Getting to Letterkenny
How to reach Letterkenny by train, bus, taxi, car, or bicycle.
Rail
There is no passenger rail service to Letterkenny. The old County Donegal Railways line through the town closed decades ago, and the former Letterkenny railway station building on Lower Main Street is now the Station House Hotel. The nearest working railway station is Derry~Londonderry, across the border in Northern Ireland, roughly 35km away, from where NI Railways and Translink services connect to Belfast and beyond. A draft 2023 report floated a possible future Derry-to-Letterkenny rail link, but any construction timeline runs well into the 2030s or later, so plan around the bus network for now.
- Nearest Station
- Derry~Londonderry railway station, Northern Ireland, approximately 35km away
- Onward Travel
- Bus or taxi from Letterkenny to Derry, then connect to NI Railways/Translink services
- Status
- No passenger rail in Letterkenny or County Donegal; the old railway building is now the Station House Hotel
Tips
- •Do not plan a rail journey directly into Letterkenny; there is no station in the town or the county.
- •The Bus Eireann Expressway network is the practical long-distance option instead.
Bus
Letterkenny is Donegal's biggest bus hub. Bus Eireann Expressway Route 32 runs to Dublin via Dublin Airport and Monaghan, with around eleven services a day in each direction, and Route 64 links Letterkenny to Galway via Sligo and continues north into Derry. Local Link Donegal covers the smaller towns around Letterkenny, including routes to Raphoe, Lifford and Strabane (487), Carrigans, St Johnston and Porthall (489), and Ballybofey (491). The bus station on Port Road was originally built as the town's railway station and later converted, and it remains the hub for both Expressway and Local Link services.
- Expressway To Dublin
- Route 32, via Dublin Airport and Monaghan, around 11 services daily each direction
- Expressway To Galway
- Route 64, via Sligo, continuing into Derry
- Local Link
- Local Link Donegal routes 487, 489 and 491 serve the towns around Letterkenny
- Station
- Letterkenny bus station, Port Road (former Letterkenny railway station building)
Tips
- •Book Expressway seats ahead for the Dublin route at busy times (rally weekend, festival weekends, Christmas).
- •Local Link services run less frequently than Expressway; check timetables in advance rather than turning up.
Taxi
There is a taxi rank at the bus station on Port Road. Ride-hailing app coverage is thinner in Donegal than in Dublin or Cork, so phoning a local taxi firm ahead of time is generally more reliable than relying on an app, especially late at night or outside the town centre.
- Rank
- Letterkenny bus station, Port Road
Tips
- •Book ahead for late-night journeys or trips out to the surrounding countryside.
Driving
Letterkenny sits on the N13 and N14 national primary roads, with the N56 looping around the rest of the county. It is around 240km from Dublin (typically 3 to 3.5 hours), about 35km from Derry~Londonderry (45 minutes to an hour), and roughly 25 to 30 minutes from Glenveagh National Park. Most visitors touring the northwest use Letterkenny as a driving base precisely because the road network genuinely does converge here.
- From Dublin
- About 240km, 3 to 3.5 hours
- From Derry
- About 35km, 45 minutes to 1 hour
- To Glenveagh
- About 25 to 30 minutes
- Main Roads
- N13, N14 and N56
Tips
- •Roads out to Glenveagh and the peninsulas can be affected by wind and occasional snow in winter; check conditions before a day trip.
- •Town-centre parking fills up on Saturdays; the Letterkenny Shopping Centre car park is a reliable overflow option.
Cycling & Bike Hire
Letterkenny itself is a hillside town, so cycling around the centre involves some climbing, but it makes a good base for longer routes out into the county, including toward Glenveagh National Park and on to Gweedore. GrassRoutes Electric Bike Adventures, based in the wider area, hires electric and hybrid bikes with a pick-up and drop-off service, which suits the longer routes better than the town centre alone.
- Hire
- GrassRoutes Electric Bike Adventures, pick-up/drop-off service available
- Terrain
- Hilly in the town centre; quieter roads out toward Glenveagh for longer rides
Tips
- •Experienced cyclists only for the longer Letterkenny-to-Gweedore-style routes; parts run on main roads.
Useful Links
From the Airport
Live options for reaching the village from the nearest airports. Times and fares are a guide and can change with traffic or operator schedules.
City of Derry AirportLDY
48 km away- Duration
- Around 45-50 minutes
- Cost
- Taxi or fuel
The closest airport to Letterkenny, across the border in Northern Ireland, with a mix of UK and short-haul European routes.
Donegal Airport (Carrickfinn)CFN
55 km away- Duration
- Around 45-60 minutes
- Cost
- Fuel
A small regional airport with Aer Lingus flights to Dublin twice daily and Loganair flights to Glasgow a few days a week. Useful for a quick Dublin connection without the long drive south, though flight frequency is limited.
Dublin AirportDUB
235 km away- Duration
- Around 3 to 3.5 hours
- Cost
- Single or return fare; book ahead for busy periods
Route 32 stops at Dublin Airport on its way to and from Busaras, so a direct bus from Letterkenny to Dublin Airport (or back) is genuinely available without changing in the city centre.
Operator: Bus Eireann
- Duration
- Around 3 to 3.5 hours
- Cost
- Fuel and tolls
The most common route for visitors with a hire car, and the most flexible for early or late flights.
Parking
Parking options in and around Letterkenny. On busy weekends, arriving early is recommended.
Letterkenny Shopping Centre car park
Check on entry; rates vary by duration. Large surface car park off Port Road, close to the bus station.
Market Square and Main Street on-street parking
Disc or app-based on-street parking through the town centre; fills up on Saturdays.
Planning the wider trip?
Our country-level primer covers national rail, intercity buses, airports, the Leap Card, and whether you actually need a hire car for your trip around Ireland.
Getting Around Ireland →