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Major city · Ireland

LetterkennyLeitir Ceanainn

Use Letterkenny as a 2-night base for Glenveagh and the north Donegal coast, not as a sight in itself: the town is a hub, the scenery is 20–75 km out.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (wet, short days); rally weekend in June books out beds
Airports
LDY · CFN · BFS · DUB
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • Ireland ↗Ireland is in the EU but not in the Schengen area; it sets its own entry rules and a Schengen visa is not valid for Ireland. Check Irish immigration for your passport.
  • Ireland ↗Ireland and the UK form the Common Travel Area, with no routine checks on the land border. Visitors who are not Irish or British must still meet UK rules (including the UK ETA where it applies) to enter Northern Ireland.
  • Ireland ↗Driving is on the left; rural roads are narrow with hedges and few passing places.

Letterkenny is County Donegal's largest town and its transport and shopping hub, sitting above Lough Swilly about 20 km from Glenveagh National Park. The town centre is compact and walkable, but the coast, the national park and the mills all need a car or a bus. Most travellers use it as a practical base for two nights rather than a destination.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Letterkenny, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee€3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course€14–22 (≈ US$17–30)
  • BeerPint of stout€5–6.50 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Taxi, about 5 km5 km taxiMetered; nationally regulated.€10–14 (≈ US$12–17)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–20 (≈ US$12–25)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person€28 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedHotel or guesthouse double room, a night, per room€130 (≈ US$160)
  • High-end bedHotel or guesthouse double room, a night, per room€220 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €55 (≈ US$65) · Mid €95 (≈ US$120) · High €160 (≈ US$190)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Glenveagh National Park baseSt Eunan's CathedralDonegal International RallyGateway to Fanad and Malin Head
Airports
LDY City of Derry (About 40 min by road; flights from London Heathrow, Liverpool and Glasgow.) · CFN Donegal Airport (West coast, about 1 h 30 min by road; small regional flights.) · BFS Belfast International (About 2 h by road via Derry.) · DUB Dublin (About 3 h 30 min by road; Expressway 32 bus runs every couple of hours.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Letterkenny: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

8°C

2°C

20 rd

Feb

8°C

2°C

16 rd

Mar

10°C

3°C

18 rd

Apr

12°C

4°C

15 rd

May

15°C

6°C

15 rd

Jun

17°C

9°C

15 rd

Jul

18°C

11°C

17 rd

Aug

18°C

11°C

18 rd

Sep

16°C

9°C

17 rd

Oct

13°C

7°C

19 rd

Nov

10°C

4°C

19 rd

Dec

8°C

2°C

20 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is walkable end to end in about 20 minutes. For Glenveagh, Newmills, Glebe House, Fanad Head and Malin Head you need a car or a Local Link bus. Taxis wait on Market Street and by the bus station and must use the meter; fares are nationally regulated. Car hire is available in town, but airport pickup is usually easier.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Glenveagh National Park

go

Door to door: About 40 min by car

Car on the R251 via Churchill, about 25 min; or Local Link 971 from Letterkenny

Castle by guided tour only; park grounds free. Check castle days before you go.

Newmills Corn and Flax Mills

go

Door to door: About 15 min

Car 5 km west on the R250

Working waterwheel; seasonal opening, check dates.

Glebe House and Gallery

go

Door to door: About 25 min

Car on the R251 towards Churchill

Regency house and garden; small entry fee, seasonal.

Fanad Head

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Car via Ramelton and Milford

Lighthouse and cliffs; a half-day with the coast road.

Malin Head

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Car via Carndonagh and the Inishowen peninsula

Ireland's northern tip; a full day, better with an overnight in Inishowen.

Beltany Stone Circle

go

Door to door: About 25 min

Car 14 km southeast near Raphoe

Free, open access; a short stop on the way to Donegal Town.

Derry

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Expressway 64 bus, every two hours

Walled city across the border; no border checks on the bus.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Town centre (Main Street and Port Road)

Walk to pubs, restaurants and the bus station; best for a car-free stay.

Bus station and Port Road

Expressway and Local Link departures on the doorstep; handy for one-night stops.

Ramelton Road and the ring road

Chain hotels with parking; 15–25 min walk or a short taxi to the centre.

Out of town (Glenveagh, Churchill, Ramelton)

Quieter and closer to the park; you need a car for everything.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€55–85 (≈ US$65–100) excl. bed
Mid
€90–140 (≈ US$110–170) excl. bed
High
€150 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel or guesthouse double room1 × 2 nights × €130€260
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × €95€380
Expressway 32 from Dublin, one way2 × €25 · check€50
Local Link 971 to Glenveagh, one way2 × €5 · check€10
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15€30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€73
Trip total≈ €201 per person per day, bed included€803≈ US$950

2026 estimate in euro; flights and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee€3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Pub main course€14–22 (≈ US$17–30)
Fish and chips€12–16 (≈ US$14–19)
Pint of stout€5–6.50 (≈ US$6–8)
5 km taxiMetered; nationally regulated.€10–14 (≈ US$12–17)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–20 (≈ US$12–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

One of Ireland's safer towns; the real risks are weather, unlit coastal roads at night and the last-bus problem on outlying routes. Standard city sense on nights out.
  • Outlying sights have no useful evening bus back: check the last Local Link departure before you set out.
  • Some seasonal sites close outside May–September: check opening dates before travelling.
  • Rally weekend in June fills every bed in town: book months ahead or stay in Derry or Donegal Town.
  • Rain arrives fast off the Atlantic; a waterproof shell beats an umbrella on the coast.

Emergency numbers

Police, ambulance, fire, coast guard, mountain rescue
112
Same services (alternative)
999

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

LetterkennyLeitir Ceanainn

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Chuig an seoladh seo, le do thoilTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, ambulance, fire, coast guard, mountain rescue112
  • Same services (alternative)999

Embassy

No embassy in Letterkenny; US and UK embassies are in Dublin, and the US also has a consulate in Belfast. Consular help for most countries: Dublin.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Expressway 32, Dublin to Letterkenny: about €25 (≈ US$30), 4 h (check)
  • Expressway 64, Derry to Letterkenny: about €6 (≈ US$7), 30 min (check)
  • Taxi across town: €8–12 (≈ US$10–14) metered

Say or show

  • Dia dhuit — Hello (jeea ghwitch)
  • Go raibh maith agat — Thank you (guh rev mah agut)
  • Le do thoil — Please (leh duh hull)
  • Sláinte — Cheers (slawn-cha)
  • Cá bhfuil an stáisiún bus? — Where is the bus station? (kaw will an staw-shoon bus)
  • Cé mhéad é? — How much is it? (kay vade ay)

Tourist information is inside An Grianán Theatre on Port Road, open M–Sa 9AM–5PM (check).

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Letterkenny. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (wet, short days); rally weekend in June books out beds · month by month →
  2. 4 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contracts for LDY and CFN: last bus and taxi fallbacks, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Main Street and Market Square, Port Road and the bus station, Cathedral Square, the retail parks.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Glenveagh, Newmills, Glebe House, County Museum) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Seasonal and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Ireland

Sources