Things to do in Co. Donegal
48 places
1.Gap of Mamore
a near-30% gradient mountain pass
A dizzyingly steep, narrow mountain pass slicing through the Urris Hills on Donegal's Inishowen Peninsula — one of Ireland's most dramatic short drives, with Atlantic panoramas that stop you in your tracks.
- Highlights
- Part of the Wild Atlantic Way and Inishowen 100 route
- 240 m (800 ft) summit with Atlantic panoramas
- St. Eigne's Holy Well — centuries-old pilgrimage site
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
2.Sliabh Liag Boat Trips
Europe's highest sea cliffs, from the water
Family-run boat trips from Teelin pier since 1995, taking you beneath Sliabh Liag — at 600 m (1,972 ft) the highest accessible sea cliffs in Europe, a scale you can only grasp from the water.
- Highlights
- 600 m cliffs — Europe's highest accessible sea cliffs
- Dolphins, whales and basking sharks en route
- Swim in the Atlantic beneath the cliffs
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
3.Wild Alpaca Way
Tourism Attraction of the Year 2026 winner
Walk with your own alpaca along the Knockamany Bens at Ireland's most northerly point, with panoramic views over Five Finger Strand and the Atlantic — a genuinely unique way to experience Malin Head.
- Highlights
- Walk one-to-one with your own alpaca
- 37+ alpacas, each with a distinct personality
- Stunning views over Five Finger Strand and the Atlantic
- Facilities
- Good for kids
4.Assaranca Waterfall (Eas a' Ranca)
Park just feet from the cascade
A dramatic roadside waterfall on Donegal's wild Atlantic coast — park a few feet from the cascade, feel the spray, and carry on to Maghera Beach or Slieve League. No hike, no fuss, just nature at full volume after a good rainfall.
- Highlights
- Roadside access — park literally feet from the cascade
- Most impressive after heavy rainfall
- Perfect for visitors with limited mobility
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
5.Crohy Head Sea Arch
Three arches visible at low tide
A dramatic 25-metre sea arch — known locally as Na Bristí ("the trousers") — rising from the Atlantic off Donegal's wild Mullaghmullan Peninsula. One of Ireland's most photogenic coastal formations, rewarding those who make the short but rugged walk to its clifftop viewpoint.
- Highlights
- 25m sea arch with twin 'trouser-leg' rock pillars
- Three arches visible at low tide from the beach
- Spectacular sunset photography location
6.Fintra Beach
a Blue Flag strand with lifeguarded summer swimming
A Blue Flag golden strand in Fintragh Bay, a few minutes' drive from Killybegs, backed by sand dunes and giving wide views across Donegal Bay to Benbulben and Slieve League.
- Highlights
- Blue Flag award for water quality and safety
- Roughly 1km of golden sand in a sheltered bay
- Grassed sand dunes with a walking path
7.Grianan Of Aileach
a 2,000-year-old hillfort with a solar equinox alignment
A 2,000-year-old dry-stone ringfort crowning a Donegal hilltop with jaw-dropping 360° views across five counties, two sea loughs, and the Inishowen Peninsula.
- Highlights
- 23m-diameter dry-stone ringfort, walls 5m high
- 360° views over Lough Foyle, Lough Swilly & 5 counties
- Spring & autumn equinox solar alignment through the entrance
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
8.Lloyds Signal Tower- Malin Head
a Napoleonic signal tower at Ireland's northernmost point
A wild, windswept headland at the very top of Ireland, where a 220-year-old signal tower surveys the Atlantic from Banba's Crown — also a Star Wars filming location and one of the country's best spots for the Northern Lights.
- Highlights
- Ireland's most northerly mainland point
- 220-year-old Napoleonic signal tower
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi filming site
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
9.Lookout Point Horn Head
180m quartzite cliffs and a WWII lookout tower
A quartzite headland north of Dunfanaghy whose 180m cliffs drop straight into the Atlantic, crowned by a WWII lookout tower and a 360-degree viewpoint over Tory Island, Malin Head and the Donegal mountains.
- Highlights
- 180m quartzite cliffs dropping into the Atlantic
- 360-degree viewpoint over Tory Island, Malin Head and the Donegal mountains
- WWII/Napoleonic signal tower with '77 EIRE' marker
- Facilities
- Dog-friendly
10.Malin Head
Home to Hell's Hole and Devil's Bridge
Ireland's northernmost point — a wild, wind-battered headland of sheer cliffs, thundering chasms, and endless Atlantic panoramas on Donegal's rugged Inishowen Peninsula. A Wild Atlantic Way signature discovery point and Star Wars filming location.
- Highlights
- Ireland's most northerly point
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi filming location (Planet Ahch-to)
- Dramatic cliffs, sea stacks & natural arches
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
11.Pólifreann or Hells Hole
where the Atlantic thunders into a cliff cavern
Hell's Hole (Pólifreann) is a sheer sea chasm at Malin Head, Ireland's most northerly point, where the Atlantic surges into a hidden cavern with a roar you hear before you see it. A short clifftop trail from Banba's Crown leads there past Star Wars filming ground and unfenced cliff drops.
- Highlights
- Ireland's most northerly mainland point
- Thundering Hell's Hole sea cavern
- Banba's Crown and the 1805 signal tower
- Facilities
- Good for kids
12.Rossnowlagh Beach
park your car directly on the sand
One of Ireland's finest surfing beaches, Rossnowlagh unfurls 3–4 km of soft golden sand along Donegal Bay. Gentle, consistent waves make it ideal for beginners, while the Blue Flag waters, spectacular sunsets, and the rare freedom to park right on the strand give it a charm all its own.
- Highlights
- Blue Flag beach with excellent water quality
- One of Ireland's premier beginner surf spots
- Drive and park right on the sand
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
13.The Arranmore Ferry
15-minute ferry to Donegal's Arranmore Island
The Arranmore Ferry (Blue Arranmore Ferry) links Burtonport Pier to Arranmore Island, the largest inhabited island off Donegal's coast, with up to eight sailings a day on the island-owned Arranmore Blu.
- Highlights
- Island-owned ferry since 2006
- Newest vessel on Ireland's west coast (Arranmore Blu)
- Dolphin sightings on the ~15-minute crossing
- Facilities
- Restrooms · Wheelchair access
14.Tullan Strand
a 2km surf beach with blowholes and a wishing chair
A 2km Wild Atlantic Way surf beach of golden sand and dunes below the Sligo-Leitrim Mountains, bookended by the natural arches and blowholes of the Fairy Bridges. One of Ireland's top surf breaks — but dangerous for swimming.
- Highlights
- 2km of sand and dunes on the Wild Atlantic Way
- Fairy Bridges blowholes and the Wishing Chair
- One of Ireland's most consistent surf breaks
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
15.Amazing Grace Viewing Point
the spot that inspired the world's best-loved hymn
An open stone platform above Lough Swilly where John Newton's storm-battered ship The Greyhound found safe haven in 1748 — the spot that inspired the world's best-loved hymn.
- Highlights
- Views over Lough Swilly, the 'Lake of Shadows'
- Mosaic floor depicting The Greyhound and broken chains
- Steps onto a sandy beach
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
16.Bád Eddie
a 1977 shipwreck reachable only at low tide
A rotting wooden trawler has sat marooned on Magheraclogher beach since 1977, slowly collapsing into the sand while the Atlantic tide washes around it twice a day — a wild, photogenic landmark on Donegal's Wild Atlantic Way.
- Highlights
- Iconic 1970s shipwreck stranded on Magheraclogher beach, Bunbeg
- Only reachable on foot at low tide
- Free to visit, open all year
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
17.Beltany Stone Circle
a 5,000-year-old ring of 64 stones
A ring of 64 massive stones, possibly the remains of a 5,000-year-old passage tomb, crowns Tops Hill south of Raphoe with panoramic views over the Donegal countryside. It is free to visit, open year-round, and the short uphill walk through a tree-lined boreen is part of the experience.
- Highlights
- One of Ireland's largest stone circles: 64 stones, 45m across
- Possible Neolithic passage tomb with raised central cairn
- Cup-marked stone aligned to the Bealtaine (May 1) sunrise
- Facilities
- Good for kids
18.Caves of Maghera
20+ sea caves at low tide on a 5km white-sand beach
A hidden-gem white-sand beach beneath Slievetooey mountain on the Wild Atlantic Way, backed by cliffs honeycombed with more than 20 sea caves you can walk into at low tide. It is a 15-minute drive from Ardara, Co. Donegal.
- Highlights
- 20+ sea caves, 8 arches and 5 tunnels at low tide
- 5km stretch of fine white sand
- Dunes, cliffs and Slievetooey mountain backdrop
- Facilities
- Good for kids
19.Dunlewey Church abandoned
the 'Donegal Taj Mahal' ruin below Errigal
A roofless 1853 Church of Ireland ruin, built by a heartbroken widow as a memorial to her husband and often called Donegal's Taj Mahal, standing at the foot of Mount Errigal above Lough Dunlewey in the Poisoned Glen.
- Highlights
- Roofless white-marble church built 1853 as a love memorial
- Foot of Mount Errigal, Donegal's highest peak
- Overlooks Lough Dunlewey in the Poisoned Glen
- Facilities
- Good for kids
20.Fairy Bridges
Bundoran's original tourist attraction since the 1800s
A dramatic coastal stretch of natural sea arches and blowholes steeped in folklore — Bundoran's original tourist attraction since the 1800s and the first Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Point in County Donegal.
- Highlights
- Natural blowholes that erupt with sea spray at high tide
- 360° views across Donegal Bay to Slieve League and Mullaghmore
- Awarded TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice (top 10% of attractions globally)
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
21.Fanad Head Lighthouse
Stay overnight in a restored keeper's cottage
Voted one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world, this working light on the Wild Atlantic Way offers dramatic coastal views, guided tours, and overnight stays in restored keepers' cottages.
- Highlights
- One of the world's most beautiful lighthouses
- Wild Atlantic Way Signature Discovery Point
- Working lighthouse since 1817
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
22.Festival Play Park, Buncrana
Play areas for every age on Lough Swilly
Festival Play Park is Buncrana's shorefront playground on Lough Swilly, with fenced play areas for toddlers and older kids, a zip line, tennis court and football pitch, and the Buncrana Heritage Trail starting at its gate.
- Highlights
- Fenced, age-zoned play areas with soft flooring
- Zip line, tennis court and football pitch on the green
- Sea views over Lough Swilly to Ladies Bay
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
23.Fort Dunree
a 200-year-old clifftop fort guarding Lough Swilly
A dramatically sited 19th-century coastal fort turned military museum on the Inishowen Peninsula, where clifftop walks, underground bunkers, and sweeping views over Lough Swilly meet a thriving café and art scene.
- Highlights
- 200 years of coastal defence history
- Underground bunkers and artillery displays
- Panoramic clifftop views over Lough Swilly
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
24.Glenevin Waterfall
a 40ft waterfall in a wooded glen with fairy doors along the trail
A short, enchanting woodland walk on the Inishowen Peninsula leads to a 40-foot cascade tumbling over black rock into a tranquil pool — one of Ireland's most northerly waterfalls.
- Highlights
- Ireland's most northerly waterfall
- 40ft cascade over black rock into Pohl-an-eas pool
- Easy 1 km woodland trail suitable for all ages
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
25.Glenveagh Castle
a 16,000-hectare wilderness with golden eagles
A remote Victorian castle perched on Lough Veagh, surrounded by 16,000 hectares of rugged Derryveagh mountain wilderness — one of Ireland's finest national parks.
- Highlights
- Victorian castle in a dramatic lakeside setting
- Award-winning exotic gardens
- Golden eagles, red deer & peregrine falcons
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
26.Largy Viewpoint
a roadside pull-in with four-county views and a tide-hidden waterfall
A dramatic roadside pull-in on the Wild Atlantic Way where, on a clear day, you can see four counties across Donegal Bay — with a secret waterfall hidden in a sea cave below.
- Highlights
- Four-county panorama (Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim) on clear days
- Dolphins in the bay year-round
- Wild geese from Iceland (November–February)
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
27.Oakfield Park
Ride a 4.5km miniature railway
An award-winning 100-acre estate in Raphoe, Co. Donegal, featuring Ireland's longest miniature-gauge railway, beautifully restored gardens, a hedge maze, sculptures, and woodland walks — a superb family day out.
- Highlights
- Ireland's longest miniature-gauge railway (4.5km, 15-inch gauge)
- Steam Sunday: 'Duchess of Difflin' runs last Sunday of each month
- 50 acres of award-winning formal Upper Gardens (June–Aug)
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Dog-friendly · Wheelchair access
28.St John's Point Beach
an 1831 granite lighthouse at the peninsula tip
A sheltered sand cove and a working 1831 granite lighthouse at the tip of one of Ireland's longest peninsulas, jutting into Donegal Bay on the Wild Atlantic Way.
- Highlights
- 1831 granite lighthouse at the peninsula tip
- Sheltered coral-sand cove with clear water
- Views across Donegal Bay to Slieve League, Sligo and Mayo
- Facilities
- Good for kids
29.Tropical World
life-sized moving dinosaurs in Jurassic Land
Donegal's tropical butterfly house and licensed mini zoo — an 80% under-cover family attraction where hundreds of free-flying butterflies, exotic birds, lemurs, meerkats and even moving dinosaurs await, rain or shine.
- Highlights
- Hundreds of free-flying tropical butterflies
- BIAZA-accredited licensed zoo
- Toco toucans Guinness & Bailey
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
30.Wild Ireland
Bears rescued from a concrete cell in Lithuania
Step back in time in an ancient Celtic rainforest where brown bears, wolves, lynx, and wild boar — animals extinct in Ireland for centuries — roam once again in a conservation sanctuary on the Inishowen Peninsula.
- Highlights
- Brown bears rescued from a concrete cell in Lithuania, now living in a natural woodland habitat
- Wolves roaming Irish soil for the first time since their extinction in 1786
- Daily keeper talks and feeding times throughout the day
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
31.Carrickabraghy Castle
A 16th-century O'Doherty ruin with a sea blowhole
A small 16th-century O'Doherty tower house perched on a rocky promontory at the head of Pollan Bay on the Isle of Doagh, with Atlantic views and a sea blowhole that erupts at high tide.
- Highlights
- 16th-century O'Doherty tower house on a rocky promontory
- Hissing Rock blowhole erupting at high tide
- Views over Pollan Bay to Malin Head and Glashedy Island
- Facilities
- Good for kids
32.Castle Adventure open Farm
petting farm in a 17th-century castle yard
A family-run open farm tucked into the old farmyard of 17th-century Wardtown Castle, three miles from Ballyshannon on the Rossnowlagh road. Rain or shine, there are barns of animals, soft play, and a big outdoor adventure playground.
- Highlights
- Daily animal petting at 11am, 2pm and 4pm
- Drive a real JCB digger (€3)
- Barrel train and big outdoor playground
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
33.Doe Castle
Unique rock-cut moat in Ireland
A 15th-century MacSweeney stronghold dramatically perched on a tidal peninsula in Sheephaven Bay — water on three sides, a rock-cut moat on the fourth. Free to explore the grounds; the keep opens by appointment only.
- Highlights
- Rock-cut moat carved from bedrock — unique in Ireland
- 1544 MacSweeney grave-slab inside the keep
- Tower house ~15m high, walls ~2.5m thick
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
34.Great Pollet Sea Arch
Newly built trail to a 20-metre sea arch
Ireland's largest sea arch — a 20-metre rock giant on the Fanad Peninsula, carved by the Atlantic over millennia and now reachable via a purpose-built trail.
- Highlights
- Ireland's largest sea arch at ~20 m (some sources say up to 45 m / 150 ft)
- Formed from Precambrian quartzite, part of the Dalradian Supergroup
- Newly built gravel pathway (opened April 2022) with free car park
35.Lurgybrack Open Farm
Petting farm with barrel rides and bouncy castle fun
A centuries-old farmstead on the edge of Letterkenny where children can pet friendly farm animals, ride the barrel train and burn off energy on bouncy castles and play areas, all beside a riverside walk.
- Highlights
- Friendly farm animals up close in the animal house
- Barrel ride included with admission
- Bouncy castle, sandpit and playground
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
36.Secret Waterfall
Rarest waterfall in a sea cave
A dramatic waterfall hidden inside a sea cave on Donegal's Slieve League peninsula — accessible only at low tide and known only to those who do their homework.
- Highlights
- Waterfall inside a sea cave — one of Ireland's rarest natural features
- Only accessible during low tide — timing is everything
- Thunderous after heavy rainfall; rainbows in the cave spray on sunny days
- Facilities
- Good for kids
37.The Blackthorn Amusements
250+ slots, roulette & poker near the Derry border
A modern casino and slots venue in Bridge End, near the Derry border, with more than 250 gaming machines, live sports on widescreen TVs and free tea and coffee served while you play.
- Highlights
- 250+ gaming machines including slots, roulette and poker
- Free tea, coffee and biscuits while you play
- Vantage Club loyalty rewards with free sign-up
- Facilities
- Restrooms · Wheelchair access
38.Arena 7 Entertainment Complex
Multi-level laser tag for up to 18 players
Letterkenny's all-weather family entertainment hub — a one-stop complex with ten-pin bowling, laser tag, soft play, darts, pool, an arcade, and three dining options, all under one roof.
- Highlights
- 10 lanes of bowling with funky lighting
- Multi-level laser-tag maze for up to 18 players
- Dedicated soft-play centre for ages 0–9
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
39.Century Complex - Letterkenny
8 cinema screens, crazy golf & the North West's biggest soft play
The largest family entertainment complex in the North West of Ireland, packing an 8-screen cinema, 27-hole indoor crazy golf, augmented-reality darts, the region's biggest soft-play centre, and a full bar & grill under one roof.
- Highlights
- 8 cinema screens with 2 luxury VIP screens and Dolby Digital surround sound
- 27 holes of indoor crazy golf across three themed 9-hole courses
- Century Play: the North West's largest indoor soft-play frame with dedicated baby, toddler, junior & sports zones
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
40.Donegal Castle
Jacobean fireplace carved with Brooke coat of arms
A beautifully restored 15th-century Gaelic fortress in the heart of Donegal Town — once the stronghold of the mighty O'Donnell clan, now a fascinating walk through centuries of Irish history.
- Highlights
- Magnificent Jacobean carved fireplace with Brooke coat of arms
- Original 15th-century spiral 'trip stairs'
- Stunning restored wooden roof in the tower house
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
41.Donegal Railway Heritage Museum (Centre)
see the 1907 steam engine Drumboe up close
An award-winning railway museum in Donegal Town's original station house, telling the story of the largest narrow-gauge railway network in the British Isles and home to the 1907 steam engine Drumboe.
- Highlights
- Drumboe, the 1907 steam engine
- Ireland's first full-size interactive railway cab
- Largest narrow-gauge railway network in the British Isles (1863–1959)
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
42.Errigal View Pet Zoo
Rare grey wolves in a petting zoo
A family-run petting zoo turned small zoo in the shadow of Mount Errigal, where kids can hand-feed wallabies and meet grey wolves, with indoor play areas for rainy Donegal days.
- Highlights
- Grey wolves, a rare sight in an Irish petting zoo
- Hand-feeding wallabies, goats and alpacas
- Indoor play barn for all-weather visits
43.Triona Donegal Tweed Center
watch master weavers at work on handlooms
A family-run working tweed mill and certified Donegal Tweed Visitor Centre on Main Street, Ardara, where master weavers still make handwoven tweed on century-old looms.
- Highlights
- Certified Donegal Tweed Visitor Centre since 1992
- Live hand-weaving demonstrations on century-old looms
- The Weavers Cottage - thatched replica of the founder's home
- Facilities
- Restrooms · Wheelchair access
44.Bundoran Adventure Park Ltd
a seafront funfair with a spinning coaster & coastal Ferris wheel
A family-run seafront amusement park on Bundoran's Wild Atlantic Way coastline, offering thrill rides, go-karts, adventure golf, and a panoramic Ferris wheel — with free entry and pay-per-ride flexibility.
- Highlights
- Free entry — pay only for what you ride
- Crazy Mouse spinning roller coaster
- The View: Ferris wheel with Atlantic panoramas
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
45.Donegal Bay Waterbus
75-minute cruise with seals, live music and an on-board bar
Ireland's largest purpose-built waterbus runs a 75-minute family cruise around Donegal Bay's islands, with a 200-strong seal colony, live music on the return leg and an on-board bar.
- Highlights
- 200-strong seal colony at Seal Island
- 75-minute guided cruise around the seven Green Islands
- Live cabaret sing-along and dance floor on the way home
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
46.Dunlewey Centre
a lakeside heritage centre beneath Mount Errigal
Ionad Cois Locha is a lakeside heritage and family-fun centre tucked between Mount Errigal and the Poisoned Glen, offering boat cruises, a weaver's cottage and one of Donegal's biggest playgrounds.
- Highlights
- 30-minute lake cruise beneath Mount Errigal
- Weaver's cottage and Donegal tweed heritage tour
- Virtual reality summit of Errigal
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
47.Waterworld Bundoran
home to Ireland's fastest indoor waterslide
Ireland's premier indoor aqua adventure playground sits right on Bundoran's seafront promenade, packing 12 slides and a wave pool under one roof — whatever the weather.
- Highlights
- 12 slides across three ability zones
- Wave pool with four wave patterns
- Pirate Ship with water cannons and slide
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
48.Bundoran Glowbowl - Ten Pin Bowling Alley
glow bowling above a 2-floor amusement arcade
Family-run since 1972, Bundoran Glowbowl pairs 8 glow-lit ten-pin lanes with two floors of arcade games and amusements on Bundoran's Main Street — handy after a day at the beach or on a rainy day.
- Highlights
- 8 lanes of glow ten-pin bowling
- Two floors of arcade, VR and amusements
- Kids' soft play and Kiddies Korner
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access