Walled city
First-timersInside the walls, around the Diamond.
Derry city guide
Things To Do In Derry
The only complete city walls in Ireland, the Bogside murals and the Peace Bridge across the Foyle. A small, sociable city with a big story, and the best Halloween in Europe.
1
Hostels in the city
10.0
Average, from 94 reviews
1619
The walls completed
1.5 km
Around the walls
2011
The Peace Bridge opens
The walled city
Derry's walls were built between 1613 and 1619 to protect English and Scottish settlers, and they survived a siege in 1689 without ever being breached. They are the only complete city walls in Ireland, and you can walk the whole circuit in under an hour.
Below the walls is the Bogside, where the civil rights movement and the events of Bloody Sunday in 1972 shaped the Troubles. Its gable-end murals are among the most powerful in Ireland. The city is called Derry by most nationalists and Londonderry officially, and the name itself tells part of its history.
Today it is friendly, musical and sociable, with the Peace Bridge joining the two banks of the river. Two days is right, with Donegal and the Causeway coast close by.
Where to stay
The walled centre is small. Stay inside or just outside the walls.
Bogside
HistoryBelow the walls, with the murals.
Waterside
A calmer stayAcross the Peace Bridge, around Ebrington.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 1 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Derry
Walk the city walls, with their cannon and views over the Bogside and the river. Inside, St Columb's Cathedral, the Tower Museum and the Guildhall, which is free, cover the city's long history.
Go down into the Bogside to see the murals of the People's Gallery and Free Derry Corner. The Museum of Free Derry tells the story of the civil rights era and Bloody Sunday.
Cross the Peace Bridge, opened in 2011, to Ebrington Square on the other bank.
The Derry Girls mural, off Waterloo Street, is a newer landmark.
Free things
Free things to do in Derry
The city walls, the Guildhall and the Bogside murals are free.
The Peace Bridge and the walk along the Foyle are free.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Derry
Derry's food is hearty and cheap: Ulster fries, pub lunches and fish and chips. The Walled City Brewery, in the old army barracks at Ebrington, brews its own beer.
A pub lunch is £10 to £15.
Nightlife
Going out in Derry
Derry is sociable and full of music. Waterloo Street, just below the walls, has traditional pubs with sessions most nights, including Peadar O'Donnell's.
A pint is £4.50 to £5.50.
Getting around
Getting around Derry
The walled city is small and walkable.
Trains run along the coast to Belfast in about two and a quarter hours, passing the cliffs at Downhill. Buses run to Belfast, Dublin and Donegal.
City of Derry Airport is a short drive away, with a few flights. The border with the Republic is a few kilometres away. There are no checks at the border, but visitors who are not British or Irish citizens need a UK ETA to enter Northern Ireland, including overland from the Republic.
Costs
What Derry costs
Derry is cheap by UK standards. Dorms start around £18. A careful day is £40 to £55.
Prices rise sharply for Halloween.
The currency is the pound sterling. Cards work almost everywhere, including contactless on buses. Some shops near the border also take euros.
Safety
Staying safe in Derry
Derry is safe and welcoming.
The city's history is recent and personal. Listen rather than offer opinions, and treat the murals and memorials with respect.
Emergency number is 999 or 112.
Day trips from Derry
Donegal and the Causeway coast are both close.
Mussenden Temple and Downhill
A cliff-top temple over a long beach.
Grianán of Aileach
A stone ring fort on a hill in Donegal with a huge view.
Giant's Causeway
The basalt columns on the north coast.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Derry's Halloween is the largest in Europe.
Staff pick
28 Oct – 1 Nov
Derry Halloween
Derry Halloween transforms Londonderry, Northern Ireland, into a spellbinding celebration where ancient folklore and modern festivities come alive. The city’s historic streets and landmarks,…
Staff pick
12 November
The Skids
The Skids are a Scottish punk rock band formed in 1977 in Dunfermline. They gained prominence with their 1979 hit "Into the Valley" and…
13–17 October
Snow Patrol
Formed in 1994, Snow Patrol is a rock band from Scotland and Northern Ireland. They are best known for their five-time platinum album Final…
2 October
Dan McCabe
Dan McCabe is a celebrated Irish folk singer and musician known for his powerful vocals and heartfelt renditions of traditional and contemporary Irish songs.…
Hostels
Where to stay in Derry
The top-rated places to stay in Derry right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
May to September is best. Halloween is the city's biggest event.
Jan
Cold
Feb
Quiet
Mar
St Patrick's Day
Apr
Spring
May
Jazz festival
Jun
Long evenings
Jul
Maritime festival
Aug
Summer
Sep
Good
Oct
Halloween
Nov
Grey
Dec
Christmas
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. It rains in every month.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in pounds.
Halloween week runs above these figures.
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- Beds—
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Derry travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is it Derry or Londonderry?
Both. Londonderry is the official name; most people in the city call it Derry.
Can you walk the city walls?
Yes, for free. The full circuit takes under an hour.
Is Derry safe?
Yes, and it is known for its welcome.
How do I get from Belfast?
By train, about two and a quarter hours, along the coast.
What is Derry Halloween?
The largest Halloween celebration in Europe, with a carnival parade and fireworks over the Foyle.
How many days do you need?
Two.
When is the best time to visit?
May to September, or late October for Halloween.
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