Letterkenny to Derry City by Coach or Minibus
Derry is about 35 km from Letterkenny, across the border in Northern Ireland. The N13 and A2 make it an easy day trip for the walled city and the Guildhall, and a common link to flights and trains on the UK side.
Journey
- Letterkenny to Derry City
- Approximately 40 mins
- Serving Letterkenny
Route
The coach takes the N13 east from Letterkenny, past Manorcunningham and Newtowncunningham, to the border at Bridgend. The road becomes the A2 and enters Derry from the north-west along the Buncrana Road. There are no tolls. Grianán of Aileach, a stone ring fort on a hilltop above Lough Swilly, is a short turn off the road near Bridgend; ask the operator whether its access road suits your vehicle.
Parking in Derry
Foyleside shopping centre runs a coach park on Foyle Street with room for up to eight coaches and drop-off and pick-up zones for the city centre. Space is limited, so the operator books ahead. Foyle Street runs below the Guildhall and the city walls, so the group walks straight into the centre. If the coach park is full, the driver confirms another set-down.
What to see
Derry's 17th-century walls survive complete and can be walked round the old city. The Guildhall stands at Shipquay Place, just outside them. The Bogside murals and Free Derry Corner are a short walk below the walls, and the Peace Bridge crosses the Foyle to Ebrington on the east bank. A half day covers the walls and the Guildhall; a full day allows a guided walk and a museum.
Border practicalities
No routine checks happen at the border, but Irish and British citizens should carry photo ID, and visitors of other nationalities should check whether they need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation. Derry uses sterling, and speed limits on the A2 are in miles per hour. Card payments work on both sides, but any cash you need in Derry is sterling.
Can we catch a train from Derry?
Yes. Derry~Londonderry station on the Waterside, across the Foyle, has trains to Belfast via Coleraine. The coach can drop the group there for onward travel.
Is Derry a day trip or a transfer?
Both work. Day groups usually return to Letterkenny in the evening; groups touring Northern Ireland often move on from Derry towards the Causeway Coast with their luggage.
Popular Transfers from Letterkenny
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