Donegal Town – An Essential Travel Guide for 2025

Lifford may be the county town, but it was Donegal Town that gave this magnificent county its name. An ideal location at the foot of the Blue Stack Mountains in south Donegal makes it a great base for exploring some of the county’s best attractions. The town itself rarely gets a mention on social media however, but is it a gem waiting to be discovered?

Keep reading to find out!

Public Transport: Despite being located in the north of Ireland, Donegal wasn’t segregated as part of Northern Ireland because of its catholic population. This left an isolated county, difficult to reach without crossing the border, which contributed to the closure of Donegal Railway Station in the 1960s. The county has been without a rail network ever since.

Bus Eireann links Donegal Town to Derry, Sligo, Galway and Dublin, among others. The 30 bus takes you here from Dublin City via Cavan and Enniskillen, albeit slowly! Catch the X30 instead, which is much quicker because it bypasses the smaller villages. Use the excellent TFI Local Link service to move around within the county. 

Although small, Donegal Town boasts a quality selection of restaurants. Quay West, overlooking Donegal Bay, is the place to go for quality steaks or seafood in an ambient setting. It won’t break the bank either, with a savoury chicken and chorizo pasta costing around €21. Upstairs fills up quickly so, if you want the views, ring ahead to ensure you get a seat!

We love casual pub grub and The Harbour Restaurant is the best in that regard here. It gets busy, but the amazing interior means you can still get very comfortable. We also found the staff to be super friendly. Grab yourself a €20 beef burger and relax while indulging in a delicious pint!

Skip dessert and head to Little Mama’s on the square for some delicious gelato.

Hot Beverages: The Blueberry Tea Rooms is a busy café with a nice décor, serving great coffees and superb lunches and treats. It’s a little frantic, with an upbeat atmosphere that is better suited for a lunch stop than a relaxing brew on its own. The treats and grub here are delicious so visit on an empty stomach.

Alcohol: There is a great pub scene in Donegal Town, especially if traditional boozers are your style. You’ll definitely notice the stunning exterior of McCafferty’s Bar while strolling around the diamond. Head inside to catch a vibrant atmosphere, with live music on offer 7 nights a week! Throngs of people descend on this deceptively large pub at the weekend, making it a brilliant place for social drinks. The interior is stunning and there are large TVs showing all of the major sports.

The Forge is the traditionalist’s choice because it serves the best pints of Guinness in town and has an immensely cosy setting. The craic is mighty here when the live music gets going.

The Abbey of the Four Masters and its peaceful graveyard are hard to miss when entering Donegal Town from the south. For 550 years it has sat here, overlooking the glistening estuary below. These days the abbey is little more than a ruin, but it is free to visit and on a sunny day it makes for a serene stroll.

There are no beaches in the town itself but this county has more blue flag beaches than any other in Ireland, meaning you are within driving distance of some gems! Drive south for 15 minutes to find the pretty 2km long Murvagh Beach, a lovely location for relaxing walks.

The most popular beach in the area is Rossnowlagh Beach, 20 minutes from Donegal Town. Twice the size of Murvagh and much busier, Rossnowlagh is the home of surfing in Donegal. Park on the beach and stroll back to Murvagh if you wish, or book some lessons at one of the local surf schools.

Donegal is a relatively quiet town, with most of the commercial hustle and bustle taking place around the area known as The Diamond. If travelling with children and looking for somewhere upbeat to take them, then this probably isn’t the place. It is more cheery than nearby Killybegs, but nowhere near as jolly as a resort town like Bundoran.

The charm here lies in the town’s serenity, particularly around the estuary. Follow the 2.5km River Bank Walk along the Eske to soak in views of the Abbey, the woodlands and the bay. The area exudes a peaceful ambience and offers a great escape from the rush of everyday life.

River Bank Walk Visitor’s Information

Check out our Killybegs Travel Guide

Many people choose to begin the Donegal Bay Drive in Bundoran but you can hit the best attractions by setting off west from Donegal Town instead. Allow yourself a full day to tackle the drive and ignore your phone as you follow the brown roadsigns for the Wild Atlantic Way.

Our must-see sights along the route are the scenic Fintra Bay, the rocky Muckross Head, Ireland’s most scenic GAA pitch in Kilcar, the magnificent cliffs of Sliabh Liag (Slieve League) and the winding Glengesh Pass (Col Glengesh). The cliffs at Sliabh Liag are higher than the Cliffs of Moher and in our opinion are far more impressive.

If this all sounds too lengthy for you then drive northeast towards the Barnesmore Gap instead. The views around this mountain pass are surreal and it’s only 15 minutes from the town.

Donegal Bay Drive Route

Despite not having a railway network anymore, the town does have a Railway Heritage Centre. This wheelchair friendly museum celebrates the history of the railway system in Donegal, once home to the largest narrow-gauge railway network in the British Isles. The small museum is located in an old train station and comes complete with a steam engine to be explored. It isn’t amazing but, for just under €8, it is a decent means of killing an hour.

The imperious Donegal Castle in the middle of the town was restored in recent times and is now open to the public. For just €5 you can do a self-guided tour of the building, commissioned in the 15th century by the great Red Hugh O’Donnell. This OPW maintained castle is in fabulous condition and the experience is tremendous value.

The Donegal Bay Waterbus is a pleasure tour boat equipped with a bar and toilets which sets sail from the town pier. It takes you on a 75 minute amble around the bay, offering views of islands, the Blue Stack Mountains and a 200-strong seal colony. It costs €25 per adult and is wheelchair accessible and dog friendly.

Book the Donegal Bay Waterbus