- For other places with the same name, see Derry (disambiguation).
Derry or Londonderry (Irish:Doire, meaning "Oak Grove"), is the second city of Northern Ireland. A lot of Derry’s sights are meshed with its history; the 16th-century walls which surround the city are among the oldest and the best preserved citadel walls in Europe. It is situated on the River Foyle in County Londonderry, close to County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland.
Understand
Derry/Londonderry The name of the city is a point of political dispute, with unionists advocating the longer name, and nationalists advocating the shorter. One common attempt at compromise is to refer to the county as "Londonderry" and the city as "Derry", but this is by no means universally accepted. There is no common consensus either in politics or elsewhere as to which name is preferred; the city council is officially known as "Derry", but the city is officially recognised as "Londonderry" by the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK government. Whilst road signs in the Republic of Ireland use "Derry", alongside the Irish language translation "Doire", road signs in Northern Ireland will always read (unless vandalised) "Londonderry". Another compromise is to use both names simultaneously, as in "Derry/Londonderry"; this has led to the humorous nickname "Stroke City" for the / symbol. |
Situated on the banks of River Foyle, Derry is the second largest city in Northern Ireland and fourth largest on the island after Dublin, Belfast and Cork. It is one of the oldest inhabited places in the whole island of Ireland. As they say there, 'Derry was a city when Belfast was still a swamp'. It has a population of roughly 105,000 in 2011.
Since the peace process in Northern Ireland, Derry is slowly emerging as an upbeat cosmopolitan city with great potential and huge tourist interest. In July 2010, Derry was awarded City of Culture for 2013.
A huge percentage of Derry’s population fall into the 20–30 age group and there are plenty of places to cater for them with lots of clothes shops and boutiques, pubs, bars and clubs and Derry's traditional Irish and folk music scene are well-established.
History
Derry's history dates back over 1,450 years, a lasting reminder of the early inhabitants of the area is the Iron Age fort, just over the border in County Donegal, known as the Grianan of Aileach.
In the 6th century St Columba/Colmcille established a monastery in Derry. Shifting ten centuries later to the Plantation of Ulster, King James I of England had the wealthy guilds of London build up the city of Derry (hence the title Londonderry) and surround it by the defensive walls that still ring the city today.
These walls witnessed one of the most prominent events in the history of Derry. In 1688 the city was laid siege by the Earl of Antrim and the Catholic forces of James II, the English king who was deposed in favour of Protestant William of Orange. The settlers of the city, who were Protestant, barricaded themselves within the walls, when a group of apprentice boys from London, on seeing the oncoming forces, locked the city gates, and so started the Great Siege of Derry.
The siege was to be the longest in British history, lasting some 105 days, during which an estimated third of the city’s then population of 30,000 died through disease and starvation. When James II rode up to the city walls and laid down terms for surrender he was greeted with shouts of ‘No Surrender’. The siege was finally broken when the relief ship Mountjoy broke the boom which was laid across the River Foyle beside the city.
However the legacy of the Great Siege of Derry lasted for centuries with the Catholic and Protestant communities in Derry still largely divided today. During the years of the Troubles, Derry witnessed some of the most prominent and terrible events of those times. It was on Derry's Bogside area that British soldiers shot dead 14 civil rights protesters in what became known as Bloody Sunday. The majority of the Bogside murals commemorate this tragic loss of innocents.
Watch
- Derry Girls. A sitcom set in 1990s Derry during the Troubles. It follows the lives of four Northern Irish teenage girls and one's male English cousin, who all attend a Catholic girls' secondary school. Interspersed with the '90s nostalgia, coming-of-age themes, and dark (and potty-mouthed) humour are some poignant historical moments. The show airs on Channel 4 in the UK and can be streamed on Netflix in most countries.
Get in
By plane
1 City of Derry Airport (LDY IATA), Eglinton BT47 3GY (On A2, 7 miles east of city). Loganair fly from London Stansted and Glasgow. Ryanair fly from Edinburgh and Liverpool; in summer they also fly to Alicante and Faro. Buses stop on the main road 200 yards from the terminal, see Get Around. A taxi to Derry might be £11 and take 20 min; they usually await incoming flights, otherwise call them from the yellow phones as you come out of Arrivals. 
You could also fly into Belfast City or International Airport, or Dublin, all with car hire and public transport. The Airporter bus runs hourly from Derry bus station direct to International then City Airport. The bus from Dublin to Derry stops at Dublin Airport, but there are only 3 per day.
By train
Trains run hourly, daily from Belfast Great Victoria Street via Lanyon Place and other Belfast stations, Antrim (for International Airport), Ballymena and Coleraine (for Portrush), taking just over two hours to Derry. The last stretch of line along the coast is very scenic. Normally these trains run hourly, daily, but since Jan 2021 alternate trains have terminated at Coleraine, so the service is every two hours.
Derry's railway station is 2 Waterside, on the east bank of the River Foyle. Walk across the Craigavon Bridge or the Peace Bridge via Ebrington Square or take a shuttle bus to the city centre.
By car
From Belfast the direct route is M2 / A6, but there are several scenic alternatives depending on how much of the Antrim Coast you want to take in.
From Dublin take M1 to the N33 for Ardee, then N2 north via Monaghan to the border, then A5 via Omagh and Strabane.
Road signs south of the border read "Derry". Those north of the border call it "Londonderry" but are often vandalised. It's as much mischief as political, so don't be surprised to encounter a sign for London Zoo.
By bus
Ulsterbus Goldline 212 runs from Belfast Europa station to Derry hourly M-Sa and every 2 hours Sunday, taking just under two hours. Bus 273 takes a longer route south of Lough Neagh via Dungannon, Omagh and Strabane.
Bus X3 / X4 runs 3 times a day from Dublin Busáras and Airport, taking 3 hr 30 min either via Monaghan and Omagh or via Armagh, Dungannon and Cookstown.
There are also connections via Enniskillen to Sligo, Galway and Limerick.
The bus station is 3 Foyle Street Buscentre at the foot of city centre.
Get around
Derry is essentially split (by the River Foyle) into two main areas - The Waterside and The Cityside/Derry Side. The two banks of the river are connected by three bridges. The elder of these is the Craigavon Bridge, a double-decker bridge which once carried trains on its lower deck. The Foyle Bridge, opened in 1974, is a four-lane concrete bridge, which is further from the city centre.
The east side of the river is known as The Waterside. This is traditionally the home of Derry's unionist population.
The west side of the Foyle is usually known as The Cityside. This is predominantly nationalist and contains most of the tourist attractions, the city centre and The Guildhall. Here you will find the city walls and the Bogside. The city centre is small and suitable for walking. There are bus services from the main terminal on Foyle St and local bus stops dotted along the same road, but many people actually prefer to get about by taxi. Fares are surprisingly cheap with the average journey costing £3.00. Taxi men in Derry love a good chat, so if you get them going they'll not be prone to bumping up the fare.
See
As well as excellent tours around the city and its 17th-century walls, Derry also boasts a number of excellent visitor attractions. The Tower Museum is an award winning attraction, telling the history of the city and includes a range of exhibitions, while Derry's Guildhall, St Columb's Cathedral, St Eugene's Cathedral and St Augustine's Chapel are all historic buildings of stunning architecture.
Other sights include the fascinating Bogside Murals found on the walls of what is known as Free Derry Corner and depict various events in the history of the town, from the Nationalist perspective. A more contemporary sculpture in the city, known as Hands Across the Divide, serves as a symbol of the two communities coming together.
The city walls are the best-preserved in all of Ireland and make about a one-mile circumference around the city centre.
City walls
Derry is the only remaining completely intact walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples of a walled city in Europe. The walls constitute the largest monument in State care in Northern Ireland and, as the last walled city to be built in Europe, stands as the most complete and spectacular.
The Walls were built during the period 1613-1618 by "the honourable the Irish Society" as defences for early 17th century settlers from England and Scotland. The Walls, which are approximately 1 mile (1.5 km) in circumference and which vary in height and width between 12 and 35 feet (4 to 12 metres), are completely intact and form a walkway around the inner city. They provide a unique promenade to view the layout of the original town which still preserves its Renaissance style street plan. The four original gates to the Walled City are Bishop’s Gate, Ferryquay Gate, Butcher Gate and Shipquay Gate to which three further gates were added later, Magazine Gate, Castle Gate and New Gate, making seven gates in total. Historic buildings within the walls include the 1633 Gothic cathedral of St Columb, the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall and the courthouse.
It is one of the few cities in Europe that never saw its fortifications breached, withstanding several sieges including one in 1689 which lasted 105 days, hence the city's nickname,The Maiden City.
Bogside
Take a walk around the "Free Derry" corner between the Bogside and the western side of the old city walls. Stop and look at the political murals made by local artists during the 90s, depicting key events in the harsh conflict haunting Northern Ireland. In the same area, the Free Derry monument, Free Derry Museum, and Bloody Sunday memorial are also located. Taking a guided tour of the Bogside is probably the best option for visitors.
Museums
The city is home to several museums. (Contact Tourist Information for their opening times which can be somewhat erratic):
- 1 Tower Museum, Union Hall Place, ☏ 44 28 7137-2411. Considered the main museum of the city, it tells the story of Derry from pre-historic times to the foundation of the city in 542, the siege of 1689, the Irish Famine of 1846, the partition of Ireland in 1921, the Troubles of 1969-1994, up until modern times. The museum now houses a new exhibition of the Spanish Armada. Voted European museum of the year in 1994.
- 2 Railway museum, Foyle Road. Details the city's railway heritage and four railway companies.
- 3 Harbour Museum, Harbour Square. The city's maritime museum.
- 4 Genealogy Centre, Butcher Street. Trace your Irish ancestry!
- 5 Free Derry Museum, Glenfada Park. A museum of the Northern Irish conflict. A section is dedicated to the Bloody Sunday and its aftermath.
- 6 The People's Gallery Murals (Bogside Murals), Rossville Street. 24 hours daily. The "Bogside Artists", who painted the murals in the Bogside, tell the story of over thirty years of turbulent history and unrest through their paintings. Free.
- 7 Old Gaol, Fountain. Visit by prior arrangement only. A small museum of Loyalist memorabilia. Only one of the original gaol (jail) towers remain, the rest having been demolished in 1973. Wolfetone, one of the leaders of the 1798 United Irishmen rebellion, was imprisoned here prior to his execution.
- 8 Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall, Society Street. A museum is housed in the main building detailing the history of the Apprentice Boys and their prominent role in the 1689 Siege.
Other sights
- 9 Guildhall, Guildhall St, BT48 7BB, ☏ 44 28 7137 6510. 11:00–16:00 daily. Built in 1890, this Grade A listed building is where the Derry City and Strabane District Council meet. Free.
- 10 Peace Bridge, Queens Quay, BT48 7NN (from the W access via Shipquay Pl & Foyle Embankment (A2 road), from the E approach from Ebrington Sq), ☏ 44 28 7126 7284, ✉[email protected]. 24 hours daily. Opened in 2011, the Peace Bridge is a pedestrian crossing over the River Foyle connecting the Waterside to the heart of the city centre, and in turn bringing the Catholic and Protestant communities closer together. Free.
- 11 St Columb's Cathedral, 17 London St, BT48 6RQ, ☏ 44 28 7126 7313. St Columb's Cathedral is the cathedral church and episcopal see of the Church of Ireland's Diocese of Derry and Raphoe.
- 12 St Eugene's Cathedral, Creggan St, BT48 9AP, ☏ 44 28 7126 2894. St Eugene's Cathedral is the "Mother Church" for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Derry. The groundbreaking was in 1849 and it was completed in 1903.
Do
- 1 Derry City Football Club (Derry City F.C.), 155 Lone Moor Rd, BT48 9LA, ☏ 44 28 7137 3111. Derry City F.C. play their home matches are played the Brandywell Stadium, in the Brandywell area of the city, with most league matches taking place on Friday night. The club play in the League of Ireland Premier Division, which is actually the league of the Republic of Ireland. Visitors to the club with be assured of a warm welcome and a lively atmosphere, with the club being one of the top teams in the country.
- Institute FC also play soccer at Brandywell Stadium, but they play in the NIFL (Danske Bank) Premiership, the game's top tier in Northern Ireland.
Events
The city is host to an annual Halloween Carnival on the 31st October. Upwards of 30,000 revellers dressed in fancy dress costumes throng the streets and bars until the early hours. It is the biggest festival of its kind in Ireland attracting visitors from as far as Australia, Japan and the USA.
Learn
- Magee College is a campus of the University of Ulster located in the city.
Buy
Most of Derry's retail stores are situated well within walking distance of the city centre. The main shopping malls are Foyleside and the Richmond Centre. Between them, these malls contain many of the stores which one would expect to find in any city in the UK or Ireland, such as Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and Dunnes Stores.
Derry's last remaining home-grown department store is Austins, in The Diamond, and claims to be the world's oldest independent department store.Be sure to visit Guildhall Square during the day, where a local market operates.
The town centre is very busy on a Saturday as many travel from the Republic to take advantage of Pound/Euro strengths. However Sunday is very quiet and many shops do not open.
Eat
Budget
- 1 Fiorentini's, 67-69 Strand Rd, BT48 7BW, ☏ 44 28 7126 0653. M–Sa 09:15–17:15, Su 11:00–17:15. Italian-owned cafe, known throughout the city for its great value meals, and home to the best ice-cream in town. Be sure to try the Knickerbocker Glory! Great food, staff very helpful, especially the three owners.
- 2 Doherty's Home Bakery, 23 William St, BT48 6EP, ☏ 44 28 7126 9376. M–Sa 07:00–17:30, closed Su. A true greasy spoon cafe, there are a number of bakeries around the town all run by this local chain, but their cafe on William Street is the best place to go after walking around the walls and Bogside area for a cheap and tasty lunch. the cafe is located in the back behind the main bakery.
- 3 Guapo, 69 Strand Rd, BT48 7AD, ☏ 44 28 7136 5585. M–Sa 12:00–21:00, Su 14:00–21:00. Burrito bar with great selection of tasty and affordable Mexican food. Takeaway or small sit in area available. £4–£8.
Mid-range
- 4 Danano Forno, 4 Lower Clarendon St, BT48 7AH, ☏ 44 28 7127 7500, ✉[email protected]. 16:00–22:30 daily. A really nice Italian that is relatively cheap but great food. £4–£11.
- 5 Badgers Bar and Restaurant, 18 Orchard St, BT48 6EG, ☏ 44 28 7136 3306. 12:00–01:00 daily. A great port of call for lunch while shopping. Can be crowded and cramped at busy times.
- 6 Quaywest, 20A Queens Quay, BT48 7AS (off Strand Rd). By the Waterfront, quite near the Mandarin Palace. Serves light and sumptuous cuisine with an array of alcoholic drinks. Relatively cheap. £6–£18.
- 7 The Exchange, Queens Quay, BT48 7AY, ☏ 44 28 7127 3990, ✉[email protected]. M–F 12:00–14:30 & 17:00–22:00, Sa 12:00–22:00, Su 15:00–21:00. The best restaurant in Derry in the opinion of many ... try the duck!. £8–£20.
- 8 Siam Thai, 12A Shipquay St, BT48 6DN, ☏ 44 28 7128 1111. F–W 16:30–21:30, closed Th. Traditional Thai restaurant in the city centre, dishes are prepared by authentic Thai chefs and are packed with flavour.
Splurge
- 9 The Mandarin Palace, Lower Clarendon Street, BT48 7AW (between Strand Rd & Queens Quay), ☏ 44 28 7137 3656, ✉[email protected]. M–Th 16:00–22:30, F Sa 16:00–23:00, Su 13:00–22:30. Long established Chinese food restaurant with excellent service and value, if you can spare the cash that is! It is however well worth the money. £15–£30.
- 10 Cedar, 32 Carlisle Rd, BT48 6JW, ☏ 44 28 7137 3868. W–Sa 17:00–21:00. Lebanese restaurant run by a local lady and her Lebanese chef husband. Great selection of fresh, Lebanese cuisine (good for vegetarians). Very small restaurant so booking is advised. It is also bring your own alcohol (£2 corkage charge) as they do not sell wine or beer themselves. £15–£30.
- 11 Walled City Brewery, 70 Ebrington St, BT47 6FA, ☏ 44 28 7134 3336, ✉[email protected]. Th 17–20:00, F 13:00–15:00 & 17:00–21:30, Sa 13:00–15:00 & 17:00–22:00, Su 13:00–16:00 & 17:00–19:45, M–W closed. Microbrewery with attached restaurant. Fantastic food. £3–£20.
- 12 Timberquay Restaurant & Wine Bar, 100 Strand Rd, BT48 7NR, ☏ 44 28 7137 0020. M–Th 12:00–14:30 & 17:00–21:00, F Sa 12:00–20:00, Su 13:00–21:00. A new vibrant dining experience located on the banks of the River Foyle. £17–£23.
- 13 Brown's Bonds Hill, 1 Bonds Hill, BT47 6DW, ☏ 044 028 7134 5180, ✉[email protected]. Tu 17:00–21:00, W Th 12:00–14:30 & 17:00–21:00, F 12:00–14:30 & 17:00–22:00, Sa 17:00–22:00, Su M closed. Now under new management, with multi-award winning chef Ian Orr. Certainly one of the North West's finest restaurants and first champagne lounge. Also has a sister restaurant in the city centre, Browns in Town. £4–£45.
Drink
Derry is a small city with a turbulent past. Odds are, you shouldn't have any problems, but be aware of tensions. (see "Stay Safe" below)
Located in the centre of the city, just outside the Walled City, Waterloo Street is a steep hill lined with some of the city's liveliest bars.
- 1 Sandinos, Water St, BT48 6BQ (near the bus terminal), ☏ 44 28 7130 9297, ✉[email protected]. M–Th 12:30–01:00, F Sa 12:30–01:15, Su 13:00–00:30. Perhaps the most interesting bar in Derry. Named after Augusto C. Sandino, the bar has very strong Central/South American vibe. The walls are decorated with posters and paraphernalia of leftist movements form Cuba and Nicaragua amongst others. There are also images from the city's own past and struggle through the Troubles, including the battle of the Bogside. This is where you will find Derry's intelligentsia and one or two local celebs, a must for a pint when in the Walled City. Decent selection of bottled beers.
- 2 Blackbird, 24 Foyle St, BT48 6AL, ☏ 44 28 7136 2111. M–Sa 11:30–01:00, Su 12:00–00:00. Very popular city centre bar, has a great selection of craft beer and cocktails, also serves pub food. Live music on most evenings.
- 3 Guildhall Taphouse (Dopey Dick Brewing Co.), 4 Custom House St, BT48 6AA, ☏ 44 28 7136 4888, ✉[email protected]. M–Th 12:00–01:00, F Sa 12:00–01:30, Su 12:00–00:30. Popular craft beer bar in the city centre. DJ sets or live music on the weekends.
- 4 Peadar O'Donnell's, 63 Waterloo St, BT48 6HD, ☏ 44 28 7137 2318. M–Sa 11:30–01:30, Su 12:30–00:30. If you are looking for traditional Irish folk music sessions, this is the best place in Derry. Such sessions are held nearly every day of the week, and both locals and visitors create a nice atmosphere. Drinkers can access Gweedore Bar through an interior door.
- 5 Gweedore Bar, 61 Waterloo St, BT48 6HD. M–F 18:30–01:30, Sa 11:30–01:30, Su 12:30–00:30. Geared purely to live music but with a more contemporary band nature than Peadar O'Donnells. Here you can listen to line ups of all ages strutting their stuff giving their interpretations of all the favourites and some original self penned music. Upstairs is in a nightclub-style, with disco nights.
- 6 The Metro, 3-4 Bank Pl, BT48 6EA, ☏ 44 28 7126 7401. You'll find this charming bar in the shadow of the imposing city walls. The décor is interesting, with intriguing bric-a-brac collected from around the world, and lots of alcoves provide an intimate atmosphere. The pub grub here is of a high standard and features every thing from soup and sandwiches to a hearty beef stew in Guinness. A night the upper level transforms into ad hoc dance area, filled with a young crowd. Complete with a roof-top smoking area, great on a sunny day.
- 7 Oakgrove Bar, 88 Bishop St, BT48 6QE, ☏ 44 28 7126 0856, ✉[email protected]. M–F 11:30–01:00, Sa 11:30–2:00, Su 12:30–01:00. Located close to the Brandywell Stadium, this bar is busiest on Derry City FC matchdays.
Sleep
Budget
- 1 Groarty House And Manor, 62 Groarty Rd, BT48 0JY, ☏ 44 28 7126-1403. Check-in: 17:00–20:00, check-out: 08:00–10:30. Groarty Manor is a newly built house, set in its own one acre site surrounded by trees, and is tastefully furnished in warm relaxing colours. Has disabled access and disabled bathroom facilities on the ground floor. It offers a great base for touring County Londonderry, Donegal, and Derry City itself with its historic walls, museums and various other tourist attractions. £48–64.
- 2 The Merchant's House, 16 Queen St, BT48 7EQ, ☏ 44 28 7126-9691, 44 28 7126-4223. A wonderful old house with Bed and Breakfast. Nice and clean, good breakfast. No en suite bathroom because it would be a pity to change the house.
Mid-range
- 3 Maldron Hotel, Butcher Street, BT48 6HL, ☏ 44 28 7137 1000, ✉[email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: noon. Modern four-star hotel, centrally located inside the city walls, 200 m (660 ft) from Guildhall. Underground parking provided. £66–124.
- 4 Travelodge Derry Hotel, 22-24 Strand Rd (200 m from Guildhall), ☏ 44 870 1 911 733, fax: 44 28 7127-1277, ✉[email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: from £35. Use of adjacent multistorey car park.
- 5 Da Vinci's Hotel, 15 Culmore Road, BT48 8JB, ☏ 44 28 7127 9111, ✉[email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Modern 4-star hotel. 65 spacious bedrooms, award winning traditional Irish bar, grillroom restaurant, Spirit Bar night club, Style Bar function space and meeting rooms. All guests can avail of complimentary car parking, unlimited wi-fi and weekend entertainment. £56–£114.
- 6 Waterfoot Hotel, Caw Roundabout, BT47 6TB, ☏ 44 28 7134-5500, ✉[email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. 5 km (3.1 mi) north of the city centre on the east bank of the river (Waterside). Free car parking. £58–£99.
- 7 City Hotel Derry, Queens Quay, ☏ 44 28 7136-5800, ✉[email protected]. Four-star hotel on Queen’s Quay. Spacious guest rooms, conference and event venues and dining options.
Splurge
- 8 Bishop's Gate Hotel, 24 Bishop Street, BT48 6PP, ☏ 44 28 7114 0300. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 11:00. A boutique hotel in the city centre. Nice bar and restaurant on site as well. £99–165.
- 9 Everglades Hotel, 41-53 Prehen Road, BT47 2NH, ☏ 44 28 7132 1066, ✉[email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Four-star hotel, 2 km south of the city centre on the east bank of the river (Waterside). Free car parking. £76–120.
- 10 Beech Hill Country House Hotel, 32 Ardmore Road, BT47 3QP, ☏ 44 28 7134-9279, ✉[email protected]. Five-star hotel that Bill and Hilary Clinton stayed in. Small hotel in a converted country house, in large grounds 5 km east of the city centre on the east bank of the river (Waterside). Free car parking. £85–154.
Stay safe
After Belfast, Derry was the main centre of trouble during Northern Ireland's conflict. As a majority Catholic city, although significantly improved, some tensions still remain between the Republican and Loyalist communities in some parts of Derry. Wearing items of clothing which would identify you as being from any particular religious denomination or political viewpoint (for example Rangers or Celtic football shirts) is not advised.
Derry was awarded Purple Flag status in October 2011, which recognises that the city provides evening visitors with an entertaining, diverse, and safe night out, and has brought the Purple Flag accreditation to Northern Ireland for the first time.
Cope
For someone not familiar with English, the Derry accent can be quite challenging to understand at first (sometimes even to the native English speaker) and they tend to speak quite loudly and fast. However, if they know you are not from the area they will more than likely make an attempt to be more understandable.
The city is built on some quite steep hills. Therefore it is worth noting that a lot of walking up and down these hills will be required. They can become quite slippery in cold weather and sometimes when wet.
Go next
The city is quite small, making it easy to escape to the surrounding countryside. County Londonderry and nearby County Donegal have a wealth of green fields and sights to appeal to nature lovers. Ulsterbuses can be used for outings. These are operated by Translink.
A trip to the Giant's Causeway on the north coast is strongly recommended. If you have a choice, come early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds of tourists treading all over the place. Translink operate buses to and from the Giant's Causeway from both Derry and Belfast.
Not far outside Derry, across the border in Donegal is Grianan of Aileach. This ancient stone fort from the Early Christian period sits on a hilltop between Derry and Letterkenny at Inishowen. It affords superb views of loughs Foyle and Swilly, and of Derry.