Verify Every journey time, fare, operator and frequency below is indicative and should be checked against current Translink, NI Railways, Bus Éireann and Aircoach timetables before this post is published. Times vary by day, service and traffic.
Derry sits in the north-west corner of the island, which makes people assume it is harder to reach than it is. It is not. There are direct coaches and a scenic rail line from Belfast, direct coaches from Dublin, and a small airport of its own a short hop outside the city. Here are the sensible options.
From Belfast
Belfast is the most common jumping-off point, and you have three good choices.
By coach. Translink runs an express Goldliner coach service between Belfast and Derry that is frequent through the day and reliable. The journey takes roughly Verify 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the service and stops. Verify current Goldliner route number, departure point in Belfast, frequency and single/return fares.
By train. The Belfast to Derry~Londonderry railway line, run by NI Railways, is one of the most scenic rail journeys in these islands, hugging the coast past Binevenagh and the long strand at Downhill before turning up the Foyle. Reckon on about Verify 2 hours 10 minutes end to end, a little longer than the coach but far prettier. Verify departure station in Belfast, frequency and fares; note whether services run from Grand Central or Lanyon Place.
By car. The drive is mostly along the A6, which has been upgraded in recent years, and takes around Verify 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes for the roughly Verify 70 miles. There is paid parking around the city centre and at the shopping centres near the walls.
From Dublin
Coming from the Republic, Derry is a straight run up the middle of the island.
By coach. Two operators run direct services between Dublin and Derry: Bus Éireann (Expressway) and Aircoach. Both connect Dublin city centre, and in Aircoach's case Dublin Airport, with Derry. The journey is around Verify 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours. Verify exact Bus Éireann and Aircoach route numbers, whether each stops at Dublin Airport, frequency and fares. For most visitors flying into Dublin, a direct coach north is the simplest way to reach Derry without changing.
By train. There is no direct train from Dublin to Derry. The rail option means taking an Enterprise or intercity service to Belfast and changing there for the Derry line, which is slower than the direct coach for most journeys. Verify current Dublin to Belfast rail times and connection details. For most people arriving from the south, then, the coach is both quicker and simpler.
By car. Driving from Dublin takes roughly Verify 3 hours for about Verify 150 miles, largely on the A5 and N2 corridor. Remember you will cross from the Republic into Northern Ireland on the way, which means the currency changes from euro to pounds, though there are no border checks.
City of Derry Airport
Derry has its own airport, City of Derry Airport, at Eglinton, about Verify 20 minutes and roughly Verify 7 miles north-east of the city. It is small and easy to get through, and it handles a handful of routes to and from Great Britain. Verify current airlines and destinations served, for example flights to and from London, Glasgow, Liverpool or Manchester.
From the airport into town. A taxi is the quickest option and takes about Verify 20 minutes, costing roughly Verify £15 to £20. There is also a bus service linking the airport with the city; Verify the current bus route number, frequency and whether it runs to meet flights. If you are hiring a car, the desks are at the terminal. Verify which car-hire firms operate at City of Derry Airport.
If your flights do not suit City of Derry, the larger Belfast International Airport is the usual alternative, and from there you can pick up a coach or drive on to Derry as above. Verify journey time and options from Belfast International to Derry.
Which option should you choose?
If you are coming from Belfast and are not in a hurry, take the train for the coastal run, one of the best short rail journeys anywhere on these islands. If you want the fastest and usually the cheapest trip, the Goldliner coach tends to win. From Dublin, a direct coach is almost always the simplest choice, since the alternative means changing trains at Belfast. And if you are flying, City of Derry lands you closest, while Belfast and Dublin airports give you more routes at the cost of a longer transfer.
One thing worth knowing before you arrive: the bus and rail stations sit on opposite banks of the Foyle. The main coach station is on the walled-city side near the Foyleside area, while the railway station is over on the Waterside, the east bank, a short walk or taxi across the river. Verify exact current locations of the bus and rail stations and the walking time between them and Guildhall Square.
Getting around once you are here
The good news is that you will not need much once you arrive. The walled city and the Bogside are compact and best seen on foot, and almost everything a visitor comes for is within a fifteen-minute walk of Guildhall Square. Taxis are easy to find in the centre, and there are local buses if you are staying further out or heading across the river to the Waterside.
A note on tickets and timing
For most services you can buy tickets on the day, but it is worth booking coach seats ahead at busy times, particularly around the Halloween season and the May jazz weekend, when the city fills up. If you are coming for a day trip rather than staying over, check the time of the last service back before you set out, as evening frequencies drop off, especially from smaller stops. Verify current booking arrangements and the times of last services from Belfast and Dublin.
Wherever you have come from, the meeting point for most of our tours is Guildhall Square, right by the Peace Bridge and a short walk from the bus and rail stations. Arrive, drop your bags, and come and find us.