Buncrana, Donegal – An Essential Travel Guide for 2025

Buncrana, one of Ireland’s most popular tourist towns, sits on the shores of Lough Swilly in north County Donegal. Its setting is quite unique in Ireland, Lough Swilly being one of only three glacial fjords in the country. The second most populous town in Donegal, it is often used as a base for exploring the Inishowen Peninsula to its north. That famous drive attracts droves of tourists here every year, but is there much to do in the town itself?

Find out below!

Public Transport: County Donegal has been without a rail network since the mid-1900s, with Buncrana Railway Station closing in 1953.

Bus Eireann doesn’t serve the town from Dublin City, so it is only accessible via private companies like McGinley Coach Travel. Upon reaching the town, use the ever reliable TFI Local Link service to access other towns like Muff and Ballyliffin within the county.

The Lough Swilly Ferry connects the Fanad and Inishowen Peninsulas by transporting you from Rathmullan to Buncrana. The ferry is very cheap, with car tickets costing just €30 including passengers, and runs multiple times per day from June to September.

It’s not surprising that the second largest town in Donegal has many great restaurants. Head down Main Street and your eyes will immediately be drawn to the magnificent art deco exterior of Oscars Restaurant. Although lavish looking, a nod to the award ceremonies after which it was named, Oscars is actually very affordable. For just €23 you can grab two courses from the evening menu and the grub is absolutely yummy. We highly recommend the chorizo chicken.

Alternatively grab yourself a steak sandwich and a cocktail at Ubiquitous on Main Street. The outstanding food won’t break the bank and there is always a great buzz about the place.

Hot Beverages: There are plenty of great cafés to grab a brew and lunch but Las Gorditas is the most relaxing of them. We find this dog friendly café to be a chilled out spot to enjoy high quality coffee, whether travelling alone or with friends. They offer a unique blend of South American and Romanian dishes and the baked treats are sensational.

Alcohol: The outstanding exterior of The Cottage Bar on Main Street makes it impossible to pass without popping in for a drink. Inside you’ll find a marvelous pub with roasting fires and lots of trinkets, perfect surroundings for a relaxing pint of Guinness. You can watch sport or chill in the beer garden, and the craic really picks up at the weekends when the live music starts! If it’s traditional music you are looking for then be sure to visit on a Friday evening.

O’Flaherty’s Bar is another top boozer for live sports and music. The outdoor area comes alive during the summer months and the traditional music sessions on a Wednesday night are brilliant fun. There is also an expansive cocktail menu, which is always a pleasant surprise in a traditional pub.

By the banks of the Crana River sits the peaceful Swan Park. Its scenic bridge and cute fairy houses make an idyllic surrounding for a leisurely stroll and a picnic on sunny days.

While there, take a look at Buncrana Castle and the ruins of O’Doherty’s Keep, or walk the tranquil Buncrana Shore Path. The shore path offers coastal views and an abundance of wildlife while you travel 3kms north of the town, until you hit Stragill Strand. It’s not a loop, so be prepared to travel the same distance back.

Shore Path Route

Lady’s Bay is the closest beach to the town and, with its large carpark and nice playground, is a great starting point for the Buncrana Shore Path walk. Visit for the views, but we don’t recommend swimming here as the water quality has been poor lately.

If you want to go for a dip make the 10 minute drive south to the blue flag Lisfannon Strand instead. The beach has a lifeguard in July and August, is a popular spot for surfers and offers stunning views out over the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll find information on the tide times around here below.

There are far better beaches on the Inishowen Peninsula if you are willing to drive to them.

Buncrana Tide Times

During the summer you’ll hear the roars of children by the coast, as they eat ice-cream, play in the playground or mess in the sands. By day the atmosphere is relaxed, as most tourists wander the shore path or explore the peninsula by car. Life seems to slow down, although the bars do come alive at night and especially at the weekends.

The town can feel sleepy at times, with most people using it as a base to explore further afield. Adults will find it pretty to walk through because the pubs and restaurants make a fantastic effort with their floral arrangements on the streets. It lacks the built-up promenade of a town like Bundoran however. The tourists feel a little more spread out, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We just rather a resort town where the fun is concentrated in one spot.

Check out our Travel Guide to Bundoran

Buncrana is a starting point for the Inishowen 100, a 100 mile driving route around the Inishowen Peninsula. Allow yourself a full day to explore one of the most scenic drives in the world, making many stops as you go.

Our must-see spots on the route include the imperious Fort Dunree military museum, the breath-taking Mamore Gap, Doagh Famine Village, the majestic Malin Head (the most northerly point in Ireland) and the viewpoint at Knockamany Bens.

That’s not to mention the stunning beaches you’ll encounter, with Kinnagoe Bay our pick of the bunch. Other unmissable sandy stretches here include Culdaff Beach, Tullagh Bay and Fiver Finger Stand.

The Inishowen 100 Driving Route

The Grianán of Aileach stone fort sits between Buncrana and Derry City, 25 minutes from each. A steep drive brings you to a car park which is only a minute’s walk from the fort, and the views on a clear day are awesome. This isn’t your run of the mill dilapidated fort – its history dates back to 1700BC and it is in marvelous condition.

Incredibly, the base of the fort is wheelchair accessible thanks to a series of ramps, and even the views from here are spectacular. Be sure to grab some treats at Joe & Sadie’s Coffee truck in the car park while there.

Read our Travel Guide to Derry City

Inch Wildfowl Reserve, on tiny Inch Island, is accessible via a land bridge around 20 minutes to the south of the town. Follow the beautiful 8km looped walk around the island, catching views of the wildlife and a ruined 15th century Inch Castle.

Most visitors come here for the world class birdwatching. Irish staples like the kingfisher, as well as rare whooper swans, Greenland white fronted geese and greylag geese are visible in this protected habitat. The awesome bird hides dotted around the island makes spying on them a whole lot easier!

The Wild Ireland animal sanctuary is hidden in an ancient forest around 20 minutes southeast of the town. All of its species once called this island home, with many of them now driven to extinction here. You’ll spot wolves, wallabies, brown bears, lynx, wild boar and a variety of deer and foxes during your visit. You can grab some refreshments at the Wild Café between informative keeper’s talks and live animal feedings.

This is a good experience for families or those with disabilities as the flat paths are wheelchair and pram accessible, as are the toilets. Full day tickets cost €20 for an adult, with child rates available, and the park takes around 2 hours to explore.