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Voykit pocket guide · Ireland
Lifford
Skip Lifford as a destination: it is a county administrative centre with no major sights. Use it only as a border crossing or bus stop between Strabane and Letterkenny.
Lifford is the county town of Donegal but much smaller than Letterkenny. Its main feature is the bridge over the River Finn linking it to Strabane in Northern Ireland. The County Council chambers are here, but there is little else for a traveller. Most people pass through in minutes.
- Country
- Ireland
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (short days, cold)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, including pubs and taxis.
- Daily spend
- Budget €40–60 excl. bed · Mid €60–100 excl. bed · High €100+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vodafone, Three and Eir run the networks; prepaid SIMs (also 48, Tesco Mobile, GoMo) sell in phone shops and newsagents, no registration fuss.
- Emergency
- Police (Gardaí) 112 or 999 · Fire and ambulance 112 or 999
- Plugs
- Types G · 230 V · 50 Hz · Type G three-pin, like the UK; European and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant with table service: 10–15% if service is not included.; Pub: Not expected when ordering at the bar.; Taxi: Round up.; Tour guide or driver: €5–10 per person for a day tour.; Hotel porter: €1–2 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water is safe; occasional local 'boil water' notices are posted by Uisce Éireann.
- Toilets
- Free in shopping centres, museums, pubs (as a customer) and many petrol stations; some public toilets charge 50c.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee in a café | €3–4 |
| Pint of lager | €5–6 |
| Pub lunch (sandwich or soup) | €8–12 |
| Bus to Letterkenny, one way | €8 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LDY · City of Derry Airport
- About 20 km (12 mi) away; buses to Strabane then walk across the bridge.About 12 mi (20 km) away; buses to Strabane then walk across the bridge.
- DUB · Dublin Airport
- About 2.5 h by bus via Letterkenny.
Typical fares
- Bus Lifford → Letterkenny
- about €8, 20 min
- Bus Lifford → Derry (via Strabane)
- about €10, 30 min
- Taxi Lifford → Letterkenny
- €25–35
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walkable: the town is tiny. Buses from the main street go to Letterkenny and Derry. For Strabane, cross the bridge on foot.
See and do
Known for
- County Donegal administrative centre
- Bridge to Strabane, Northern Ireland
- River Finn border crossing
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Letterkenny | Bus from Lifford main street, about 20 min | 30 min |
| Derry | Walk to Strabane bus station (5 min), then bus to Derry, about 30 min | 45 min |
| Donegal Town | Bus via Letterkenny, about 1 h | 1.5 h |
| Glencolmcille | Bus via Letterkenny and Donegal Town, about 2 h | 2.5 h |
Sleep
- Lifford town centre
- A handful of B&Bs and pubs with rooms; limited choice.
- Strabane (across the border)
- More accommodation options, 5 min walk over the bridge.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Dia duitdee-a gwit |
| Thank you | Go raibh maith agatguh rev mah agut |
| How much is that? | Cé mhéad é sin?kay vayd ay shin |
| Where is the bus stop? | Cá bhfuil an stad bus?kaw will on stod bus |
| Do you speak English? | An bhfuil Béarla agat?on will bayr-lah agut |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, first names quickly; avoid: Over-formality; it reads as coldness
- Conversation: Banter, weather and sport; self-deprecating humour; avoid: Opening with Northern Ireland, religion or the Famine
- Pubs: Buy your round; chat at the bar; avoid: Leaving a round without buying one
- Identity: Say Ireland, or the Republic when you need to distinguish; avoid: 'Southern Ireland' and calling it British
- Driving: Lift a finger from the wheel to thank drivers who pull in for you; avoid: Stopping on narrow bends for photos
Scams and watch-outs
- The border is open but carry ID if driving; customs checks are rare but possible.
- Currency changes at the bridge: Republic uses euro, Northern Ireland uses pound sterling.
- No tourist information office in Lifford; check Donegal Town or Letterkenny.
Very safe. The main risk is crossing the road on the bridge; traffic is moderate. Watch your step on the riverbank paths.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Lifford yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- County Donegal administrative centre
- Bridge to Strabane, Northern Ireland
- River Finn border crossing
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Lifford, revision 5330700 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5330700
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Lifford
Go dtí an seoladh seo, le do thoil
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police (Gardaí)112 or 999
- Fire and ambulance112 or 999
English is universally spoken; Irish phrases are optional but appreciated.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/lifford). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.