Town centre
First-timersThe main street across the island.
Enniskillen town guide
Things To Do In Enniskillen
An island town between two lakes, with a castle on the water, monastic ruins on the islands and the Marble Arch Caves nearby. The base for the Fermanagh lakelands.
2
Lakes either side of town
30 min
To the Marble Arch Caves
2.25 h
By bus to Belfast
The island town
Enniskillen sits on an island in the River Erne, between Upper and Lower Lough Erne, and water surrounds it on every side. It grew up around a castle of the Maguire chieftains that guarded the crossing, and it is still the main town of Fermanagh, the lake county of Northern Ireland.
The lakes are dotted with islands, many with early Christian ruins, and the hills to the south hold the Marble Arch Caves and the Cuilcagh boardwalk, part of a UNESCO Global Geopark. Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett both went to school here.
Enniskillen is small and quiet, and best for kayaking, walking and slow days on the water. Two days is right.
Where to stay
The town centre is small. Stay near the main street or the water.
Castle area
SightsAround Enniskillen Castle on the water.
Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Enniskillen
Visit Enniskillen Castle, on the water, which houses the Fermanagh County Museum and the museum of the Inniskillings regiments.
Take a boat to Devenish Island, a monastic site with a complete round tower and ruined abbey. On Boa Island, in Lower Lough Erne, the Janus figure is a two-faced stone carving that may date from the Iron Age.
The Marble Arch Caves, about half an hour away, are show caves explored partly by boat. Nearby, the Cuilcagh boardwalk, known as the Stairway to Heaven, climbs across blanket bog to a mountain ridge.
Castle Coole, a neoclassical mansion, and Florence Court are both National Trust houses close to town. Kayak or canoe on the lakes in summer.
Free things
Free things to do in Enniskillen
The town, the waterfront and the forest parks around the lakes are free.
The Cuilcagh boardwalk is free to walk; parking charges apply.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Enniskillen
Fermanagh has good local produce, including Fermanagh black bacon. Pubs and cafés in the town serve hearty food.
Blakes of the Hollow, a Victorian pub on the main street, is an institution.
A pub meal is £12 to £16.
Nightlife
Going out in Enniskillen
Enniskillen's nightlife is its pubs, with traditional music some nights.
A pint is £4.50 to £5.50.
Getting around
Getting around Enniskillen
The town is walkable.
There is no railway. Ulsterbus runs to Belfast in about two and a quarter hours, and buses run to Dublin and Sligo. 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.
A car is the easiest way to see the lakes, the caves and the countryside.
Costs
What Enniskillen costs
Enniskillen is mid-priced. A careful day is £40 to £55.
The costs that add up are boat trips, the caves and kayak hire.
The currency is the pound sterling. Cards work almost everywhere, including contactless on buses. The border is close, and some businesses take euros.
Safety
Staying safe in Enniskillen
Enniskillen is very safe.
On the lakes, wear a buoyancy aid, and check the weather before kayaking. On the Cuilcagh boardwalk, the weather changes fast.
Emergency number is 999 or 112.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The Beckett festival brings theatre to Samuel Beckett's school town.
Summer
Happy Days Beckett Festival
Enniskillen
Theatre and music celebrating Samuel Beckett, who went to school here.
June to August
Lakeland summer
Lough Erne
Kayaking, boating and island trips.
When to go
May to September, for the water.
Jan
Quiet
Feb
Quiet
Mar
Spring
Apr
Green
May
Good
Jun
Long evenings
Jul
Lake season
Aug
Busy
Sep
Good
Oct
Autumn
Nov
Wet
Dec
Quiet
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in pounds.
Excludes boat trips, the caves and kayak hire.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Enniskillen travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Enniskillen worth visiting?
Yes, for the lakes, the islands, the caves and a quiet small town on the water.
How do I get to Enniskillen?
By bus from Belfast, about two and a quarter hours. There is no railway.
What is the Stairway to Heaven?
The Cuilcagh boardwalk, which climbs over blanket bog to a mountain ridge.
Do I need a car?
It is the easiest way to reach the caves, the boardwalk and the lakes.
Can I visit the islands?
Yes. Boats run to Devenish Island in summer.
How many days do you need?
Two.
When is the best time to visit?
May to September.
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