Welcome to Europe’s BIGGEST Halloween festival, Derry~Londonderry! With four days & nights of Derry Halloween fun to enjoy, we promise this will be an unforgettable experience – filled with ghosts and ghouls, Halloween in the Walled City is like no other. To give you some inspiration for your trip this year, we’ve pulled together a four-day itinerary to help plan your Derry Halloween visit.
DAY 1: Friday 28th October
Getting Here
There’s plenty of ways to get to the historic Walled City of Derry. Fly to the city from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London Stansted, and Manchester into the City of Derry Airport. Or travel into Belfast International or Belfast City airports – we’re just a 90-minute drive away. Check out the Airporter for transport from both airports, which will take you directly into the city centre.
For more information on getting to the city, click here.
3pm Arrival
Once you arrive in the city, check into your accommodation. With a range of top hotels, luxurious self-catering, guest houses and B&B accommodation, you’ll experience a legenderry welcome!
This year, Motorhome parking is available at Fort George. Book Now.
Explore accommodation options here.
5pm Dinner at Soda & Starch
Nestled in the beautiful Craft Village, Soda and Starch is a great start to experiencing a taste of the Walled City. Chef Raymond Moran's award-winning, family run restaurant uses the some of Ireland’s finest producers and local suppliers to create the best seasonal menus. For Halloween, the team will be cooking family ghouls treats on their charcoal oven BBQ under their spooky, outdoor streetfood venue.
7pm Samhain Bandstand
After a day of travelling, why not sit back, relax and enjoy some live music by local artists in Guildhall Square & Waterloo Place. If you feel like dancing the night away, immerse yourself in Irish culture at the Mayor’s Creepy Ceili. Look out for Spark! & Saurus over the next few days too!
DAY 2: Saturday 29th October
10am Visitor Pass/Walking Tour
Familiarise yourself with the city with a walking tour. While we’re a walkable, compact city, with a cosmopolitan vibe, there’s plenty to explore. For a start, check out Visit Derry’s brand new Visitor Information Centre in Waterloo Place, where you can pick up literature, maps and speak with our helpful tourist assistants. This year, we have an AV show to enjoy, telling the story of Derry Halloween’s rise to become one of the world’s biggest Halloween celebrations.
At the Visitor Information Centre, you’ll also be able to purchase our great value for money Visitor Pass (if you haven’t already bought this online). The pass includes two walking tours and entrance to a host of other visitor experiences. On the walking tour, you’ll learn all about our city’s rich history while exploring some of our hidden treasures along the way.
12pm Lunch at Eskimo Coffee
After soaking up the Derry air, it's time to taste more of the some legenderry food.
Eskimo Coffee prides itself on the welcome it gives customers; in fact, it’s even won an award for being the city’s friendliest coffee shop. The food will make you smile too – with great coffee, hearty breakfasts, comforting stews, vegan sausage rolls and jam-packed sandwiches. Sweet treats include homemade cupcakes, scones and traybakes.
2pm Lock 'n' Load
Will you survive the Zombie Apocalypse? Enter a Sole Game of laser tag or battle up to 30 players, one of which has just been bitten by the zombies! If they tag you three times, you will be infected, and your weapon will turn from living to walking dead.
5pm Dinner & Drinks at Walled City Brewery
The Walled City Brewery should be on everyone’s bucket list to finish off a great day spent exploring Derry~Londonderry. Located at the end of the Peace Bridge in Ebrington Square, this award-winning brewhouse and restaurant is housed in an historic military barracks. The Walled City brewery offers signature brews created on site, some inspired by the hit show Derry Girls which are a firm favourite! From the food menu, flavours of the North West are at the forefront.The Walled City Brewery is now home to the city's latest venue; be sure to check out the Taproom which houses 20 beer taps and classic cocktails. This Halloween, the Taproom will transform into The Witch House - Winifred the Witch is back, creating magic brews in the Walled City Brewry Cauldron. Enjoy beers, cocktails and spooky mocktails, with the Winifred the Witch making an appearace between 6pm & 9pm.
7pm The Forest of Shadows & Awakening of the Walls
After your Walled City Brewery experience, why not follow the spooky trail to St. Columb's park. Where the veil between this world and the next is the thinnest, tread carefully through the corridor of light. Drifting along the banks of the Foyle, nothing is what it seems as you enter the other realm. Welcoming you with dancing flames and hypnotic, mesmerising displays, luring you into the depths of the forest. Beware of paths lined with shape-shifting creatures and shadows as the firest comes to life. Cross the Peace Bridge back to The City of Bones. Mesmerising projections, installations, and guises to chill even the coldest of hearts, will tell the story of the history of the city and our very own Walter de Burgh.
Awakening the Walled City | 28th - 30th September | 6pm - 9pm
DAY 3: Sunday 30th October
Breakfast at The Scullery Café
Grab some breakfast and a cup of coffee at The Scullery Café. Renowned for their great-tasting coffee, and mouth-watering frys, it will set you up for the busy day ahead.
12pm Wild Ireland
Did you know we're just a short drive away from two of the most scenic driving routes - the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route. While you're here, why not venture a short drive to Donegal. Wild Ireland is a must! Wild Ireland is a unique wild animal sanctuary located on the Inishowen peninsula, offering sanctuary to many animals including Brown Bears, Wolves, Lynx and Wild Boar. Sticking around for a few days? Why not come back to Wild Ireland for some spooky midterm events.
3pm Sunday Lunch at Inishowen Gateway
Served from 12.30 - 4.00pm, the Sunday Carvery has a selection of mouth-watering dishes that suits all tastes, with a variety of Hot and Cold Starters, Soups, the very best cuts of well-cooked Meat, complimented with a selection of potatoes and vegetables and a true feast of fabulous desserts.
4:30pm Beach Walk
After a hearty meal, we suggest heading to Buncrana's beautiful beaches to soak up the fresh Irish air.
5pm The Ancients at Swan Park
Swan Park is a beautifully scenic park in Buncrana. However, as dusk falls, be prepared for the ancient Red Branch Knights of Ulster (An Croabh Rua) as they ride forth to the park. Experience legends, lore, and characters associated with the Red Branch Knights.
8pm Cocktails at Guildhall Taphouse
The Guildhall Taphouse is steeped in history, yet offers a fresh, alternative take on the traditional bar. Housed in a 19th Century Merchant building in the heart of the City's historic quarter, this comfortable bar is just minutes from Derry's famous Peace Bridge, the historical City Walls, and the iconic Guildhall itself. With an unrivalled selection of Irish and International craft beers and a carefully curated cocktail menu, the Guildhall Taphouse has already established itself as a live music hub, featuring top musicians from all over the country.
DAY 4: Halloween 31st October
Breakfast at The Sandwich Co.
Today is the day! Halloween has arrived and we are ready for day full of spooky festivities. We recommend kickstarting the day with breakfast at The Sandwich Co. Whether you are in need of a healthy breakfast, an Ulster fry, vegan-friendly option, or one of their lunch offerings, followed by something sweet to satisfy that craving, The Sandwich Co. have a vast range of options to sit down to or take away.
11am Foyleside Frights & Shopping
Foyleside Frights will be filled with freaky festivities that reflect the history, heritage and spirit of the city. Enjoy a frightening photo maze, Halloween-themed crafts and fearsome face painting as our young ones embrace the rich mythologies and legendary tales that accompany Halloween. With over 50 stores to choose from, including coffee shops, a few hours will be well spent at Foyleside Shopping Centre.
2pm Monster Halloween Funfair
The funfair returns for Halloween. Take a walk across the Peace Bridge and into Ebrington to enjoy all your favourite attractions - the panoramic views of the city from the Big Wheel are not to be missed. Fancy something a little more spooky? Get into the Halloween spirit on the ghost train.
5pm Dinner - Halloween Family Spooktacular at the City Hotel
Enjoy a hot buffet, kids' entertainment, Halloween games a micro zoon and more at the City Hotel this Halloween evening. It's right next to the starting location of the Carnival Parade! Alternatively, soak up the ghostly atmosphere at the Heart of Samhain with a selection of streetfood at the Guildhall Square.
7pm Carnival Parade
After a long three years we are delighted to announce that the famous Carnival Parade will return to Derry Halloween! Organised by the North West Carnival Initiative, the Carnival Parade will bring the festival to a thrilling close on Monday night as some of the City’s finest performers bring the story of the 9th Wave to life, reawakening the river Gods for a fearsome display of magic and mayhem led by some of our most spooky spirits of the deep.
8pm Firework Finale
Watch the Samhain skies come alive with colour as this decade old tradition returns with a bang!
After your stay, we are sure you will see just why Derry Halloween is Europe's BIGGEST Halloween festival!
Keep up to date with all the festivties on our Instagram page @visitderry.
