Europe > United Kingdom > Derry (LDY)
The Car or no Car advice for Derry can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Derry ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Derry ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Derry?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
✈️ Getting to Derry
Derry is served by City of Derry Airport (LDY), which has limited but useful connections from the UK. Many visitors still arrive via Belfast International or Belfast City Airport, because the range of flights is much wider. Fortunately, Derry is linked by both bus and rail from Belfast, so you can reach the city even without a car.
🚶♂️ Enjoying Derry without a car
Derry is wonderfully walkable. You can cross the Peace Bridge, circle the famous city walls, and explore the Guildhall, the Bogside murals, and the riverfront without needing any transport at all. The city centre has a tight urban core, which makes short visits simple and relaxing.
Buses do reach the suburbs, but most visitors rarely need them. Taxis are easy to find and inexpensive for short trips. For a city break of one to two days, a car is usually unnecessary.
🚌 Public transport options for day trips
Although Derry is walkable, it is not isolated. In fact, long-distance buses cover the region surprisingly well:
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Coaches run to Belfast, Coleraine, and Portrush.
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You can reach the Causeway Coast by combining bus and train connections.
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The railway from Derry to Coleraine is considered one of the most scenic in the UK.
So, with a little planning, you can enjoy some impressive landscapes without renting a car.
🚗 When renting a car becomes useful
Once you leave the core transport corridors, things change quickly. A car unlocks much more flexibility, especially if you want to explore:
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The Inishowen Peninsula, including Malin Head
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The remote beaches around Culdaff
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Grianán of Aileach, the ancient ring fort overlooking Lough Foyle
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The wider region of County Donegal, including rugged mountains and quiet villages
These routes are stunning, but public transport is limited and infrequent. A rental car allows early starts, viewpoint stops, local cafés, and scenic detours that buses simply cannot offer.
Driving standards in the northwest of Ireland are generally good, but roads can be narrow and winding. As long as you take your time, the region is a pleasure to explore by car.
🚘 Cross-border car rental: Northern Ireland ↔ Republic of Ireland
Derry Airport sits only a short distance from the border with the Republic of Ireland, so many visitors wonder how easy it is to drive across. The good news is that most rental companies allow cross-border travel, although you usually need to pay for additional insurance cover. Prices vary, but the surcharge is common across both Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Off-season rentals from Derry Airport often start just under £100 per week, so the extra insurance does not dramatically change the overall cost. However, one-way rentals are a different story. Returning a car to Belfast normally adds only a small fee, but dropping it in Dublin often costs £200 or more, even in quiet months.
Enterprise is one of the companies that permits this, but the fee reflects the fact that cars must be relocated. It is still a practical option if your itinerary naturally ends in the Republic, yet it is worth budgeting for it in advance.
Conclusion — Should you rent a car in Derry?
Should you rent a car in Derry? For the city itself, you do not need one. Derry is compact, walkable, and well-connected to Belfast. However, if you plan to explore Donegal, the Inishowen Peninsula, or the coastal routes, then a rental car becomes extremely helpful. It opens up one of the most beautiful and least crowded parts of Ireland, giving you full control of your trip.
