Getting Around, Derry Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Derry, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK)

It's easy to arrange transportation in Derry thanks to the wide range of options available. Travel to the city is made possible through ferries and planes and, once on the ground, most visitors rely on a hire car for local transport.

Beyond this, Derry is home to a good bus network, which is accompanied by trains and taxi transport. Long-distance buses operated by Bus Eireann are on hand and travel from Derry to southerly Irish destinations as far afield as both Cork and Limerick.

City of Derry Airport (LDY) / Arriving by Air

Address: Airport Road, Eglinton, County Derry, Northern Ireland, UK
Tel: +44 028 7181 0784
The City of Derry Airport is a regional hub that handles nearly 350,000 passengers each year. This facility is located east of town along the A2 motorway toward the town of Limavady. The main carriers at Derry Airport are Aer Arann and Ryanair, with collective services to Dublin, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool and London, as well as Alicante (Spain). A handful of charter airlines are also on hand.

City of Derry Airport (LDY) Guide

Car Rental

Hiring a car in Derry is a serious advantage for anyone who wants to explore the countryside - especially the Giant's Causeway and neighbouring small villages. The M2 motorway connects to Belfast, and along the way it branches out into the A26 and the A2. Some travellers hire their car in Dublin and drive all the way to Derry, while others collect their rental cars when flying into the City of Derry Airport.

Book your Derry Car Rental here.

Buses and Coaches

Derry's bus station is located north-east of the city centre on Foyle Street. Regular coaches depart for Belfast, with this journey taking just under two hours.

This particular route includes a stop at Dungiven. Ulsterbus is the main coach transport company, and it also operates service to small villages in the area.

Trains

Trains pull into Londonderry train station on the east bank of the River Foyle. Frequent trains travel to and from Belfast (two and a quarter hours), Portrush (one and a quarter hours) and Coleraine (45 minutes).

After disembarking at the station, passengers can hop a complementary shuttle bus to Foyle Street bus station for service to local villages.

Taxis

The best selection of taxis in Derry is at the airport. They will be on hand any time a flight arrives, offering point-to-point service to destinations across the city.

Out and about in the city proper, taxis are also generally quite easy to flag down, but you may be better served calling ahead when looking for a ride at odd hours.

Boats and Ferries

Ferries travel back and forth between Northern Ireland and the UK, docking at Belfast and Larne. Irish Ferries is the main service provider and offers a number of regular scheduled services. Of note, passengers can arrange to take their cars for an additional charge.