Free Derry Travel Guide & Mobile App

Plan your Derry trip with Evendo. Get free guides to top attractions, restaurants, hotels, and bars. Web access or download the mobile app.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play Download the Free PDF guide
Derry
Derry photo 2
Derry photo 3
All photos

Derry, Northern Ireland, combines medieval city walls, murals, the Peace Bridge, lively music, rich history, riverside walks and distinctive local culture.

A City Shaped by the Foyle

Derry, also known as Londonderry, stands on the banks of the River Foyle in Northern Ireland, close to the Atlantic coast and the border with the Republic of Ireland. Its historic core is enclosed by a remarkably complete circuit of seventeenth-century walls, creating a compact city centre where cathedral roofs, church spires, Georgian streets and contemporary cultural venues sit within easy walking distance. The walls remain the defining feature of the city, offering elevated views across the Bogside, the Foyle and the surrounding hills.
Read more about Derry

History in the Streets

Derry’s past is visible in its architecture and public art. St Columb’s Cathedral reflects the city’s early Christian associations, while the Guildhall and the Diamond recall its civic and mercantile development. Across the walls, the Bogside murals present powerful interpretations of the civil-rights era and the Troubles, giving visitors context for the political and social history of Northern Ireland. The Museum of Free Derry deepens that understanding through personal testimony and historical interpretation.

Culture, Music and Walking

The city’s cultural life centres on festivals, theatre, traditional music and independent cafés, with the Guildhall Square and Waterloo Street providing lively evening settings. The Peace Bridge links the historic centre with the former military barracks area at Ebrington, making the river a central part of the modern city experience. Beyond the centre, the Foyle Valley and nearby coastal landscapes offer scenic walks and excursions, while Derry’s compact scale makes it particularly rewarding to explore on foot.

When is the best time to visit Derry?

Best: June–August · 23–24°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January991
February986
March1281
April1776
May2071
June (best)2366
July (best)2461
August (best)2466
September2171
October1776
November1481
December1286

Getting to and around Derry

How to get there

City of Derry Airport is the nearest commercial airport, located at Eglinton, outside the city and served by road connections into central Derry. Travellers can also use Belfast International Airport or Belfast City Airport, both farther away and requiring onward road or public-transport travel. Dublin Airport is another possible gateway for international visitors, particularly when combined with rail or coach travel through the island of Ireland. Derry railway station is on the Belfast–Derry line, with services passing through towns including Coleraine. Long-distance buses connect Derry with Belfast, Dublin and other regional centres, while the A6 and A2 provide important road approaches.

Transportation

Derry’s historic centre is compact and well suited to walking, with the city walls, Guildhall, Bogside and many museums within a manageable distance of one another. Local bus services link the centre with suburban districts and nearby communities, while taxis are useful for the airport, late-evening journeys and destinations beyond the central area. The Peace Bridge provides a direct pedestrian and cycling connection across the River Foyle to Ebrington and the Waterside. Drivers should remember that the city centre has one-way streets, restricted areas and limited parking around the walled core, so leaving a car outside the busiest central streets can be more convenient.

Best attractions in Derry

Derry’s principal attractions are concentrated within and around the historic centre. Walking the complete seventeenth-century city walls reveals bastions, gates, old cannon and broad views over the Bogside and River Foyle, while the Tower Museum presents archaeological and social history in an accessible setting. The Guildhall, with its ornate interior and stained glass, introduces the city’s civic heritage, and nearby St Columb’s Cathedral offers a quieter encounter with its plantation-era past. Across the river, the Peace Bridge leads towards Ebrington Square and open waterfront space. In the Bogside, the People’s Gallery murals form a powerful sequence of large-scale public artworks connected with the civil-rights era and the Troubles; the Museum of Free Derry adds detailed testimony and context. Cultural venues, festivals and riverside walks broaden the sightseeing experience beyond the walls.

Show more attractions

Best landmarks in Derry

Derry’s walls are its defining landmark: a complete fortified circuit begun in 1613, with gates, bastions and elevated walks that explain the city’s strategic importance. Inside them, St Columb’s Cathedral preserves an important seventeenth-century building associated with the plantation city, while the Guildhall represents the civic and commercial confidence of a later period through its red-sandstone exterior, tower and stained glass. Across the Foyle, the Peace Bridge has become a contemporary symbol of connection between communities and former military lands. In the Bogside, the People’s Gallery murals are significant public landmarks of political memory, depicting episodes and themes from the civil-rights movement and the Troubles. The Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall and the Diamond also reflect the city’s complex commemorative traditions.

Show more landmarks

Explore Derry on the map

Plan your Derry trip on one map. See where the top attractions, landmarks, restaurants, bars and hotels are, find what's near where you're staying, and book hotels and experiences in a few clicks.

Best restaurants in Derry

Derry’s food culture reflects the produce of Northern Ireland’s north-west: local dairy, seafood from the Atlantic coast, meat, potatoes, soda bread and seasonal vegetables all appear in traditional and contemporary cooking. City-centre cafés and restaurants cluster around the walled core, Waterloo Street and the riverside, with menus ranging from familiar pub food to modern interpretations of regional ingredients. Ulster staples such as an Ulster fry, wheaten bread, champ and hearty stews are easy to encounter, while bakeries and cafés provide a more informal way to sample local habits. The nearby Foyle is associated with salmon, oysters and other seafood, although availability varies by season. Food markets, independent coffee shops and festival events add variety without displacing the city’s strong pub-and-café tradition.

Show more restaurants

Best bars in Derry

Evenings in Derry are closely tied to live music, conversation and the city-centre pub tradition rather than a large club scene. Waterloo Street is the best-known nightlife area, with traditional pubs and venues where Irish and contemporary music may feature, while bars around the Diamond, Strand Road and Guildhall Square provide more settings for a sociable evening. The city also has theatres, concerts and cultural events, particularly during festival periods, offering alternatives to drinking-led nightlife. The smaller scale of the centre makes it possible to move between venues on foot, although late-night journeys to outer districts are better made by taxi or local transport. Atmospheres can vary greatly between a relaxed traditional session and a busier weekend night.

Show more bars

Best nightclubs in Derry

Evenings in Derry are closely tied to live music, conversation and the city-centre pub tradition rather than a large club scene. Waterloo Street is the best-known nightlife area, with traditional pubs and venues where Irish and contemporary music may feature, while bars around the Diamond, Strand Road and Guildhall Square provide more settings for a sociable evening. The city also has theatres, concerts and cultural events, particularly during festival periods, offering alternatives to drinking-led nightlife. The smaller scale of the centre makes it possible to move between venues on foot, although late-night journeys to outer districts are better made by taxi or local transport. Atmospheres can vary greatly between a relaxed traditional session and a busier weekend night.

Show more nightclubs

Best shops in Derry

Shopping in Derry combines practical city-centre retail with independent businesses and small-scale craft outlets. Foyleside Shopping Centre and the Richmond Centre provide the main concentration of contemporary shops, while the streets around the Diamond and Ferryquay Street offer cafés, fashion retailers and local businesses. The Craft Village, arranged in a reconstructed eighteenth-century-style setting near the walls, is associated with craft shops, galleries and visitor-oriented retail, making it a useful place to look for locally made gifts and artwork. Independent makers may offer ceramics, textiles, jewellery, prints and food products reflecting the wider north-west. For everyday provisions, supermarkets and city-centre stores are convenient, while seasonal markets and festival stalls can add a more local dimension when operating.

Show more shops

Get your free copy of our complete guide to Derry, delivered straight to you.

Everything on this page, from attractions and restaurants to essentials and local phrases, in one PDF you can read offline, print or share.

Already have an account? Sign in

By clicking Create account, you accept the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Derry essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency in Derry is pound sterling, written as GBP or £, because the city is in the United Kingdom. Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in hotels, shops, restaurants, museums and transport settings, although smaller businesses, market stalls and some traditional venues may prefer cash or have minimum card-payment limits. Cash machines are available in the city centre, but international visitors should check whether their card provider applies foreign-transaction or withdrawal fees. Northern Irish banknotes are legal currency in the United Kingdom, though they may be less familiar to some businesses elsewhere in Britain.
Safety
Derry is generally straightforward to explore, particularly in the compact central area, but ordinary urban precautions remain sensible. Keep valuables secure in crowded streets, on buses and during festivals, and take care on the walls where steps, uneven paving and exposed edges require attention. At night, stay on well-used streets and use a licensed taxi if travelling beyond the centre or returning from evening entertainment. The city’s political history is publicly visible, especially in murals and memorials; visitors should approach such sites respectfully and avoid treating sensitive community symbols as curiosities.
Emergency Situations
Dial 999 or 112 for police, fire or ambulance services anywhere in the United Kingdom. Give the operator the city, street name, nearby landmark and any relevant access information, particularly when calling from the riverside or the city walls. For urgent medical problems, ambulance services can direct callers to the appropriate emergency department; for less serious conditions, pharmacies, NHS 111 services and local healthcare providers can offer guidance, although access arrangements may vary. International visitors should carry travel-insurance information and details of prescribed medicines, and should not delay calling emergency services when a situation is life-threatening.
Do's and Don'ts
Use the names Derry and Londonderry with awareness that both carry political and cultural significance; listening to local preferences is more considerate than turning the issue into a debate. Dress respectfully in churches and memorial spaces, and ask before photographing people, private homes or community events. In pubs, ordering at the bar is common, while tipping in restaurants is discretionary and usually reflects service rather than an automatic obligation. Do not climb on walls or monuments, disturb memorials, or treat murals connected with conflict as photogenic backdrops without considering their meaning.
Local Tips
The best orientation begins on the walls, particularly around the Cathedral Quarter and the Diamond, before descending towards the Bogside and crossing the Peace Bridge. The Guildhall, Museum of Free Derry and Tower Museum provide different kinds of historical context, so visiting more than one helps avoid a partial reading of the city. Ebrington offers a contrasting perspective on the riverfront and former military lands, while the Foyle embankment is suited to a quieter walk. For coastal scenery, plan a separate excursion and check transport connections rather than assuming frequent services to rural destinations.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHows it goin'[Hows it goin']
GoodbyeSee ya later[See ya later]
YesAye[Aye]
NoNah[Nah]
Please/You're welcomeNo bother[No bother]
Thank youThanks a million[Thanks a million]
Excuse me/SorrySorry[Sorry]
How are you?Howya?[Howya?]
Fine. And you?Grand, and yerself?[Grand, and yerself?]
Do you speak English?Do ya speak English?[Do ya speak English?]
I don't understandI dinna understand[I dinna understand]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCan I see the menu, please?[Can I see the menu, please?]
I don't eat meatI don't eat meat[I don't eat meat]
Cheers!Sláinte![Sláinte!]
I would like to pay, pleaseI'd like to settle up, please[I'd like to settle up, please]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![Help!]
Go away!Clear off![Clear off!]
Call the Police!Call the cops![Call the cops!]
Call a doctor!Get a doctor![Get a doctor!]
I'm lostI'm a bit lost[I'm a bit lost]
I'm illI'm not feelin' well[I'm not feelin' well]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I want to buy...[I want to buy...]
I'm just lookingJust lookin'[Just lookin']
How much is it?How much's that?[How much's that?]
That's too expensiveThat's a bit dear[That's a bit dear]
Can you lower the price?Can ya knock the price down?[Can ya knock the price down?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What time is it?[What time is it?]
It's one o'clockIt's one o'clock[It's one o'clock]
Half past (10)Half ten[Half ten]
MorningMornin'[Mornin']
AfternoonAfternoon[Afternoon]
EveningEvenin'[Evenin']
YesterdayYesterday[Yesterday]
TodayToday[Today]
TomorrowTomorrow[Tomorrow]
1One[One]
2Two[Two]
3Three[Three]
4Four[Four]
5Five[Five]
6Six[Six]
7Seven[Seven]
8Eight[Eight]
9Nine[Nine]
10Ten[Ten]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where's the...?[Where's the...?]
What's the address?What's the address?[What's the address?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can ya show me on the map?[Can ya show me on the map?]
When's the next (bus)?When's the next bus?[When's the next bus?]
A ticket (to ....)A ticket to...[A ticket to...]

History of Derry

Early Christian Foundation

Derry’s origins are closely associated with the monastery traditionally founded by St Columba, or Colmcille, in the sixth century. The name derives from the Irish doire, meaning an oak grove, and the settlement developed as an important ecclesiastical site on the west bank of the River Foyle. Although the medieval town changed considerably over time, its religious associations remained central to local identity. St Augustine’s Church and St Columb’s Cathedral, whose present building dates largely from the seventeenth century, preserve aspects of that long Christian history. The site’s position beside the Foyle also supported movement, trade and communication between the inland north-west and the Atlantic coast.

Plantation and the Walled City

The modern form of Derry was established during the early seventeenth-century Plantation of Ulster, when the London livery companies became involved in the settlement and administration of the area. The town was renamed Londonderry in the plantation context and rebuilt on a more regular plan. Construction of the city walls began in 1613 and was completed in 1618, creating a fortified settlement with streets arranged around the Diamond. The walls, gates and bastions that survive today belong chiefly to this period. Their construction altered the city’s political, religious and demographic character, embedding divisions that continued to influence Derry’s history for centuries.

The Siege of 1688–89

Derry became a major theatre of the Williamite conflict when the city resisted the forces of James II during the siege of 1688–89. The closing of the gates by thirteen young apprentices in December 1688 became one of the most enduring episodes in the city’s commemorative tradition. The siege lasted 105 days and was relieved in July 1689 when ships broke the boom across the River Foyle. The walls, bastions and surviving cannon provide a physical setting for understanding the event, although its memory has long carried different meanings for the city’s communities. The siege also reinforced Derry’s importance as a fortified and politically symbolic settlement.

Trade, Port and Industry

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Derry developed as a regional market, manufacturing centre and port. The River Foyle connected the city with coastal shipping, fishing and transatlantic routes, while shirt-making became a defining industry. The linen and garment trades employed large numbers of women and helped shape the city’s social geography, even as working conditions and economic fortunes varied. Warehouses, civic buildings and commercial streets reflected this growth. Derry also became an important point of departure during periods of emigration, linking the north-west of Ireland with Britain, North America and other parts of the wider Atlantic world.

Partition and the Civil-Rights Era

The partition of Ireland in 1921 left Derry in Northern Ireland, despite its position within a predominantly nationalist county and hinterland. Political representation, housing and employment became increasingly contentious in the decades that followed. In the late 1960s, civil-rights demonstrations in the city challenged discrimination and demanded political and social reform. Clashes in the Bogside in August 1969 marked a decisive escalation, followed by the prolonged conflict known as the Troubles. Bloody Sunday, when fourteen civil-rights marchers were killed by British soldiers on 30 January 1972, became an especially significant and contested moment in the conflict’s history.

Peace Process and Renewal

The 1990s peace process and the 1998 Belfast Agreement created the political conditions for a new phase in Derry’s public life, although the legacies of the conflict remain present. The city has invested in cultural interpretation, waterfront regeneration and stronger links between communities. The Peace Bridge, opened in 2011, became a prominent symbol of improved connections across the Foyle, while former military and industrial areas have gained new civic and cultural uses. Museums, murals and guided interpretation continue to address the past rather than conceal it, helping visitors understand how Derry’s contemporary identity has been shaped by memory, reconciliation and continuing debate.

Derry in Photos

Browse through our photo collection highlighting the charm and character of the destination.

0 / 0

Cities near Derry

The closest cities to Derry, if you have time for more than one stop.

Explore more

United Kingdom
More of the region

Explore more of United Kingdom

Discover the United Kingdom: A blend of rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant cities, offering a unique travel experience for every visitor.

Explore United Kingdom
The Evendo app on two phones

Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Companion to Derry

Unlock the best of Derry with Evendo, a 100% free app-based travel guide offering comprehensive insights into attractions, hotels, and local hotspots.

  • Comprehensive information on Derry's attractions, landmarks, and dining spots
  • Easy booking for hotels, tours, and experiences
  • Rich images, detailed descriptions, and local tips
Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play
More about the Evendo app

Discover Derry like never before with Evendo, your free, all-in-one travel guide. Explore top attractions, local tips, and book experiences effortlessly.

  • User-friendly navigation and 'Near me' feature
  • Curated local tips for a genuine local experience
  • 100% free with no in-app purchases

Embark on an unforgettable journey to Derry with Evendo, the quintessential travel guide app designed to transform your trip into an extraordinary adventure. From the historic city walls and the iconic Peace Bridge to the vibrant Guildhall and the enchanting Tower Museum, Derry is brimming with must-see landmarks that narrate captivating tales of the past.

With Evendo, uncover hidden gems and renowned attractions alike, ensuring you don't miss the awe-inspiring sites this city has to offer. Indulge your taste buds at renowned eateries like Browns Bonds Hill or discover the local flavors at the Walled City Brewery. Evendo's extensive database includes detailed descriptions, images, local tips, and maps for an enriching travel experience.

The app's seamless interface makes it effortless to book hotels, tours, and tickets, eliminating the hassle of planning logistics. Enjoy features like the 'Near me' option to explore your surroundings, curated local advice to experience Derry like a native, and comprehensive travel essentials to ensure a smooth journey.

Whether it's navigating through the lively streets or unearthing the city's rich history, Evendo is your passport to the best of Derry, and with global coverage, it becomes your essential travel companion worldwide.

Get the latest from Evendo

Hand-picked travel deals, new destination guides and trip ideas, straight to your inbox.