Major city · United Kingdom
DownpatrickDún Pádraig
One night is enough: see the cathedral and St Patrick Centre, then use it as a base for Inch Abbey and the coast. Two nights only if you have a car.
Downpatrick is a small County Down town of about 11,500 people, 21 miles south of Belfast, built on its claim to St Patrick's grave. The town centre is walkable in an afternoon; the prehistoric and early Christian sites around it need a car or a bus. Most travellers come for a half-day from Belfast or as a stop on the way to Newcastle and the Mournes.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- GBP
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Jan–Feb (wet, short days)
- Airports
- BFS · BHD · 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.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
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
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Downpatrick111 ▾
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 Downpatrick, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £).United Kingdom-wide
- SIM or eSIMEE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines…United Kingdom-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere.United Kingdom-wide
- TippingcheckRestaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.United Kingdom-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United Kingdom-wide
- SafetyA quiet, low-crime town; the real risks are rural roads with no footpath, thin Sunday buses and wet, dark winter afternoons.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 (≈ US$2) or are card-only.United Kingdom-wide
- Emergency numbers111 NHS non-urgent · 101 police non-urgent (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 or 11:00–16:00 or 17:00).Shops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 AM or 11:00 AM–4:00 PM or 5:00 PM).United Kingdom-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportBFS Belfast International (About 40 min by car via A26 and A7; no direct bus to Downpatrick, change in Belfast.).
- Getting aroundThe centre is walkable: cathedral, museum, St Patrick Centre and bus station are all within 10 minutes on foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
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£12–20 (≈ US$16–30)
- Street or quick mealCafe lunch or sandwich£6–12 (≈ US$8–16)
- BeerPint of beer£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi across towncheck£5–8 (≈ US$7–11)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week£8–15 (≈ US$11–20)
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person£30 (≈ US$40)
- Mid-range bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room£130 (≈ US$180)
- High-end bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room£200 (≈ US$300)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £80 (≈ US$110) · High £140 (≈ 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.
- Airports
- BFS Belfast International (About 40 min by car via A26 and A7; no direct bus to Downpatrick, change in Belfast.) · BHD George Best Belfast City (About 35 min by car; bus 215/515 runs from Belfast Grand Central, not the airport.) · DUB Dublin (About 2 h by car via A1 and A25; allow more in traffic.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Feb
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Mar
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Apr
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
May
Best
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Jun
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Jul
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Aug
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Sep
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Oct
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Nov
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Dec
not flagged
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Jan–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)), coolest Jan (3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C) low), wettest Jan (15 rain days), driest Apr (11). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Downpatrick: 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)46°F (8°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
15 rd
Feb
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
12 rd
Mar
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
13 rd
Apr
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
11 rd
May
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
11 rd
Jun
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
11 rd
Jul
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
12 rd
Aug
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
13 rd
Sep
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
12 rd
Oct
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
14 rd
Nov
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
14 rd
Dec
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
14 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
The centre is walkable: cathedral, museum, St Patrick Centre and bus station are all within 10 minutes on foot. Inch Abbey is a 25–30 min walk via the A7 Belfast Road or the heritage railway. Everything else — Saul, Struell Wells, Ballynoe, Ardglass, Rowallane — needs a car, taxi or bus. National Cycleway 99 passes through town and is all on-road.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Inch Abbey
goDoor to door: 30–40 min
Walk 25–30 min via the A7 Belfast Road, or take the heritage railway to Abbey station on running days
Free, open 24 h; ruins on the west bank of the River Quoile.
Saul Church
goDoor to door: About 15 min
Car or taxi, about 10 min east on the A25
1933 church with a replica round tower and a hilltop statue; no bus.
Struell Wells
goDoor to door: About 12 min
Car or taxi, about 8 min southeast
Free, open 24 h; four wells and 17th-century bath houses in a rocky valley.
Ardglass
goDoor to door: About 20 min
Car about 15 min south; bus service is limited
Fishing village with medieval tower houses; Jordan's Castle is the one you can enter.
Rowallane Garden
goDoor to door: 25–35 min
Car about 20 min north near Saintfield, or bus from Belfast on the A7
National Trust garden, adult £12, child £6, free for NT members.
Newcastle and the Mournes
overnightDoor to door: About 40 min
Bus 17, about 30 min, or car via A25
Better as a base for the mountains than a rushed return trip.
Strangford and the Ards Peninsula
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Ulsterbus 16 every hour or two, connecting with the ferry
Mansion, ruined castles and a neolithic tomb; ferry crosses to the peninsula.
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.
Town centre (English St / Irish St / Market St)
Walk to the cathedral, museum and pubs. Denvir's is the main hotel; a handful of B&Bs nearby.
St Patrick's Drive / Ballydugan Road
Quieter residential streets 5–10 min walk from the centre; B&Bs and the converted mill.
Out of town (Killough Rd, Crossgar)
Country B&Bs and gardens; you need a car for everything.
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
- Budget
- £45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
- Mid
- £70–110 (≈ US$95–150) excl. bed
- High
- £110 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| B&B or hotel double room1 × 1 night × £130 | £130 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £80 | £160 |
| Bus Belfast Grand Central ↔ Downpatrick, both ways2 × £20 · check | £40 |
| St Patrick Centre adult ticket2 × £8 | £16 |
| Rowallane Garden adult ticket2 × £12 | £24 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10 | £20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | £39 |
| Trip total≈ £215 per person per day, bed included | £429≈ US$600 |
2026 estimate in pounds; travel to Downpatrick excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | £3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6) |
| Cafe lunch or sandwich | £6–12 (≈ US$8–16) |
| Pub main course | £12–20 (≈ US$16–30) |
| Pint of beer | £5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9) |
| Indian or Chinese takeaway main | £8–14 (≈ US$11–19) |
| Taxi across towncheck | £5–8 (≈ US$7–11) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | £8–15 (≈ US$11–20) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Many outlying sites are free and open 24 h but have no facilities, lighting or shelter: go in daylight.
- Sunday buses are thin or absent on several routes (17, 19, 14): check the day before you rely on one.
- The heritage railway runs only on advertised running days, not daily.
- Rowallane Garden and some sites close earlier in winter: check before travelling.
- Rural roads are narrow with no footpath: walk facing traffic and wear something visible.
Emergency numbers
- NHS non-urgent
- 111
- Police non-urgent
- 101
Pocket card
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DownpatrickDún Pádraig
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- NHS non-urgent111
- Police non-urgent101
Embassy
No embassies in Downpatrick; the US consulate-general is in Belfast, and most other countries have embassies in London or Dublin.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Belfast Grand Central → Downpatrick: about £10 (≈ US$14) single, 1 h (check)
- Bus Newry → Downpatrick: about 80 min via Newcastle (check)
- Taxi across town: £5–8 (≈ US$7–11) (check)
Say or show
- Hello — Hello (heh-loh)
- Please — Please (pleez)
- Thanks — Thank you (thanks)
- Sorry — Excuse me (sor-ee)
- Where's the bus station? — Where is the bus station? (wairz thuh bus stay-shun)
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card? (kan eye pay by kard)
English is the everyday language; Irish (Gaeilge) appears on signage but is not needed to get around.
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 Downpatrick. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Jan–Feb (wet, short days) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 7 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for BFS and BHD: last bus from Belfast Grand Central, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking cluster map: cathedral, museum, St Patrick Centre, bus station, Market Street pubs.
- Place pages with verified hours for Down Cathedral, Down County Museum, St Patrick Centre and Rowallane Garden.
- Sunday and winter service fixtures so bus-dependent day trips can go green or be marked skip.
Sources
- officialDiscover Northern Ireland — Downpatrick
- officialDown Cathedral
- officialSt Patrick Centre
- officialDown County Museum
- officialDownpatrick & County Down Railway
- officialNational Trust — Rowallane Garden
- officialTranslink (bus services)
- secondaryWikivoyage: Downpatrick, revision 5160313 (CC BY-SA 4.0)