – should be on the itinerary.

It was the 18th Century home of Donegal MP Andrew Knox and it remained in the family until it was seized after the First World War.

Knox lived in this mansion with his wife, the Prehen heiress, Honora Tomkins. Their daughter Mary Ann formed a relationship with a friend of Knox’s John MacNaghten (“Half-Hung MacNaghten”) who had squandered his own inheritance. 

After their relationship went sour, he planned to kidnap her for a ransom. The plot went wrong and Mary Ann was shot dead by mistake.

MacNaghten was found guilty of murder and was hung, only for the rope to break. That did not save him and the second hanging was successful. 

The House, privately owned but opened for visitors, is a Grade A Building of National Importance. If you want to visit, contact the house directly. You can spend the night here, join a tour, or pop in for Afternoon Tea .

Downhill Beach is a long stretch of sand that is overlooked from Mussenden Temple that sits on the top of a cliff. The beach was a filming location in ”The Game of Thrones,” the hugely successful series that used a number of locations in Ireland for filming .

The inspiration for the temple was the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, Italy. It was built in 1785 as a summer house and library for the Bishop of Derry. A visit here is among the best things to do in Derry, especially for the wonderful views the clifftop location provides. 

The temple is National Trust property and admission is free for NT members. Other can walk the area for nothing but must pay for temple entry. Booking in advance is advised, adults £4.75 ($6), children half price and family concessions available. Click here to find Mussenden Temple on the map.

Seamus Justin Heaney who died in 2013 in his mid-80s, won the 1995 Nobel Prize for literature. A graduate of Queen’s Belfast, he was a poet, translator and playwright.

HomePlace is located in the small village of Bellaghy and celebrates his life and work. It is an easy drive from Derry and is a must for lovers of literature (such as myself) when planning things to do in Derry.

It opens 7 days a week only closing around Christmas and New Year. Booking in advance is advisable with gift vouchers also available. Find it on the map, here . 

When looking for somewhere to eat, try Pyke ‘N’ Pommes whose origins were in 2013 in a van in a disused car park. It subsequently used a former shipping container on a site close to the River Foyle where it serves delicious food but also hosts events.

A double-decker bus took its seating capacity up to 100. It prides itself on the use of fresh local produce and that includes Wagyu beef. 

Pyke ‘N’ Pommes stresses that its food is simply street-style and it makes a strong case for treating yourself; I did. It may not serve traditional Irish food , but you won’t want to miss the burgers, fries, squid tacos and more.

Normal opening hours are 12:00 – 18:00 Sunday to Thursday, 12:00 – 20:30 Friday and Saturday. Find it on the map here . 

I hope that I have piqued your interest sufficiently to visit Derry. While Unionists still refer to the city as Londonderry, that name has gradually faded from common usage because it is divisive.

Where once there were serious problems, peace and friendliness are all you will find these days in Derry. Enjoy your stay!  For more on Derry, check out the top festivals in the city .

*Unless otherwise stated, all images in this article were sourced on Shutterstock, a website for downloading royalty images and videos. Click here to learn more.

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About The Author

Stephen smith.

Steve Smith is a regular contributor to Your Irish Adventure. He’s a Politics Graduate but far more interested in sport and travel than his graduate subject. A published writer on sport, Steve has been writing online for over a decade on various subjects, including travel articles and blogs.

His passion for travel and sport have both been satisfied by regularly visiting Ireland to watch rugby and play golf. Old head near Cork, Ballybunion and Lahinch in the west, Royal Portrush which hosted the Open recently, Ballyliffin in the extreme north of Donegal, and Portmarnock in Dublin are all courses he has played in his time.

This has allowed him to experience all parts of Ireland and the hospitality for which it is famous.

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10 reasons to visit Derry in 2024

From its access to beautiful beaches and its vibrant culture and history, Derry is becoming a tourism hotspot

• 16:20, 4 JAN 2024

Derry has become something of a tourist hotspot in recent years with its history, culture, and people attracting visitors from around the world.

At Belfast Live and MyDerry, we know exactly what it is about Derry that makes it special. From its access to beautiful beaches to its famous and intact fortifications, it's no wonder people want to come back.

We've teamed up with the experts at Visit Derry to bring you ten reasons to enjoy your trip to Derry in 2024.

Read more: Best beaches within an hour's drive of Derry city

Read more: Top five things to do in Belfast according to visitors

Derry is Ireland's only completely intact walled city

The City Walls have received a Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award 2023, placing the historic landmark in the top 10% of attractions worldwide!

Enjoy exploring the City Walls, and discover the seven gates that encompass the original town, which still preserves its Renaissance style street plan.

Derry is one of the few cities in Europe that never saw its fortifications breached, withstanding several sieges.

Today, you can walk its 400-year-old City Walls which are approximately one mile in circumference. Enjoy stepping on and off them to explore the historic city and its many award-winning tourism attractions along the way.

Heritage and culture

Delve deep into the city’s history through one of the many daily walking tours available. Take a step back in time and learn all about the history of the city which stretches back to the 6th century.

On a walking or taxi tour, find out all about the city’s history from the Plantation, The Siege, Emigration and Troubles right up to the present day.

On this giant adventure you’ll unearth some of our must-see iconic landmarks, from our famous Guildhall clock to our Peace Bridge.

You’ll no doubt be bowled over by your tour guides impressive knowledge of the city as they serve up a treasure trove of quirky facts about the city along the way. You’ll find out about St Columba who founded a monastery here and why the city’s original name is derived from the Irish word for Oak tree.

The home of Derry Girls

If you’re a fan of the BAFTA and Emmy winning TV comedy then there is lots to see and do during a visit in Derry

Written by Derry girl, Lisa McGee, the first series was broadcast on Channel 4 in January and February 2018. The second series aired in March and April 2019 and a third series aired in 2022, and is now available on Channel 4 and Netflix for our international Derry Girls .

During your stay, be sure to visit The Derry Girls Experience at the Tower Museum - given a coveted Traveller's Choice award by Trip Advisor - and discover where it all began.

There's also a range of Derry Girls themed tours to be enjoyed. You’ll be able to visit all the iconic screen locations in which the popular sitcom was filmed and even get your selfie taken outside the Derry Girls mural in the city.

Food and drink

Derry has a vibrant food and drink scene with award-winning restaurants, cafes, pubs and eateries in abundance.

And the prices often compare favourably with other towns and cities in Ireland.

The Craft Village

Blink and you miss it; the Craft Village is the very definition of a hidden gem. In the city centre, the Craft Village offers a sense of escape from the bustling city centre streets.

Tranquil and full of charm, the village is home to cafes and bespoke shops, along with the Walled City Crafters.

Located within the historic City Walls the Tower Museum is home to two permanent exhibitions, 'The Story of Derry' and 'An Armada Shipwreck - La Trinidad Valencera'. The museum also boasts an open air viewing facility in the heart of the city centre with stunning panoramic views of the city and River Foyle.

There is also the Museum of Free Derry that tells the story of the civil rights movement and the creation of Free Derry in the 1960's and 1970's, awarded Northern Ireland's most authentic visitor experience in 2018 by Tourism Northern Ireland.

And the Siege Museum and Exhibition is a permanent display of the history of the Siege of Londonderry and of the Associated Clubs of the Apprentice Boys of Derry and is a treasure house of artefacts, from past to present.

Derry's Halloween festival was named the best in the world by USA Today and regularly features in top-ten lists of the biggest and best places to be on Halloween anywhere in the world.

The Maritime festival in the summer sees huge crowds take to the banks of the Foyle to enjoy the sights and sounds of the sea and will be making a return in 2024, while the City of Derry Jazz Festival, Foyle Cup and more show us why Derry enjoys its reputation as a place to be for festivals and events.

Some of the world's most spectacular beaches and the rugged beauty of the Irish coastline can be found within an hour's drive of the city in either direction along the coast. As a key intersection between the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route, we think Derry is the best place to stay to take advantage of both.

The people of Derry are witty, warm and welcoming.

Derry is full of interesting murals, from the famous Free Derry Corner in the Bogside and People's Gallery, to the murals dedicated to the Derry Girls and other, unique pieces of public art can be found throughout the city

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The best day trips from Belfast, from the Derry Girls' hometown to the Giant's Causeway

Jul 28, 2022 • 6 min read

From the real-life setting for Derry Girls to fantasy locations from Game of Thrones, culture comes alive on a day trip from Belfast © benedek / Getty Images

Ireland is truly an inspiring isle. A land of storytellers, talented musicians and impassioned songwriters, inspired by a breathtaking landscape like a patchwork quilt of colors and vistas that is always worth diving into and drinking in . And Belfast is perfectly placed for a host of captivating day trips.

With colorful characters and cute rogues aplenty, and accents that vary even from village to village, Ireland is the subject, muse, backdrop and inspiration for endless stories of fact and fiction played out in books and TV shows, and spoken word folklore passed down through the generations. Discover the reality on these top day trips from Belfast.

Make like a Derry Girl on a day trip to Derry

Why go: Discover the real city behind the hit TV show

Northern Ireland ’s second-largest hub, Derry (Londonderry ) has had a star turn on the small screen over the last five years as the backdrop for Channel 4’s hit series Derry Girls. This coming-of-age sitcom set in the 90s – as The Troubles ended and the Northern Ireland Peace Process became a reality – reveals the charm, humor, mischief and joy of a place all too often misunderstood or misrepresented, triggering a surge of interest in Northern Ireland’s intriguing second city.

Walk through history by ascending the impressively intact 17th-century city walls , which preserve some of the most important historical sites in the city, then visit the auburn-bricked neo-Gothic Guildhall to marvel at the stained glass windows and learn about the Ulster Plantation. Don’t miss The Walled City Brewery for great food and craft beers before you make a beeline back to Belfast.

How to get to Derry from Belfast: Hop on the train to Derry at Great Victoria Street; it takes about 2½ hours and runs hourly most days from around 7am. Note that the last train back from Derry leaves around 8:30pm. Traveling by bus, the 212 Goldline Express connects Derry and Belfast's Europa Bus Centre in two hours, leaving every half hour at peak times. Alternatively, drive the 70 miles in about 90 minutes, via the M2 and A6.

Drive the Epic Causeway Coast, the most dramatic day out from Belfast

Why go: To drink in some of Ireland's most spectacular landscapes

A mythical tale in local folklore tells the story of an ancient giant named Fionn MacCumhaill who tore up parts of the Antrim Coast and tossed them into the ocean to create a cobbled pathway towards Scotland to challenge another giant, Benanndonner, who threatened Ireland and needed to be taught a lesson. So begins the tale of the Giant’s Causeway .

As wonderful as the myth may be, the causeway is entirely explained by a natural phenomenon. Lava oozing furiously from the earth’s surface tens of millions of years ago cooled, contracted and cracked, creating a series of 40,000 interlocking, hexagonal-shaped basalt columns. The reality doesn’t make this popular day trip spot any less breathtaking – it's an otherworldly site and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland.

Whilst driving along the North Antrim coast, take in Dunluce Castle , Mussenden Temple , the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and the pretty coastal towns of Portrush and Portstewart. Harry’s Shack set on Portstewart Strand is one of the most picturesque settings for a meal anywhere in Ireland.

How to get from Belfast to the Causeway Coast: This day trip is best undertaken with a rental car, so you can choose how far you travel and how long it takes, stopping along the way for incredible vistas and fascinating sites. The Giant’s Causeway is located 60 miles from Belfast and it takes around an hour to drive here via the M2. 

Visit Dublin, a city for all the senses

Why go: To soak in Dublin's sights, sounds, flavors and sensations

A day trip from one capital city to another, set two hours apart on the eastern side of the same island (but neither boasting an underground metro system). In some ways, Dublin and Belfast feel similar, even familiar, and though both are proudly unique, this pair of cities definitely complement one another. However, note that you’ll need to switch to euros (€) when you enter the Republic.

Dublin is a city experienced through the senses: the waft of roasted barley tempting visitors to the Guinness Storehouse ; the lilt of the fiddle and the bang of the bodhrán (frame drum) bouncing between the cobbles of the pub-lined cultural quarter of Temple Bar ; the verdant city center oasis that is St Stephen’s Green ; glimpses of the free-range herd of fallow deer in Phoenix Park .

Iconic experiences abound – check out the sea of light and dark blue on flags and jerseys as the crowds flow towards Croke Park on match day, or catch sight of the Spire or the Poolbeg Chimneys from many different corners of the city. Then there's the taste of that first sip of a creamy pint of cold stout, the slurp of fresh oysters, and thick buttered brown bread paired with coddle (sausage stew) or chowder.

Take time to enjoy a brown paper bag of fat, golden, freshly-fried, salt-and-vinegar doused chips from Leo Burdock’s or spend an hour in Sheridans Cheesemongers being led by the nose and tastebuds, trying as many samples of Irish farmhouse cheese as they are willing to offer. There’s a reason Irish writers, poets and playwrights use such evocative language to describe Dublin’s fair city – Dublin truly captivates.

How to get to Dublin from Belfast: The Belfast-Dublin Enterprise train service runs eight times daily (less frequently on Sundays) between Belfast Lanyon Place and Dublin Connolly Station, taking just over two hours. Aircoach’s 705X bus service runs 13 times daily between the two cities; the Goldline Express X1 service to Dublin Busaras station runs on a similar schedule. Alternatively, you can drive the 100 miles or so in just under two hours via the M1/A1 motorways (tolls apply).

Visit the best Game of Thrones’ locations near Belfast

Why go: To discover the real Westeros

Game of Thrones is probably one of the best things to happen to Northern Ireland tourism in the last decade. The filming location for many notable scenes in the fantasy drama series, "Norn Iron" has embraced its Game of Thrones legacy, celebrating its natural backdrop as a bonafide land of fantasy. Many of the show’s most distinctive filming locations can be discovered on a day trip from Belfast, from the caves of Cushendun to picture-perfect Ballintoy Harbour and, of course, the breathtaking avenue of intertwined beech trees known as The Dark Hedges .

When Storm Gertrude landed without welcome in early 2016 and thrashed for days, several trees from the iconic Dark Hedges were unfortunately felled. However, instead of breaking these casualties down for firewood, they were resplendently carved into intricate works of art. Ten wooden doors were created in honor of the fallen trees – fans can follow the trail and find all ten Game of Thrones doors, which are dotted widely around Northern Ireland in different pubs, restaurants and hotels.

Whether you're a Thronie or not, it’s well worth getting outside of the capital in order to appreciate the unique landscape, which seems to sit between reality and fantasy.

How to explore Game of Thrones locations from Belfast: Several tour companies offer 8–9 hour coach tours (among them Game of Thrones Tours , City Tours Belfast and Taxi Tours Belfast ) departing from and returning to Belfast, which include photo opportunities and a live commentary at several GoT stops. Private group tours are also available for smaller groups. Alternatively, you can hire a car and simply drive to many of the top locations.

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When and where the solar eclipse will be crossing the U.S.

A total solar eclipse will grace the skies over North America on Monday, one of the most hotly anticipated sky-watching events in recent years.

Weather permitting , millions of people in Mexico, 15 U.S. states and eastern Canada will have the chance to see the moon slip between Earth and sun, temporarily blocking the sun’s light .

The total solar eclipse will be visible along a “path of totality” that measures more than 100 miles wide and extends across the continent. Along that path, the moon will fully obscure the sun, causing afternoon skies to darken for a few minutes.

Follow live updates on the solar eclipse

In all other parts of the continental U.S., a partial solar eclipse will be visible, with the moon appearing to take a bite out of the sun. Exactly how big a bite depends on the location.

The first spot in North America that will experience totality on Monday is on Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. PT, according to NASA .

After moving northeast across Mexico, the eclipse’s path travels through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Slivers of Michigan and Tennessee will also be able to witness totality if conditions are clear.

In Canada, the eclipse will be visible in parts of southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, at the eastern end of Nova Scotia.

The timing of the eclipse and the duration of totality varies by location. Most places will experience around 2 minutes of darkness, but the longest periods of totality are typically in the center of the eclipse’s path.

This year, the longest stretch of totality will last 4 minutes and 28 seconds in an area northwest of Torreón, Mexico.

Below is a list of timings for some U.S. cities along the path of totality, according to NASA .

• Dallas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:23 p.m. CT and totality at 1:40 p.m. CT.
• Idabel, Oklahoma: Partial eclipse begins at 12:28 p.m. CT and totality at 1:45 p.m. CT.
• Little Rock, Arkansas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:33 p.m. CT and totality at 1:51 p.m. CT.
• Poplar Bluff, Missouri: Partial eclipse begins at 12:39 p.m. CT and totality at 1:56 p.m. CT.
• Paducah, Kentucky: Partial eclipse begins at 12:42 p.m. CT and totality at 2:00 p.m. CT.
• Carbondale, Illinois: Partial eclipse begins at 12:42 p.m. CT and totality at 1:59 p.m. CT.
• Evansville, Indiana: Partial eclipse begins at 12:45 p.m. CT and totality at 2:02 p.m. CT.
• Cleveland: Partial eclipse begins at 1:59 p.m. ET and totality at 3:13 p.m.
• Erie, Pennsylvania: Partial eclipse begins at 2:02 p.m. ET and totality at 3:16 p.m. ET.
• Buffalo, New York: Partial eclipse begins at 2:04 p.m. ET and totality at 3:18 p.m.
• Burlington, Vermont: Partial eclipse begins at 2:14 p.m. ET and totality at 3:26 p.m. ET.
• Lancaster, New Hampshire: Partial eclipse begins at 2:16 p.m. ET and totality at 3:27 p.m.
• Caribou, Maine: Partial eclipse begins at 2:22 p.m. ET and totality at 3:32 p.m. ET.

Other resources can also help you figure out when the various phases of the eclipse will be visible where you live, including NationalEclipse.com and TimeandDate.com .

If you plan to watch the celestial event, remember that it’s never safe to look directly at the sun, including through binoculars, telescopes or camera lenses. Special eclipse glasses are required to safely view solar eclipses and prevent permanent eye damage.

Denise Chow is a reporter for NBC News Science focused on general science and climate change.