Derry is the only completely intact walled city in Ireland, and the walls themselves - a 1.5 km circuit you can walk in under an hour - are the spine of a visit. Inside and around them is a city still visibly shaped by the Troubles, from the Bogside murals to the Museum of Free Derry, alongside a compact, walkable centre with its own cathedral and craft village. It rewards a full day rather than a half-day because the historical layers (plantation-era walls, Troubles-era Bogside, contemporary Peace Bridge) sit only minutes apart on foot.
| Distance | 115 km from Belfast (~1.5 hr drive) |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 1.5 hours by car; 1 hr 40 min by Ulsterbus 212 |
| Getting there | Ulsterbus 212 from Europa Bus Centre, Belfast (every 30–60 min, return ~£12/$15). Drive via M2/A6. |
| Address | Derry Visitor Information Centre, 44 Foyle Street, Derry, BT48 6AT |
How to get there
- Ulsterbus 212 express
- Self-drive via A6
- Train via Coleraine (2h 30min, £12/$15)
Location
Derry Visitor Information Centre, 44 Foyle Street, Derry, BT48 6AT
54.9961, -7.3090 View on map
Highlights
- The city walls - walk the full circuit for views over the Bogside and the Guildhall
- Bogside murals - the People's Gallery murals on Rossville Street depicting events including Bloody Sunday
- Museum of Free Derry - focused on the civil rights movement and the events of the Troubles from the Bogside community's perspective
- Peace Bridge - a pedestrian and cycle bridge across the Foyle linking the mainly unionist Waterside to the mainly nationalist cityside
- St Columb's Cathedral - the plantation-era Church of Ireland cathedral inside the walls, with siege relics inside