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Major city · Ireland

Tory IslandOileán Toraigh

Go for one night, not a day trip: the 45-min ferry runs 3 times a day and the last sailing back leaves you about 3 hours ashore.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Tory Island is a 5 km Irish-speaking island 11 km off the Donegal coast, reached by a foot-passenger ferry from Magheroarty. The draw is the crossing, the clifftop walk to Balor's Fort, the round tower and the bird cliffs, not a list of sights. One night lets you see the west end in the evening light and eat at An Club; a day trip is possible but tight.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (storms, few sailings)
Airports
CFN · DUB
Nights
1
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Tory Island112 ▾
  • Police, ambulance, fire, coast guard112
  • Police, ambulance, fire (alternative)999
  • Tory Island Hotel+353 74 913 5920

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

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

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

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

  • CoffeeCoffee or tea at the mainland pier cafe€3–4 (≈ US$4–5)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course at An Club€14–20 (≈ US$17–25)
  • BeerPint of stout€5–6 (≈ US$6–7)
  • Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person€35 (≈ US$45)
  • Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room€130 (≈ US$160)
  • High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room€190 (≈ US$250)

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 →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

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.

Balor's Fort and the 100 m sea cliffsThe Tau Cross and the Round TowerThe King of Tory traditionBird cliffs and a rat-free island
Airports
CFN Donegal Airport (Carrickfinn) (About 1 h 30 min by road to Magheroarty; check car hire before booking.) · DUB Dublin (About 4 h by road to Magheroarty; the usual arrival point for overseas visitors.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    9°C (48°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    11°C (52°F)

  5. May

    Best

    13°C (55°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    15°C (59°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    17°C (63°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    17°C (63°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    16°C (61°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    13°C (55°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    10°C (50°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (17°C (63°F)), coolest Jan (3°C (37°F) low), wettest Jan (20 rain days), driest May (14). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Tory Island: 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 (46°F)

3°C (37°F)

20 rd

Feb

8°C (46°F)

3°C (37°F)

16 rd

Mar

9°C (48°F)

4°C (39°F)

18 rd

Apr

11°C (52°F)

5°C (41°F)

15 rd

May

13°C (55°F)

7°C (45°F)

14 rd

Jun

15°C (59°F)

10°C (50°F)

14 rd

Jul

17°C (63°F)

12°C (54°F)

16 rd

Aug

17°C (63°F)

12°C (54°F)

17 rd

Sep

16°C (61°F)

11°C (52°F)

17 rd

Oct

13°C (55°F)

8°C (46°F)

19 rd

Nov

10°C (50°F)

6°C (43°F)

20 rd

Dec

8°C (46°F)

4°C (39°F)

20 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

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

Getting around

Walk. The island is about 5 km long with one lane through it, and the west end (Balor's Fort, the lighthouse) is the only long walk. Bicycles can be hired but are barely needed. Bring waterproofs: there is no shelter on the cliffs.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Magheroarty and the Donegal mainlandgo

Door to door: About 1 h to the pier

Tory Ferry from the island pier, about 45 min

Your only transport off the island; the mainland pier has a cafe and a bar.

Letterkennygo

Door to door: About 2 h

Mangan Tours bus from Magheroarty, about 1 h

Runs 3 times Mon–Sat and connects with the ferry; the county's largest town.

Dungloe

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Local Link Bus 966 from Magheroarty pier, once a day

One departure a day: check the timetable against your ferry.

Falcarragh

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Mangan Tours bus from Magheroarty

Nearest small town with services on the R247.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

West Town (An Baile Thiar)

The main settlement and ferry pier; the hotel, the shop and An Club are all here. Stay here unless you have a reason not to.

East Town (An Baile Thoir)

A short walk east along the lane; quieter, with the St Brigit shrine on the way.

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

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
€50–80 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
€80–130 (≈ US$95–160) excl. bed
High
€130 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel double room1 × 1 night × €130€130
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €95€190
Tory Ferry return, foot passenger2 × €30 · check€60
An Club dinner2 × €20 · check€40
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15€30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€45
Trip total≈ €248 per person per day, bed included€495≈ US$600

check

2026 estimate in euro; ferry and mainland travel excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or tea at the mainland pier cafe€3–4 (≈ US$4–5)
Pub main course at An Club€14–20 (≈ US$17–25)
Pint of stout€5–6 (≈ US$6–7)
Tory Shop groceriesLimited stock; bring what you need if self-catering
Bicycle hire on the island€10–15 (≈ US$12–18) a day (check)
Boat trip from the harbourcheck with the operator

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe for a small island: the real risks are the ferry crossing in a swell, unfenced cliff edges in high wind, and having no plan if sailings are cancelled.
  • The ferry is foot passengers only and sailings move with the tide: check the operator's site the day before.
  • No cars are carried, so park free at Magheroarty pier and travel light.
  • 4G from Eir and Three, no Vodafone signal; expect gaps on the west end.
  • Cliff edges at Balor's Fort are unfenced and the wind is strong; keep back from the edge.
  • The island has no rats and ground-nesting birds depend on that: report any sighting, do not handle it.
  • Book beds ahead in summer; the island has very few rooms.

Emergency numbers

Police, ambulance, fire, coast guard
112
Police, ambulance, fire (alternative)
999
Tory Island Hotel
+353 74 913 5920

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.

Tory IslandOileán Toraigh

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Chun an ché, le do thoilTo the pier, please

Emergency

  • Police, ambulance, fire, coast guard112
  • Police, ambulance, fire (alternative)999
  • Tory Island Hotel+353 74 913 5920

Embassy

No embassy on the island. The US Embassy is in Dublin; UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have embassies in Dublin (check addresses).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Magheroarty → Tory Island, Tory Ferry: about 45 min, foot passengers only, year-round; check the fare and sailing times
  • Magheroarty → Letterkenny, Mangan Tours: about 1 h, 3 times Mon–Sat, connects with the ferry
  • Magheroarty → Dungloe, Local Link 966: once a day

Say or show

  • Dia duit — Hello (jeea gwit)
  • Go raibh maith agat — Thank you (guh rev mah agut)
  • Slán — Goodbye (slawn)
  • Le do thoil — Please (leh duh hull)
  • Cá bhfuil an ché? — Where is the pier? (kaw will an khay)
  • Tá / Níl — Yes / No (taw / neel)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

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 Tory Island. 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 (storms, few sailings) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry-day fixtures: morning, midday and afternoon sailings field-checked against the tide table, with a weather-cancellation fallback.
  2. Two walking clusters with rescue anchors: West Town (pier, Tau Cross, round tower, St John's Altar) and the west end (Balor's Fort, An Eochair Mhór, lighthouse).
  3. Place pages with verified access notes (round tower interior closed, cliff-edge exposure) and eat pages with An Club and hotel hours.
  4. Storm and hostile-arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Ireland

Sources