4 reasons why you should travel to Derry in 2026

May 11, 2026

5 MIN READ

Derry, Northern Ireland. Beatriz Antunes/Lonely Planet

A city on a riverbank, with two spires rising above the trees and buildings.

Writer

With centuries of history and as the setting of a hit TV show, Derry compellingly blends the past and modernity. It is one of the largest cities in Northern Ireland and, at about a 4-hour bus ride from Dublin, makes for an interesting weekend trip.

1. Walk the walls 

Built in the early 17th century as defense for settlers from England and Scotland, Derry’s city walls make it the only remaining completely walled city on the island of Ireland. You can spend a delightful afternoon strolling the walls, which are approximately 1.5km in circumference, orbiting Derry’s history in the process. Book a tour to get the most out of it.
A person wearing a blue hat and blue jeans stands by a stone wall between two cannons.
Cannons along Derry’s city walls. Beatriz Antunes/Lonely Planet
An intersection with a coffeehouse at the corner.
A carving on a stone archway.
Left: Artillery St from the city walls. Beatriz Antunes/Lonely Planet Right: Bishop's Gate. Beatriz Antunes/Lonely Planet
A mural of five faces painted on the side of a building.
The "Derry Girls" mural. Beatriz Antunes/Lonely Planet

Along the way, spot the Derry Girls mural, an ode to the heartwarming TV show set in 1990s Derry. Another sight along the walls is St Columb’s Cathedral, an impressive building originally constructed in 1633 by The Honourable The Irish Society. Walking by the pews as sunlight streams through the dazzling stained glass windows makes the cathedral a spiritual experience even for nonbelievers. 

2. Delve into history 

Derry has had its share of turbulent history. Following attacks on peaceful civil rights campaigners in Northern Ireland in the late 1960s, the region was plunged into a period of civil unrest and violence known as the Troubles. While the Troubles officially came to an end with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, the past remains especially present in the Bogside, the site of the Bloody Sunday massacre. The Museum of Free Derry in this neighborhood is dedicated to remembering the struggle for civil rights. Its in-depth collection of memorabilia, photos and videos provides a clearer understanding of Derry’s past and the monumental role of the Bogside in the civil rights movement.

Flyers on a wall in a museum.
The Museum of Free Derry in the Bogside. Beatriz Antunes/Lonely Planet
A suspension bridge with two white arms.
DERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND. OCTOBER 2025. Halloween week in Derry.
Left: The Peace Bridge over the River Foyle. Beatriz Antunes/Lonely Planet Right: St Columb’s Cathedral. Beatriz Antunes/Lonely Planet
An installation painted in red, green, white and black that reads "You are now entering free Derry," with Ireland written on the green side and Palestine written on the black side.
A monument in the Bogside. Beatriz Antunes/Lonely Planet

Around the museum, you will spot several monuments – to those killed by British forces during the Troubles and to IRA (Irish Republican Army) members, among others. The past connects with the present at the Free Derry monument, painted in the colors of the Palestinian flag. This monument remembers the iconic slogan "You are now entering Free Derry," which was painted on a wall in the Bogside during the Troubles and widely became seen as a symbol of the civil rights movement. 

Derry’s history is also reflected at the Peace Bridge. Its construction was intended to unite the principally Protestant east bank with the primarily Catholic west bank. Opened in 2011, it connects Derry’s city center with Ebrington Sq, a newly developed plaza that was originally occupied by Jacobite forces during the Siege of Derry and was later the site of a barracks. These days, it’s populated by bars, restaurants and The Ebrington Hotel, a four-star hotel housed in a building dating back to 1842. 

3. See the Halloween festival 

If you visit during October, you’ll notice that Derry goes a bit harder than most cities for Halloween. Pubs paint their windows with Jack Skellingtons, ghosts and pumpkins, and the Guildhall’s clock turns a deep shade of orange. The city has invested in creating what it says is the biggest Halloween festival in Europe. It kicks into gear in the last days before Halloween, with haunted ghost tours, art exhibitions and performances, culminating in a parade on the night of October 31. Kids dressed in all manner of costumes dance to the beat of Michael Jackson’s "Thriller" down the city’s streets, and the night is capped off with fireworks. 

Children in a parade wear costumes with horns on their heads.
Derry's Halloween Parade. Beatriz Antunes/Lonely Planet
An orange archway reads "Trick or Treat."
An illuminated figure at a parade.
Left: The Walled City Brewery on Ebrington Sq. Beatriz Antunes/Lonely Planet Right: A performer at the Halloween Parade. Beatriz Antunes/Lonely Planet
A theme park ride at night illuminated by colored lights.
The Monster Halloween Funfair on Ebrington Sq. Beatriz Antunes/Lonely Planet
A costumed performer in all white carries a parasol.
People board a ride at a theme park at night.
Left: A Halloween Parade performer. Beatriz Antunes/Lonely Planet Right: The Monster Halloween Funfair on Ebrington Sq. Beatriz Antunes/Lonely Planet

The city’s decision to go all in on Halloween may seem arbitrary, but Derry has a deep connection with the spooky season. Ireland is the birthplace of Halloween, which has its roots in Samhain, a Celtic pagan festival that celebrated the harvest and the approach of winter. It was believed that the veil between the living and the dead thinned during this time, and wearing masks and costumes became a way for people to disguise themselves from spirits. The history of these festivities also ties into the Troubles. With regular bomb threats in the city center, the inhabitants of Derry did not spend much time in pubs. Local legend says that one creative pub owner sought to attract customers back with a fancy costume party. When this too became the target of a bomb threat, the revelers were not dissuaded; they merely continued on to the next pub. Costume parties became an obsession, spreading throughout the city. 

It’s clear there is also another reason for Derry’s annual Halloween festivities – community. The locals emphasize the unique sense of community that motivates inhabitants to dress up, assist in organization and join the fun – all to keep the festival alive.

A red facade of a pub; the black and gold sign says "O'Loughlins Irish House"
O'Loughlins on Waterloo St. Beatriz Antunes/Lonely Planet

4. Go barhopping 

Saving the best for last – a good old-fashioned pub crawl. A must-visit in Derry is O’Loughlin's. Its bright red facade is easy to spot. Inside, the walls are covered in vintage posters, antique signs, trinkets and memorabilia. Order a freshly poured Guinness in this time capsule, and drink it under old jugs and lanterns hanging from the ceiling. Come during one of the pub’s trad music sessions for a truly special experience, enjoying a pint amid the live music.