The Walled City of Derry.

Derry / Londonderry

Derry, also known as Londonderry, is one of the finest walled cities in Europe and the only completely intact walled city in Ireland, its 400-year-old ramparts still encircling the historic core in an unbroken mile-long circuit. Walking the walls, past cannons, bastions and the old gates, is the perfect introduction to a city steeped in history, both ancient and recent.

Below the walls lies the Bogside, where the powerful People's Gallery murals and the "Free Derry" landmark tell the story of the Troubles with raw honesty, best understood on a guided walking tour. Today Derry is a warm, creative and welcoming place that wears its history lightly, with the graceful Peace Bridge arcing across the River Foyle, the neo-Gothic Guildhall, a lively pub and music scene, and a reputation as a cultural hub.

Compact and easy to explore, it is also the gateway to wild Donegal and the Causeway Coast, which makes Derry a natural anchor for the northwest. A day spent on the walls and in the Bogside, finished with music in a riverside pub, is one of the most rewarding city experiences in the north.

Where: The northwest, on the River Foyle
Best time: Spring to fall (Apr–Oct); year-round
Good for: History & culture
Pair it with: The Giant's Causeway or Donegal

Where it is

On the map.

Derry sits on the River Foyle in the northwest, the gateway to County Donegal; the walled old town and the Bogside lie side by side.

Scroll or pinch to zoom

What you'll see

On the route.

Stop 01

The historic city walls & cannons

The only completely walled city in Ireland, its mile-long ramparts still complete and lined with old cannons, bastions and gates.

Stop 02

The Bogside murals

The People's Gallery murals and the Free Derry landmark below the walls tell the story of the Troubles with raw honesty.

Stop 03

The Peace Bridge over the Foyle

A graceful, sweeping footbridge that arcs across the River Foyle, linking the two banks of the city as a symbol of reconciliation.

Stop 04

The Guildhall

The neo-Gothic Guildhall, with its clock tower and stained glass, presides over a handsome square just outside the walls.

Know before you go

The practical details.

Good to know

Walking the walls

Derry is the only completely walled city in Ireland, and the roughly one-mile circuit atop the 17th-century ramparts is free, open and the best way to orient yourself, passing gates, cannons and bastions with views over the city and the Bogside; allow an hour, more with a guide.

Good to know

The history

The Bogside below the walls is where the People's Gallery murals and the Free Derry Corner tell the story of the Troubles; a guided walking tour or the Museum of Free Derry brings real understanding and context to this moving recent history, told by people who lived it.

Good to know

Getting around & when

Derry is compact and very walkable, with the Peace Bridge, the Guildhall and the cathedral all close to the walls; it is enjoyable year-round, with spring to fall the mildest, and makes a great base for day trips to wild Donegal and the Causeway Coast.

Bring The Walled City of Derry
to life.

Our advisors design Northern Ireland journeys by hand. Tell us your dates and we'll do the rest.

Plan Your Trip

The Walled City of Derry.

On the map.