Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to County Donegal?

Travel by hire car or private chauffeur are the most straightforward options for travelling to County Donegal. However, the following are some public transport options for getting here depending on which part of the county you are visiting. We hope you find this useful.

Public transport within County Donegal

Mangan Tours operates a service from Letterkenny to Meenlaragh Monday – Saturday.

John McGinley Coaches operates a service from Letterkenny to Annagry seven days a week.

Local Link provides bus services to many areas of rural Donegal.

Is Donegal in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland?

Despite its location in the North West corner of Ireland, and being home to Ireland’s most northerly point, Malin Head, County Donegal is in the Republic of Ireland. Confusion often comes from the fact that the province of Ulster is made up of nine counties, six of which are in ‘Northern Ireland’. The other three, Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan are in the Republic of Ireland. Donegal is the largest county in Ulster and the fourth largest county in Ireland.

What currency is used in Donegal?

People are often unsure if it is Euro or Sterling currency that is used in County Donegal. The short answer is Euro, as that is the currency of the Republic of Ireland. However, as Donegal borders three counties in Northern Ireland, some border towns may also accept Sterling and give change in Euro. Currency isn’t as much of a concern anymore with the increasing acceptance of card payments in most attractions, shops, restaurants and hotels.

Do I need a passport to travel from Northern Ireland to Donegal?

No, there is no hard border or checkpoint when travelling between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. You’ll barely notice that you’ve crossed the ‘border’ apart from the road signage and speed limit signs will be in kilometres in the Republic and miles in Northern Ireland.

How many days do I need in Donegal?

Donegal, Ireland’s fourth largest county, cannot be explored in one day alone. If possible, it is advisable to stay for five or six days. A two to four day Donegal tour, with a couple of personal days is highly recommended to fully appreciate the beauty of Ireland’s North West County.

Are County Donegal and Donegal Town the same place?

Donegal Town is a beautiful town located in South Donegal. The name in Gaeilge, ‘Dún na nGall’, means ‘fort of the foreigners’.

Donegal Town has an abundance of attractions including Donegal Castle, Donegal tweed stores and Donegal Bay Waterbus to name a few. However, don’t make the mistake that visiting Donegal Town means you have visited all of County Donegal. Donegal Town and the South Donegal area is just one part of it.

How much of the Wild Atlantic Way is in Donegal?

The Wild Atlantic Way has been described as the longest defined coastal touring route in the world. It’s a 2,500km (1,500 miles) stretch of road along the west coast of Ireland from Malin Head in Co. Donegal to Kinsale in Co. Cork. 500km of the Wild Atlantic Way driving route is in County Donegal.

There are 39 Discovery Points along Donegal’s Wild Atlantic Way, including three signature points – Sliabh Liag sea cliffs, Malin Head and Fanad Lighthouse.

What is included in a private tour?

Our private Donegal tours and extended tours of Ireland include travel in a luxurious Mercedes-Benz V-Class MPV with a qualified and experienced Irish driver-guide. The itinerary is fully customised to you/your group and is flexible to accommodate any last minute changes on the day.

Accommodation, meals and attractions entries are not included in the price.

Where do tours start from?

The pickup location for your private tour starts and ends at your accommodation, whether this is a hotel, guest house or Airbnb. The most popular towns to stay in as a base for exploring the county are Donegal Town, Buncrana and Letterkenny, but we can arrange pickups throughout Donegal.

For extended tours, we provide return transport from anywhere in Ireland.

What should I bring on a tour of Donegal?

We advise wearing layers you can easily take on and off for Ireland’s unpredictable weather and comfortable walking shoes. Don’t forget a well charged phone and/or camera and a battery backup.

Do you provide tours in other parts of Ireland?

Henry Doohan is an approved national tour guide with Fáilte Ireland and Approved Tourist Guides of Ireland (ATGI) and provides private tours and transport throughout Ireland, specialising in County Donegal.

What payment methods do you accept?

Donegal Tour Guide accepts Euro cash or Visa/Mastercard payment on the day of travel, or bank transfer or Visa/Mastercard payment in advance of travel. Please note, American Express is not accepted.

Can I join another tour?

Donegal Tour Guide only offers private tours and transfers, meaning that you will only be travelling with your own group. It is not possible to combine multiple groups.

How many passengers can you take?

Travel is in a Mercedes-Benz V-Class MPV with seating for seven passengers plus driver. Vehicle is insured and SPSV registered to carry passengers by the National Transport Authority.